Monday 4th November
Read 2 Samuel 13:1-2
“In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David.
2 Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.” (NIVUK)
There is little grace to be found in this sordid tale. Ponder the parallels with David’s downfall. It involves desiring and taking a woman who is off-limits. It involves deception and death and revenge. It involves mourning and grief for a lost son. As much as we hope to only pass down to our children those things within us which are good, very often we pass down traits we ourselves abhor. Such is the case here.
At the heart of the story is a misunderstanding of what it means to love another. Amnon thought he was in love with Tamar, but all the evidence in the story suggests otherwise. He was not in love. He was simply lovesick. Perhaps the friction often found in families occurs because love is malformed and misaligned. As we work through this tale of woe this week perhaps it is good to embark with a reminder of what love is – when we are going to read a horrific tale of what it is not.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) (NIVUK)
