2 Samuel 13:19

New International Version

Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornate robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.

For Meditation

She was innocent and caring, young, and with her life wide open before her. She loved people and desired to serve wherever she saw a need.

Talk about beauty – the princess was simply exquisite! Heads turned wherever she passed. Her smile was warm and sincerely engaging. A rare combination of wit and grace exuded from her lips when she engaged in conversation, and the people loved to linger in her company. The beautiful princess was an excellent cook, too. If only Israel could have her become their queen!

Why is it then that today, Princess Tamar has covered her head with ashes and is wailing, out of the house of Amnon, her half-brother? Why is she stumbling around in her richly ornamented robe, the garment of the king’s virgin daughters, all torn and revealing her lovely figure so inappropriately (2 Sam. 13:18)?

The dark cloud of rape fills the room of Amnon, the young prince. The deceptive and deafening voice of sin makes a bold claim that he loves Tamar. Now that he has forcibly had his way with her, Amnon swears he hates her intensely (15).

Mr. Guilt steps in with his torment.

“I thought you said you loved her.”

Covering his ears, Amnon screams. He orders his servant to get Tamar out of his house and bolt the door after her (17).

Infatuation is a wicked deceiver and very destructive when left unchecked.

The news breaks in the palace of King David. He is furious, but what can he do (21)? His adulterous act with Bathsheba and the cruel murder of her husband had robbed David of every moral right to reprimand Amnon for his violence against his sister.

Absalom, the full brother of Tamar, conceals his hatred for Amnon and silently plots his revenge. Meanwhile, he tells Tamar to be quiet about it. Amnon is her brother, and they have to place it in the box of family secrets.

Her response was in her terrified eyes, and from that day, Tamar lived in Absalom’s house, a lone woman (20-22). The aggression has broken and infused hatred in the royal family because of one member’s lack of self-control!

The old saint, Job, was right when he cried in anguish:

“The groans of the dying rise from the city, and the souls of the wounded cry out for help” (Job 24:12).

The groans of dying Tamar rise from Jerusalem, and her wounded soul cries out for help for the rest of her life. A single rush of lustful ecstasy in Amnon has damaged His sister for life.

Even as you read this message, sexual violence is ruining millions of innocent lives worldwide. We have a responsibility to help stop this carnage as much as we can. However, we should remember that the enemy is cunning and seeks our downfall. The deceptive voice Amnon fell for could knock on your door anytime, wanting to entice you along the same path to destroy somebody’s life (1 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 6:1; 1 Peter 5:8-9). Just as God told Cain, master it before it ruins some innocent teenager, a marriage, a family, and a community (Genesis 4:7).

On your own, you are weak. However, the Holy Spirit is in you to manifest the fruit of self-control in the saint who determines to glorify the Father through Christ Jesus, our Lord. His strength awaits you today.