September 14, 2023

Hidden and open sins have devastating results.

2 Samuel 12–13

Michelle Pokley
Thursday's Devo

September 14, 2023

Thursday's Devo

September 14, 2023

Thursday's Devo

September 14, 2023

Thursday's Devo

September 14, 2023

Big Idea

No one is immune to sin.

Key Verse | 2 Samuel 12:10

"Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife."

2 Samuel 12–13

Nathan Rebukes David

1 And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, 1 12:3 Hebrew bosom; also verse 8 and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, 2 12:14 Masoretic Text the enemies of the LORD; Dead Sea Scroll the word of the LORD the child who is born to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house.

David's Child Dies

And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. 16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Solomon's Birth

24 Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him 25 and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, 3 12:25 Jedidiah means beloved of the LORD because of the LORD.

Rabbah Is Captured

26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters. 28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.” 29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it. 30 And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent 4 12:30 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 31 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at 5 12:31 Hebrew pass through the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

Amnon and Tamar

1 Now Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David's son, loved her. 2 And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. 4 And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.” 5 Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’” 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon's house and prepare food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. 9 And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Send out everyone from me.” So everyone went out from him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12 She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate 6 13:12 Or humiliate; also verses 14, 22, 32 me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing. 13 As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the outrageous fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 14 But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!” 16 But she said to him, “No, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” 7 13:16 Compare Septuagint, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain But he would not listen to her. 17 He called the young man who served him and said, “Put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her.” 18 Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves, 8 13:18 Or a robe of many colors (compare Genesis 37:3); compare long robe, verse 19 for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.

20 And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom's house. 21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 9 13:21 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint add But he would not punish his son Amnon, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn 22 But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.

Absalom Murders Amnon

23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.

30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”

Absalom Flees to Geshur

34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him 10 13:34 Septuagint the Horonaim Road by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.

37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king 11 13:39 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint; Hebrew David longed to go out 12 13:39 Compare Vulgate ceased to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.

Footnotes

[1] 12:3 Hebrew bosom; also verse 8
[2] 12:14 Masoretic Text the enemies of the LORD; Dead Sea Scroll the word of the LORD
[3] 12:25 Jedidiah means beloved of the LORD
[4] 12:30 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
[5] 12:31 Hebrew pass through
[6] 13:12 Or humiliate; also verses 14, 22, 32
[7] 13:16 Compare Septuagint, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
[8] 13:18 Or a robe of many colors (compare Genesis 37:3); compare long robe, verse 19
[9] 13:21 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint add But he would not punish his son Amnon, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn
[10] 13:34 Septuagint the Horonaim Road
[11] 13:39 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint; Hebrew David
[12] 13:39 Compare Vulgate ceased to go out

2 Samuel 13 - "Tamar’s rape, David’s lack of response & Absalom’s revenge"

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | 2 Samuel 12–13

Today's passage is an emotional one, as David's life appears to be falling apart because of his own choices. As we take a closer look, however, we see a comforting example of God's love and provision in the midst of sin.

I can often accept intellectually that God loves me and that He delights in forgiving those who repent. I have heard verses like 1 John 1:9 and Exodus 34:6-7 many times, but sometimes struggle to allow this truth to permeate my thinking and affect how I live. My past is riddled with times when I doubted and feared that God wouldn't love me in light of who I am and what I have done.

David's life is a beautiful example of how God's love, mercy, and compassion reach beyond human understanding and expectations. We expect God to be like us, but praise the Lord, He is not (Isaiah 55:6-9)!

In these chapters in 2 Samuel, God loves and provides for David in the midst of his sin in two ways. First, God provides by sending a faithful friend Nathan to rebuke David and help him see his need for repentance. An entire devotional could be written on Nathan's courage, obedience, and faithfulness in this chapter!

Second, God loves David by allowing him to suffer the consequences of his sin. Sometimes it's not until we hit rock bottom that we see clearly that God's ways are good and ours are not. I have heard it said that we get to choose our actions, but we don't get to choose our consequences. David's consequences were tragic, and the ruin we see in 2 Samuel 13 can certainly be tied back to the example David had been setting. Though experiencing the consequences of our rebellious actions is painful, God is a loving Father and knows that this pain is often the catalyst we need to turn back to Him and recognize our great need for His grace.

Praise God that our Heavenly Father doesn't forsake us, but waits and longs for us even in our darkest moments!

This month's memory verse

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

– Matthew 5:16

Discussion Questions

1. God mercifully provides other believers to love us and point out the sin in our lives when we need it. This is proof that God is not done with us even when we are in the midst of our darkest moments. Do you have faithful friends in your life who are willing to tell you the truth in love?

2. How do you respond to people who confront you? How do you think your response impacts their likeliness to ask you hard questions in the future?

3. Is there anyone you have responded to harshly or defensively when they tried to love you by sharing something in your life that didn't honor Christ? What can you do to restore that level of intimacy, transparency, and trust?

4. Is there a time in your life when experiencing the consequences of unhealthy choices led to repentance and deeper intimacy with God?

Respond to Today's Passage

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HS

Hugh Stephenson

Good morning, Michelle- Love this from your devo- ”Sometimes it's not until we hit rock bottom that we see clearly that God's ways are good and ours are not.” Q1.-Q3. What I learned in re:gen was the power of confession. Paired with true heartfelt repentance, forgiveness, and a commitment to make things right it’s a perfect formula for living with a clean heart, (Psalm 51:10). Q4. Unhealthy choices and their consequences- The key for me was my own Luke 15:16 experience that brought me to the end of unhealthy coping strategies. I learned fairly quickly that the only healthy strategy was surrender. —————————————————————————————————— Several years go my son was taking high school economics. He came home and was talking with me about the subject. In the conversation he repeated a phrase that his teacher had said, “A little inflation is good for the economy.” I was stunned. I wanted to know who his teacher was and what aspect of economics they were discussing. My son is a smart kid and, thankfully, he refused. Regardless, I launched into a long lesson about the complete insanity of what the teacher said. I don’t have a wide range of subject matter expertise but this is certainly one of them. I explained the horrific and corrosive force of inflation and how it was a hidden tax, especially on the working class and the underclass, i.e., those who have the least options to cope with it. I also reviewed with him the compounding math of small rates of inflation and how in one or two generations it will wipe out purchasing power and create significant consequences for an entire country. He hasn’t brought it up again. Like I said, smart kid. In Biblical Theology as in Economics and Finance, I am an orthodox believer. There is a pure way to organize the fundamental building blocks of an economy and financial system. Once in place, it should never be changed. If it is, prosperity will be fleeting.
HS

Hugh Stephenson

What if I told you inflation was like sin? Once you go beyond God’s orthodoxy you get into trouble very quickly. And that trouble will lead to consequences that you can’t imagine. What’s more, just like inflation grows and compounds, so does sin. And just like inflation, its growth rate is not linear. It compounds at faster and faster rates. The more you sin the worse it gets…and at an increasing rate. We will see this over the rest of this fall as we go through 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings. In this, it seems that economics, money, and finance are like many other systems God has created or allowed to be created. His fingerprints are on them all. And they have similar rhythms and patterns. There are three verses I like a lot that speak to the power of sin- Genesis 4:7- God says to Cain, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” (The word crouching can refer “to lying in wait like a predator lurking for its prey.”) https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-is-crouching-at-your-door.html Numbers 32:23 when Moses says “Be sure your sin will find you out”? https://www.gotquestions.org/be-sure-your-sin-will-find-you-out.html Galatians 6:7-8. https://www.gotquestions.org/a-man-reaps-what-he-sows.html Also on this subject I like 1 John 2:15-17. One of the realities I observe is that most lives have “pivot points”; those moments where a decision by them or someone else alters the path of their life. I have seen many pivot points that resulted from good decisions but the bad ones seem way more numerous. Often, they are career or financial ones. More often they are relationship ones. Almost always they spring from a desire to move off a sensible “orthodox” path. Often its greed. Also impatience. Lust seems to be present in the relational pivot points. So is pride. In the Bible the practice that really puzzles me is polygamy. God gives a very clear statement in Genesis 2:24, “…the two shall become one flesh.” There is a long list of problems from the Patriarchs forward that all spring from polygamy. Even Solomon, whose names comes from “Shalom”, and is said to be the wisest man ever- even he misses it. COMPLETELY. In my first cover to cover read of the Bible in 2015 one of the standout messages was that God will not spare me from the consequences of my sins. He may lessen them as an act of mercy. But He won’t take them away. We teach this as a fundaments lesson in Prodigal. Do not spare your prodigal family member/friend from consequences. They will be the best possible teacher. The key verse for this devo sums up David’s consequences. For me, it’s one of the most tragic in the Bible- "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife."
HS

Hugh Stephenson

From the ESV SB. Note the last five words - “Most of 2 Samuel recounts the rise of David’s kingship, first over Judah and then over all Israel, and the major challenge to David’s rule resulting from David’s own sins.” "How could a man—a man after God's own heart—fall to such a level? If you are honest about your own heart, it's not hard to understand." “David started by breaking the tenth commandment (coveting, Ex. 20:17), then the seventh (adultery, Ex. 20:14), and then the sixth (murder, Ex. 20:13), while the Lord silently watched his behavior. Here at last the Lord calls him to account for standing above the law.” “2 Sam. 12:9 This sin was against the Lord, as David should have known through the word of the LORD (cf. Ps. 51:4). With the sword is a general term for causing violent death, as in 2 Sam. 11:25, not necessarily a reference to the specific mode of death (see 11:24).” “2 Sam. 12:10–11 the sword shall never depart from your house. David’s sons Amnon (13:29), Absalom (18:15), and Adonijah (1 Kings 2:25) all will die by the sword. He shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. Absalom will rebel against David and publicly lie with David’s concubines on a rooftop (2 Sam. 16:22).” “Repentance regardless but the consequences remain. “ And the LORD loved him hints at Solomon’s future role as king; God’s grace has triumphed over David’s terrible sin.” “Even though David had been faithful to Jonathan by keeping his covenant with him (ch. 9), he was not faithful to Jehovah by keeping His covenant with Israel (i.e., the Mosaic Covenant). The writer's main point in this section, I believe, was the following: Disobedience to God's revealed will, in the Law of Moses, resulted in lack of blessing, symbolized by infertility and death. Another view is this: "The Bathsheba interlude occurs in 2 Samuel 11—12 primarily to indicate the birth and choice of Solomon, but much is learned about God's covenant dealing with His king." “This chapter records perhaps the third most notorious sin in the Bible, after the Fall and Judas' betrayal of Jesus. It has received much attention from unbelievers in movies and other forms of entertainment. Unbelievers love to gloat over the sins of godly people.” "Yet as Saint Augustine has said, 'David's fall should put upon their guard all who have not fallen, and save from despair all those who have fallen.'" "The king who is content to be given the kingdom (2 Sam 2—4) nevertheless seizes with violence the woman of his desire. The theme of seizure then erupts in the rape of Tamar, the taking of Amnon's life and (in political form) the major incident of the rebellion of Absalom." "As Augustine said, David's fall should put upon their guard all who have not fallen, and save from despair all those who have fallen." “The most important factor seems to be David's basic heart attitude toward God. In this he was very different from Saul, and it is for this reason, I believe, that David did not end as Saul did. When David sinned, he confessed his sin. When Saul sinned, he made excuses (cf. Prov. 28:13).”
MS

Michael Sisson

Re: 2Sam 12:9-10 2Sam 12:9-10 (NASB) ‘Why have >>>you despised the word of the LORD<<< by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because >>>you have despised Me<<< and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ It seems unthinkable David, himself a type of Messiah and the archetype of the Son of David, would also be guilty of “despising” G-d and His Word. Similarly, Israel went on to do the unthinkable: despising her long awaited Messiah, the Word made flesh, the Son of David, G-d the Son…even unto death by the hands of lawless men. Re: 2Sam 12:13-14 2Sam 12:13-14 (NASB) Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, >>>“The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.<<< “However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, >>>the child also that is born to you shall surely die.”<<< Though David’s sin was forgiven and his life was spared, because of David’s sin >>>the son of David<<< had to die. One can certainly see layers of meaning and foreshadowing in this verse…in Judaism, this is known as a “remez” (“hint”). Re: 2Sam 12:15 2Sam 12:15 (NASB) So Nathan went to his house. >>>Then the LORD struck the child<<< that Uriah's widow bore to David, so that he was very sick. c.f. Isa 53:10
GJ

Greg Jones

“Praise God that our Heavenly Father doesn't forsake us, but waits and longs for us even in our darkest moments!” Amen. I would add as should we for others often. We don’t always know the back story that lead to a darkest moment. What a crazy story. Reading closely, concerning raping Bathsheba and killing Uriah Nathan said to David “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms.’” 2 Samuel 12:7-8 What? I guess nothing says this is the new king like living in his house and sleeping with the old king’s wives. But again. What? Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 2 Samuel 12:11 Wait! What? What? David’s wives are going to get raped publicly on a rooftop to make the political statement, “I’m going to overthrow my father for his kingdom”. This, is David’s consequence for, his, sin? Along with he’s not going to die but the first child he fathers with his newest baby momma will? Sometimes I read the Bible and I’m surprised my parents encouraged me to read it unsupervised as a child. What I would tell my own kids today if they were younger. “I don’t believe God is saying these things about Himself. I believe Nathan’s ‘thus says the Lord’ word reflected how, he, believed God operated”. Congratulations on the new daughter. Between yesterday and today from the sound and looks of it she is blessed to be in wonderful hands.
GJ

Greg Jones

One thing that I can for sure say that I have in common with David is that from a very young age I’ve been informed that God is for me. We share that experience. I can’t say I’ve ever experienced life quite like a wife of David did. While they probably would agree that God was with David they would probably struggle with an idea that God was for them. With that in mind I like to think Jesus spent a lot of time dwelling on this part of David’s story and Nathan’s words to him. Possibly Nathan’s “thus says the Lord” pronouncements in light of David’s actions are recast into a lesson taught on prayer. [Our] Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. THY kingdom come, THY will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…as that prayer goes there are applications for every part of David’s story. That too I share in common with David.
SB

Sue Bohlin

Thanks, Michelle! Dr. C. shares Chuck Swindoll's insight on the effect of David's unconfessed sin : “He had no joy. (‘Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation’ Ps. 51:12.) He was unstable. He felt inferior and insecure. (‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me’ Ps. 51:10.) Sin does that to you. It’s part of the wages that sin inevitably demands. A carnal Christian will dance all around and try to tell you, ‘Everything’s fine. Don’t press me. I’m really free . . . really having fun . . . I’m doing well. You just haven’t any idea.’ But down inside it’s there. Everything is empty, hollow, joyless, pointless. A true Christian cannot deny that. True guilt is there. Oppressively there. Constantly there.” These chapters continue the theme of "taking" that we first see in the Fall of Genesis 3. The consequences of David's sin will result in God taking (the life of his infant son) and his sons taking (things that didn't belong to them).
MS

Michael Scaman

There are three Tamars in the Bible. All suffered related to male abuse or male issues. Tamar dought in law of Jacob. Was used and abused by the brothers of her dead husband and even Jacob. Tamar, David's daughter raped by her brother Ammon. Tamal Absolom's daughter would suffer the consequences of loss of a father due to his anger managemnt rebellion issues. As far as Absolom? David first lament Psalm about his personal history is Psalm 3 and about fleeing Absolom. His first lament is not about Saul or other hardships but a family related problem. By title of Psalm 3 David fleeing his son. This is in shap contrast to Psalm 2 where God makes David (and even more strongly, the greater David his son) Apparently not any son of David is 'the son of God' looking at at the ideal son in Psalm 2 and a son of fallen man in Psalm 3 In a similar way we have an ideam man, like a second Adam in Psalm 8 but not kist any man because in Psalms 9 and Psalm 10 the man of the earth is oppressing. So the man from Psalm 8 is in sharp contrast with the fallen man of Psalm 9 and 10. Four of David's sons will die as a result of his sin with Bathsheba and his cover up leading to the death of her husband Uriah. "That man must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." David told Nathan A sentence based on a hard heart and lack of mercy. In Psalm 41 David will throw himself on God's mercy, faithful lovingkindness and for the God who makes light out of darkness to create in him a clean heart.
AL

Amy Lowther

1. Yes, they help me be a stronger, healthier person. 2. I listen to them with open ears, and I work to understand them as God would prefer me do. My responses show I care to make things good. 3. In honoring Christ, it is best to follow Christ instead of opinions in the general public. Believing in Christ, studying Christ’s words, and applying what I learn from Him in daily life restores intimacy, transparency, and trust. 4. Anytime I make a mistake, it is best to take it to God and work through it, learning and improving. God encourages these practices because it helps each of us become stronger, healthier people.