From Disgrace to Grace

Title- From Disgrace to Grace

Passage- 2 Samuel 13

Attention- I have titled this chapter “From Disgrace to Grace”

Introduction

Two weeks ago we looked at David’s response to Mephibosheth and asked the question “Why is this account in the Bible”?

I think that even more so that question arises from this chapter.

One writer entitled his article “Why is this sordid story in the Bible”?

Everything about this chapter is disgraceful, sleazy, and disturbing

It really does make one wonder why it is included

There are four individuals in this account that teach us how God views shame…and answers Tamar’s question...”Where can I go with my shame”?

Although we may not formulate the question that way we come to that crossroads

What is the main driving point (CPS)?

Friends, in this life there is but one answer to our problems…Jesus Christ

Why does the CPS matter, what is the consequence?

Whether we are dealing with trials or temptations

Our indwelling sin or the consequences of someone else’s sin…the answer is Christ

Notice the truths we find in this chapter...

Transition

I. The reality of sins power (1-15, 20-22, )

Explain

We begin with Amnon, a man with misplaced passions.

He is so in love with his sister that it effects him physically. He wants he in a way that is forbidden

He wants to be with his sister sexually…he is desiring incest

This is a lesson in unbridled passions…His lack of self control leads to a traumatic event in their family

Should he have loved his sister? Yes…but not like this

Another thing to note quickly…this account also gives us good warning to be cautious who we surround ourselves with

One person in this account who doesn’t receive the press he deserves is Jonadab…a good friend would have encouraged him to do right

This man lays out the path to destruction for him

We need to be very careful who we surround ourselves with and who we receive counsel from

They execute their plan and Amnon finally gets what he wants...

Then Tamar is distraught…she is in shock…the Bible tells us she was desolate

She goes to her brother Absolom looking for somewhere to find help

When she gets there all she finds is apathy

Look closely at his response, “hold your peace, my sister; he is your brother, regard not this thing”....

He is more or less saying...”Let’s not make too big a deal out of this, he’s your brother. Let’s not get him into too much trouble, boys will be boys you know”

This response is as sinful and despicable as the sin of Amnon

Regardless his response Tamar remains in Absolom’s house

At some point David find’s out…now we are going to see some justice

It is King David…and there was a response

There were a lot of fireworks but no action

He was very angry

We want to read “He was very angry and brought about justice

But we read only that he was angry

David’s response to the sin against Tamar was the sin of cowardice

He was the king…HE WAS HER FATHER

And he does NOTHING

His fathers inaction infuriates Absolom so he plans a way to take the life of Amnon

Bridge to today

Wow! What a mess...

Incestuous rape, plotting and scheming, murder, this is the type of story Hollywood is looking for

Relevance

So why would the Lord put this account into the Bible?

To be 100% honest…I wouldn’t have

Why does this matter?

I think a couple reasons...

1- Because he wants us to realize the messiness and disaster of sin

2- He wants those that are affected by sin that there is hope

We will get to that hope but for now lets just say that Tamar is the only one in this account that responds correctly

In verse 12 she begs him not to and in verse 13 she asks this simple question, I think she asks it knowing it will happen

“Where can I go with the shame of this?”

And she is going to leave and go looking for a place to take that shame and find nothing

Transition

II. The response to shame ( )

Explain

Tamar begs he brother not to act on his passions but he does

Following the sin he feels the shame of sin and responds in anger

She tears he gown, a special and beautiful gown that was only to be worn by a kings daughter who was sexually pure

She lost that purity by the hand of one brother so she goes to her other brother

His response to the shame of the sin was apathy...

She continues to liver with Absolom and Dad finds out...

Finally, someone who will do something about it

Whether it is because of his sinful sexual acts or the pride of wanting to keep the scandal under wraps David feels intense anger but does absolutely nothing

Bridge to today

Relevance

When we sin there are warning lights that God has given us to tell us that something is not right

the apostle Paul tells us that the Law of God is written on every human heart

The emotions that we feel after sin…guilt, shame, anger…all point to this truth

Why does this matter?

These emotions following that follow sin are like the warning lights on your car

Whether you are the one committing the sin or are impacted by the sin there are warnings built into us by God to help and instruct us

I remember a friend who had a car and he had a warning light on his dash that was on

He tried to fix the problem but couldn’t figure out exactly what was wrong

So do you know what he did…he took a piece of electrical tape

The black tape that’s really thick and wouldn’t let any light through

He took a piece of that and covered the light with it

Problem solved right?

NO! There was still a deeper issue that needed to be dealt with

This is the problem that comes when we try to cover our own sins

When we try to tape over the built in responses to sin that God has given us

It ignores the deeper issues

Transition

III. What can we take away from this account ( )

Explain

The truth we need to draw from this account is that sin has physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences

Whether you are the one committing the sin or are impacted by the sin there are warnings built into us by God to help and instruct us

I remember a friend who had a car and he had a warning light on his dash that was on

Tamar asks the question, where can I go with my shame?

He tried to fix the problem but couldn’t figure out exactly what was wrong

So do you know what he did…he took a piece of electrical tape

The black tape that’s really thick and wouldn’t let any light through

He took a piece of that and covered the light with it

Problem solved right?

NO! There was still a deeper issue that needed to be dealt with

This is the problem that comes when we try to cover our own sins

When we try to tape over the built in responses to sin that God has given us

It ignores the deeper issues

Bridge to today

We find out that it is not something she can carry on her own...

She lives in Absolom’s house for two years and is still described as desolate

She cannot count on others around her, not even her family

So where do we take our shame

Whether it is seemingly small from something like getting caught gossiping or telling a white lie

Or if it is something seemingly larger like adultery or abortion or homosexuality

When we realize that we cannot handle the shame and that no one around us can cover our shame that is when we become desolate

But shame is another God given emotion to draw us to Him

The “warning lights” we see and feel…they are there to show us a need to have our sins covered…I think thats whats happening here, these responses by Amnon, Absolom, and David are a human response to a spiritual problem

They are trying to cover a spiritual problem with a human solution

Relevance

The truth is this…there is nothing that you and I can do to cover our sins

That is what Amnon is doing when he sends Tamar away in anger

That is what Absolom is doing when he responds to Tamar in apathy

That is what David is doing when he responds to Absolom in cowardice

They are all trying to deal with this sin on their own, in their own way, by their own wisdom

Why does this matter?

There is nothing you and I can do to cover our sin

But the hope that we can rest in is that through Jesus’ death and resurrection HE has provided a covering for our sin

HE has the answer for the shame that comes from sin

Not just sexual sin but all sin

All through the OT they had to sacrifice an animal so that the blood could be an atonement for their sins

That word atonement meant “covering”

Galatians 1:3–4 KJV 1900

Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Conclusion

Review of the Principles and the Sermon Proposition

Please, do not try to cover your shame or expect anyone else to be able to

It is not our responsibility…it is the Lords

Visualize Audience Implementation

Allow the Lord to take your shame and give you confidence

Final Statement

Unsaved

Come to the realization of sinfulness

Humble

Call out

Saved

Reminder of the shamefulness of sin regardless the justification

Become sensitive once again to sins shame

Humble

Call out

Where can we take our shame?

Christ

Christ, in the same way He wants to exchange your sin for His righteousness wants to exchange your shame for his admiration.

What can we

As we close in prayer, if you are here this morning and are experiencing shame, come to Christ

If you are here this morning and do not feel the shame of sin, call out to Christ

Christ wants to take your sin and shame

Please won’t you come to Him and make that exchange

Would you bow your heads and close your eyes with me?

Closing Hymn

246 Calvary Covers It All