Princess Tamar's Tears

By Norma Evans Barber

The Faces series is an attempt to paint as honestly as possible the faces of characters we read about in the Bible so that readers can identify and relate to the naked, common-life truths that these characters present and hold to the promises that each story or event offers to us as we seek to know and walk with God. Walking through the Bible, an adult Sunday School class enters 11 Samuel 13, a dark room where a princess is found weeping. She has been sexually abused by her half brother while her family members conspire a cover-up. Her own brother, her mothers son, secretly vows revenge on the aggressor as well as on his father, King David. The succeeding chaos multiplies, and Tamar, the victim, sticks her face out of the closet to tell the pain of it all, only to find that her story holds relevant connections to a number of class members and, in fact, to many readers in the contemporary world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 11, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450002660

Norma Evans Barber

Norma Evans Barber has a MA in Education and a BA in Sociology-Anthropology from Howard University in Washington, DC. She entered the forefront of the early intervention movement, teaching babies with special needs at the Easter Seals Society for Disabled Children and Adults where she later became center coordinator for the Washington DC centers. Her love for teaching beckoned her back to the classroom, where she taught for twelve years in the DC Public Schools, then for further years in the Prince George’s County Public Schools. She is also a Teacher Consultant with the DC Area Writing Project. Born in Guyana, South America, she now resides in the state of Maryland. Mrs. Barber is the secretary of the Local Board of Administration, superintendent of Sunday School, and adult Bible Class teacher for her church. She holds workshops for hurting women. Her life demonstrates her personal commitment to the Lord Jesus, children, and literacy, and to make a positive difference in our world

Book preview

Copyright © 2010 by Norma Evans Barber.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

All scripture references are either quotes from or paraphrases of the Holy Bible, King James Version (public domain).

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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CONTENTS

Preview of Study

Chapter One.....Are You Listening?

Profile of a Pedophile

Chapter Two.....His Name Was Amnon

The Seasonal (Temporary) Pleasure of Sin

Chapter Three.....Come Lie with Me, My Sister.

The Role of the Family Member in Sexual Abuse

Chapter Four.....Don’t Disgrace the Family

The Parental Roles in Sexual Abuse

Chapter Five.....King David Does Nothing

The Ill Effects of Hatred

Chapter Six.....Revenge!

How Should a Person Deal with Latent Guilt?

Chapter Seven.....False Rumors Reach the King.

The Biblical Significance of the Shedding of Blood

Chapter Eight.....Father and Son Reconcile

A Portrait in Manipulation

Chapter Nine.....Absalom Steals the Hearts of the People

What Shall the Harvest Be?

Chapter Ten.....Reflections of a Rape Victim

Introspection

Chapter Eleven.....Abuse in Real Time

Wrap-up

Chapter Twelve.....Will the Tamars of Today Please Step Forward?

Chapter Thirteen.....Netta’s Ode to Tamar

Chapter Fourteen.....A Victim’s Prayer

To El Shaddai. You were and are the One with whom the patriarchs dared discourse; to whom wise ones today seek recourse; my personal joy, life’s meanings, my All in All. Also to the adult Sunday School class at Capital Wesleyan Church in the inner city of Northwest Washington D.C., whose openness and love for The Word make teaching a delight every Sunday. My special thanks go out to my sister, Dinah Smith for her encouragement to complete the book and rigorous input on conventions of English. Finally to my husband, Redmon for enduring my hours of partnership with the computer, my daughter, Christel for checking with and encouraging me unlimited times, and the partners God has given me to enjoy life with—Pastors Lynnette and Dr. Newton Gregorio and the dynamic Capital Wesleyan Church prayer intercessors—THANKS.

About the Book

Walking through the Bible, an adult Sunday School class enters 11 Samuel 13, a dark room where a princess is found weeping. She has been sexually abused by her half brother while her family members conspire a cover-up. Her own brother, her mother’s son, secretly vows revenge on the aggressor as well as on his father, King David. The succeeding chaos multiplies, and Tamar, the victim, sticks her face out of the closet to tell the pain of it all only to find that her story holds relevant connections to a number of class members, and in fact, to many readers in the contemporary world.

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CHAPTER ONE: Are You Listening?

Hi there! Are you listening? My name is Tamar. That is enough for now—just Tamar, because if you were to know more about my heritage [which you will most certainly know by the time I am finished telling my story], you will realize that I am from a fami1y that should not record a story such as I will tell. But I guess you might say the same if you were a victim of sexual assault in any form. I was brought up well; at least so I thought—dignified and sheltered. My parents taught me high values and were even very re1igious. True, ours was a large, blended