KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Chapters: II Samuel 13-15
Message: Letting God Help With Situations
Hello My Friend,
Situations, we have all gotten into them, perhaps even did something ourselves that put us in an awkward situation with someone else. Situations are those things we get ourselves into, usually because we are innocent and naive about things, but if we do not deal with them, they will only bring more situations. I will admit that I do not know how to handle every situation, and that is where God comes in, just like everything else, if we come to Him about our situations, He will tell us how to deal with it properly. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – I Peter 5:6-7.
I do not tell this story often, because it is not one that I like to discuss, but I was a victim of an attempted rape by a son of one of my fathers friends when I was ten years old. When it happened I was so embarrassed that I never told anyone, my secret stayed with me for years, that was until his half-sister married my brother. While I did not become wild and out of control by this incident, it did make me aggressive toward anyone who tried to get close to me, and still today my defenses are up, even by the slightest touch. You see, had I addressed the situation by going to my parents in the first place perhaps there would have been a better outcome, and the guy would have paid the consequence for what he had done to me. As we read through the chapters today, we come to three of David’s children, Amnon, half-brother to Absalom and Tamar, his sister. Amnon forced himself on Tamar, whom he had tricked David into getting Tamar to go to his house.
“And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.” – II Samuel 13:11-15,19-20.
Amnon raped Tamar, when David found out he never addressed the situation, this resulted in Absalom taking things into his own hands. “And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.” – II Samuel 13:23-29.
“Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not:” Let me be clear, Tamar was not at fault here, Amnon should have paid for what he had done to his half-sister, not only did he defile her, he disgraced her, and took her innocence. And David made things worse by not even dealing with it properly. As much as we would like these situations to go away on their own, they do not, we must address them with God’s Word as our guide. “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – I Thessalonians 5:15-23.
Now, with David distraught over the actions of both his sons, and mourning the death of Amnon, wanted nothing to do with the situation so he ignored Absalom for two years, but he also mourned for him. Joab came up with a plan to reunite the two, and finally address the situation, only things did not go exactly as he planned, he got Absalom to return, but David refused to see him.
“And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again. And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant. So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face. But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.” – II Samuel 14:21-25.
“and let him not see my face.” By David still not addressing this situation correctly he left the door open for Absalom to devise another scheme, to try and take the throne from his father. Absalom cunningly got the people to trust him over David and most of Israel sided with him.
“And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” – II Samuel 15:1-6.
“Oh that I were made judge in the land,” Absalom had time to carry out this plan because David was wrong in how he handled the entire situation. Had he addressed it properly, first by going to God and enforcing the law, then perhaps the outcome would have been different. Now, with Absalom taking over the nation, David saw no other solution than to leave Jerusalem for the time being.
“And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:” – II Samuel 15:23-26,32.
“if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD,” This was the first time we learn of David really talking to God since his sin with Bathsheba. When we get caught up in situations ourselves it can be hard to go to God with other issues, even though we know we are forgiven. It was only when David started praying and worshiping God that God sent someone to help him out of the entire situation. I can give you countless times that I did not go to God about something because I just thought it was Him punishing me. You know, we cannot avoid the chastening that God sends when we sin, but we can go to Him, and when we do He will make it tolerable, and the suffering will be less severe too. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” – I Peter 5:8-10.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.” – II Samuel 14:17.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for your mercy and grace to save a sinner like me. I know that nothing I do will keep me from heaven because I put my faith and trust in Your Son to save me from my sins, but I do not want Him to be just my ticket into heaven, I want to be a faithful servant who is not afraid to come to You when I have a situation I cannot handle, even when I mess up. Lord, lead me and guide me, let me not get into situations that would cause me to make bad decisions in the first place, but if I do get into them, show me the way to address them properly so I do not end up with more needless suffering. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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