Day 2

MORAL PARALYSIS

The greatest problem in David's life from here on did not stem from opposition at home or abroad. It is well summed up by E.G. White in Patriarchs and Prophets (p723): "Heretofore God's providence had preserved David against all the plottings of his enemies and had been directly exercised to restrain Saul. But David's transgression had changed his relationship to God. The Lord could not in any wise sanction iniquity. He could not exercise his power to protect David from the results of his sin as he had protected him from the enmity of Saul."

At first all went well. Bathsheba had another son of whom it is recorded, "the Lord loved him"(2 Sam. 12:24,25). The war against the Ammonites was brought to a victorious conclusion by Joab and David. Nothing seemed to have changed.

Then problems arose in David's own household. Amnon, his eldest son, disgracefully abused his half sister Tamar for his own gratification and then rejected her utterly. "Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister" (2 Sam. 13:22). David failed to act effectively. Absalom bided his time and when opportunity offered he had Amnon murdered and fled.

David's failure to punish Amnon's crime came from a sense of unworthiness resulting from his own sin. Absalom in deep resentment at his father's inaction took the law into his own hands. The years of separation which followed (2 Sam. 13:38; 14:28) only deepened Absalom's contempt.

How should David have acted? Do you think this terrible evil in David's family was the Lord's doing? Compare Ex. 20:5,6 and 2 Sam. 12:10,11.

How should we cope with events in our past of which we are ashamed? Look at these verses: Romans 6:11-14; 7:18-25; 8:28,33,34.