The Effect of Sin

Day 97.

Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that 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!” (2 Sa 13:15)

David’s life takes a sad turn after the events surrounding Bathsheba. David, instead of leading his army (there is a lesson in this – idol hands are the devil’s workshop), walks around the roof and spies beautiful Bathsheba, bathing on her rooftop. He sends for her and they sleep together. When she learns that she is pregnant as a result, David tries to cover it up by sending for her husband, one of his mighty men (an inner circle of 30 men) Uriah the Hittite from the battle that he might sleep with his wife and so pass the baby off as his. But he won’t do it. As his fellow soldiers are fighting he won’t do it (an indictment against David’s choices). So David sends him back to battle with a message for the general to make sure Uriah fights where he will get killed. This happens and David marries Bathsheba. Later David repents after being confronted by the prophet Nathan. He is forgiven but not without consequences. “Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house.”

It is not until years later that we see these consequences begin to unfold. Amnon, David’s oldest son, loves his half-sister Tamar. At the counsel of a so-called “friend” he tricks her into coming to him alone in his chambers where he rapes her. As soon as the deed is done, his love turns to hate, “so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her.” Sin is powerful, especially sexual sin. As much as he loved Tamar before, now he could see nothing in her but his shame. Sin drives people apart.

But things don’t stop there. They eventually lead to Absolom’s (Tamar’s brother) rebellion. Indeed, the consequences of David’s sins are painful. Sin destroys.

O Lord, help me to flee when temptation comes! Keep me close by your means of grace and give me friends to warn me when I stray.