PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN ( 2 Samuel 13:15, 34, 37-38 ): I see in these verses some men not holding themselves accountable for their actions. At least, not presenting themselves to others as accountable for their actions. Instead, they tried to hide what they did or run from the consequences of their actions. I have also done this in my life, Father. Maybe not to the extreme of rape and murder as they have done here, but I have sinned against others in my lifetime, then tried to hide it or hide myself from the consequences of such actions. Please forgive me for this disgraceful way of living, Father. Forgive me for not holding myself accountable for my actions in those moments. Help me to continue to be a better man moving forward in this lifetime than I ever had been in the past.
PROMISE ( 2 Samuel 13:32-35 ): These verses take me back to a previous quiet time in which You made a promise to David that all of his sons would face death and disgrace due to David’s evil involving Bathsheba. Slowly but surely this promise is coming to fruition. You are always faithful to Your promises, Father, whether they are good or bad results, the faithfulness You have towards them is always consistent.
ATTITUDE ( 2 Samuel 13:37-39 ): Although David was mourning over one of his son’s deaths, he still held an attitude towards the son who had murdered Amnon which I do struggle with at times, Father. He held an attitude of longing over the sinful son. This was still his son and regardless of his sinful ways, he still longed for him just as You always long for us regardless of our actions in this life. How often have I completely abandoned people in this life over a single action, Father? How often have allowed allowed the sin of others to determine my thoughts and actions towards them in a negative manner? Help me to become better at this, Father.
COMMAND ( 2 Samuel 13:37-39 ): I see the command here which Jesus spoke as being the second most important command for us to follow. The first is to love You with all that we are. The second is to love others as ourselves. Amnon had raped his own sister, yet on Amnon’s death David still mourned the loss of his son. Absalom, another of David’s sons, was the one who murdered Amnon, yet David still longed for him in his life after Absalom fled following the murder of Amnon. Loving others is the obvious command being followed by David here, Father. Help me to be better at this command. Help me to be better at loving others in this lifetime as You have loved me, Father.
EXAMPLE ( 2 Samuel 13:37-39 ): I have been taught many times over the years to love the person but hate the sin just as You do with us, Father. David gives a great example of this in his life. Although Amnon, David’s son, raped David’s daughter Tamar, he still held love for Amnon. So much so, that David mourned Amnon’s death for many years. The same applied to the son which murdered Amnon. Although Absalom had murdered Amnon, his brother, and fled so that he did not have to face any perceived consequences for his actions, David still longed for his son regardless of the things he had done. This is the type of love You show to us, Father. No matter what I’ve done in this life, You still express Your love for me and You still long for me. Why do I struggle so much to share this same mentality towards others in this life, Father? Help me with this, Father. Help me to be better at loving others regardless of their sin, because I am not worthy of Your love due to my own sins, yet You still freely and abundantly provide it to me.
*DAILY NOTE: Lord, there is SOOOOO much going on here. So much turmoil around David and his family, yet David still shows me such great examples of how to live in this life. Although one of his sons raped one of his daughters, he still loved them both. Although one of his sons murdered another of his sons, he still loved them fully. Yes, he was saddened, distraught, and even angry at the actions they took, but he never stopped loving the persons. This is such a great testimony from David of showing how to love the person but hate the sin, Father. Thank You for revealing this to me this morning.
EXPAND TO READ: GENERAL NOTE FOR MY QUIET TIMES
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