Stuck in Sins of the Past

Introduction

Last week we read about the rape of a woman by her half-brother. Amnon rapes Tamar the sister of Absolom. All children of David the King of Israel.

2 Samuel 13:23-36

2 Samuel 13:23–36 NIV

23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there. 24 Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his attendants please join me?” 25 “No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us.” The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons. 28 Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.” 29 So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled. 30 While they were on their way, the report came to David: “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left.” 31 The king stood up, tore his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his attendants stood by with their clothes torn. 32 But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom’s express intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. 33 My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.” 34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. Now the man standing watch looked up and saw many people on the road west of him, coming down the side of the hill. The watchman went and told the king, “I see men in the direction of Horonaim, on the side of the hill.” 35 Jonadab said to the king, “See, the king’s sons have come; it has happened just as your servant said.” 36 As he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his attendants wept very bitterly.

Pray

As we read this we see that it has been two years since Amnon has raped Tamar, And we see that David has done nothing. He has not punished or taken vengeance at all or even handled the situation. It is if the put his head in the sand hoping it would go away.

How many of you know this feeling? Not wanting to deal with the situation. He was angry the passage says but he doesn’t do anything. But ignoring things and pretending they don’t exist just make things worse, destroys all parties involved, and leads to long standing results.

David’s responsibility as father and as King is to deal with this.

So he is doubly responsible for this.

David’s failure to exert himself as father and king had created a vacuum of authority which begged to be filled

So Absalom takes the responsibility into his own hands, And Absalom begins to take over his father’s kingdom.

From this moment forward and this will lead to his death.

He ask for his father to go with him knowing that he would say know. So then he would take Amnon the oldest brother the one who is the personal representative of David.

At a prearranged signal Absalom’s servant murdered Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons fled.

Absalom fled and went to Geshur his mother’s home state.

Was Absalom right in taking blood vengeance for the rape of Tamar, No. As much as I want to say yes. Someone had to do it and David obviously wasn’t. He just stand by and do nothing.

I want to say that since David didn’t the oldest should. I would. I feel for Absalom. I would be angry. I would be hurt. I would be vindictive.

I don’t know If I would have waited two years

And I would be wrong.

Wrong because it wouldn’t be my place to take revenge and upset the role of government and my father in heaven.

But Absalom becomes obsessed with sins of the past.

Part of this is because David never made Amnon deal with his sin. He just let it pass.

But Absalom lets this moment in time when his sister is raped become his identity. It becomes his whole life. He even names his daughter Tamar after his sister.

2 Samuel 14:27 NIV

27 Three sons and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she became a beautiful woman.

This was a horrid event. And it’s hard to let go of the past sometimes. Especially when we or someone we love are wronged.

But when we become obsessed it leads to sin. Leads to us becoming like Cain’s decedents. I don’t need God to get vengeance.

Genesis 4:24 NIV

24 If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

(Gen 4:24) If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold."

I don’t kneed God. I can take his place.

All because He couldn’t move from the past. Just like Cain. And just like Cain it ended in death of a brother.

Don’t Become Trapped in the Past

Recovery (health) doesn’t happen if you cannot move forward. Life has moved on don’t let it move on without you. Don’t have to forget it, You can “just Get over it”.

That kind of attitude will trap you with guilt for not “getting over it”.

But the future is ahead of you. That past has already happened can’t change it.

No matter how many movies you see where it happens. It doesn’t work.

The present is here

Old saying:

Past is history

The future is a mystery

Today is a gift that’s why it’s called the present

And the sins that trap us in the past don’t have to be just the big ones.

Like assault. I have met people that can’t get over what someone said about them 50 years ago. When you feel you are wronged no matter how “big” or “little” of sin. It still can trap you.

That is what the devil wants.

Wants you stuck

Wants you trapped

Wants you bitter

Wants you living in regret

Wants you living in the past

I can’t tell you how to “get over it”. Not my area of expertise. I can tell you that there are no shortcuts. I can tell you it takes time. I can tell you it takes work.

It takes you making a decision that you want to move past this event .

Even though you know it will always be with you. And will be part of you forever. But it does not define you.

This event is where Absalom becomes obsessed his future is set for death now that he doesn’t move on.

The world moves on. And after he kills he believes he is bigger than he should be. Takes his father’s place.

Are you trapped?

Pray to begin to move on.

Begin the process today

You have sinned and they hold

Ask for forgiveness

Help them move

pray