We live in a time and place where we learn to stay out of
each other’s business. We turn a blind eye when we see hurtful things happening
around us. We quickly learn that to get involved means we become a lightning
rod for the anger or hateful behavior. Meanwhile, people suffer. Children are
neglected or abused, women are used and abused, and young boys are sold for a
can of beer.
In
II Samuel 13, we are told the story of King David’s sons
Amnon and Absalom and his daughter Tamar who was the sister of Absalom.
Amnon
thought he was in love with Tamar and, with a cousin, devised a plan to
get her
into his room where he raped her. His “love” (which was apparently only
lust) turned
to hate and he despised her and threw her out and locked the door. When
her brother
Absalom heard about it, his hate for his brother simmered under the
surface. He
took his sister in because she was now no longer a virgin and would not
be desirable for marriage. King David was angry, but did nothing – maybe
because
this follows after his adulterous encounter with Bathsheba. What can a
father
say to a son after he has just committed the horrible sins of rape and
murder
himself? Judgment had been pronounced on David. “This is what
the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own
household to rebel against you.” II Samuel 13:11a
This is one place where David failed as a role model for his
sons. Now Absalom had killed Amnon and the king mourned for Amnon (even though
he was angry with him for raping Tamar) and Absalom fled. The family is very
broken and still there is no accountability, no conversations, no seeking
forgiveness or granting forgiveness.
When a brother hates a brother, the hate
turns to murder. Bitterness grows and people are hurt on every side.
Jesus taught another way. First he taught
that even if we think murderous thoughts, we are a murderer. “Anyone who hates another brother or sister
is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal
life within them.” I John 3:15
Second, he taught that love overcomes evil.
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But
I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” Matthew 5:43-44
I wonder if we are willing to get involved
in the lives of others and get to know both the people who are being hurt and
the people who are doing the hurting, if we began to speak God’s truth and love
into their lives, could this bring people to repentance and bring forgiveness
and healing rather than bitterness and hate. Would we be able to bring about
positive change to the lives of both those being abused and those doing the
abusing?
Lord, in a hard and abusive world around
me, please keep my heart soft and full of your love that I can be a beacon of
light to those in distress and allow your light in me to shine in the dark
places where bitterness, hate and anger dwell. Teach me to love others more, to
pray for them and open myself to be a friend to them. In the precious name of
Jesus, Amen.
