2 Samuel 13

This is just an awful, dark, tragic story. So cruel. So messy. Just like we humans often are. But it happened. And we can learn from it.

From Amnon, don't ever allow yourself to be obsessed with anyone or anything besides God. Obsession leads to possession. I want to be completely God-possessed and I don't want anything on this earth to own a piece of me besides God.

From Tamar, don't ever allow yourself to be left alone in your disgrace. God's grace is more than enough. He can cover your shame. Calm your fear. Redeem your broken life. Restore what was lost. Come to him with all the ugly baggage and scars and lay it down at his feet. Your life isn't over because of what you've gone through. Christ can restore you.

From David, don't ever allow sin in your house to be swept under the rug. The law decreed what was the just consequences for Amnon's sin. David was mad. But his failure to address this sin in his home allowed it to fester and infect his household. This chapter isn't the last time David's house pays the consequences for the seeds of sin sown here. Pull it out by the root.

From Absalom, don't ever allow unforgiveness to have a place in your heart. It will reel you in to revenge. You will never be free from the pain and bitterness and wake of destruction until you find a way to forgive. Even though Absalom's response was deserved, it ruined Absalom's life. There is no path to healing through the dark woods of bitterness. The only road out is forgiveness.

From Jonadab, don't ever allow yourself to be a part of the drama and twisted stories that people can stir up. So much crazy stuff goes on in our world. You don't have to get all caught up in it. You can be the voice of reason. You can be the light. Although he comes into this story twice, he stays cool both times. I don't think he intended his advice to end up how it did the first time, but he didn't egg on the crazy either time.

Lots of crazy stuff going on in our world today. Let's not ever allow ourselves to be taken out by sin.