2 Samuel 13:1-19 “Love Sick or Lust Driven?”
Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister named Tamar who was loved by David’s oldest son Amnon. “Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.” (2) Amnon’s friend [and nephew] was very shrewd and contrived a plan to get Tamar to serve him as he pretended to be ill. Now the lust and lies of David will be played out in his sons lives for all to see as prophesied by Nathan (2 Samuel 12:12). This plan of Amnon reflects a manipulation of others to serve his own selfish interests without regard to the costs imposed on Tamar. In spite of Tamar’s proposed solution and cries pointing out the costs to both of them, Amnon raped his sister. Adding to his cruelty, he threw her out in hatred destroying her present and future. At times people are declaring they are moving in love, but are, in reality, driven by lust and selfish desires. Love moves out of selfless concern for others, but lust manipulates others for one’s own self interest.
