Power

Today’s Reading:  2 Samuel 13

Remember last Sunday when I wrote about Jephthah?  I couldn’t figure out why I didn’t remember him or his story even though his name shows up in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith”.  Eventually I concluded it was because his story about sacrificing his daughter was so awful.  My assigned scripture for this week is different in that Amnon does not show up in Hebrews 11 and, I totally remember him and his story.  But it has a very similar feel in that this story is completely awful.

Amnon was the oldest son of King David and his third wife, Ahinoam.  He was the heir apparent to the throne of Israel.  2 Samuel 13 tells us Amon fell in love with Tamar, Absalom’s beautiful sister.  He became obsessed with her to the point of making himself ill.  STOP HERE.  We are only two verses into the chapter, but I want to draw your attention to two important points –

  • Absalom’s father was King David.  While he and Tamar had a different mother than Amnon, they had the same Father.  So Tamar, the beautiful woman Amnon was obsessed with, was also his half-sister.
  • 2 Samuel 13:1 says Amnon was in love with Tamar, but he was actually in lust (not love) with her.  If he were in love, he would have put her interests ahead of his own.

Amnon and his advisor Jonadab came up with a plan for Amnon to get closer to Tamar.  Amnon pretended to be sick.  When King David came to check in on him, Amnon asked for Tamar to fix him something to eat.  This was not unusual, as it was customary for a female family members to be called upon to prepare and serve meals to male family members.  King David summoned Tamar to make some bread and serve it to Amnon, who was in bed.  But…when Tamar brought the bread to Amnon, he talked her into feeding him.  After Tamar was in close proximity, he tried to get her to have sex with him.  When she refused, Amnon took her by force and raped her.

All of the sudden, Amnon’s “love” for Tamar turned into an intense hate. Both Absalom and King David learned of Amnon’s horrible deed.  The Bible says King David was furious, but it doesn’t speak about Absalom’s emotion other than to say that Absalom never spoke another word to Amnon.   STOP HERE.  I want to draw your attention to two more important points –

 

  • The Bible doesn’t speak of Absalom’s reaction to the situation because he was plotting how to use it to his advantage.
  • The Bible says King David was angry, but notice he doesn’t punish Amnon.
After two years, Absalom invited King David and his sons to join him at Baal Hazor for a party.  King David didn’t go, but sent his sons including Amnon.  Long story short, Absalom got Amnon drunk at the party, then ordered his men to kill him.  The rest of King David’s sons returned home and Absalom fled to Geshur for three years.

 

Now that I’ve recapped this awful story, let’s stop again.  What does God want us to learn from it?  I’ve been soaking on a few different things this week, but as I’m sitting down to write this morning, the message God has laid on my heart to share with you is abundantly clear –

Power, and the pursuit of power, often drives people to actions (or inaction) that were previously uncommon of their character. They often disregard their moral compass, what is right, or what is in the best interest of others. Their actions demonstrate complete self-promotion.

We see glimpses of this behavior in the lives of Amnon and Absalom, but it is even more clear (and more sickening) in the life of King David. The Bible tells us David was a man after God’s own heart. He was Israel’s greatest king. By this point in his life, however, David was wrapped up in his own power. His focus had shifted from leading his armies in battle to preparing for who was going to succeed him on the throne. Amnon was first in line and David didn’t want to do anything that would mess up the plan. David was no longer concerned about doing what was right, only what served his own purposes.

From a godly leader who poured out his heart in Psalm after Psalm, we would never have expected such behavior. Power propelled David to disregard what was in the best interest of others, and the people closest to him were hurt in the process. Amnon was dead, Absalom was on a path to destruction, and Tamar’s life was forever ruined. While David may not have been able to prevent the detestable act in the first place, he definitely had the power to make it right after the fact. Instead, he chose to do nothing.

Does this behavior sound familiar? Have you experienced it in the lives of people close to you? Have you been hurt in the process? Are you in a position of power or pursuing power? Could you be blind to the hurt you are causing for those close to you? I urge you to draw near to God and submit to his ways. His plans are sovereign. All power truly belongs to him.