Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!” (2 Samuel 13:15)
Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang:
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.”Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. (1 Samuel 18:5-9)
The Bible not only reveals to us the nature of God, but also the true nature of Man. In the Scriptures we see on display all the characteristics of our fallen nature, as well as that of our redeemed nature.
One thing that we can see throughout the biblical narrative is the fact that our attitude toward the people around us quite often has more to do with us than others. Those who are just and upright view those around them only by the concrete facts of their character—neither having too high nor too low a view of others. Additionally, those who are filled with the agape love of God see beyond the character defects of others and view them through patience, kindness, mercy and loyalty. When justice and love work together in our view of others, we are walking in the character of our Lord Jesus Christ.
However, sadly, we often do not see people either justly or in love, but rather color them with our own inner life. Take Amnon, from the passage above, for example. He was so "in love" with Tamar that he resorted to raping her. Then, after completing his horrible crime against her, he "hated her more than he had loved her." We see that his hatred was born from his own inner shame, and his "love" for her really was just his own lust.
Or take Saul, for instance. David never did anything but help him and serve him loyally, but when his own fear and envy took over, he saw David only with suspicion, despite the fact that David's love and loyalty never changed.
Even more tragically is how common this sin is among Christians. Although we should be protected by our Lord's commands to love, forgive and look on others as "better than ourselves" (Philippians 2:3), many often maintain attitudes and opinions about their brothers and sisters in Christ that are the reflection of their own fears, sins and desires, and not born of justice and love.
How this fact should make us tremble when we reflect on the solemn warning of our Lord Jesus!
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:2)
Again, friends, it is very often the case that our mistrust, irritability, suspicions, offense and other relational sore points are the product of our own dark inner-life, rather than a humble and upright view of the other person (as we deceive ourselves into thinking).
Let us tremble with the fear of God when we allow negative attitudes toward a brother or sister in Christ to creep into our hearts and minds. As the writer of Hebrews warns us, these bitter roots grow "to cause trouble and defile many" (Hebrews 12:15).
Instead, let us turn to and live in the love of Christ, remembering that:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
And, by God's grace, we shall do so.
Essene Press Team
