Loving the Enemy

Based on 2 Samuel 13-15, Psalm 60

"Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies."
Psalms 60:11‭-‬12

David and his family faced many challenges within the family, and many forms of betrayal by family members. These few chapters are not about David fighting against Philistine enemies & winning battles, but about family members turning and becoming enemies of David. Even in these ultimate betrayals, David still loved the sons who did such wrong acts to him. One of his sons, Amnon, forced Tamar (David's daughter) to lie with him.

"And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone."
2 Samuel 13:13‭-‬15

What a terrible form of abuse, especially from a distant family member! It was betrayal to Tamar and to her father, David.

"And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth." 2 Samuel 13:20‭-‬21

Then, Absalom plotted against Amnon and killed him:

"Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant." 2 Samuel 13:28

David still mourned for Amnon his son and also was distraught that Absalom fled after killing Amnon. Anywhere David turned, there seemed to be hurt and heartbreak. He did not act out of anger and attack any of his sons, because he loved them! He was torn over the hurt they caused, and heartbroken because one son was dead and the other fled. And I'm sure the situation with Tamar replayed in his mind as well...since we are God's children, God reacts the same way to our sin. He is more hurt than angry. That's why we have to love our enemies, because even our enemies are children of God!

"But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead."
2 Samuel 13:37‭-‬39

If this wasn't enough, Absalom became power-hungry and wanted to have a high position, as a judge, over Israel. He wanted to steal the authority from his father and ultimately become king. He did his best to gain a following, and David had to flee...this time not from Saul, but from his own son, Absalom.

"For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord. And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron."
2 Samuel 15:8‭-‬10

Absalom clearly did not go in peace; he had an agenda. Furthermore, he said he was going for The Lord! Right before this, Joab sent a woman to the king with a "story" about protecting her son who had killed someone. It was a set-up to bring Absalom back to David since David missed him. David was able to perceive what was going on, and the woman realized how much wisdom David had from God. So, Joab brought Absalom back. And even after all this, Absalom lies to David in the Scripture above.

Loving is sometimes harder than hating...it's harder to suppress the negative impulses than it is to allow ourselves to act on them. David mourned. David wept. And that's because he loved so much. David was true to God & loved like He loved. Even to his family which turned on him in so many instances!

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:44‭-‬45