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Learning From Example

February 20th, 2023

2 Samuel 15:1-9

David had an affair with Bathsheba and had her husband murdered. David’s sons learned from his example. David’s son Amnon violated his half sister Tamar. Like David, he assumed that women were objects to be used. David was furious, but never did anything. 

Tamar had a brother named Absalom. Absalom was also a son of David, and he had learned from his father’s example. Absalom wanted Amnon dead, so he had his friends kill him, just like David had his friend kill Uriah. Absalom ran away, but later David invited Absalom back to Jerusalem. 

Absalom went to the city gates every day. When people came to get justice from King David, Absalom would turn them away saying David had no one to hear them.

It is easy to think that our sin only affects us. But, our lives are models for the people around us. We can be an image of  selfishness and violence, or we can follow Jesus, the son of David who models the way of selfless love. We cannot live without consequences.

Author: Steven Malcolm