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Monday, April 13, 2009

questions I had while reading...

1) 2 Sam 12:24 states that when Solomon was born, "The Lord loved him..." why did God particularly love Solomon when he was just a newborn? What was special about this baby as compared to other babies or David's other children? Or did God love this baby for the person he would become?

2) Before Amnon raped her, Tamar stated, "Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you." Could Amnon have married Tamar? I thought the law was against incestuous relations?

Lev 18:11 Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father's wife, born to your father; she is your sister.

Lev 18:9 Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.

3) When David was informed that Amnon had raped Tamar, the bible only says that "he was furious" (2 Sam 13:22), it doesn't sound like David disciplined Amnon? Is that correct? If so, do you think David's inaction gave rise or contributed to Absalom's resentment/rebellion later?

4) After Absalom killed Amnon, he fled to Geshur for 3 years (2 Sam 13:38). Again, it doesn't sound like David responded in any particular way? Why didn't David drag him back and discipline him? Or do something?

5) When David heard that Absalom had won the people's hearts (2 Sam 15:13) he left with a lot of people. Why did't he stay and fight? Or at least investigate the situation further to verify if the news was true? The last rumor he heard (about his sons having been murdered) was false, this rumor could have been false too?

6) 2 Sam 15:30 says that he was barefoot, why was he barefoot? Did David forget his shoes? haha I know, this is so trivial, but I don't understand why he was barefoot :).

I think I felt a little disappointed by David's management of his family affairs, but in The Making of a Man of God the author points out that when David left the city, what made him weep was not so much the loss of his throne but rather, what broke his heart was the the discipline of his Father (2 Sam 12:11-12 "Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you")... the evidence of his sin in his children and in his kingdom. In spite of his failures, as he reacted to the chastening of God he was still the man after God's own heart.

4 comments:

Justin Seibel said...

Yeah I think you've realized a flaw in David's character. I don't think he was a good father and husband. He had several wives, which was against the law and his kids got out of control because he didn't discipline them.

Also, I don't know what that means about Solomon. I was going to wait to ask this until we get to Solomon, but I don't know why he was chosen as king. He was the youngest and from Bathsheba, who was from an adulterous relationship. I don't know why he was chosen. We'll have to ask God one day.

Teena Phamster said...

Although David was a righteous king, he was subject to sin, just like all of us. His great sin of adultry w/ Bathsheba led him to kill her husband Uriah. David was confronted and exposed of his wrongdoing. Faced w/ his sin, David repented and asked God for forgiveness. This was recorded in the famous Psalm 51.
Though God forgave David of his act of adultry, the consequences of the sin continue to plague him. The child born to him and Bathsheba died. Amnon raped his half sister.
His own actions had set such a negative example for his children and at the same time had rendered him incapable of acting judicially as a king ought- all of which led up to Absalom's rebellion.

Tera, thanks for asking such great questions!
Justin, thanks for responding as usual. I appreciate both of ur insights! ;)

Teena Phamster said...

Ok, a couple of ur questions got me to do a little researching. :)

Why was it stated, The Lord loved Solomon? Well, soon after Solomon's birth, the Lord told Nathan to name him "Jedidiah" which means beloved by the Lord. The name given to Solomon at his birth by Nathan the prophet symbolizes God's forgiveness of the wayward David. (member, Nathan was the one who knew of David's sin and delivered that message...in the same way, God showed through Nathan once again His love and forgiveness.)

Why barefoot? Being barefoot was a sign of mourning and shame. Read in Micah 1:8. Kevin mentioned this type of mourning of when people sinned, they would walk barefoot and naked...to expose their shame and to mourn over the depth of their sins. Thank goodness nobody is doing such things nowadays. :)

Tera Chau said...

ohhhh I am enlightened! THANKS T :)