2 Samuel 12:26-31
1 Chronicles 20:2-3
2 Samuel 13:1-39
2 Samuel 14:1-33
2 Samuel 13:2-5, "Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her. Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. He asked Amnon, ‘Why do you, the king's son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won't you tell me?' Amnon said to him, ‘I'm in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.' ‘Go to bed and pretend to be ill,' Jonadab said. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.'"
Yesterday, we read about David's slippery slope into sin when he disobeyed God by committing adultery and murder. Today, we see the continual fall out within his children - the royal family. Sin after sin, we see the consequences subsequently piling up.
Amnon's sin started seemingly small - lust. Marrying Tamar was forbidden according to law, yet he let his passion for her burn. Instead of taking his struggle to God, he took it to poor advisors and their evil advice led to sexual assault, Amnon's death, and a family torn apart.
What can we learn from this horrifying story?
First, there are no small, secret sins. Whenever we feel the sway of temptation, we need to recognize it for what it is and lay it before God, repent, and not give it room to grow!
Second, we must be careful whose advice we take! So, consider your source - will they point you towards Christ? It's crucial to surround ourselves with people who won't just tell us what we want to hear but what we NEED to hear. If our friends don't call us out on our sin, we must find someone who will!
What temptation needs to be eradicated from your thought process? Don't let it fester! Instead, fix your focus on Jesus and rely on His strength to push through it. Ask Him to help you take your thoughts captive. When you do, you will find the reward much greater than giving in to sin - big or small!
Father, Although I'm not perfect, I am seeking You. My desire is that sin would have no place in my heart, mind, or life. I confess that I have been struggling with __________. I ask Your forgiveness, and I turn completely from it today. Thank You, Lord, for the forgiveness I have through Jesus. Amen.