Evil in David’s Family

 

          David’s son Ammon burning with passion for his half sister Tamar was advised by his friend Jonadab to fake sickness and request for Tamar to come and attend to him. The king, ignorant of Ammon’s motive agreed and sent Tamar to Ammon. Ammon raped his sister and sent her out. Absalom the full blood brother of Tamar though seething with anger held his peace and waited for a good opportunity to revenge.

Two years later, Absalom hatched his plans, He commanded his servants to kill Ammon while all the king’s son were holding a party in his house. The king was devastated but Absalom ran away. Not long after this, David’s heart began o yearn for his son Absalom. Through the help of Joab, Absalom was allowed to come back to Jerusalem. Before long, Absalom conspired, usurped his father’s throne and David had to flee from Jerusalem. Absalom came to Jerusalem and on the rooftop of the palace and in the presence of all the people he laid with his father’s wives. Some of David’s close friends like Ahictophel deflected to Absalom. Ahitophel being the grandfather of Bathsheba probably had an axe to grind with David. It was an opportunity to revenge. Other friends like Hushai, remained faithful, some flee with him. However, this was also an opportunity for those who had been waiting to get their pound of flesh to do so. One of them was Shimel, the son of Gera who cast stones at David because he took the place of his kinsman Saul.

 

On the long run, Absalom was defeated; he was killed against the wishes of David his father. And David returned back to the palace.

LESSON:

1.     Sow to the wind and you reap a whirl wind. David had an illicit affair with Bathsheba and also planned the death of (Uriah) Bathsheba’s husband. The repercussion was enormous; David lost three promising sons; Bathsheba’s son, Ammon and Absalom. Tamar, his daughter was defiled; his wives were defiled through incest. What he did to another in secret was done to him openly. David was traumatized by his son’s conspiracy and his sins came to the open. The penalty is usually always serious when a leader------- disobeys God. Moses too struck the rock in annoyance, and lost the opportunity to step into the earthly Canaan. Leaders and administrators should be careful of bringing reproach to the name of the lord.

2.     A leader has many friends when he is in power, but you can only know your real friends when challenges come.

3.     David loved his children to a fault, while the Bible recorded that David was wroth with Ammon for raping his sister, there was no record of any punishment meted to him. Even though, Absalam was after David’s life, David never wanted him dead when Absalam was in exile after killing Ammon, David wanted him back 2 samuel 13:39. Joab noticed it and set up the

4.     David made a hasty decision concerning the case of Mephibosheth and Ziba. He heard only one side of the story.

5.     David was decisive when Sheba led a revolt against the king, David sent his men after him, Sheba was killed and the revolt came to an end. Leaders sometimes have to be decisive and pro active when it comes to quenching evil before it spreads.