Join us as Alan J. Huth shares his insights into the scriptures, highlighting the pervasive influence of David’s own past sins on his descendants. This episode offers a poignant exploration of the ancient text, driving home the timeless lessons of sowing and reaping within human relationships. Delve into the upcoming programming of the Ezra Project, where historical and chronological readings provide fresh perspectives on the Biblical narrative, enriching personal devotions. Don’t miss the opportunity to consider the value of understanding the Bible in chronological order, as we wrap up with an invitation to join this transformative journey.
Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. We join Allen J. Huth as he shares Bible passages and comments from over 30 years of his personal Bible reading journals.
SPEAKER 01 :
Today we are in 2 Samuel chapter 13. As we continue our study through 2 Samuel, and this chapter will be read by the Ezra Project chaplain Vicki Bustos, our guest reader.
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2 Samuel chapter 13. Now Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shemaiah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. And he said to him, Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister. Jonadab said to him, Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand. So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, Please, let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight that I may eat from her hand. Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Send out everyone from me. So everyone went out from him. Then Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber that I may eat from your hand. And Tamar took the cake she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, Come, lie with me, my sister. She answered him, No, my brother, do not violate me for such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do this outrageous thing. As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the outrageous fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you. But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Get up, go! But she said to him, But he would not listen to her. He called the young man who served him and said, Put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her. now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed so his servant put her out and bolted the door after her and tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went. And her brother Absalom said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this to heart. So Tamar lived a desolate woman in her brother Absalom’s house. When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. But Absalom spoke to Amnon, neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar. After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers at Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. And Absalom came to the king and said, Behold, your servant has sheep shearers. Please, let the king and his servants go with your servant. But the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you. He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. Then Absalom said, If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with you? But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. Then Absalom commanded his servants, Mark when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine. And when I say to you, strike Amnon, then kill him. Do not fear. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant. So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose and each mounted his mule and fled. While they were on the way, news came to David. Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons and not one of them is left. Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth, and all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. But Jonadab, the son of Shemaiah, David’s brother, said, Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. Now therefore, let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king’s sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead. But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king’s sons have come. As your servant said, so it has come about. And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly. But Absalom fled and went to Talmai, the son of Amihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. So Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there three years. And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom because he was comforted about Amnon since he was dead.
SPEAKER 01 :
Back in 1983, when I read this chapter, I wrote David’s Family Affairs, just as God foretold. David’s daughter raped by David’s son. David’s other son murders son who raped daughter. Why? Because David sinned with Bathsheba. Both sins repaid, rape and murder, within his own family. I had a similar take in 1997 when I wrote, Amnon rapes sister Tamar, then Absalom kills his brother Amnon. Sexual sin of David with Bathsheba over lust bears fruit in David’s children. The law of sowing and reaping. We reap what we sow. Then in 2007 I wrote, Lust or Love? Amnon said he was in love with Tamar. He deceived her to have sex with her. She gave him a way out to get what he wanted. He didn’t love her. He lusted for her. After raping her, he hated her. Lust rarely satisfies. It is a pleasure for a moment. Tamar is disgraced. Absalom takes revenge. Amnon is murdered. David’s house is in turmoil, just like Nathan predicted. What a mess. What a mess in David’s family. I like to speak to young people, if young people are listening to this podcast at this moment. Think about what this chapter really represents. Are you in love? Are you lusting for someone right now? From this story, please learn that lust is no substitute for love. Do not let your lust overpower you. You see what happens here. Amnon’s love for Tamar becomes very great hatred, greater than the love he had for her. So if your lust is really love, then wait. Let it develop. Let love develop in the relationship you’re interested in. Don’t let lust turn into hatred toward that one that you’re interested in right now. If we’re learning anything from these chapters from David and his family, don’t let the pleasure of the moment turn into the consequences of a lifetime. Lord, I thank you for the Word of God that shows us stories of real people and helps us face the circumstances that we’re in. May we learn from what we read and what we hear so that we can make better choices, so that we can love and not lust, and that we can avoid the consequences of our behavior in our futures by obeying what we learn in your word. Though it may be hard, Lord, give us the strength to do it in our lives today. Lord, help us. Give us strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Our radio programming is set for 2025. We will cover 44 of the 66 books of the Bible using the Ezra Project day by day through the Bible 11 book series. We start at January 1 with the writings of Old Testament historical books beginning with Job. We will cover seven more historical books until spring when we jump into the New Testament writings of Mark, Peter, James, Jude, and Hebrews. By summer, we will go back to the Old Testament writings of all 13 of the minor prophets. We’ll finish 2025 with the writings of Paul. Maybe you don’t want to follow the AdBible radio programming in your daily quiet time. Okay, I offer you an alternative plan. Read the Bible chronologically starting any day you want. The Bible is not organized the way things occurred. You can order an Ezra Project Chronological Bible Reading Journal and experience an amazing journey through the Bible in the order things actually occurred. The first time I read the Bible chronologically, it was an aha experience. While reading Kings and Chronicles, I read the prophets who were alive at the time. In the New Testament, you read about a miracle or a parable by all four gospel writers on the same day. It was a very educational and inspiring way to read the Bible. One user said this about our chronological Bible reading journal. Some years ago, I used a couple of spiral notebooks for my journaling. I’ve attached pictures of the book, the first edition of the Ezra Project Bible Reading Chronological Journal. That was the picture he sent. I live in Phoenix now, and I cannot find any place that has this type of journal. I’ve used many types of journals recently, but this seems to work the best for my needs. Please let me know if these are still available. Yes, they are. In fact, it is our number one best-selling product of all time. Visit azureproject.net and order a chronological Bible reading journal today and start your chronological journey through the Bible. I know you’re going to enjoy it. I know you’re going to enjoy it.
