Adoption As Sons

Synopsis     2Sam 13:21-30     12/24/2018 

Amnon had violated his half-sister Tamar. And word spread quickly. So, in no time, King David heard the news. He expressed anger and outrage, but he did not confront Amnon.  

Because of her plight, Absalom took Tamar into his house in an act of protection. He took offense on her behalf. But his frustration issued both because of what Amnon had done and because King David did nothing to rectify the situation So, he resolved not to speak to Amnon.  

And then, after approximately two years, Absalom contrived a social engagement and invited all of his brothers. At the event, he commanded his servants to kill Amnon in retribution for his crime against Tamar.  

Thinking this could be a coup attempt, all of the other brothers hurriedly escaped the situation. In the confusion, a false report came to King David that Absalom had killed all of the royal sons.  

Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree 

Though they did not share the same mother, both Amnon and Absalom were sons of David. And David was a man with a past. All Israel knew of David’s scandal with Bathsheba. And yet, David never suffered any censure nor for his adultery and murder. So, this served as a de facto model of behavior appropriate to a king.  

As a consequence, Amnon naturally felt above the law. Accordingly, he fearlessly committed incest with his half-sister to satisfy his lust. And for his part, Absalom similarly felt fully justified for murdering his brother as retribution.  

It’s like a principle in nature. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. The children will learn behaviors based on what they see, far more readily than based on what they hear proclaimed.  

Adoption As Sons 

Jesus came to earth. Without this, we couldn’t know what being a child of God was supposed to look like. We had no model.  

King David loved God. The scripture reports that “he had a heart after God”. And yet, even that didn’t sustain him in weakness. He failed in a huge way. And though he suffered the loss of a child, no one demanded justice for Uriah the Hittite. Accordingly, it was this behavior that formed his children. 

But if you have been born again, then God has adopted you. So, you are not merely a child of your biological parents. You are, in fact, a child of God. What’s more, you have been born into a time when you know what sonship looks like. Accordingly, you have been formed into the knowledge of God – at least to the extent that you know the story of God. That is, to the extent that you have been formed by His spirit ministered to you through His Word.  

God has blessed you indeed!

This is a message of hope. You are not destined to make the mistakes of your parents and grandparents. God is your authentic father. For this reason, His Holy Spirit has been given to you to form you into the fullness of the stature of Christ. And this, for the glory of God forever.  

“For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation” Exodus 20:5

Evil and Overcoming

Synopsis     2Sam 13:10-20     12/19/2018 

Amnon forced Tamar to have relations with him. Although Tamar attempted to reason with Amnon, he selfishly ignored her pleas. Afterward, he felt intense hatred for her and sent her away.  

Just as he had forced her to come to him, afterward he forced Tamar out of his residence. Immediately, she tore her cloths and wailed a lament. Absalom, her full-brother, heard what happened and consoled her. And then, Absalom brought Tamar to his own house and cared for her.  

Evil Against Tamar 

Amnon abused Tamar in the worst possible way. Although she was innocent, this terrible evil came upon her. And she was powerless to stop it.  

In that moment, Tamar experienced unimaginably violent injustice. For Amnon, she was nothing but an object. And in this single act, she lost control of her body. Not to mention that she lost control of her life. Everything changed for her although she neither wanted or chose that change. In the context of this culture, Amnon ruined her life. And though he left her to live, Tamar’s hopes and dreams were completely destroyed.   

In every respect, Amnon’s selfish brutality was astounding. And his indifference to Tamar was breathtaking.  

Evil and Overcoming 

I have abused other people. I have been abused. Perhaps not in the way of Tamar. But in my life, I have treated other people as mere objects. And I have felt the dehumanizing effect of being treated as a mere object. I have been perpetrator and victim.  

Yet these facts do not define me. My failures – especially my moral failures – are moments in time. So are my moments of pain. I am not a failure simply because I have failed. And I am not a victim merely because I have been used. 

Still, all of this, even pain and failure, strangely create the deepest possibilities of my life. Because even moments of pain and failure are filled with the potential of repentance, and mercy, and love.  

“to place on those who mourn in Zion, a diadem instead of ashes, To give them oil of gladness instead of mourning, a glorious mantle instead of a faint spirit.” Isaiah 61:3

The Power of Focused Attention

Synopsis     2Sam 13:1-9     12/18/2018 

Years after the time of David’s scandal, the scene has changed. David’s children grew up.  

Amnon was David’s oldest son. As the oldest, he was the heir-apparent. But he felt vexed.  For he desired his half-sister Tamar. However, the law prohibited any possibility of marriage. Additionally, Amnon had no ordinary opportunity to be alone with his sister to even discuss the possibility of relationship. So, he felt confused, not knowing what to do.

Amnon had a cousin named Jonadab. And Jonadab had suggested a way that Amnon could be alone with Tamar. In this plan, Amnon feigned illness and lack of appetite. With this, Amnon intended to induce the king to visit. And at the time of his visit, Amnon asked David to allow Tamar to prepare food for him.  

David agreed to Amnon’s request. So, he sent Tamar to prepare a meal for her half-brother. Which she did. 

The Power of Amnon’s Focus 

Amnon focused his attention on Tamar. Better said, he was obsessed. He thought about her ceaselessly. By focusing his attention on his desire for her, he began to set acts into motion. Even though this attraction posed serious moral problems, Amnon chose to focus on Tamar anyway. And so, his actions naturally followed the focus of his attention. This is the power of focused attention.

The Power of Focused Attention 

So, the power of focused attention is that my actions tend to naturally follow where I focus my attention. And, this is a principle of motivation. Over time and repeated focusing, what I pay attention to tends to drive my affections.  

It follows that I’m drawn towards something I value. Or, I’m repelled by something I disvalue. But either way, I have consistently focused my attention in such a way that it makes me move. And that’s just the feeling it produces. I find myself moving. And I may not even be able to rationally explain why.  

When the scripture says, “guard your heart”, it means; “be mindful of how you focus your attention”. 

“Three things are too wonderful for me, yes, four I cannot understand: The way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent upon a rock, The way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a woman.” Prov 30:18-19

The Power of Prayer

Synopsis     2Sam 12:21-31     12/15/2018 

David’s behavior surprised his servants. Because David had repented with fasting and sackcloth, they imagined he would be inconsolable once his son died. But instead, he returned to his normal routine. So, they asked David to explain.  

David’s answer reflected the depth of his belief in the power of prayer.  

Meanwhile, Joab successfully continued the fight against the Ammonites at the city of Rabbah. Yet, even from a distance, Joab recognized that David had been politically damaged by his scandal. So, as the battle neared its successful conclusion, Joab called for David to come to the battlefield and lead the army in the final assault. Thus, King David led the heroic conclusion to the war against Ammon which brought great wealth back to Israel and re-established his position as king.  

David’s Prayer 

David believed in the power of prayer. Even though his son’s death had been foretold by Nathan the prophet, he knew that God had the power to change course if He chose. And he knew that God responds to the prayers of the repentant and the downhearted. And so he fasted, not merely because of his grief, but because God might possibly grant him his request.  

Prayer was the thing he could do, when he could do nothing else.  

The Power of Prayer 

The Christian claim is that God is a person. In fact, God is three persons. So, God is a personal God.  

I speak and God hears. God speaks and I hear. God acts and I see.  

It’s about communication. And, it’s about action born out of love. And it’s about tapping into my ultimate power.

“With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones.”  Eph 6:18

Repentance Means to Turn From Sin

Synopsis     2Sam 12:11-20     12/14/2018 

Nathan the prophet spoke in the name of the Lord. He pronounced to David the punishments God intended as a consequence of David’s sin with Bathsheba. These included humiliations, a curse on his family line, and the death of the child that Bathsheba had borne.  

David pleaded with God to spare the child. And he kept a total fast and prayed in sackcloth for seven days in this hope. In fact, his advisors worried that he might harm himself if the child died. However, when the child died, David broke his fast and washed. And then he returned to his duties.  

David Repented 

David repented. In other words, he recognized the evil he had done. Besides that, he recognized that he never wanted to fail God like this again.  

He also recognized that his misdeeds had injured other people. Not-the-least of these was his son, who was dying because of David’s sin. David was sobered by this failure and committed to healing his relationship with God. 

Repentance Means to Turn From Sin 

It’s legitimate to dread the consequences of sin. It’s painful to experience the losses that my sins invariably bring into my life. And it’s even more dreadful to contemplate the possibility of eternal damnation in hell.  

But the real damage is that my sins offend God – the God of all creation and the Savior of my soul.  

“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love.” The Act of Contrition Prayer

Examine Yourself Daily

Synopsis     2Sam 12:3-10     12/13/2018 

Nathan was a prophet of God. He served in David’s court. And God had revealed to him David’s crimes. So, Nathan came to David. And he described to David a hypothetical case of injustice. In it, he described how a wealthy neighbor in a certain city took grievous advantage of a poorer neighbor. And then, he asked David to judge between the two men.  

David was incensed by the injustice that Nathan described. He even demanded that justice be exacted on the wealthy man. It was at this point that Nathan spoke the famous phrase, “You are the man!”. And in that moment, David realized for the first time the full extent of his sin. 

Finally, Nathan proclaimed God’s wrath on David’s house because of his sin.  

A Prophet Reveals Self-Deceit 

For David, life had gone on. He had stolen everything from Uriah. He had stolen his wife. And then he had him murdered. But somehow he continued on. He did all these evil things but still continued to function as king. He continued to manage the nation. And he continued to prosecute the war as the head of the military.  

David was in denial. His brain suppressed the knowledge of his own guilt. So much so, that he was no longer consciously aware of it. Even in his own mind, he had literally gotten away with murder. And not only did no one know, but he had made himself to look like an empathetic hero. By all appearances, he was the merciful king who took a dead soldier’s wife into his house to raise up the soldier’s child as his own.  

Nathan’s words exposed David’s deceit. As a result, his misdeeds were brought into the light of truth. And his heart was broken when he fully admitted to himself what he had done. But in truth, he carried his guilt and shame around the whole time – even though he had repressed his treachery from conscious awareness. 

So, suddenly God exposed him. And then, there was no more hiding. The entire nation became aware of his desperately evil sin.  

Examine Yourself Daily 

It’s amazing how easily I repress the awareness of my sins. Sometimes my conscience might be provoked for a moment or two. But then, I distract myself with some amusement. Or I bury myself in work. And then I don’t think about my sins anymore. It’s a cycle.  

I systematically hide from awareness of my own guilt and shame.  

At least I hide until something or someone brings it to mind. But invariably, like David, it comes out.  

The light of truth will always, eventually, have its way. God will expose your truth. It will happen today, or tomorrow, or perhaps not until the day of judgement. But this much is inevitable. What I’ve done will come to light.  

So, the question becomes: will I wait for judgement and unknowingly carry this burden for all my days? Or will I examine my conscience and confess my sins? The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ gives us the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that I can walk in the freedom that He won for me.  

I can walk in the freedom He won for me, even while I tread the ground of this weary land.  

“Probe me, God, know my heart; try me, know my thoughts. See if there is a wicked path in me; lead me along an ancient path.” Psalm 139:23-24

Freedom is not a Justification for Moral Failure

Synopsis     2Sam 11:21-12:2     12/12/2018 

On King David’s command, Joab positioned Uriah the Hittite so that he would be killed in battle. When Uriah died, Joab sent a report to David via a messenger. David tended to interpret any Israelite loss of life as a sign of God’s disfavor. So, Joab cautioned the messenger that David might respond to the report with anger.  And so, he told the man to specifically report to the king that Uriah the Hittite was killed in combat.  

The messenger delivered the report to the king. And when he did, he was careful to specifically mention that Uriah the Hittite had died. King David received the news with unusual grace. Unexpectedly, he told the messenger to encourage Joab.  

For her part, Bathsheba mourned the loss of her husband. After her mourning officially ended, David took her as his wife. And so, when the time came, she bore David a son. 

Is the King Above the Law? 

In accordance with the law, David’s crime was punishable by death. But his crime was also a personal betrayal against a faithful man. Even more than that, it could be seen as a betrayal of the entire army. Should his sin have become known, David could have lost his kingdom and his life.  

And this led him to murder Uriah. He formed a conspiracy with Joab. And on David’s orders, Joab allowed the Ammonites to kill Uriah. Under the law, this was another crime that required the death penalty.  

By his actions, David made the kingship above the law. Yet, he could not have known the disastrous consequences of his failure.  

Do Not Use Your Freedom To Justify Moral Failure 

As a Christ-follower, I say that I am not under the law. And this is true. By virtue of Jesus’ sacrifice, I’m no longer subject to the law of sin and death.  

But what hasn’t changed – what can never change – is that my moral failures prevent me from entering into the full possibility of my life.

“A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.” Psalm 51:12

The Testimony of a Faithful Life

Synopsis     2Sam 11:11-20     12/11/2018 

King David committed adultery with Bathsheba. And she became pregnant. So, David made a plan to fool Uriah the Hittite into thinking that Bathsheba’s child was his. He brought Uriah home from the battlefield. And then he encouraged him to go to his house and sleep with his wife. 

But Uriah didn’t feel right about sleeping in his own bed when all the rest of the soldiers were in tents or in the open field. So, he refused to go to his house and visit his wife. And this foiled David’s underhanded plan. So, David wrote a sealed letter to Joab giving instructions to put Uriah in a battlefield situation where he was likely to be killed. Even though Uriah was dear to Joab, he did as David commanded. And so, Uriah died in combat.  

Uriah’s Faithfulness 

Uriah chose faithfulness. Consistently, he was faithful to the people in authority. And he was also faithful in solidarity with his brother soldiers. So much so, that he refused special treatment or special favor from the king.  

In the story, Uriah’s faithfulness was set against David’s duplicity. Uriah’s behavior was as faithful as David’s behavior was despicable. And had it not been so, David would have had some excuse to justify his treachery. But he couldn’t make this justification because of Uriah’s extraordinary character. 

The Testimony of a Faithful Life 

Sometimes it feels like nothing comes from our effort to be faithful. Like the psalmist, we endeavor to do what is right and pleasing in the sight of the Lord, only to discover that there is no guarantee of any obvious reward. 

And there is no guarantee of obvious reward. And that’s scary. 

Somehow, I sense this danger that I’m going to feel cheated. And, I fear that I could end up looking like a chump. If that happened, the eyes of the world might mock me. That’s the fear. 

And yet we know that no faithful deed goes unrewarded. More than that, we know that every act of faithfulness and love makes the universe more like the thing it was always meant to be.  

“Is it in vain that I have kept my heart pure, washed my hands in innocence?” Psalm 73:13

Looking In The Fridge

Synopsis     2Sam 11:1-10     12/8/2018 

The war continued with the Ammonites. One year, King David sent the army to besiege Rabbah in Ammon. So, Joab led the campaign. And David remained in Jerusalem.  

David lusted after a woman he saw while strolling on his rooftop. Her name was Bathsheba. Although she was the wife of an important and extremely loyal soldier in the army, David brought her to his palace. And then, he had relations with her. After that, she became pregnant.  

As a result, David hatched a plan to cover his deed.  Bathsheba’s husband was a Hittite named Uriah. So, David ordered Uriah to return to Jerusalem from the battlefield. Thinking that Uriah would sleep with his wife, David kept him in Jerusalem overnight. But Uriah slept with the other soldiers at the palace. And this foiled David’s coverup plan. 

David on the Rooftop 

What was David doing on the rooftop? 

In the middle of the night, he was looking for the satisfaction that only God can give.  

Looking In The Fridge 

So I’m awake and it’s 2:30 in the morning. And, I can’t sleep. So what do I do? I look for satisfaction in the fridge. Or I look for satisfaction on the television. Or I surf on my smartphone.  

But Jesus is not in the fridge. And God only makes a rare appearance on the television. What’s more, He is infrequently found on my smartphone.  

And yet, He was what I was looking for the whole time.  

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Augustine of Hippo – Confessions 

You Were Made To Be Fearless

Synopsis     2Sam 10:10-19     12/7/2018 

King David sent the army of Israel against kingdom of Ammon. So, Joab led the army to the city of Ammon. And there he encountered not only the Ammonite army, but also Arameans forces.  

The Arameans had positioned themselves in a pincer. As a result, Joad found himself trapped between the two forces. In front, the Ammonite forces who were arranged in front of their city gate. Behind him were the Aramean forces.  

Joab split control of the forces with his brother Abishai. Immediately, he ordered Abishai to attack the Ammonites in the direction of their city. But Joab led the charge against the Arameans.  

Joab was successful. And the Arameans fled. When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had quit, they quickly retreated to the walls of their city. As a result, the Arameans suddenly recognized they were subject to attack. So they mustered all their forces. In response, David led the entire Israelite army to a great victory by defeating the Arameans on the battle field. 

Joab Lived in the Present 

The Ammonites and Arameans had surrounded Joab with a large army of enemy soldiers. He recognized the danger. But he didn’t show fear. He trusted in God. Made a plan. And attacked with all his might.   

You Were Made to Be Fearless 

I like to make the distinction between fear and anxiety. Fear is the brain response I feel when something poses an imminent threat to my life or my body. And anxiety is a similar brain response that happens in the absence of an actual threat. 

But no matter, I wasn’t made to be afraid.  

God did not intend that I should live in fear.  

Of course, trust is the antidote for debilitating fear – or anxiety. Especially anxiety.   

And this is what creates the peculiar advantage available to Christ-followers. You don’t have to be afraid. If you love Him, then Jesus really does have you.  And when you trust Him, you can lay that fear down. And when the fear response of your brain isn’t dominating your mental life – everything else works like it was intended.  

“Though an army encamp against me, my heart does not fear; Though war be waged against me, even then do I trust.” Psalm 27:3