Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Samuel 12-13.

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God sent Nathan to rebuke David for what he did with Bathsheba, and to Uriah.  Nathan brought the rebuke home by telling David a story which David at first thought was true.  When Nathan pointed out to David that what he had done was at least as bad as the villain in the story, David recognized, and repented, of his sin.  Nathan told David that God would forgive him this sin, but that David would still face the consequences.  The consequences began immediately when the first son born to Bathsheba and David became sick and died.  David actually models something important for us in dealing with this.  While the child was sick David fasted and prayed to God, seeking healing for the child.  Once the child died, David resumed his life (having mourned the child during his sickness).  David recognized that he would join the child again, but that the child would not return to this world.  Those of us who love Christ know that we will be reunited with our loved ones who also love Christ once more.  Death is not the end for those who trust and obey Christ.

David began to experience other consequences when Amnon, David’s first born son, raped his half-sister Tamar.  Followed again two years later by Absalom, Tamar’s full brother, killing Amnon for raping his sister.  Every time I read this I think that David was a poor father to both Amnon and Absalom.  It seems to me that David had failed to teach Amnon that bad behavior has consequences.  And if David had forced Amnon to marry Tamar (which Mosaic law prescribes for this sort of situation), Absalom would likely have been mollified.  Or, would have at least been reluctant to murder his sister’s husband.

We also get two insights into the intrigue of David’s court in this passage.  First, Joab tells David that he had better come out from Jerusalem and lead the final battle against Rabbah, or people might start seeing Joab as a rival to David rather than as his subordinate.  An example of how Joab seems to look out for David’s interests.  It suggests to me that while Joab liked being the commander of the army, he did not want to be king.  The second is the role Jonadab played in Amnon’s actions and later close knowledge of Absalom’s plot.  Jonadab was another nephew of David.  His involvement in advising Amnon in how to seduce/rape Tamar and later knowledge that Absalom had only killed Amnon suggests that he was a confidant of both men.  I have long wondered what Jonadab’s agenda was in this situation, but we learn nothing more about him.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.