3 But
Amnon had a very crafty friend—his cousin Jonadab. He was the son of David’s
brother Shimea.[a] 4 One day
Jonadab said to Amnon, “What’s the trouble? Why should the son of a king look
so dejected morning after morning?” So Amnon told him, “I am in love with
Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 5 “Well,” Jonadab
said, “I’ll tell you what to do. Go back to bed and pretend you are ill. When
your father comes to see you, ask him to let Tamar come and prepare some food
for you. Tell him you’ll feel better if she prepares it as you watch and feeds
you with her own hands.” 6 So Amnon lay down and
pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon asked him,
“Please let my sister Tamar come and cook my favorite dish[b] as I watch. Then I can eat it from her
own hands.” 7 So David agreed and sent Tamar to
Amnon’s house to prepare some food for him. 8 When Tamar
arrived at Amnon’s house, she went to the place where he was lying down so he
could watch her mix some dough. Then she baked his favorite dish for him. 9 But
when she set the serving tray before him, he refused to eat. “Everyone get out
of here,” Amnon told his servants. So they all left. 10 Then
he said to Tamar, “Now bring the food into my bedroom and feed it to me here.”
So Tamar took his favorite dish to him. 11 But as
she was feeding him, he grabbed her and demanded, “Come to bed with me, my
darling sister.” 12 “No, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t be
foolish! Don’t do this to me! Such wicked things aren’t done in Israel. 13 Where
could I go in my shame? And you would be called one of the greatest fools in
Israel. Please, just speak to the king about it, and he will let you marry me.”
14 But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her, and since he was
stronger than she was, he raped her. 15 Then
suddenly Amnon’s love turned to hate, and he hated her even more than he had
loved her. “Get out of here!” he snarled at her. 16 “No,
no!” Tamar cried. “Sending me away now is worse than what you’ve already done
to me.” But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her. 17 He
shouted for his servant and demanded, “Throw this woman out, and lock the door
behind her!” 18 So the servant put her out and locked
the door behind her. She was wearing a long, beautiful robe,[c]as was the custom in those days for the
king’s virgin daughters. 19 But now Tamar tore her
robe and put ashes on her head. And then, with her face in her hands, she went
away crying. 20 Her brother Absalom saw her and asked,
“Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet for now,
since he’s your brother. Don’t you worry about it.” So Tamar lived as a
desolate woman in her brother Absalom’s house. 21 When
King David heard what had happened, he was very angry.[d] 22 And though
Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what
he had done to his sister.”
This account is one of those that
people who does not commonly reads The Bible get shocked to know a situation
like this has been included in “such a holy book”. Mostly because these people see the Bible as
a “history” book, or a “decoration” piece, and NOT as THE book which will guide
those who choose to make it a part of their lives, to live the life God had
intended for us to have, filled with testimonies to prepare us all for what’s
coming ahead, and giving us the promise of the blessed hope we all need.
Today this study revolves not towards the woman who suffered this terrible calamity; but the teaching is directed to those
that battle the temptation the aggressor faced and failed to correctly address
it.
Amnon was David’s eldest son with
his wife, Ahinoam. Absalom and Tamar, were also David’s children,
but with another wife, Maacah. So Amnon,
Tamar’s half-brother, had a very crafty friend, who after listening
Amnon’s desperation love story of desiring intimacy with the half-sister unsuccessfully,
decided to counsel Amnon. Right here’s
the first three red flags!
1.
If your desires are for something that is not
legal, get your eyes off of it, and flee from temptation.
2. Watch out who you share your personal thoughts;
by sharing those your basically asking for counseling or at least that’s the
perception.
3. The counselor/advisor unless is God, is another
imperfect human just like us, with fears, insecurities and frustrations like
ours, and therefore not necessarily will lead you right; cause you’re never
sure the stage that person is in, on the counseling day. BE CAREFUL!
The attribute used Amnon’s friend,
have you heard it before, is the same one used to describe the serpent at the
Garden of Eden[1]. Would you really be opened to share your
disappointments and your story with someone like this? Wrong company corrupts
good character[2]…
watch out!!! Well, the proof is in the suggestion itself, what did Jonadab
suggested his cousin/friend to do? – to trick the father, AND the half-sister
in order to get the “impossible”. My
friend who reads this, a person who encourages you to do something illegal to
obtain what you want, IS NOT A FRIEND; even if that “friend” is a family
member.
“The lie worked!” I’m sure Amnon
might have thought; because the father and the half-sister, fell into it. King David, the father, sent Tamar the daughter
in, she prepared the food for the “sick”, and even fed him; then afterwards, he
took advantage, and raped her. This was
a costly lie, because it back fired Amnon, as soon as the act was done, that “love”
he had for Tamar, immediately transform into hate, and eventually cost Amnon
his life[3].
This tragic ending is no
different than what happens to those that choose to obtain their wishes and
desires the illegal way. Next time, you’re
being tempted to do anything that is against the law, THINK TWICE, whatever is illegal,
IT’S NOT WORTH IT!
Follow GOD and HIS way, although
is not easy to walk this Christian walk, HE PROMISE HE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ALONE[4],
and it will always be harder to walk without Christ. HE has PROMISED us to that when we walk with
HIM, when we are weak [in human strength], then we are strong [truly able,
truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].[5]
“Therefore let us [with
privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious
favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need
[an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”[6]
I pray in the name of JESUS, that
you recognize that although temptation will come, “No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed
you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual
or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is
compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your
ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in
the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you
will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with
joy].[7]
I pray you choose to live a life
in the presence of God, who will preserve and protect you beyond any human guidance.
If you do not know GOD, I pray you realize HE, the Creator of heavens and the
earth always existed, “In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by
forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth”[8].
After sin entered the world by Adam and Eve[9],
GOD has been wanting to reconciled mankind with HIM. GOD provided a perfect lamb, HIS SON – JESUS,
to die for our sins[10]. HE IS THE GIFT, and in order for us to
establish a relationship with HIM, we just have
to recognize, and accept this Gift, and in attitude of thanksgiving for this
Gift, choose to live for HIM. I also pray that after you ask HIM to come
into your heart and become the Master of your life, you inbox me a quick note, sharing
with me your good news, and for the glory of God I pray, in JESUS name, AMEN!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment