Morning Light – June 29th, 2015: The Rape of Tamar

Morning Light – June 29th, 2015
Today: [2 Samuel Chapter Thirteen]: The Rape of Tamar. In this chapter David’s sons Amnon and Absalom sadly follow in the pattern of their father’s failures in committing adultery and murder. There are demonic strongholds and familiar spirits that will track a family line to keep your life in failure and devastation. In this chapter we will draw back the curtain of natural events however grievous and see the spiritual forces at work so we can learn to avoid the same mistakes.
[2Sa 13:1-39 KJV] 1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name [was] Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtil man. 4 And he said unto him, Why [art] thou, [being] the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister. 5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see [it], and eat [it] at her hand.
When David carried out the affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband God told him that the sword would never leave his hand. Bathsheba’s child dies and later Solomon is born. It would seem that disaster has been averted. However we must bear in mind that the events of our lives never happen in a vacuum. Other people are watching most prominently our children. It has been said that what we allow in moderation our children will take to excess. Just as David would not restrain himself from Bathsheba now we see his son Absolom becomes infatuated with his half-sister Tamar.
As difficult as this is this might have been the end of the matter accept for a cousin of Amnon who suggests a ruse for him to have his way with her. This is the first manifestation of what would later surface as what we call a Jezebel spirit. Jezebel was the wicked queen of king Ahab. When Ahab would pout and long for something she would conspire to get him what he wanted regardless of the consequences. Jezebel was not an anomaly. She was possessed of a familiar spirit that plagued the house of David for many generations. This same spirit was originally the demon that would plague Saul and he would call upon David to play the harp so he could have some relief. This is the same spirit in chapter 12 that the prophet Nathan described as the “traveller” that David was feeding in taking Bathsheba after seeing her on the rooftop. This was a demonic stronghold imposed against the royal house of Israel from generation to generation that provoked many tragic and dismaying episodes of destruction and downfall among the kings of Israel. When God told David the sword would not leave his house – it was not so much the judgment of God as it was the observation that David had opened himself and his family line up to a demonic stronghold by the choices he made that day upon the rooftop looking down on Bathsheba.
6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand. 7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat. 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded [it], and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. 9 And she took a pan, and poured [them] out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. 10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought [them] into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 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. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. 15 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. 16 And she said unto him, [There is] no cause: this evil in sending me away [is] greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. 17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this [woman] out from me, and bolt the door after her. 18 And [she had] a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters [that were] virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
Jonadab being swayed by a Jezebel spirit suggested that Amnon feign sickness to bring his half sister to him. Notice that king David himself called for Tamar to go to Amnon. Jonadab is colluding in what is about to happen just as David conspired with Joab to kill Bathsheba’s husband. There will always be people around you who will encourage you to live your life at the lowest common denominator. They will suggest to you decisions whereby you can have what they know you want whether it is God’s will or not. In so doing they embed themselves in your life like a pestilence – usually to evade consequences for their own sinful lives.
Amnon takes Tamar just as his father David took Bathsheba. David has taught his sons and worse he has established a precedence among the kings of Israel to take what they want no matter the consequences. Looking down the history of the kings of Israel we see the devastation of this demonic stronghold in the nation right down to Jesus’ day and king Herod who made illegitimate claim to his brother’s wife. After have his way with her Amnon rejects Tamar. This is unlike David who protected and cared for Bathsheba. David was a man after God’s own heart. For all his weaknesses he still took responsibility and in so doing out of the ashes of the decisions he made regarding Bathsheba – the next king, Solomon was born. Your decisions in times of failure determine what happens next. Amnon’s decisions led to his own death and civil war. David’s decisions directed the very bloodline of Jesus to be made manifest in the relationship between himself and Bathsheba.
19 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. 20 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. 21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. 22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. 23 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.
24 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. 25 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. 26 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? 27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28 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. 29 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.
Just as Amnon followed in the pattern of David’s failure regarding Tamar, likewise Absolom followed in his footsteps regarding the assassination of his brother Amnon. Both Amnon and Absalom are cut out of the same cloth and take occasion to have their way because of David’s decisions regarding Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. In all of this David was involved yet did not see what was happening. He encouraged Tamar to go to Amnon failing to see his sons desire for his half-sister. He relents in allowing Absalom to have the social event with his brothers including Amnon – not seeing that Absalom intended to kill Amnon. It is important to note that after the matter with Amnon and Tamar was exposed – David did nothing. He was angry but he did not punish Amnon. Neither did he compel Amnon to take Tamar to wife which he could have done and according to the law should have done. He allowed the situation to fester for two years while Absalom said nothing – waiting on his father to do something about the situation. It is no doubt guilt regarding Bathsheba that stayed David’s hand. How could he discipline Amnon when he was responsible for the same actions? David was allowing the opinions and judgments of others to keep him from doing what he should have an the result was the rape of his daughter, the death of his son Amnon and ultimately civil war.
30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left. 31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. 32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose [that] they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead. 34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him. 35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is. 36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore. 37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day. 38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And [the soul of] king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
David hears of the upheaval and death of Amnon. Notice that Jonadab who was the instigator of this whole travesty now has gone from counseling the now dead Amnon to counseling the king. Had David used discernment in this matter he no doubt would have had Jonadab executed for the counsel he gave Amnon. In your life you are going to have false counselors who will collude with you to live your life at the lowest common denominator. They will encourage you to make decisions no matter what the cost. No doubt Jonadab’s plan was to bring about what ultimately happened – to go from counseling the king’s son to counseling the king himself and to go unpunished for his conspiracy. Learn to limit your counselors. Learn to look through and not just with the eye of discernment to see the demonic stronghold at work to bring about generational devastation in your life. Realize that the enemy at work in your midst has been tracking your family possibly for generations to keep you in failure and devastation. Had David not listened to the “traveller” spirit that tempted him on the rooftop this would not have happened. Had Amnon refused the counsel of Jonadab things would have been different. You should also be quick to deal with situations around you even if it brings an accusation of unfairness because of your own history of failure. Many have blamed God for bringing about what happened because of David’s disobedience – but if we just ask and listen and use discernment we will avoid much heart ache and heart break in our own lives.