The God Who Sees
Karen Grant, Guest Writer
TODAY’S TREASURE
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3)
There once was a beautiful princess, the daughter of a powerful King and the sister of many. One day she received a message from her father directing her to go to the house of a half-brother who was ill and prepare food for him, by her brother’s special request. Hastening to his house, she made his favorite cakes, but he refused to eat them. Instead, he sent everyone else away. He asked her to bring the cakes into his bedroom and feed him. Then his manner changed. He took hold of her and told her to lie with him. The virgin princess refused in horror, reasoning with her brother in every way she could think to change his mind. Ignoring her protests, he violated her. As if things couldn’t get worse, afterward, he hated her and commanded a servant to get the princess out of his sight. She put ashes on her head, tore the special robe that declared her a virgin daughter of the King, and went away wailing. When her father heard of it, he grew angry but did nothing. Another brother discovered what happened and sheltered her in his home. Two years later, this brother had her attacker killed in revenge. The family was torn apart as surely as the beautiful princess’s robe, as surely as her heart.
Do you recognize this story from 2 Samuel 13? Tamar, the beautiful princess in this story, really lived, was truly violated by her brother Amnon, and found no justice from her father, King David.
Unspeakable betrayals happen within families — from rivalries to infidelities, even to incest and murder. They are multiplied when they are unaddressed, unresolved, and unpunished— when families choose instead to outwardly appear close, happy … Christian. If you have not experienced such betrayals, you surely know someone who has.
Is it any wonder that many victims ask where a loving God was during their suffering? These sorts of betrayals are another pandemic result of the Fall. We are forced to acknowledge that the results of Adam and Eve’s sin in Genesis 3 do not distinguish between who deserves to suffer and who does not.
Today’s Treasure, Psalm 11:3, poses the question: if the very foundations of society are destroyed, what can the righteous do? Look at verse 4:
The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man (Psalm 11:4).
The Lord sees. So, He sees, but does He act?
God extends longsuffering patience with us. He does not kill us for our sin but gives us time to repent, to believe that His suffering on the Cross paid for our sins, and to turn around and change the direction of our lives. He does the same for others who have committed even terrible sins.
Psalm 11:5-6 reminds us that while He is patient, there will be a day when justice will be enforced.
The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup (Psalm 11:5,6).
Vengeance is His, and it is terrible to imagine, but Verse 7 offers us comfort - those who are declared righteous will behold His face:
For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face (Psalm 11:7).
God sees betrayals committed against us. Why would the story of Tamar be recounted in such detail but remind us that He sees? He spent precious words in Scripture to show us that Tamar was innocent, afraid, and unprotected. He does not overlook injustice and pain. Her betrayer received justice.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Pray for those who have suffered familial betrayals. Understand that these may take years to heal. If needed, help victims tell their story to an understanding pastor and/or Christian counselor. Though we may want to personally take revenge on the perpetrator, our place is not to avenge their wrongs, though it may fall to us to help them find counsel who will bring offenses to light. Our job might be to not only go with the friend to a counselor but to also help them take legal action if necessary. If it is you who have suffered, find your helpers. You may be frightened, thinking it best to just get on with your life. Instead, take one step at a time toward experiencing the comfort and redemption Jesus offers. Believe He sees you. Believe He cares for you. Perhaps praying through Psalm 11 is a good place to begin.
PRAYER
Lord, this is such a heavy burden, knowing some hurts are deeply buried, yet they impact us in ways we don’t realize. I pray for those who are struggling with how to find the peace You offer when doing so might expose loved ones to great sorrow. Give them the strength to take the first step of sharing their stories with trusted friends and then to find a counselor who will help them unpack the past with the hope of experiencing Your redeeming love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Karen Grant loves being a pastor’s wife at Parish Presbyterian Church. She and her husband have three grown children and six amazing grandsons. A graduate of Covenant Seminary, she also served on the PCA’s multicultural church planting and mercy committee. She and her husband co-founded Franklin Classical School in Franklin, Tennessee, where she continues to serve on the board of trustees. She enjoys studying & teaching the Bible, reading, traveling, cooking, working out with her exercise buddies, and all God’s creation. Karen shares with MARKINC, in this Help & Hope Story: Ministry Wives, Betrayal and Restoration.
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Thursday, 11 August 2022.
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