Needing Comfort

Needing Comfort

King David’s Concubines

Read: 2 Samuel 20:3

“Five to six men raped us, one after the other, for hours over six days, every night. My husband could not forgive me after this; he disowned me.” This young woman from Darfur in Sudan became an innocent victim when government-backed militiamen attacked her village in retaliation against insurgent groups in the area. Besides the usual devastating effects of sexual violence, she had to deal with her husband’s rejection. She faces a grim future in a society in which women depend on men for survival.

Israelite society viewed the ten concubines raped by Absalom as defiled. When King David returned to Jerusalem and his throne, he placed the women in strict seclusion, where they remained until they died. He provided for their needs, but he no longer had physical relationships with them. In addition to the memory of the outrage committed against them, these women had to live with the shame of being treated like widows even though their husband was alive. Through no fault of their own, the women carried the consequences of someone else’s sin for the rest of their lives.

In reality, each of us is defiled from birth because of our inherent sinful nature. Once we accept God’s forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice, no one can do anything to defile us or make us worthless in God’s sight. Despite what others think of us, he wants to help us rebuild our lives. Unfortunately, a deep sense of shame and guilt may cause us to shut everyone out, including God. He longs to console us and restore our joy, but we have to receive his comfort by spending time in his Word and in prayer. No matter what happens to us, God promises to give us the comfort that no one else can, if we will receive it.

I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.

Jeremiah 31:13 (NASB)