Sermon for Sunday, November 1, 2026 at Unionville Presbyterian Church (BPC)
Old Testament Text
[2 Samuel 12:26-31 ESV] – 26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters. 28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.” 29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it. 30 And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 31 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
New Testament Text:
[Romans 13:1-4 ESV] – 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
Gospel Text:
[Matthew 27:45-50 ESV] – 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
SermonText:
.[2 Samuel 13:1-39 ESV] – 1 Now Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. 2 And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. 4 And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 5 Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.'” 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.” 7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. 9 And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Send out everyone from me.” So everyone went out from him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12 She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing. 13 As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the outrageous fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 14 But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. 15 Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!” 16 But she said to him, “No, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her. 17 He called the young man who served him and said, “Put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her.” 18 Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves, for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went. 20 And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom’s house. 21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22 But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar. 23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled. 30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king’s sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.” 34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly. 37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.
Introduction
What is the result when there is a failure of justice? What does a society look like when crimes are not punished, criminals run free, and vigilantes rise up?
We see it in our own time, so we hardly need to use our imagination.
It is not a good status. Not a good situation, when society unravels and chaos takes over.
Now, our text is such an example. Indeed there is great sin by Amnon. And the narrative follows that sin and that story. But within the text, we find another sin; another problem that is structurally deeper and more consequential to later sins and problems. That is, the failure of justice on the part of David.
David’s failure to mete out justice leads to the death of his son Amnon; the death of another son, thus continuing to fulfill the prophecy of the prophet Nathan would told David what would come upon him for His own sin with Bathsheeba and Uriah.
I want to look at three things in our text.
First, to summarize it, for it is a long text and might not be familiar to you.
Then, to look more deeply at David’s failure of justice.
And last, to consider the implications of that failure of justice and indeed the implications of other failures of justice in general.
Let us first look at the story.
I. Summary of the text:
We begin finding Amnon lusting after Tamar. And there are serious problems here. She is his sister. Really his half-sister, for they have different mothers. (Tamar’s mother is Maacah, Amnon’s mother is Ahinoam) But the laws of God, and the realities of nature, demand that there be no marriages without such close “degrees of consanguinity.”
With the help of his friend Jonadab (who is his cousin), Amnon devises a plan where he pretends to be sick so that Tamar would come with food for him.
Tamar is a virtuous woman; honorably making food as requested and being a servant, entirely unaware of Amnon desires and plan.
Tamar says, “don’t do this,” “you would be as one of the outrageous fools in Israel.”
A fool is a “wicked or morally senseless person.”
Tamar rejects Amnon’s advances, but, to put it lightly, he doesn’t stop there.
Amnon then despises Tamar and sends her out, violated and humiliated. The one he “loved,” now he hates. This shows Amnon’s “love” was anything but. It was pure lust of the worst kind, with no regard for others.
Sometimes David’s sin with Bathsheba is made to connect with Amnon sin against Tamar, for some might say “like father, like son.” But Amnon sin is worse. It is not only adultery (or technically fornication), but assault.
It ought to be noted here that this episode for Tamar, as one commentator says “was a stain to her honour, though no real blemish to her virtue.” TAMAR WAS NOT IN SIN! It is false religions like Islam that would treat her as the sinner; but this was all against her will. Sins are your deeds and thoughts, NOT what is done to you. That is an important point. REPEAT: sins are your deed and thought, NOT what is done to you. Tamar fears that other will look down on her and perhaps they will, but God does not see her as less holy because of this situation.
Her full brother (her only full sibling) Absalom then takes care of Tamar.
Then, here is the key verse of the passage:
21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
This is key, not for what is says, but for what it DOESN’T SAY! And for what David DOESN’T DO. He is both head of the family and king of the nation, but he metes out NO JUSTICE.
Two years then go by. TWO YEARS! And no justice. David never does ANYTHING!
So Absalom plans and follows through with the killing of Amnon. He waits till Amnon’s “heart is merry with wine.” That is, when Amnon is drunk and unable to fight back. And Absalom then has his servants KILL Amnon. MURDER.
Word comes that ALL of David’s sons are killed. Of course it is just Amnon. But Absalom flees. So David has effectively lost him as well. Absalom is now a fugitive. As a murderer he would have no hope staying in Israel. So Absalom flees to Geshur, the home country of his and Tamar’s mother.
The report that ALL his sons had died may have been an exaggerated report in a time of confusion and consternation.
II. David’s Failure
Now, David’s failure in all of this was his lack of giving out justice.
We have to remember that David is the central figure in 2nd Samuel, so we come back to him.
And firstly, his children may have come to know of his own behavior; of adultery and murder. So they perhaps think they too can get away with it; especially if David their father is light on his discipline.
And when Amnon sins against Tamar, David indeed does nothing. That is a failure of justice.
Why did David not give just punishment to Amnon.
–
– Because Amnon was his own son? Perhaps that is the reason. It is hard to punish your own. But you are yet called to discipline as a Father, and to punish all the guilty when you are king.
– Indeed, Amnon was not only a son of David, but the heir apparent. That is perhaps why David didn’t punish him. (and the punishment by the way should be death)
David didn’t punish Jonadab either, though he was as guilty as Amnon. This is the friend who gave the sinful ideas to Amnon. “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill.” So he is an accomplice to the crime. But he is not punished. Again this could be because Jonadab is family (not a son of David, but a nephew, a son of David’s brother)
Regarding Amnon and Jonadab, MH says “the case of those is very miserable whose friends, instead of admonishing and reproving them, flatter them and forward them in their sinful ways.”
Neither Amnon NOR Jonadab are punished.
One more possible reason:
-David had himself been caught in adulterous affairs? One might think David would “understand.” Well, hardly. He should known now better than anyone else just how bad the consequences of that sin are. Ultimately, the reason is not stated. But the failure is still there. David does not FUNCTION as KING; he does not provide JUSTICE.
Now, what does a lack of justice bring? It brings chaos.
III. Lack of Justice brings chaos.
It is a principle of justice that “no one is above the law.” The law must apply to everyone, even the rich and well-connected. But so often in history this principle is not followed.
Remember President Biden saying he would not pardon his son who was found guilty of federal crimes. What did he then do? He pardoned his son. Even Biden’s supporters were shocked. Such leads to chaos in society.
Now, because Amnon is not killed through capital punishment, Absalom takes justice into his own hands. Failure to discipline or deliver justice leads to vigilante murder.
Because David won’t deliver justice, Absalom decides to. Now, there is an ethical question. Is vigilante justice ever right? We certainly WANT the authorities, the magistrate to handle justice. It can’t be “every man for himself.” Chaos, anarchy.
But there is a natural desire in man to see SOME JUSTICE. Justice is a real desire. And as a such, we recognize that there MUST BE SUCH A THING AS RIGHT AND WRONG. The violation of Tamar was WRONG. Absalom recognizes it.
But, we cannot condone vigilante justice. “Vengeance is mine, declares the Lord.”
We might be justified in a “citizen’s arrest” but not in a “citiizen’s capital punishment.”
Well, Absalom kills Amnon. He is now a murderer.
But David is the main character of this book of 2nd Samuel. We need to look at his part in this. He did have an involvement in sending Tamar in to Amnon, but I don’ think should be blamed for that. David rather is to be blamed for his lack of delivering justice. A king is called to that, and he has failed. And now the consequences are coming upon him, even the death of his son Amnon.
This is an important message today because ALL OVER THE WORLD Christian’s must seek to elect and support leaders who will deliver justice. If you go back some decades or centuries you’ll not find this as the problem that it is today. But TODAY it is a big problem.
Consider France today. It is a nation in chaos and riots. Some say the cause is lack of funding for schools. Others say the primary cause is unruly immigrants. The reality is that either way, there is a failure to punish criminals, so the chaos continues. It is not a nation of law, of disciple, and of justice.
Similarly, attempts in our nation to decrease justice are foolish. It is foolish to let criminals out of jails, or to not send them there in the first place. And it is even more foolish the movement in recent years to “defund the police.”
Justice is absolute necessary for an ordered society that doesn’t spiral into vigilante justice and war.
JUSTICE is necessary.
IV. God is a god of justice
And we have a God of justice. It is to him that we must look.
I mentioned something in a sermon recently that maybe didn’t fit well and wasn’t very clear. So I want to try again, and maybe do better. Justice is an attribute of God. God is a spirit, infinite eternal and unchanging in being, wisdom, power, holiness, JUSTICE, goodness and truth. God is not only good and loving, he is also just. And so, a muslim (with an incomplete view of God) says “God forgives because he just does.” But we know that justice is necessary. Gods justice must be satisfied. Such is why Christ died on the cross, for our sins. There, God’s love and God’s justice are shown together in the death of Jesus Christ, David’s son from many generations down the line.
God is a god of justice. We should have justice reflected in the laws of our nation.
Justice here means punishment or being made to provide restitution for crime. Justice is not the modern “social justice” of demanding financial transfers for supposed past injustice or present inequalities. It is true justice.
The fact that our society has any order at all is largely a product of its Christians past.
You might attribute law and order to Rome, and its place in history. But only Christianity gives us the moral reason to actually obey the law. We obey not out of fear of punishment, but out of love for God.
Now, a final takeaway. Let us be proponents of justice. Do not be ashamed in wanting sins to be punished and criminals to be apprehended. The opposite – the failure of justice – is the sin, not the desire for justice. But, justice is not to be taken into our own hands; it must be done on earth through God’s chosen instrument, the magistrate (the government). So let us pray for justice, and that we would live in an ordered society.