II Samuel 13

Ammon wanted his half-sister Tamarverses 1-2

And it came to pass after this

that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister

whose name was Tamar

And Amnon the son of David loved her

and Amnon was so vexed

that he fell sick for his sister Tamar

                  for she was a virgin

and Amnon thought it hard for him

to do anything to her

Jonadab gives Ammon a plan to get Tamarverses 3-5

BUT Amnon had a friend – whose name was Jonadab

the son of Shimeah David’s brother

and Jonadab was a very subtle man

And he said o him

Why are you – being the king’s son 

lean from day to day?

Will you not tell me?

And Amnon said to him

            I love Tamar my brother Absalom’s sister

And Jonadab said to him

            Lay you down on thy bed – and make yourself sick

                        and when your father comes to see thee

say unto him

            I pray you – let my sister Tamar come and give me meat

                        and dress the meat in my sight – that I may see it

and eat it at her hand

Ammon works Jonadab’s planverses 6-7

So Amnon lay down – and made himself sick

and when the king was come to see him

Amnon said to the king

I pray you – let Tamar my sister come

            and make me a couple of cakes in my sight

                        that I may eat at her hand

Then David sent home to Tamar

saying

Go now to your brother Amnon’s house – and dress him meat

Amnon empties the room except for Tamarverses 8-10

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house

and he laid down

And she took flour – and kneaded it – and made cakes in his sight

and did bake the cakes

            and she took a pan

and poured them out before him

                        but he refused to eat

And Amnon said

            Have out all men from me

And they went out every man from him

Amnon grabs Tamarverses 10-11

And Amnon said to Tamar

            Bring the meat into the chamber

that I may eat of your hand

And Tamar took the cakes which she had made

            and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother

                        and when she had brought them to him to eat

                                    he took hold of her and said to her

                                                Come lie with me my sister

Tamar tells Ammon to ask Davidverses 12-13

And she answered him

Nay my brother do not force me

                        for no such thing ought to be done in Israel

                                    do not you this folly

            And I – whither shall I cause my shame to go?

                        and as for you

you shall be as one of the fools in Israel

            Now therefore – I pray you – speak to the king

                        for he will not withhold me from you

Amnon rapes her and sends her awayverses 14-17

Howbeit he would not hearken to her voice

            but – being stronger than she

forced her – and lay with her

Then Amnon hated her exceedingly

so that the hatred wherewith he hated her

was greater than the love

wherewith he had loved her

And Amnon said to her

            Arise – be gone

And she said to him

            There is no cause

this evil in sending me away is greater than

the other that you did to me

BUT he would

not hearken to her

Then he called his servant that ministered to him

and said

Put now this woman out from me

and bolt the door after her

Tamar went out ashamedverses 18-19

And she had a garment of divers colors upon her

            for with such robes were the king’s daughters that

were virgins appareled

Then his servant brought her out – and bolted the door after her

and Tamar put ashes on her head

and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her

and laid her hand on her head

      and went on crying

Tamar lives with her brother Absalomverse 20

And Absalom her brother said to her

Has Amnon your brother been with you?

      BUT hold now your peace – my sister

                  he is your brother – regard not this thing

So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house

Reaction over the incidentverses 21-22

But when King David heard of all these things

he was very wroth

And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad

for Absalom hated Amnon

because he had forced his sister Tamar

Two years later Absalom has a feastverses 23-27

And it came to pass after two years

that Absalom had sheep shears in Baal-hazor

which is beside Ephraim

                  and Absalom invited all the king’s sons

And Absalom came to the king

and said

Behold now – your servant hath sheepshearers

Let the king – I beseech you

and his servants go with your servant

And the king said to Absalom

            Nay – my son – let us not all now go

lest we be chargeable to you

And he pressed him

            howbeit he would not go – but blessed him

Then said Absalom

            If not I pray you – let my brother Amnon go with us

And the king said to him

            Why should he go with you?

But Absalom pressed him

            that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him

Absalom prepares his servants to kill Amnonverses 28-29

Now Absalom had commanded his servants

saying

Mark you now when Amnon’ heart is merry with wine

and when I say to you – Smite Amnon

Then kill him – fear not

have not I commanded you?

      be courageous and be valiant

And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon

as Absalom had commanded

Then all the king’s sons arose

and every man gat him up upon his mule – and fled 

David hears that Absalom killed all his sonsverses 30-31

And it came to pass – while they were in the way

that tidings came to David

saying

Absalom has slain all the king’s sons

and there is not one of them left

Then the king arose – and tore his garments

and lay on the earth

and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent

Jonadab reports that only Amnon was killedverses 32-36

And Jonadab – the son of Shimeah David’s brother

answered and said

Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men

the king’s sons – FOR Amnon only is dead

For by the appointment of Absalom this has been

determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar

Now therefore let not my lord the king take the things to his heart

to think that all the king’s sons are dead

FOR Amnon only is dead

But Absalom fled and the young man that kept the watch

lifted up his eyes – and looked and – behold

there came much people by the way of the hillside

behind him

And Jonadab said to the king

Behold – the king’s sons come – as your servant said – so it is

And it came to pass – as soon as he had made an end of speaking

that behold the king’s sons came

and lifted up their voice and wept

and the king also and all his servants wept

very sore

Absalom runs from Davidverses 37-39

But Absalom fled

and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud – king of Geshur

                        and David mourned for his son every day

So Absalom fled – and went to Geshur – and was there three years

            and the soul of king David longed to go forth to Absalom

                        for he was comforted concerning Amnon

seeing he was dead

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 3        But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man. (2450 “subtil” [chakam] means marked by skill in deception, clever, experienced, sagacious, shrewd, cunning, crafty, or wily)

DEVOTION:  We know that Jonadab gave Amnon bad advice according to the Word of God. Here we are introduced to him as a “crafty” man. He was smart. He was skilled in what he did. He was related to Amon as a cousin. He was a shrewd man.

He should have been a God-fearing man but this was not a part of his character. He found ways to get around what the LORD wanted people to do and give them advice on how to sin and not seem to care about it. He set up the downfall of Amnon well.

There are these types of men around us in our churches. They were giving advice that is not biblical and we are listening more often than we should. We need to consult our Bible’s more often than other individuals who are always looking for an angle to get around the Word of God.

Many Christians are looking for this angle. They want to be individuals who claim Christ yet do as they please. Remember that during the time period of the Judges men did what was right in their own eyes and he was an individual that would help us think that it was OK to do such things.

This could be a relative. This could be a friend. Wisdom comes from above to those who ask for it. Ask the LORD to give you wisdom regarding who you should listen to. This means even those who are around you at your home and at the church.

There are Jonadab’s everywhere today. They seem wise in worldly wisdom but not in Biblical wisdom.

CHALLENGE:  Find individuals who are Biblically wise to follow. 

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 12      And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not you this folly. (5039 “folly” [nabalah] means villany, vile, senselessness, stupidity, willful sin, or a disgraceful, inappropriate, and outrageous act)

DEVOTION: David had not kept the standard high for his family. He had done things that were displeasing to the LORD. Now we find that his son did things that were displeasing to the LORD.

Here is a brother who loved a sister and wanted her to be with him. He schemed with a cousin to do what they both knew was wrong but they did it anyways. Jonadab was his cousin who gave him bad advice.

The two of them worked together to do what was unthinkable but they worked to get Amnon what he wanted. He thought he loved Tamar. He didn’t want to have any other woman. He wanted to find a way to sleep with his sister.

So they plotted together and she came into his home and made him something to eat and she in her innocence took the food to him in his bedroom, There should have been flags but she never thought he would do what he did.

Once he committed the act of sex he was not happy with her and sent her away. She pleaded to no avail. She knew it was sin and asked her broth do what was proper but he didn’t want to do it that way.

We sometimes think that it is OK to do things our own way but there are consequences to our sins. Here we find that Amnon had sinned but didn’t care and didn’t want to honor her at least with marriage.

So he sent here away which was very wrong and didn’t think anything of it. There are consequences to our sins. We might get away with it for a while but it will be judged of the LORD if we don’t confess it as sin and turn back to the LORD for his forgiveness.

Our sins will find us out when we don’t go to the LORD for forgiveness. Ammon had a chance to do what was right but didn’t do it. There are consequences to our sins.

CHALLENGE:  Keep short accounts with the LORD and with others. The LORD forgives those who confess their sins and mean it.

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: 15      Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.  (157 “loved” [’ahab] means desire, to breathe after, to have affection, like, friend, human appetite for food or human love for another.)

DEVOTION:  The Bible hides nothing. The sin of David is recorded in detail. Here we have two members of David’s family involved in rape. The two parties involved were a son of David, Amnon and a daughter who is the sister of Absalom, Tamar. Absalom is a son of David.   Also we have a cousin involved in giving Amnon advice on how to get his desires fulfilled. Amnon follows the advice of Jonadab, his cousin. Realize that there is no mention of God in this chapter.

Amnon pretends to be sick and his father, David, comes to comfort him. He asks his father for Tamar to come and give him some food she has prepared. David agrees to send Tamar to the house. Tamar fixes the food and Amnon tells everyone to leave the room He then forces Tamar. After he has fulfilled his desire, his love or lust turns to hate and he sends her away. She leaves in disgrace. 

We have an occasion where someone in power uses his power to overcome a woman. He has a cousin that suggested what he can do to take advantage of her.

David had many wives and with his many wives many children. Here is a story of two children from different mothers. Tamar was Absalom’s sister. Amnon looked at Tamar’s beauty and thought that he loved her, but when he had his way with her, he really didn’t love her. He kicked her out of his home. She went away in disgrace. Her brother took her in and looked for a way to deal with Amnon. Two years later he did.

David could have corrected it right away but did nothing. There are many lessons in this Biblical account.

Parents need to discipline their children. Children need to take responsibility for their actions. Society is stuck on appearances. Here we have a beautiful woman taken advantage of by a relative.

There needs to be an explanation of the difference between lust and love. This is a story of lust. We think that we love something or someone but in reality we are attracted to it or them and once we have it or them, we lose interest.

Amnon had an interest until he had his way with his sister. Humans are very fickle individuals. We need to study the Word of God to find out what and who we are to love and act on HIS principles, not our own. Do we truly LOVE the LORD?

Training a child in the way he/she should live is important. It needs to start at an early age but if not then than as soon as you can. The Bible is the final authority concerning relationships between individuals. Don’t depend on society to train children correctly. Remember we live in a day when there seems to be no absolutes except for believers.

CHALLENGE: We answer for the training of our children and our grandchildren to the LORD. Men need to stand up and train their children Biblically.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 28      Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark you now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon: then kill him, fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.   (2428 “valiant” [’Iysh – Chayil] means mighty men, brave, able, strong, powerful, or worthy)

DEVOTION:  Absalom noted that his father did nothing to Amnon for raping his sister. He waited for two years and planned his attack on his brother. He didn’t think he should get away with what he did to his sister.

So he went to David and invited him to come to a party to celebrate the shearing of the sheep. He was going to have a party and wanted his father to attend. David declined. This is what he thought would probably happen. Then he asked his father for his brothers to come to the party especially Amnon. David asked why but didn’t seem to connect it with any problem.

Remember that Nathan had told David that there were be consequences to his action against Uriah. One of the consequences would be evil against David from those in his own house. And the LORD was going to take his wives from him and give him to another. This would happen in the future and all Israel would see it.

Now we have one of his daughter’s raped and one of his sons planning the murder of the son who raped one of his daughters. This was just the beginning of the consequences to the sin of David. He was forgiven but he would still have to suffer for not acting according to the standard of the LORD.

God has a standard. Once we act outside of HIS standard there will be consequences. HE wants a pure people. HE wants an obedient people. It would have been good if David had not just gotten angry at Amnon but disciplined him and this might not have taken place. He did not and God allowed the plan of Absalom to work.

God wants us to wait on HIM instead of seeking revenge ourselves, if there is judgment to be given. HE never acts in revenge. HE acts in judgment. If we leave the judgment to HIM and HIS timing it is better for us and for those around us.

CHALLENGE: Taking matters into our own hands is never right without the LORD’S blessing. Absalom was not acting to please the LORD.

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: 32      And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons, for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. (6310 “appointment” [peh] means commandment, a command conceived of in terms of the mouth, mouth, commandment, tenor, sentence, communication, or wishes.)

DEVOTION:  Here is the instigator of the whole Amnon and Tamar incident at the side of David giving him counsel.  He knew what had happened in the past and he knew that Absalom was just waiting for an occasion to kill his brother for what he did to his sister but should David have had his nephew this close to him?

Too often the one who instigates things looks innocent to the people around him. He is a very deceptive individual who can give counsel to both the one who wanted to sin and the one who was concerned about what was happening to his sons because of the past actions.

We will hear more from Jonadab in the future. He is not done with his actions. There are many people who hang around leadership that have evil intentions but nobody seems to notice until it is too late.

If there are people who are giving you instructs regarding what you should do in a certain circumstance watch out that they are giving you good Biblical instructions. This is not coming from Jonadab’s mouth and it could be coming from someone around you who wants to tell you to disobey your parents or God. They seem to be able to give this type of instruction and make it sound good at the time.

Once you see that their counsel is bad according to the Word of God stop listening to them and get away from them. They are not really friends.

True friends are fellow believers who want you to mature in the faith. They will pray with you and give you Biblical advice that you can find in the Word of God.

CHALLENGE:  Trust in the LORD to give you discernment regarding proper friends in your life.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Vexedverse 2

Subtleverse 3

Love [lust]verses 4, 15

Ungodly adviceverse 5

Force a womanverses 12, 14, 22, 32

Follyverse 12

Foolverse 13

Hatedverses 15, 22

Evilverse 16

Killverse 28

Revengeverse 28

Not fear of sinverse 28

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Virgin before marriageverse 2

Angry over sinverse 21

Comfortverse 39

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Absalom – Tamar’s brotherverses 1, 20-39

Kept sister at his house

Waited two full years for revenge

Invited all David’s son’s to feast

Kills Amnon

Davidverses 1-39

Deceived by Absalom

Heard what happened to Tamar

Sent Tamar to Absalom to help him get well

Asked why a feast

Received false report that all his sons were dead

Tamar – beautiful womanverses 1-20

Love by brother wrongfully

Virgin

Absalom’s sister

Obeyed David to help Amnon

Didn’t want to have sex with Absalom before marriage

Told him to ask father for her

Garment of divers colors worn by virgins

she tore it up

Desolate in her brother Absalom’s house

Amnon – David’s sonverses 2-19, 26-39

Forced Tamar

Called a fool by Tamar

Hated Tamar after forcing her

Kicked her house of his house

Told servants to bolt the door after

Kicking her out

Jonadabverses 3-5, 32-35

Subtil man

Gave plot to Amon

Tells David only Ammon is dead

Absalomverses 4, 20-39

Brother of Tamar

Holds feast in order to kill Amnon

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

18–19 Although Tamar’s arrival into Amnon’s presence was carefully orchestrated (vv.6–9a), her forced departure is abrupt indeed. Obedient to a fault, the servant of Amnon wastes no time: He “put her out” (v.18; same Heb. verb as in v.9b [“Send … out”; see also comment there]). Once the man (in this case Amnon) has satisfied his lustful desires, he discards the woman (cf. similarly Judg 19:25) as though she were so much refuse.

But Tamar is one of “the virgin daughters” (see comment on v.2) “of the king” (v.18), a status that should have made her doubly untouchable. By no means trash, she wears a “richly ornamented robe” that befits her regal position. Now no longer a virgin, she tears her robe (v.19) as a symbol of her ravished state: “Worn (v.18a), it signifies her status as an unmarried princess; torn (v.19a), it symbolizes the ruin of her life (v.20b)” (Conroy, p. 34). The act of tearing her garment also gives expression to her mourning over her irreparable loss (cf. v.31; 15:32), as do her putting “ashes on her head” (cf. similarly 1:2 and comment; 1 Sam 4:12 and comment; Esth 4:1) and her “weeping/crying aloud” (cf. 19:4). Tamar’s putting her “hand” (see comment on v.6; perhaps better “hands” [cf. BHS]) on her head is probably emblematic not only of mourning (for details cf. de Vaux, AIs, p. 59) but also of exile or banishment (cf. Jer 2:37; for a relief at Medinet Habu depicting prisoners of Rameses III with their arms/hands on/over their heads, cf. ANEP, fig. 7). “In her plea to Amnon at v.13 Tamar asked, “where shall I carry (HLK hif [‘get rid of’]) my shame’?; now in vv. 19f. she goes (HLK twice in v.19 [‘went’]) to her brother Absalom” (Conroy, p. 34). (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 964). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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13:15–19. In revulsion at what he had done, Amnon now hated Tamar more than he had previously loved her. This indicates, of course, that his original feelings had not been love but only lust. To add insult to injury and in further violation of the Law, Amnon sent Tamar away. This suggests not only his desire to have her gone from his immediate presence but also his repudiation of her as a bride. He had humbled a virgin and the Law demanded that he marry her (Deut. 22:29). Tamar’s reaction to all this—putting ashes on her head and tearing her royal robe (cf. 2 Sam. 13:31; Job 2:12)—shows the intensity of her sorrow at losing her purity and perhaps any further opportunity for marriage. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 469). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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Sexual sins usually produce that kind of emotional damage. When you treat other people like things to be used, you end up throwing them aside like broken toys or old clothes. The word “woman” is not in the Hebrew text of verse 17, so Amnon was saying, “Throw this thing out!” This explains why Tamar accused Amnon of being even more cruel by casting her aside than by raping her. Having lost her virginity, Tamar was not a good prospect for marriage, and she could no longer reside in the apartments with the virgins. Where would she go? Who would take her in? Who would even want her? How could she prove that Amnon was the aggressor and that she hadn’t seduced him? (Wiersbe, W. W. (2002). Be restored (p. 82). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor.)

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Put ashes on her head, and rent her garment; to signify her grief for some calamity which had befallen her, and what that was concurring circumstances did easily discover. Laid her hand on her head, in token of grief and shame, as if she were unable and ashamed to show her face. See Jer. 2:37. Went on crying, to manifest her abhorrency of the fact, and that it was not done by her consent. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 1, p. 611). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)

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FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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THE DESIRE TO SIN

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. John 17:15
The church and the Christian and the gospel are not so much concerned about removing the occasions for sin as removing from man the desire to sin. “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil…. Sanctify them” (John 17:15, 17). Our Lord is saying in effect, “I am not so concerned that You should take the occasion for sin away, but that You should take out of the man the desire to take advantage of the occasion.”
Do you see the difference? The gospel of Jesus Christ does not so much take the Christian out of the world as take the world out of the Christian. That is the point. “Sanctify them”: whatever the world is like around and about them, if the world is not in them, the world outside them will not be able to affect them. That is the glory of the gospel; it makes a man free in the midst of the devil’s work in this world.
Or let me put it like this: The gospel is not so much concerned about changing the conditions as about changing the man. Oh, the tragedy of the folly and the foolishness that has been spoken about this! People say, “But surely you must clear up the slums before these people can become Christians?” My friends, one of the most glorious things I have ever seen is a man who has become a Christian in the slums and then, though remaining in the same place, has transformed his home and house there. You need not change the man’s conditions before you change the man. Thank God, the gospel can change the man in spite of the conditions.
A Thought to Ponder: The Gospel of Jesus Christ does not so much take the Christian out of the world as take the world out of the Christian.
         (From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 17-18, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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The Price of Sparrows
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” (Matthew 10:29)
This fascinating bit of first-century pricing information, seemingly so trivial, provides a marvelous glimpse into the heart of the Creator. Of all the birds used for food by the people of those days, sparrows were the cheapest on the market, costing only a farthing for a pair of them. In fact, they cost even less in a larger quantity, for on another occasion Jesus said: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” (Luke 12:6). The “farthing” was a tiny copper coin of very small value, so a sparrow was all but worthless in human terms.
And yet the Lord Jesus said that God knows and cares about every single sparrow! God had a reason for everything He created; each kind of animal has its own unique design for its own intended purpose. Modern biologists continue to waste time and talent developing imaginary tales about how all these multitudes of different kinds of creatures might have evolved from some common ancestor. Even some evolutionists have started calling these whimsical tales “just so” stories. They would really be better scientists if they would seek to understand the creative purpose of each creature rather than speculating on its imaginary evolution.
The better we comprehend the amazing complexity and purposive design of each creature, the better we realize the infinite wisdom and power of their Creator. Then all the more wonderful it is to learn that their Creator is our Father! He has placed them all under our dominion, and we need to learn to see them through His eyes if we would be good stewards of the world He has committed to us. We can also thank our heavenly Father that we “are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31).

                       (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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TOUGH TIMES

by

 Anne R. C. Neale

God gives us tough times so we can learn,

He wants to develop and strengthen us,

God always wants the best for us you know,

He wants us to have Hope, Faith, Love, and Trust.

Misfortune, difficult conditions, even upsetting times,

Sadness, mishaps, mischance are tough times,

You also have happiness and joy in your daily life,

Life is an learning experience, given to you by God, the Divine.

God wants you to have the best things in life,

He gives you free will so that you learn what to do,

God is with you always even in the times of adversity,

God is a patient God, and He is waiting in Heaven for you too.

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When you fail to read the Bible, you rob God of the honor of being the Author of a well-read book. But you also rob yourself of peace, comfort, strength, and a sense that God will make all things right. If you ask me, that’s a price too high to pay. (p. 23, Taking Back the GOOD BOOK by Woodrow Kroll)

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Bible illiteracy robs people of the joy of forgiveness and a whole lot more – all because they don’t read the good news God has for them in his Word. (p. 106, Taking Back the GOOD BOOK by Woodrow Kroll)

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Today, too many Christians are at the same place spiritually they were the day they were saved. They’re stuck in spiritual infancy. They’ve never grown. They’re spiritual babies. When it comes to eating the meat of the Word, they’re more than content with baby food. (p. 111, Taking Back the GOOD BOOK by Woodrow Kroll)

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Four out of ten adults believe that hell is “a state of eternal separation from God’s presence” (39 percent), and one-third  (32 percent) say it is “an actual place of torment and suffering where people’s souls go after death.” About 13 percent or one in eight adults believe that “hell is just a symbol of an unknown bad outcome after death.”

Interestingly, while hell is real in the minds of many Americans, most do not expect to go there. Just one-half of 1 percent expect that hell will be their final destination. Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) believe they will go to heaven.” (p. 117, Taking Back the GOOD BOOK by Woodrow Kroll)

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With that assurance, “Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered” (v. 29). The revenge must have seemed doubly sweet to Absalom, for he had succeeded in using the very same tactics to destroy Amnon that Amnon had previously used to destroy Tamar. Like Amnon, he had deceptively manipulated the king into ordering one of his children into a trap; then in the midst of a meal he had overpowered the sibling and carried out a violent and wicked fantasy at their expense. (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 385). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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