ESOCS Devotional 5 September
TEXT: 2 Samuel 13: 1-18
MEMORY VERSE: “And Jonadab said unto him, lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.” 2 Samuel 13:5 KJV
Amnon was King David’s firstborn son, born and raised during the years between David’s rise to fame and his rise to power. He grew into a prince with too much time on his hands and too little control over his thoughts. He set in motion one of the most shameful and destructive series of actions in the royal family. He allowed himself to become obsessed with sexual desire for his half-sister Tamar. When his attempt to seduce her failed, he raped her. Rape is strictly forbidden by God (Deut. 22: 28, 29). Further- more, hatred set in after the act (2 Sam.13:15); he humiliated her by pushing her out of the room and bolted the door (2 Sam. 13:17, 18). Amnon made it look like the incest was her fault. He acted on the advice of his cousin and friend, Jonadab.
Wrong advice can be very destructive. It is also worrisome when such wrong advice is coming from a blood relation or a close friend. Amnon was advised by his cousin and friend Jonadab to commit sexual sin. We may be more vulnerable to the advice of our relatives because we are close to them. But we must make sure that every piece of advice we are given measures up to God’s standard, even when it comes from relatives.
His crime destroyed her chances of marriage because she was no longer a virgin and she could not be given in marriage. It brought her shame. His act set in motion one of the most shameful and destructive series of actions in the royal family. Hatred set in between Absalom and Amnon. Hatred leads to disaster. Two years later, Absalom through a secret plan, murdered Amnon and fled.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Family relations can be sources of strength or systems or dysfunction. Wrong advice from our relatives destroys family relationships. It destroys the unique sense of belonging and value that cannot be found in other relationships. It leads to unhappy life. Jacob gained Esau’s blessing through Rebekah’s fraudulent advice (Gen. 27: 5-10). The effect was far reaching in the life of the family, especially Esau.
Rape is no longer news in our society today- fathers, uncles, school teachers/headmasters/lecturers, landlord, church leaders (members), neighbours, roadside workers, male friends, etc. were involved in the reported cases by the media at different times. Some were based on advice, and some on lust. So many led to death. Rape can bring eternal curse to a whole generation. Be wise!
CHALLENGES
- Have you been affected in the past by wrong advice from a friend or a relative?
PRAYER POINT:
- Pray and ask God to help you to avoid falling prey to wrong advice.
FURTHER READING:2 Samuel 13:19-39; Romans 6:21, 23
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 5 September
