The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / THE CORROSIVE NATURE OF SIN

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 140 of 365 THE CORROSIVE NATURE OF SIN The story of Amnon and Tamar is the first in a trilogy of narratives (the other two relating to Absalom's murder of Amnon and Absalom's return from exile) that take the book of Samuel in a dark direction. They also correspond to David's adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah the Hittite. The nature of sin was on full display here, especially 2 Samuel 13:15, where the false promises of sin that fueled Amnon's lust led him toward destruction. "He hated her more than he had loved her." Here is a powerful description of the destructive nature of sin and the expected consequences when sin is brought into the light. The question becomes how to overcome the power of sin that leads to death. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Ro 3:23). Sin is a human condition that is universal and terminal. But God provided Jesus, whose death accomplished the redemption of all who believe in him. Sin is corrosive, creating sorrow and bitterness that permeates all of life apart from the grace and redemption of God through Christ Jesus. Jesus, your Word makes it clear that sin is a destructive, terminal human condition. But through you I can be made new, and I thank you for that. I ask you to transform me into someone you can use for good. Amen. 2 Samuel 13:7-15 NASB 7 Then David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him." 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9She took the pan and dished them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Have everyone go out from me." So everyone went out from him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand." So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. 11 When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister." 12But she answered him, "No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing! 13 As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you." 14 However, he would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. 15 Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Get up, go away!"