After the Lord had confronted David for his sin through Nathan the prophet, a sentence was pronounced on David’s house: “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” If chapters 11 and 12 of 2 Samuel are the turning point in the narrative and the life of David, chapter 13 starts David’s downward spiral under God’s judgment. That judgment will come to a climax in the rebellion of David’s son Absalom, and we are introduced to that son here. This is a story of sin and devastation, at least equal and perhaps worse than David’s own sin. David’s son Amnon has an unrestrained heart like his father, and he too will not be stopped when he seeks satisfaction. Amnon’s sin destroys the life of his sister Tamar, brings more hatred into his own heart, and leads to the murder of Amnon by Absalom. All of this should make us ever vigilant to root out our own sin and to give no space for sin to grow and flourish in our lives. Because we are so prone to forget, God’s Word reminds us that “Sin is Horrible” (2 Samuel 13:1-39).

I.  Horrible Story

II. Horrible Reaction

III. Lessons We Learn