Two women with the name “Tamar” are recorded in the Old Testament. Krista talked about the first in last week’s post. The second is King David’s daughter, Tamar, and her story is recorded in 2 Samuel 13.

Little information is disclosed about this girl other than the fact she was beautiful (2 Sam. 13:1), a virgin (2 Sam. 13:2), and she had a brother named Absalom. She also had a half-brother, Ammon, who held less than honorable intentions toward her. With the help of a conniving friend and a little shameless deception, Ammon gets Tamar alone and steals both her virginity and her dignity, despite all her protests. It doesn’t take long for his former lust to morph into hate. Despising her more than he loved her, Amnon disposes of Tamar like the leftovers of a fast food meal. Her tears for a restoration of honor could not soften the hardened heart of Amnon.

Though I despise Amnon’s cruelty, I’m even more upset by Tamar’s family’s lack of response. Absalom was, at the very least, insensitive when he said, “Be quiet now, my sister … Don’t take this thing to heart.” (vs. 20) Though verse 21 claims King David was a furious father, the years following were void of any response. All we know is that Tamar lived out the rest of her days “in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman.” (vs. 20)

I’ve listened to countless modern-day Tamar stories, men, women and children who have endured horrible wrongs, only for their suffering to be prolonged by a complete lack of justice or response from those who could do something about it. Many of these broken people live consumed by grief, jailed in their own house of desolation.

It will not always be so.

Today is Easter. And though the Easter story is all about grace, mercy, redemption, and love, it is also about justice. The only reason Jesus had to die is because the horror of sin needed to be brought to justice. Sins like Amnon’s abuse and David’s silence demand a response from the Father of heaven. Jesus gave his life so we would know that, regardless of how dark and desolate life may seem, justice will be had. Honor will be restored. And never again will a broken heart need to live desolate in a borrowed house.

He’s made sure of it.

“Strengthen feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’” ~Isaiah 35:3-4

“It is finished.” ~ John 19:30

Tamar, dear woman, He’s coming for you.