2nd Samuel 12:11
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight.’”
Question: If God is truly omnibenevolent, in that He has a kind intention towards all, then why is He wishing “evil” against anyone?
Answer: For judgment against sin. God is a holy God.
Question: Does this prove that God ordains sin?
Answer: I believe it proves that God delivers judgment, and His judgment doesn’t necessary imply anything malicious on His part, as it can merely mean His withdrawal from the situation (as in this case), by simply turning sinners over to their own desires. Instead, what we need is God’s active involvement in our lives, in order to be delivered from temptation. When God withdraws from the situation, that is very bad for us, given our sin nature. Essentially, what happened is that David had his loyal soldier, Uriah, murdered in battle in order to steal his wife, whom he had already impregnated.
The wives that King David had lost to his “companion” was his own son, Absalom. It all started when David took a weak stance against one of his sons, Amnon, after he raped Absalom’s sister, Tamar. Absalom extracted revenge by eventually having him put to death. Absalom, of course, was banished for a time, and eventually Absalom usurped the throne, slept with David’s concubines’s in broad daylight, in order to demonstrate that he was now king, and that there was no turning back. In this way, the prophecy against David was fulfilled, and it all started with David’s weak stance against sin.
2nd Samuel 13:1-2: “Now it was after this that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David loved her. Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.”
Amnon raped Tamar, and Tamar spent the rest of her days in mourning, and from that day, Absalom planned on murdering Amnon in revenge.
2nd Samuel 13:12-39: “But she answered him, ‘No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing! As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.’ However, he would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for 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 away!’ But she said to him, ‘No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!’ Yet he would not listen to her. Then he called his young man who attended him and said, ‘Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her.’ Now she had on a long-sleeved garment; for in this manner the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her. Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her long-sleeved garment which was on her; and she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went. Then Absalom her brother said to her, ‘Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.’ So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry. But Absalom did not speak to Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar. Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. Absalom came to the king and said, ‘Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant.’ But the king said to Absalom, ‘No, my son, we should not all go, for we will be burdensome to you.’ Although he urged him, he would not go, but blessed him. 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?’ But when Absalom urged him, he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. Absalom commanded his servants, saying, ‘See now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, “Strike Amnon,” then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.’ The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose and each mounted his mule and fled. Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, ‘Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.’ Then the king arose, tore his clothes and lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn. Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, responded, ‘Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart, namely, “all the king's sons are dead,” for only Amnon is dead.’ Now Absalom had fled. And the young man who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. Jonadab said to the king, ‘Behold, the king’s sons have come; according to your servant’s word, so it happened.’ As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted their voices and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly. Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there three years. The heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.”
Years later, David and Absalom were reunited. (2nd Samuel 14:33) Through a wise woman of Tekoa, reconciliation took place, as she shared these words with King David: “Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from him.” (2nd Samuel 14:14)
Unfortunately, Absalom was shrewd and won over the hearts of the people of Israel (2nd Samuel 15:6), and later in life, plotted a coup de ta against his father, David, which was successful (2nd Samuel 15:10-12), and King David fled: “So the king went out and all his household with him. But the king left ten concubines to keep the house.” (2nd Samuel 15:16) This relates to the prophecy of Nathan, as Absalom was given the following advice: “Ahithophel said to Absalom, ‘Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.’ So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. The advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.” (2nd Samuel 16:21-23)
That was how the prophecy of Nathan was fulfilled. Judge for yourself whether God did anything to ordain, approve or bless any of these sins. Instead, I see it simply as a matter of God permitting David’s mistakes to play itself out.
