September 30 – 2 Samuel 13:30-39

September 30 – 2 Samuel 13:30-39

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.

This story reminds me of an old youth group game called gossip.  It shows how quickly stories can get changed and the truth gets either watered down, or exaggerated.  Whatever makes the story more dramatic.  Whoever brought the original news to David that all his sons were dead certainly exaggerated the situation.  Don’t you wonder how the truth gets so twisted?  Sometimes it is truly a genuine error, but it seems more often than not the embellishment of the truth just seems better to the story teller. 

Why is the truth not enough?  Think about the truth of the gospel.  People try to change who Jesus is rather than believe the truth.  They will say he was a good man, or a teacher, rather than the truth that He is the Son of God, our Savior, the Lamb, the One who saves us from ourselves.  This is  one time the truth is much more dramatic than the lies they tell. 

Who do you know that needs to hear the truth today?

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