Monday, August 14: “Valueless Family Values”
2 Samuel 13: 28: “Absalom commanded his servants, saying, ‘See now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, “Strike Amnon,” then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.’”
Courage? Valor? If Absalom were so courageous and valiant, why couldn’t he be the one to strike down his brother face-to-face, instead of orchestrating this elaborate plot? The previous verses (vv. 1-19) show what evil Amnon had done, and he deserved to be punished, but whatever happened to “‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord”? (Deuteronomy 32: 35) And yes, all that Absalom did was a fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy (2 Samuel 12: 10-12), but Absalom himself was not predestined to conduct this vengeance; that was a plan spawned within his own evil heart, from his own evil desires.
