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

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

    While David’s illicit child with Bathsheba was sick, David fasted and prayed for God to heal the child. He did this for seven days. His servants and advisers were afraid of what he would do when the child died. However, when he learned that his child had died, David got up, cleaned himself up, and ate. David understood that death was not the end and that we will be rejoined with our loved ones after death. We should have a similar attitude. While our loved ones are alive, but sick and suffering, it is appropriate to fast and pray, seeking God’s healing power. But once they have died we need to put aside our grief and go on about serving the Lord. I do not mean that quite as it sounds. There is a place for mourning the loss of our loved ones, especially when they die suddenly. However, we need to recognize that while we will miss them, it is only for a short time until we will be rejoined with them in eternity (at least, those who have chosen to serve the Lord).

    The story of the rape of Tamar and its aftermath have always bothered me. There is Amnon raping his half-sister and David is reported as being angry about this, but David takes no action. There is Jonadab, David’s nephew, advising Amnon on how to arrange to rape his sister, then later in a position to report to King David that Amnon was the only one of his sons killed by Absalom. Then there is Absalom killing his older half-brother, Amnon, and only suffering a three year exile. The fact that Amnon, and Jonadab, could think that he could get away with raping Tamar reflects how poorly disciplined he had been his whole life. Further, the fact that Absalom began plotting immediately to kill Amnon when he learned what had happened to Tamar tells us that Absalom knew that David would impose no discipline on Amnon. In a way, David’s sin with Bathsheba resulted in Amnon raping Tamar, which resulted in Absalom killing Amnon, which later led to Absalom attempting to usurp David’s throne. Perhaps, if David had disciplined Amnon, he would not have needed to fight the civil war with Absalom later.