In a matter of minutes, Tamar's whole life is in tatters. She went along to do a good deed, and she finds herself trapped, ignored, raped, despised, banished and ruined. For many who read these words, it will be painfully close to home, and perhaps bring back memories of a time when they experienced something very similar. Certainly, there are

Amnon is David's firstborn son. But this chapter is the only record we have of what Amnon actually does with his life. It's a record of sin and death. Amnon is clearly a man driven by his passions. He's not particularly gifted in the brains department. For that he relies on his scheming cousin Jonadab. Instead, he's driven by lust.Amnon

God tells David that his child will die. But even so, when the child becomes sick, David fasts and prays. Does David not believe God, we might wonder? The answer is that David has encountered God's grace. As a result he now can't help thinking that God might show grace to his son as well? Perhaps God has told him

If the boy's death isn't atonement for David's sin - is it punishment for his sin? No. Certainly, the boy's death is a result of David's sin. But it's not a punishment for it. Charles Spurgeon once began a sermon with these words: 'God's people can never by any possibility be punished for their sins'. Spurgeon goes on: 'God has

When David's day of reckoning comes, he doesn't run from the light. He doesn't make excuses. He doesn't just accept part of the blame. But he says, v13: 'I have sinned against the LORD'. Such a simple confession. And Nathan responds: 'The LORD also has put away your sin'. And that's it. It's almost an anti-climax! It seems too easy!

David responds to the story as he should. But he doesn't yet see that it's about him. He's indignant that someone else would do this - but he can't see that he's done things far worse. In fact his religious indignation in vs 5 and 6 is almost sickening. David can talk about God, he can quote God's law, and

In the first verse of chapter 12, after all the scheming and sending and deception, God is the one who sends. That's good news. It's good news because it tells us that God won't allow his servants to remain comfortable in their sin, but will expose it, lest they settle down in it. You may succeed in your unfaithfulness. But

2nd Samuel 12 is undoubtedly a solemn chapter. David is confronted with the terrible sins he has committed. Before the chapter ends, his infant child dies because of that sin. Yet this is also a chapter that's full of God's grace. It describes a day that David dreaded, a day which David probably hoped would never come. Yet how much

Imagine this is as much of the Bible as you've ever read. You've read 2nd Samuel 7 and seen how God's promises for the world are tied up with a king from David's line on the throne. At this point you're probably thinking that a better king is going to come to the throne. But imagine someone then told you

God has been so kind to David. He's put all things under his feet. David was ruling as his representative. He's given him so much. Yet David takes the one thing he's not allowed. Does that remind you of anything? It should remind you of the garden of Eden. God had been so kind to Adam and Eve. He'd put