Scripture: And you - you would be like one of the immoral men in Israel! Please, speak to the king, for he won’t keep me from you. 2 Samuel 13:13b
Observation: In this intense scene where Amnon is attacking Tamar, this is the most revealing line about the ongoing issues of Israel. The narrative of Samuel - following the royal household - has left behind the narrative of the book of Judges, which had shown how the entire nation had devolved in their observation of God's laws.
In Judges, we saw terrible acts performed, and now we see them again, however along with them Tamar points out they are still going on. There has never been a time when the people of Israel had set aside their terrible acts and re-embraced God's laws ... it's just that we stopped hearing about it for a book or two. The re-emergence of that theme was introduced with David's lust and murder, and we are now about to see the continued sins of Israel in a violent and prolonged way.
Application: When we surround ourselves with God-fearing people, it is easy to believe that there is great hope that mankind is actually good and virtuous, and that we are ever-so-close to rediscovering God's truths. This remind us this hope isn't true. David ... the great king, the man after God's own heart, the shepherd who loves God so much he writes amazing songs about God ... is showing us that the best people still rebel against God in the worst ways. Beginning with David himself, and now pervading the story of his entire family, we see that even believers fail.
We all fail. In this way, it is hopeless to successfully obey God. I can try, but I will fail. I'm no David, and even he couldn't do it or teach his sons to obey moral laws.
However, that doesn't mean I must not repent and try. It doesn't mean that I should ignore the laws. It means I must do my best, repent of evil, as forgiveness when I stumble, and in all times believe in Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice that redeems me in my failure.
My success in this matter is impossible. I can only be reclaimed from depravity by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus as the atonement of my sins. This I do daily.
Prayer: Lord, again I say it, thank you for your amazing love, and for your gift of Jesus. I am unworthy of your love, let alone your mercy. I fail daily, even hourly. I could always do more, and behave better. Yet you created a way to remove the stains from my life. Thank you, my Lord, my father, my God, and my savior. Amen.
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