David Brings Absalom Back
2 Samuel 13-15
”Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her. Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her. But Amnon had a very crafty friend…” 2 Samuel 13:1-3 NLT Anyone else feel like they’re reading about a Lifetime movie in the making?
Amnon gets Tamar alone by scheming. When Tamar begged him not to have sex with her, Amnon “…wouldn’t listen to her, and since he was stronger than she was, he raped her.“ 2 Samuel 13:14 NLT Oh, boy!
Anger brews, and revenge rears its ugly head. Absalom plans Amnon’s death and has him murdered, then escapes to his grandfather’s home in Geshur.
In the meantime, Joab sends a woman to David, saying, ”All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.“ 2 Samuel 14:14 NLT
David “…longed to be reunited with his son Absalom” (2 Samuel 13:39 NLT) and he sent for Absalom to be brought home, but then David refuses to see him. I’d love to know the reasoning behind this. Apparently, Absalom felt the same way and stirred up a rebellion against David.
