Speak Up - Absalom And Amnon

Though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister.

2 Samuel 13:22

It is horrible to find yourself at the business end of the silent treatment. Maybe you’ve unknowingly done something that hurt or offended someone, and instead of talking to you about it, they have become sullen and withdrawn.

It can be hard to speak up when you are offended by someone’s hurtful actions, even unintentional ones, but you need to do so if you want to keep your important relationships healthy and growing.

Absalom, King David’s second-eldest son and the half-brother of Amnon, shows what can happen when the lines of communication between two people break down.

The whole royal family knew what had happened. Amnon had raped Absalom’s sister, Tamar, and when David failed to discipline Amnon, Absalom’s anger and frustration grew into a deadly plot to murder Amnon.

Though Absalom had every right to feel angry toward Amnon, he went terribly wrong in refusing to talk about it. Absalom had no way of knowing if Amnon felt sorry for what he’d done, and he made no effort to try to resolve the situation.

His anger grew, deep inside, until it became implacable hatred.

Absalom waited for the right opportunity to order his servants to kill Amnon (see 2 Samuel 13:28). Though he probably felt some temporary satisfaction at taking vengeance, he paid a heavy price for his failure to resolve his conflict openly and peacefully.

Absalom demonstrates how anger and animosity can grow when you choose silence over talking after someone hurts or offends you. That’s why it’s always best to open up and talk when you feel wronged. Don’t let it fester!

Keeping lines of communication open helps you to keep any relationship healthy and growing. Remember that God never gives you the silent treatment when you blow it. Instead, he reaches out and lets you know where you’ve messed up. Determine now to follow his example. When someone does something to hurt or offend you, don’t hesitate to talk about it.