1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and it came to pass while they 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: were in the way, that Tidings came to David saying, 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,480 Speaker 1: Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is 4 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 1: not one of them left Second Samuel thirteen thirty. Dear Lord, 5 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: as the tragedy in Second Samuel thirteen comes to light, 6 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: I thank you that you are setting a hedge of 7 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: protection around me, so that I am protected from others 8 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: taking advantage of me and my kindness. When the grip 9 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: of manipulation seems to overpower me, I lean on the 10 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: fact that you will provide a way of escape, even 11 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: when the amnons of this world seem to have the 12 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: upper hand. I choose to praise you because in the end, 13 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,919 Speaker 1: you will always vindicate and validate me. Because I am 14 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: your child. With this truth, I know that whatever is 15 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: done too or against me will not stop the plans 16 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: you have for my life, because you are careful to 17 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: bring every word you speak to fruition. It's through your 18 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: power and through your might that I can boldly speak 19 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: this over my life in Jesus's name. Amen, thank you 20 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: for praying with me today. Continue listening for an incredible 21 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 1: Bible story brought to you by Bible in a Year dot. 22 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 2: Com sibling drama. 23 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 3: In our last story, we saw the restoration of David 24 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 3: after a heinous sin. He had an affair with one 25 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 3: of his most trusted soldier's wife. When she became pregnant, 26 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 3: he covered it up by murdering him. As a result, 27 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 3: David's heart grew hardened and dis from God. Nathan showed 28 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 3: David the error of his ways, which began the process 29 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 3: of bringing David back to God. Sadly, the child he 30 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 3: had had with Bathsheba passed away from sickness, but a 31 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 3: new son was born whom God would use to do 32 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 3: great things. In this story, we learned about the descent 33 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 3: of David's family as predicted by Nathan. Conflict and sin 34 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 3: breaks out among David's children, and the neglect of David 35 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 3: creates brokenness among his family, as inspired by the Book 36 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 3: of Second Samuel. 37 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 4: This is Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 38 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 4: Bible in a Year podcast. In our last episode, we 39 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 4: heard how Nathan confronted David for his sin of adultery 40 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 4: and then murder and then the cover up. God would 41 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,839 Speaker 4: spare David's life because of his repentance, but he took 42 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 4: the son conceived in sin and promised that there would 43 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 4: be acrimony and war, a chaos in his household. David 44 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 4: repented and turned back to God, worshiping him and drawing near, 45 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 4: and found comfort and strength and assurance in his grief. 46 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 4: But while God had forgiven the sin, there would be 47 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 4: consequences for David's choices, And today we'll see how David's 48 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 4: failure creates conflict and drama among his children. It is 49 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 4: a lesson on the brokenness that is caused by sin, 50 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 4: not only David's sin with Bathsheba, but his choice to 51 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 4: marry many wives and disregard God's design for marriage between 52 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 4: one man and one woman. So let's listen now to 53 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 4: today's reading. 54 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 3: David was blessed with many children, yet because he had 55 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 3: taken several wives, the family lines were blurred and skewed. 56 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 3: Just as his ancestors Abraham and Jacob, David found himself 57 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 3: in the middle of a civil war between his wives 58 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 3: and children. Tamar, David's daughter, was incredibly beautiful and sought 59 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 3: out after by many men throughout Israel. Amnon, David's son 60 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 3: and Tamar's half brother, lusted after her with great passion. 61 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 3: He would watch her from a distance, pining after her relentlessly. 62 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:17,799 Speaker 3: He was tormented by his desires and greatly disturbed. Amnon 63 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 3: vented to his friend Jonadab. Jonadab was a crafty man 64 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 3: and had an unashamed darkness in his heart. My silly prince, 65 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 3: Jonadab scoffed, here is what you shall do. Pretend to 66 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 3: be ill, near death in bed. Ask for her to 67 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 3: come and bring you food, and when she does, you 68 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 3: can make your move. Amnon did as Jonadab suggested. He 69 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 3: lay in his bed, coughing and feverish. Tamar dabbed his 70 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 3: head with a wet cloth and fed him stew from 71 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 3: a spoon. Amnon could barely hold himself together. Around her, 72 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 3: the smell of her hair, the delicate touch of her skin. 73 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 3: Amnon leaned over to Tamar and touched her leg. Lie 74 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 3: with me, he whispered. Tamar swatted his hand away and said, 75 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 3: how could you ask such a thing? You shall not 76 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 3: violate me in that way. Where would I be able 77 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 3: to go with that type of shame? You would be 78 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 3: the greatest fool in all of Israel. Amnon's blood boiled 79 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 3: within him at her words. He grabbed her leg harshly 80 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 3: and threw her beneath him on the bed. Amnon was 81 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 3: far stronger than Tamar, so he had his way with her. 82 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 3: Nobody could hear her whimpering through the chamber doors. After 83 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 3: Amnon was through, he threw Tamar off of the bed 84 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 3: and said get out of here. Because she rejected him, 85 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,799 Speaker 3: he hated her with a greater intensity than he ever 86 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 3: loved her. Tears filled her eyes as Amnon's servant was 87 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 3: called in to throw her out of his home. She 88 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 3: went to a secret place and wept before God. Ashamed 89 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 3: of what had happened, she ran to her brother Absalom 90 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 3: and told him all that had happened. So she stayed 91 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 3: with her brother, and Absalam plotted his revenge against Amnon. 92 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 3: Two full years had passed and Amnon had nearly forgotten 93 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 3: his terrible crimes against Tamar. Yet Absalom did not. He 94 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 3: could never forgive him. He invited all his brothers to 95 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 3: feast in celebration of the sheep shearing festival. Together they ate, 96 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 3: drank and celebrated with music. But Absalom drank nothing. He 97 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 3: ate nothing. Instead, he observed Amnon closely. Amnon drank until 98 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 3: his heart was merry, without a care in the world. 99 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 3: He danced and stumbled about, enjoying the company of his brothers. 100 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 3: Soon he passed out among the sheep. After this, the 101 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 3: other brothers departed to leave Absalom alone with Amnon. He 102 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 3: nudged Amnon awake. Amnon opened his eyes to see Absalom 103 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 3: standing above him with his sword in his hand. Before 104 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 3: he could say a word, a blade was driven straight 105 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 3: through his heart. David was given word that Absalom had 106 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 3: killed Amnon, and was greatly disturbed. At first, he had 107 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 3: thought that Absalom killed all of his sons, but was 108 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 3: quickly comforted to know that Absalom had only killed Amnon. 109 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 3: He was not surprised by Absalom's actions, for he knew 110 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 3: that his son was capable of great violence. Nevertheless, he 111 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 3: mourned his son's death and awaited the return of his 112 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 3: other sons. Absalom, however, did not return. He remained in Geshur. 113 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 3: A darkness had been unleashed that night in Absalom's heart, 114 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 3: A bitterness towards his father arised it was David that 115 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 3: should have killed Amnun. Instead, he did nothing, so Absalom 116 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 3: remained there for a while plotting to seek revenge on 117 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 3: his father, David. 118 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 4: Today's scripture opens with the echoes of Abraham and Jacob, 119 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 4: but for all the wrong reasons. Like the patriarchs before him, 120 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 4: David had not denied himself the pleasure of taking many. Wise, 121 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 4: he was not ignorant of the sacredness of marriage. That 122 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 4: God's design was for man to cleave to his wife, 123 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 4: to be one flesh with her. But he was simply 124 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 4: unwilling to deny himself the beautiful women that were available 125 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 4: to him as a decorated warrior and a powerful king. 126 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 4: And just as had happened with the men before him, 127 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 4: David's choices produced a fertile ground for divided loyalties, family dysfunction, 128 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 4: and animosity among siblings. God's design for marriage is not 129 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 4: a trivial rule meant to deprive us of enjoyment. It 130 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 4: is a wise guardrail to protect his own children, to 131 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 4: produce flourishing in the family and peace in the community 132 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 4: and world. And when it is violated, there will always 133 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 4: be problems and terrible consequences. There's no greater reminder of 134 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 4: this than the history of Amnon, Tamar and Absalom. Amnon 135 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 4: burned with desire for his own sister, and he listened 136 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 4: to a wicked friend who told him to just take 137 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 4: what he wanted, even giving a plan for how to 138 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 4: go about it. It's no mistake that the Book of 139 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 4: Proverbs opens with the truth that blessed are those who 140 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,719 Speaker 4: do not walk in the council of the wicked. But 141 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 4: Amnon listened to the counsel of the ungodly and lured 142 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 4: his sister into his room. When she properly rejected his advances, 143 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 4: Amnon raped her then cast her away, hating her for 144 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 4: the rejection. So Tamar fled to another brother's home, the 145 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 4: home of Absalom, and told him what had happened, And 146 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 4: what about David? Was he even aware of what was happening? 147 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 4: Second Samuel thirteen twenty one gives us the answer. When 148 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 4: King David heard of all these things, he was very angry, 149 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 4: so he did know what happened, But apparently he does 150 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 4: nothing again, like others before him, men like Isaac and Jacob, 151 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 4: David saw the strife and the sin of his own 152 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 4: children but did nothing to intervene. But Absalom was not 153 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 4: going to sit idly by. Absalom is in a rage 154 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 4: because what has happened to his sister, and he is 155 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 4: about to take revenge on his brother. One day, he 156 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 4: called his siblings to a feast. He waited until Amnon 157 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,559 Speaker 4: was good and drunk, and then he sent his servants 158 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 4: to kill Amnon. His other brothers fled in fear of 159 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,559 Speaker 4: their brother. David received word of what had happened and 160 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 4: tore his clothing and mourning, thinking that all of his 161 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 4: sons were dead. But Jonadab let him know that only 162 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 4: Amnon had died as punishment for violating Tamar. Absalom knew 163 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 4: now that he would be persona on grata in the 164 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 4: kingdom and with the king, so he fled where he hid, 165 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 4: letting his hatred and bitterness toward his father grow. He 166 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 4: would one day return to Jerusalem, but would not find 167 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 4: his father waiting in open arms, and this rejection would 168 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 4: fill his heart with murderous intent. We'll hear about Absalom's 169 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 4: return the next time. Dear Lord, we are reminded in 170 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 4: this passage of scripture that there are always consequences for sin, 171 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 4: and we pray that therefore we would turn from sin 172 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 4: and never allow sinful choices to destroy our lives and 173 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,839 Speaker 4: our families. We do pray for grace and mercy for 174 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 4: those who have failed, that each one of us would 175 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 4: find in You and your grace and love displayed at 176 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 4: the cross eternal life and salvation. We thank you that 177 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 4: there is no sin that you cannot forgive, and that 178 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 4: your blood, the blood of Jesus Christ, cleanses us from 179 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:31,959 Speaker 4: every sin. So Lord, we turn to you, and we 180 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 4: trust in you, and we find mercy and grace in Jesus' name. Amen. 181 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,199 Speaker 4: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 182 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 4: I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. 183 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:48,319 Speaker 4: This is Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can 184 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 4: download the pray dot com app and make prayer the 185 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 4: priority in your life. And if you have enjoyed this podcast, 186 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 4: share it with someone you love. By sharing this podcast, 187 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 4: you can make a difference since one's life. This podcast 188 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 4: is being listened to all over the world by millions 189 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 4: of people, and we are celebrating the fact that God's 190 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 4: word is being heard. And if you want more resources 191 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 4: on how to tap into God's power for living, be 192 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 4: sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless you.