2 Samuel 13:19-20 Grief

 ”Then Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly. And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe: Tamar correctly treated this as a calamity and did not hide the truth that a terrible crime was committed against her. She did not give place to the voice of shame saying, “This was somehow your fault.”

b. Has Amnon your brother been with you? Amnon probably thought he had concealed his crime. Nevertheless, it was so obvious to Absalom that he immediately knew that Amnon was responsible.

i. Part of the blindness of lust leads the lustful man or woman to believe that his or her actions are not obviously apparent to others. Amnon was deceived by this blindness of lust.

ii. Tamar didn’t go to her father David because she knew he tended to be indulgent to his sons, and he excused all kinds of evil in them. (Guzik)

Grief

In the culture of the Israelites they tore their clothes and put ashes on their head when they were grieving. In our culture, 100 years ago people wore black armbands for a specific period of time. But nowadays there doesn’t seem to be any expression of grief. It’s like the pharmaceutical commercial where someone holds up a smiley face to hide their real emotion of sadness.

It’s as if our culture has lost the art of the outward expression of grieving. 

But there is hope in Jesus!

”These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”“

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”“ ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I have peace in Jesus and look forward to going home, do you?

Blessings