THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik

HERE


Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.

2Samuel
CHAPTER 13

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.

David had many wives. Absalom and Tamar were born to him from Maacah (2Samuel 3:3). Amnon was the son of Ahinoam. Maacah was the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. Evidently he had given his daughter to David as part of a treaty. Ahinoam from the same tribe as David - Judah. She is called a Jezreelitess, meaning she was from Jezreel, which was founded by Etam from the tribe of Judah.
The previous paragraph is to impart what I believe is important information. Remember that Abraham married his half-sister. Such things were not out of line in those days. Therefore, it would not have been out of order for Amnon to ask for Tamar's hand in marriage, a fact with which Tamar was familiar (see verse 13).
But Amnon was not "in love" with Tamar, he was in LUST! He wanted her, but he knew in his heart it was wrong. The Bible records that he "..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.

Amnon had the wrong kind of friends. He who would lead another into deviousness is not a friend! Jonadab was the son of Shimeah (David's brother). Verse 3 tells us that he was a very "subtle" man - devious, crafty. He outlined a trick for Amnon to use.
Beware of friends who would call evil good and good evil. Beware of those who would compromise integrity to achieve a self-gratifying end.

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.

Amnon followed the advice of this so-called friend, and tricked Tamar. When she came to his aid (because he faked illness), he raped her.
Tamar, the bible says in verse 2 was a virgin. The meaning of the word is two-fold. She was a young lady who had never known a man sexually. But she was also a young lady of modesty. She was beautiful, but she was not haughty about it. She was very kind and gracious, and willing to be a servant.
In verse 12 she exhibited integrity and called this sin "folly," or a senseless act. The reason it would be a senseless act is that if Amnon had only asked, David would have given Tamar to be his wife (verse 13).
Rape is always a senseless act because it is born out of lust and happens because of meditating upon lust. It is not genuine LOVE because love is a commitment to help someone else - not to hurt them.

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. 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.

When Amnon had raped her, he hated her. Doubtless he did not hate her as much as himself! He hated the awfulness of what he had done. He realized the "folly" and detested himself because of it. And the only thing he could think of to alleviate the pain was to get her out of his sight.
Note that even after such an awful experience, this young lady is STILL modest. She tried to explain that kicking her out was worse (verse 16) than what he'd already done. What this young man needed to do was to confess his sin, beg forgiveness, and go ask for her hand in marriage. But he was too filled with rage at himself.
Tamar left in great distress. She had been raped, and now was rejected. Oh, how awful is this crime of passion which makes mice of men and degrades women! What spiritual, mental and emotional agony is caused by such a senseless act!

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.

Absalom found out and so did David. David was angry, but Scripture records that he did NOTHING! How often today do parents KNOW that their children have hurt one another badly, but will do NOTHING! Friends, parenthood is for LIFE! And parents ought to do the right thing and teach the right thing - even enforcing it with correction.
Absalom encouraged Tamar, and told her to forget it intimating that he would take care of it. Absalom seethed in his hatred.

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.

Absalom approached David with a plan for celebration. He had a lot of sheep that were to be sheared and was going to celebrate the earnings. He invited ALL of the men of the family to join him in celebration.
David wouldn't go. Neither would he command that the other sons go. Finally, after much persuasion, Absalom obtained consent for the sons to go and David could stay at home.
Then Absalom instructed his servants to wait until Amnon was "merry with wine," and then kill him. Which they did.
See where harboring of hatred in the heart can lead. All evil is reconciled by the thought of revenge.

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.

David got word of what had happened. The news was that Absalom had killed ALL the king's sons. Notice that Amnon's "friend" Jonadab explained to David that only Amnon was dead. Trying to reconcile one murder by consolation that many were not murdered is indeed foolishness. A SON had been killed!

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 and his sons wept with great grief, even though Jonadab was trying to explain that only ONE son was dead. His trickery had caused the grief and he was trying to justify his own guilt.
Absalom ran to his grandfather's home - Talmai, king of Geshur.
Notice (verse 39) that David longed to go and see Absalom - but he didn't go.
When we sin, our Father grieves for us, and longs to be with us. Unlike David, He is always there! But WE must come to HIM in repentance, for He will not be part of our sin.

Please continue with us in daily Bible study.