2 Samuel 13:19-21
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.
David was angry when he found out about Amnon raping Tamar, but he did nothing about it. There is no record of his confronting or punishing Amnon. Instead Absalom took matters into his own hands two years later, which then led to an armed rebellion against David. David was not indifferent to what Amnon did, but he probably felt restrained by his own guilt. How could he in good conscience condemn his son for doing what he had also done (to Bathsheba)? Imagine how different David and his son's lives could have been if David had not sinned earlier. This is one of the effects of our sin, that we lose the moral authority to be a good witness and example to our family and friends.
God, I confess that I have sometimes kept silent about Your truth because I felt like a hypocrite. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You, and that can serve as an example to those around me.
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.
David was angry when he found out about Amnon raping Tamar, but he did nothing about it. There is no record of his confronting or punishing Amnon. Instead Absalom took matters into his own hands two years later, which then led to an armed rebellion against David. David was not indifferent to what Amnon did, but he probably felt restrained by his own guilt. How could he in good conscience condemn his son for doing what he had also done (to Bathsheba)? Imagine how different David and his son's lives could have been if David had not sinned earlier. This is one of the effects of our sin, that we lose the moral authority to be a good witness and example to our family and friends.
God, I confess that I have sometimes kept silent about Your truth because I felt like a hypocrite. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You, and that can serve as an example to those around me.