We are continuing in what is one of the ugliest sections in all of Scripture. Last week we studied the rape of Tamar by her half brother Amnon. This week we will examine the aftermath in which Tamar's brother Absalom takes revenge and murders Amnon. This will result in estrangement between Absalom and his father David which will culminate in a civil war in Israel.
Why are such awful events recorded in the Bible? One reason must be that the Scriptures honestly portray human sin. Unlike worldly fiction (books, movies, TV) which often glamorizes immorality and vengeance, the Scriptures show the sordidness of the sin itself and the awfulness of sin's consequences.
What happened in 2 Samuel 13 continues to happen daily in our world. Women are victimized. Human justice fails to act. Vigilantes take the law into their own hands and take their own revenge.
We as Christians must face these realities and offer hope. Yesterday a sister at GBC sent an email to the church about a ministry in our county which serves ‘Tamars', women who have been exploited. We can be the savor of God's grace in a fallen sinful world.
We also proclaim a gospel of a Savior who was abused for us so that our sins might be forgiven. He is able to sympathize with and comfort those who have been victimized. He also transforms us from being takers who once used other people to being able to reflect His love as we serve others. He releases us from the tyranny of hateful vengeance to the freedom of trusting God to make all things right.
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