2 Samuel 13:21

2 Samuel 13:21 says, But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.  When David heard about what had happened, he was very wroth, or angry.  If we hear about terrible, sinful things happening today, we should be filledcwith righteous indignation, or anger, and not allow the sin to go unchecked.  We are not told that David took any action though..  Verse twenty-two adds, And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.  Matthew Henry says Abimelech had nothing good nor bad to say about Amnon because he hated him for what he had done to his sister Tamar,  but it seems to me that he quit talking to him.  Amnon had created a lot of anger and hurt in David’s family by his actions, and if we act sinfully as Christians we may cause discord in the church, especially if we don't repent and take responsibility for our actions.  Amnon had basically blamed Tamar for what had happened instead of taking responsibility himself.  We as followers of Christ should never attempt to place responsibility for our sins on someone else.  Verse thirty-three continues, And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.  Two and a half years later, Absalom had sheepshearers at Baalhazar and invited all of David's sons to come.  He had a plan to avenge his sister, and he was in effect involving all of David's sons in it.  We should never attempt to hide sinful plans by involving others even without their knowledge.  I believe that David should have addressed this problem, but since he hadn't, Absalom decided to do things his way.  We should never allow sin to go unaddressed in the church today.  Verse twenty-four states, And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.  Absalom even invited David to go with them.  Maybe he figured this would make it seem less likely that he had a plan to kill Amnon in mind.  Sometimes people may attempt to hide their sinful actions in plain sight.  Verse twenty-five adds, And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.  David said that he wouldn't go.  Matthew Henry says this was because David didn't want to be a part of Absalom spending so much to have a feast.  We can say that we should never encourage others to spend money in what might be a foolish manner.  Verse twenty-six continues, Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?   Absalom asked that since David wasn't going to allow Amnon to go with him, and David asked him why.  He may have been concerned about Absalom’s reason for wanting Amnon there, but as we will see, David allowed him to go.  If we suspect that someone is up to no good, we shouldn't simply question them and then allow them to go ahead with what they plan.  Verse twenty-seven says, But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.  Absalom pressed David to allow Amnon and David’s other brothers to go.  Matthew Henry says that Absalom had hidden his hatred of Amnon so well that David didn't expect him of planning to kill him, but by David’s earlier question of why Absalom wanted Amnon to go, I believe he may have been concerned.  All the brothers went.  Verse twenty-eight adds, 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.  Absalom commanded his servants to kill Amnon when he was merry with wine, or basically drunk and less likely to be able to defend himself.  Even though they were acting under Absalom’s orders they were also becoming complicit in his actions.  We should never allow someone in power over us to cause us to do anything sinful.  Absalom said he would take responsibility for their actions, but no one else can really take responsibility for our actions.  Verse twenty-nine continues, And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.  The servants did as Absalom had told them to do, and afterward all of David's other sons fled.  I don't know if this as because they feared they might be next or if they feared that David would think they were all involved.  I personally believe that at this point they should have held Absalom responsible, and we as Christians should hold others responsible for sinful actions instead of just running away from them.