2 Samuel 13

Does your God smile on you? Cheer up, (2 Samuel 13:4) Why are you, being the king's son, lean? Are you the king's son?

Shall the sons of a king walk dejected? Why are you, being the king's son, lean? (2 Samuel 13:4). Is God an unkind Father, are his commands grievous?

It turns rejoicing in sin into sorrow for sin; it turns boldness in sin into holy shame; it turns the love of sin into hatred. As Amnon hated Tamar more than ever he loved her (2 Samuel 13:15), so the true penitent hates sin more than ever he loved it. (Psalm 119:104): "I hate e…

David thought it no small honor to be the king's son-in-law (1 Samuel 18:18): what an honor is it to derive your pedigree from heaven, to be born of God; why then are you troubled, and murmur at every slight cross? As Jonadab said to Amnon (2 Samuel 13:4): Why are you, being the…

Now that is costly to every one which is above his ability: and if this be a rule for apparel, much more in recreation, so that he which does play more away than he may well without any doubt or scruple, bestow upon honest delight (necessary maintenance of other things, and libe…

When the people fell in idolatry (Exodus 32:25), Aaron made the people naked to their shame. So when Tamar dissuades her brother from incest (2 Samuel 13:13), she says, "And I, where shall I cause my shame to go? and as for you, you shall be as one of the fools of Israel." Shame…

Now when Christ shall speak for us, and speak God's own heart, how prevalent must those words needs be? David's soul longing to go forth to Absalom (2 Samuel 13, last verse), whom notwithstanding (for the honor of a father, and a king's state policy, and to satisfy the world) he…

As sweet perfumes are a reviving, so to be supported in good resolutions or directed and guided in our way to heaven by a faithful friend is very cheering and comfortable; and we read (1 Samuel 23:16-17), that Jonathan went to David and strengthened his hand in God. Whereas on t…

Neglect in this regard is a dishonor to God, and a disparagement to the treasures of grace. Why are you being the King's son, lean from day to day, said Jonadab to Ammon (2 Samuel 13:4). So say I, from where proceeds this leanness?

Hence it implies languishing pain, through want of the feeling and enjoying of Christ's presence (Cant. 2:5; Cant. 3:1, 2, 3; Cant. 3:6, 8). 2. It implies sickness and weakening of the person, as in Amnon's love to his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1, 2, 3, 4). It comes from apprehe…

Or if the Scripture speaks of them as men, yet it allows them but the external shape of men, not the unde[•]standing of men. Among the Jews they were called Fools in Israel, 2 Samuel 13:13. and so Proverbs 6:32. Whoso commits adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding. And sin…

Though Samson saw a daughter of the Philistines which pleased him well, yet would he not marry her before he had his parents' consent (Judges 14:2). 4. These words of Tamar (2 Samuel 13:13), "Speak to the King" (who was her father,) "for he will not withhold you from me," show t…

Hence is it that many most vile and horrible things are commanded, because they are agreeable to the commander's humor. Absalom bid his servants commit a most detestable murder upon his own brother, and note how he presses it, Have not I commanded you (2 Samuel 13:28)? More pres…

Thus the Jews conspired to kill Paul; they looked upon him as one that had cried down the customs of their nation. This made Absalom plot the death of Amnon, because of the quarrel he had with him, and the dishonor he had done his sister; he bids him to dinner, and plies him wit…

It was a law among the Lacedemonians, Quicunque senum delinquentem puerum videns non increpat, eadem poena cum delinquente teneatur; That if any of the ancient saw a young one sinning, and did not reprove him, they should undergo the same punishment with the offender. But, 2. We…

We little think what secret sighs and groans are within, when wicked men are merry, or seem at least to be so from the teeth outward. In 2 Samuel 13 you will find no meaner person than a King's Son vexed and tormented with his own passion (2 Samuel 13): he was in a burning fever…

When Tamar was solicited to commit such folly by that wicked Amnon, she said to him, Do not you this folly: and I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? And as for you, you shall be as one of the fools in Israel: that is to say, you are a person of quality, and in great reputati…

Therefore the day of judgment must needs be a day of horror and confusion to them. Where is there an ungodly young man, but if all his secret sins (yes, the sins of his heart and all) should be revealed before the world, he would be ready to say as Thamar when solicited by a wic…

Now then if a man may forsake open sins, and retain secret sins; if he may forsake sin, but not as sin; if he may let one sin go to hold another the faster; if a man may let all sin go and yet be a sinner still; if sin may be left and yet be loved; Finally, if all sin may be cha…

You hold not your estate jure, but gratis, not by a juridical right, but upon favor and courtesy. 2. It is unworthy of the relation we stand in to God; a Christian is invested with the title and privilege of sonship; he is an heir of the promise: Oh consider the lot of free grac…

This is to make provision for the flesh: when one studies to gratify the flesh and lay in fuel for lust. Thus Amnon made provision for the flesh (2 Samuel 13:5): he feigned himself sick and his sister Tamar must be his nurse, must cook and dress his food for him, by which means…

7. Let us carry ourselves as the children of God in cheerfulness. It was the speech of Jonadab to Amnon, why are you, being the king's son, lean (2 Samuel 13:4)? Why do the children of God walk so pensively?

First, when a man mourns that he cannot satisfy his impure lust; this is like the devil, whose greatest torture is that he can be no more wicked. Thus Amnon mourned and was sick, until he had defiled his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:2). Thus Ahab mourned for Naboth's vineyard (1 Ki…

They saw their blood poured forth, they saw the ravishing of their virgins, the slaughter of the whole city, the depopulation of church and temple, the laying waste and throwing down all the ordinances, and therefore they express a great mourning, as for the greatest and most pu…

Phinehas (Numbers 25:8, 11) is said to have been zealous, that is, angry for God: the occasion was, because the Israelites committed fornication with heathenish women. David in like manner (2 Samuel 13:20, 21) was angry upon this occasion, because Amnon his son had defiled his s…

Abraham's servant gave Rebecca an habiliment of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets of ten shekels of gold, which she put upon her forehead and hands (Genesis 24:22), verse 47: all which were of no great value, and therefore not excessive, but comely and moderate. And in the…