B. David's sin and its consequences ~ cont.
1. David and Bathsheba ~ cont.
c. Intercession for sick child - 2 Samuel 12:16; Psalm 6:1-10
d. David's child dies - 2 Samuel 12:17-23
e. Birth of Soloman - 2 Samuel 12:24-25
2. Absalom's rebellion
a. David and Joab capture Rabbah - 2 Samuel 12:26-31; 1 Chronicles 20:1-3; Psalm 21:1-13
b. Troubles of Amnon, David's son
(1) Rapes his sister Tamar - 2 Samuel 13:1-22
(2) Absalom's vengeance and flight - 2 Samuel 13:23-39
And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. (2 Samuel 12:17)
Who were the elders?
elder - H2205 - From H2204; old.
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast?.... And pray; it is to no purpose, no end can be thought to be answered by it:
can I bring him back again? from the state of the dead, bring him to life by fasting, and praying, and weeping; that is not to be expected:
I shall go to him; to the state of the dead, to the grave, where his body was, or would be; to heaven and eternal happiness, where his soul was, as he comfortably hoped and believed: from whence it appears, that the Old Testament saints did not suppose an annihilation at death; but believed the immortality of the soul, a future state after death of eternal life and bliss:
but he shall not return to me; in the present mortal state, though at the resurrection they should meet again.
Offering up prayers for the dead to help them escape eternal damnation or purgatory are NOT Biblical doctrines. David prayed while the child was yet alive, once he had passed on, David's responsibility to petition Father for any healing ceased.
A few articles of interest: Praying for the Dead. This one was informative as well: What does the Bible say about praying/speaking to the dead? I haven't read this one in its entirety, good beginning: What About Praying for the Dead?
And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 20:3)
JFB commentary:
cut them with saws, etc. — The Hebrew word, “cut them,” is, with the difference of the final letter, the same as that rendered “put them,” in the parallel passage of Samuel [2Sa_12:31]; and many consider that putting them to saws, axes, and so forth, means nothing more than that David condemned the inhabitants of Rabbah to hard and penal servitude.
b. Troubles of Amnon, David's son
(1) Rapes his sister Tamar - 2 Samuel 13:1-22
(2) Absalom's vengeance and flight - 2 Samuel 13:23-39
{pages 530 - 535}
And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. (2 Samuel 12:17)
Who were the elders?
elder - H2205 - From H2204; old.
- H2204 - A primitive root; to be old.
I liked Henry's commentary on the verse:
II. David's humiliation under this token of God's displeasure, and the intercession he made with God for the life of the child (2Sa_12:16, 2Sa_12:17): He fasted, and lay all night upon the earth, and would not suffer any of his attendants either to feed him or help him up. This was an evidence of the truth of his repentance. For, 1. Hereby it appeared that he was willing to bear the shame of his sin, to have it ever before him, and to be continually upbraided with it; for this child would be a continual memorandum of it, both to himself and others, if he lived: and therefore he was so far from desiring its death, as most in such circumstances do, that he prayed earnestly for its life. True penitents patiently bear the reproach of their youth, and of their youthful lusts, Jer_31:19. 2. A very tender compassionate spirit appeared in this, and great humanity, above what is commonly found in men, especially men of war, towards little children, even their own; and this was another sign of a broken contrite spirit. Those that are penitent will be pitiful. 3. He discovered, in this, a great concern for another world, which is an evidence of repentance. Nathan had told him that certainly the child should die; yet, while it is in the reach of prayer, he earnestly intercedes with God for it, chiefly (as we may suppose) that its soul might be safe and happy in another world, and that his sin might not come against the child, and that it might not fare the worse for that in the future state. 4. He discovered, in this, a holy dread of God and of his displeasure. He deprecated the death of the child chiefly as it was a token of God's anger against him and his house, and was inflicted in performance of a threatening; therefore he prayed thus earnestly that, if it were the will of God, the child might live, because that would be to him a token of God's being reconciled to him. Lord, chasten me not in thy hot displeasure. Psa_6:1.
Henry touches on something that the articles (previous post) alluded to, that had the child lived it would have been a continual memory of the sin. Not that such an atrocity would, or could, ever be erased from either David, nor Bathsheba's remembrance. But to look upon a child and think daily, perhaps hourly, a child conceived in sin. Who wrought the death of another in an attempt to 'silence' the sin. God is so very gracious to us, even when we do not understand nor deserve such generosity.
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. (2 Samuel 12:23)
David obviously had some assurance that the child would be in eternity with him, in the presence of the Lord? Based upon being circumcised? Was the child circumcised?
Gill:
can I bring him back again? from the state of the dead, bring him to life by fasting, and praying, and weeping; that is not to be expected:
I shall go to him; to the state of the dead, to the grave, where his body was, or would be; to heaven and eternal happiness, where his soul was, as he comfortably hoped and believed: from whence it appears, that the Old Testament saints did not suppose an annihilation at death; but believed the immortality of the soul, a future state after death of eternal life and bliss:
but he shall not return to me; in the present mortal state, though at the resurrection they should meet again.
Offering up prayers for the dead to help them escape eternal damnation or purgatory are NOT Biblical doctrines. David prayed while the child was yet alive, once he had passed on, David's responsibility to petition Father for any healing ceased.
A few articles of interest: Praying for the Dead. This one was informative as well: What does the Bible say about praying/speaking to the dead? I haven't read this one in its entirety, good beginning: What About Praying for the Dead?
And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 20:3)
JFB commentary:
cut them with saws, etc. — The Hebrew word, “cut them,” is, with the difference of the final letter, the same as that rendered “put them,” in the parallel passage of Samuel [2Sa_12:31]; and many consider that putting them to saws, axes, and so forth, means nothing more than that David condemned the inhabitants of Rabbah to hard and penal servitude.
I figured it could not be actual cutting...but that they were in servitude. Similar to the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:20).
Amnon rapes Tamar...he loved and hated her with the same passion. Was it truly love as one typically defines it? Or rather lust? Wickedness.
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. (2 Samuel 13:1-2)
love - H157 - A primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise).
vexed - H6887 - A primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitively or intransitively.
Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. (2 Samuel 13:15)
hate - H8130 - A primitive root; to hate (personally).
hatred - H8135 - From H8130; hate.
love - H160 - Feminine of H158 and meaning the same.
My heart weeps for women who have been used, misused, abused, misunderstood, cast aside, or treated as if they are nothing more than objects for the sole discretion and pleasure of man. How it must have crushed Tamar's heart...what dreams must have been dashed to pieces. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Father can and will heal and restore broken hearts and dreams. Perhaps not what was originally thought and/or hoped for, but dreams and desires which will glorify Him.
O Father, touch the hearts of those who have been bruised and broken. Bring Your healing touch to their lives. I heard this on the radio the other day and found it very encouraging. Our Hope Endures by Natalie Grant.
If Father has chosen you to be His child, take heart, while we reap the 'harvest' of what we've sown in our lives prior to conversion, HE will see us through. He has a plan and a purpose for everything that goes on in our lives. We are born again, not to corruption, but to new life in Christ Jesus. Take heart, keep your eyes focused on the Celestial City and the glory of the coming King.
I liked this song as well, You've Been Remade, by Tenth Avenue North. Remember you've been bought with a price, you are His vessel...seek to know Him more intimately, spend time sitting at the feet of Jesus.
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. (2 Samuel 13:1-2)
love - H157 - A primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise).
vexed - H6887 - A primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitively or intransitively.
Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. (2 Samuel 13:15)
hate - H8130 - A primitive root; to hate (personally).
hatred - H8135 - From H8130; hate.
love - H160 - Feminine of H158 and meaning the same.
- H158 - From H157; affection (in a good or a bad sense).
loved - H157 (see above).
I was browsing for information on Amnon's love/hate relationship with Tamar. I found a forum posting which posed the question on the difference between Amnon/Tamar and Shechem/Dinah. As I copied that verse above and read the verse below it, it dawned on me that Shechem though he took Dinah (his heart clave to her) he did not send her away. When her brothers came to slaughter the men of the village, she was still with him.
And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. (2 Samuel 13:16)
I was browsing for information on Amnon's love/hate relationship with Tamar. I found a forum posting which posed the question on the difference between Amnon/Tamar and Shechem/Dinah. As I copied that verse above and read the verse below it, it dawned on me that Shechem though he took Dinah (his heart clave to her) he did not send her away. When her brothers came to slaughter the men of the village, she was still with him.
And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. (2 Samuel 13:16)
My heart weeps for women who have been used, misused, abused, misunderstood, cast aside, or treated as if they are nothing more than objects for the sole discretion and pleasure of man. How it must have crushed Tamar's heart...what dreams must have been dashed to pieces. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Father can and will heal and restore broken hearts and dreams. Perhaps not what was originally thought and/or hoped for, but dreams and desires which will glorify Him.
O Father, touch the hearts of those who have been bruised and broken. Bring Your healing touch to their lives. I heard this on the radio the other day and found it very encouraging. Our Hope Endures by Natalie Grant.
If Father has chosen you to be His child, take heart, while we reap the 'harvest' of what we've sown in our lives prior to conversion, HE will see us through. He has a plan and a purpose for everything that goes on in our lives. We are born again, not to corruption, but to new life in Christ Jesus. Take heart, keep your eyes focused on the Celestial City and the glory of the coming King.
I liked this song as well, You've Been Remade, by Tenth Avenue North. Remember you've been bought with a price, you are His vessel...seek to know Him more intimately, spend time sitting at the feet of Jesus.
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