I promise you that it was simply a coincidence, or maybe serendipitous that all the themes that played out before the eyes of the Trinbago public over the past few days were almost identical to the scenario in a bible passage that I recently read in 2 Samuel 13. As the bible story unfolded, I shook my head and recalled the words of wise King Solomon that there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). It has all been done before; different characters, but the same story.
The very public spat that began a few days ago was between a man and his estranged mistress but in the account in 2 Samuel, it was between two brothers. In both stories, though as far apart in time as 550 BC compared to February 2023, the themes were identical, and the main culprit was lust. Lust that was entrenched in deception was mistaken for love, which led to anger and hatred and created the milieu of vengeance and unforgiveness, which ultimately resulted in death in one of the stories. Absolom was David's son and so was Amnon. Tamar was Absolom's sister and so she was also Amnon’s sister. Amnon was convinced that he loved his sister Tamar, and his inability to be with her even distressed his appearance and countenance. Together with his cousin, Amnon crafted a plan to have King David send Tamar to serve him under the pretense of illness. Despite Tamar's protest, Amnon was overcome by lust and raped his own sister. Regardless of what we profess with our words, our actions will always confirm or denounce them. Amnon's professed feelings were far from love but it was the suasion of lust that snagged him by the collar and the inexcusable occurred.
I was amazed not only by the irrationality of lust but also by how quickly 'love' turned to hate. The bible said "then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!” II Samuel 13:15 NKJV He hated his sister and did not care about what happened to her or about the consequences to himself and his entire family. The devil’s scheme was successful, and the spiral of hate, deceit, vengeance, and unforgiveness began. Our hearts ought to ache when humans walk eyes wide, arms open, into the plot of the enemy. The devil disguised himself as love and without the truth and experience of the true love of God, anarchy erupts in people's lives. All the emotions and destructive actions ballooned from the self-centered place of lust. Do not be deceived. Love, true Love “is patient and kind… is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT On the heels of exposed wrongdoing by both sides in the most recent calamity, one of the parties released a long soliloquy about the issue. While I admire the attempt to make something positive out of a bad situation I couldn't ignore the repetitive mention of God when rationalising the outcome. Every mention of His name was proof that humans know God and know His standard.
Many people believe that when mankind falls short, the loving God will understand and excuse their behaviour, and then always use the consequences for their benefit, but that is not correct. God’s promise to work everything together for good is not for everyone, it is a promise to 'those who love God and are called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28). Lives that are surrendered to the will of God can be molded and directed by God so that He could work all things together for your good and ensure that no weapon formed against you will ever prosper.
What does God really require from us and from our lives then? He wants us to live in a covenant relationship with him. A covenant is a binding agreement between two persons with mutual obligations from both parties, with integrity and uprightness as the foundation. A covenant is not conditional, by it, both parties commit to owning and fulfilling their promise.
Every day God fulfills the covenant that He made with the world through the sacrifice of His son Jesus, by keeping us another day. It’s the goodness and mercies of God that we aren’t consumed (Lamentations 3:22), not by Him but by the evil of this world. He shelters, He provides and yet we falter so often on our promise.
The outcome of the bible story is that Absolom killed his brother Amnon for what he did to Tamar and the last I heard of the recent debacle is that court proceedings were being initiated for the unauthorised release of intimate photographs.
My question to those involved in both stories would have been, was it is worth it?
My question to you is, is it worth it?
Is the sin associated with lust so tantalising and the desire so strong that it is worth your reputation, your peace, your self-respect, your soul, or even your life?
“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15
Wouldn’t it be wiser to confront lust, deception, and every other cunning plan of the enemy with wisdom and above all else, love for yourself and love for God!
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
Do not fall prey to the crafty and deceptive devices of the enemy. Let love conquer and cover every sin, including the self-destructive machination of lust.
Love Ya!
Krystal Baynes-Hoseinee
Follow me on IG @imani_blog2020
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