“No, brother!” she said, “Don’t hurt me! This kind of thing isn’t done in Israel! Don’t do this terrible thing! Where could I ever show my face? And you—you’ll be out on the street in disgrace. Oh, please! Speak to the king—he’ll let you marry me.” But he wouldn’t listen. Being much stronger than she, he raped her. No sooner had Amnon raped her than he hated her—an immense hatred. The hatred that he felt for her was greater than the love he’d had for her. “Get up,” he said, “and get out!” “Oh no, brother,” she said. “Please! This is an even worse evil than what you just did to me!” But he wouldn’t listen to her. He called for his valet. “Get rid of this woman. Get her out of my sight! And lock the door after her.” The valet threw her out and locked the door behind her. She was wearing a long-sleeved gown. (That’s how virgin princesses used to dress from early adolescence on.) Tamar poured ashes on her head, then she ripped the long-sleeved gown, held her head in her hands, and walked away, sobbing as she went. Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon had his way with you? Now, my dear sister, let’s keep it quiet—a family matter. He is, after all, your brother. Don’t take this so hard.” Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s home, bitter and desolate. King David heard the whole story and was enraged, but he didn’t discipline Amnon. David doted on him because he was his firstborn. Absalom quit speaking to Amnon—not a word, whether good or bad—because he hated him for violating his sister Tamar.
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Compare All Versions: 2 Samuel 13:12-22
3 Days
Presenting ourselves with integrity in every aspect of our lives requires discipline and purity. In this devotional, we will explore ways to live in the wholeness Christ intended, and find grace in moments of failure.
5 Days
Sometimes life hurts. Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes life can be dark. And it leaves its mark—like ashes of grief—in the deepest parts of our souls, where no one but God can really see. In this plan, Darcie Stephens, Finding Hope Coordinator for Hope is Alive Ministries, shares some of her own story of loving those in the midst of substance abuse and how God brought her HOPE.
Shame is heavy, but Jesus invites you to lay it down and walk in freedom. This five-day devotional explores the lives of people in Scripture who were ashamed because of their past. Yet, Jesus met them with grace, not condemnation. Through their stories, we will learn to release our shame and embrace the rest Jesus offers. If you’ve been weighed down by shame because of past mistakes or what others have done, come and find freedom in Christ. He has already carried the burden; now it’s time to let it go.
Dear Survivor, You are here, and that matters. This devotional is a sacred space to breathe, belong, and begin again. Through the story of Tamar, you’ll gather the torn threads of your life and invite God to weave something beautiful. Each day offers a thread of healing, worth, voice, release, reimagining, and reweaving. Come as you are. Light a candle. Breathe. You may cry, write, revisit a day, or rest. There is no wrong way to heal. You are not broken, you are becoming. You are not too far gone. Your life is a tapestry that God lovingly designed.
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