He had told Nathan the prophet that the man in the story would repay four fold. The price of the sin was going to cost David 3 more lives.
II Samuel 13:1- And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
David had a son who thought he was in love with his half sister. He never said anything to anyone, but one friend. He kept his thoughts to himself, but he found it hard to think about anything else and it was making him sick.
II Samuel 13:3-4- But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man. And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
Amnon told his friend that he loved his half sister. This friend was a sneaky man. He wasn't wise enough to tell Amnon to do right. He came up with a plan that would help Amnon steal what he wanted.
II Samuel 13:6- So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
Amnon pretended to be very sick, and when the king came to check on him he asked if Tamar could come make him some food. King David didn't think anything about this. He didn't know that Amnon had evil in his heart. And so, he sent Tamar to help her brother get better.
Tamar came to Amnon's house to make him some food so that he could get better. He put his wicked plan into action and ended up hurting his half sister. But, he found that after he had taken what he thought he wanted that he no longer felt that he loved her.
II Samuel 13:17- Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
Amnon called a servant and had her thrown out of his house. She was so ashamed that she ran to her brother, Absolom's, house and lived there for the rest of her life without ever leaving.
The second consequence of David's sin was that his daughter would lose her life. Not that she would die, but that she would live without ever really being able to have a life.
II Samuel 13:20b-21- So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
David was so angry when he heart what had happened. His daughter would now live in seclusion and there was no way for him to make it better. It was a fate worse than death!
But, that wasn't the last price he would have to pay.
II Samuel 13:23- 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.
Tamar's brother, Absalom, had planned to get revenge. He was a patient man and he waited 2 whole years so that no one would think to warn Amnon. He planned to have a dinner party and he invited all of his brothers.
II Samuel 13:28- 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 told his servants to wait until Amnon was drunk, and then to come in and kill him. The servants obeyed him. This act scared the other siblings and they all got up to flee, fearing that they were next.
II Samuel 13:30-31- And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
Someone ran to tell King David, but they got the story messed up. They told him that Absalom had kill ALL of his children, not just Amnon. David was beside himself with grief.
II Samuel 13:32-33- And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
The same friend that had told Amnon to take what he wanted was the one who knew that Absalom had only killed Amnon. Some friend! He knew that Absalom was looking to get revenge, but he didn't warn his so-called friend. He let him go off to his death.
Be careful who you call your friend. Be careful from whom you take advice. Some people who call themselves your friend are only out to help you destroy yourself! Jonadab was no friend to Amnon!
II Samuel 13:35-37- And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore. But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
David mourned everyday for his son. Now he had two children who had died, one who was living as a hermit, and one who had banished himself because of revenge. If David had known this would be the cost of his sin I'm certain he would never have committed it.
But, that's the lie of the devil. His best device is to convince us that we can get away with our sin. He makes us believe that if no one sees, or we make it vanish, that we won't have to pay the price. But, there is always a price to pay when we make the choice to sin.
And, David still hadn't paid the full cost!
