Amnon Had a Friend

Todays Reading – 2 Samuel 13 – 15

But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man. (2Samuel 13:3)

This is another tragic story in the Bible of a man who blew it because he allowed someone into his life that influenced him away from the will of God.  Amnon was one of David’s sons, and he was in love with his half sister, Tamar.   Whether or not this was a wholesome attraction is a matter for another debate.  Nevertheless, Amnon didn’t know what to do about it, but he had a “friend” that did.  This friend, however, was not the kind of friend your parents would like for you to run with.  This was a sneaky guy (subtil).  This was the kind of guy that acts like an “A” honor roll student when he is around your folks; but when he has you alone he is bringing out dirty magazines and dope.  Amnon’s “good friend”, Jonadab, convinces Amnon to trick the king into bringing his daughter Tamar into the lair of Amnon.  Unfortunately, as a result of this counselor’s advice, Amnon eventually ends up dead because of what he does to Tamar.

There are two applications that we can make here:

1  Jonadab is like the devil.  He is a liar, and a deciever; and he will always try to seduce you into going against the will of God.  Notice how Jonadab just convinces Amnon to do what he already wants to do.  He just had to give him a little nudge.  Satan know your temptations, and he throws them in front of you, nudging you to yield to them.  And he always plays both sides.  Notice later on in the chapter how Jonadab is defending the guy who kills Amnon (vv 32 – 35)  The devils convinces you to sin and then he accuses you to God. 

2  But Jonadab is also a type of some of the friends that you and I might have in our life.  And we know who they are.  They are the people who are not concerned about the will of God; they live for themselves, and they are always trying to get you to join them.  Identify the Jonadabs in your life, and remove them.  Surround yourself with people who will tell you to do what’s right.  That is what a true friend does. 


Posted in Devotions by with 7 comments.
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

7 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Samantha Erickson
Samantha Erickson
13 years ago

I was still in high school the first time i heard this message and i can remember all the decisions i made about leaving those ungodly freinds. Maybe im just weird but at that time it really wasnt hard for me to say goodbye to them. I didnt care what they thought and I knew they would leave me as soon as I changed the way i was living. To be honest, I have been struggling in these more recent days then i ever have before.

Now I work and I
go to college.Ive been trying so hard to get the people around me to like me. I have found that it is harder then ever before to say goodbye to these types of people, these Amnons, in my life. This passage was perfect! Just what i needed for God to remind me that the decisions I made back then…still apply today! Have a great day and see you tonight! 🙂

Cindy Erickson
Cindy Erickson
13 years ago

Along the line’s of Sami’s comment. When we recieve Christ as our Saviour He does something in our lives that makes us want to live for him, so the friends we have before we get saved will hopefully see a change in us. Now these friends will do one of two things , if we truly start living for Christ they will either, one, want what we have or two, keep living for the world and the devil. So we really need to be careful how we represent our Lord. Is it going to be hard to lose some friends we have known for along time ? Of course it is ! But don’t you think that the God who saved us can give us new friends who are living for HIM . If you trusted Him to save you then trust him to save the before Christ friends and or give you new friends. So don’t be afraid to say goodbye to the Jonadabs in our life so we won’t be like Amnon.

Brian L.
Brian L.
13 years ago

I read the passage and what was written about it. I agree there are people in our lives that do shield our eyes from what is right. But, I also feel that is what separates people who are true to themselves and the Word & those who are still on uneven grounds. If a small push or incentive will convince one to indulge in what they are unsure of, than that person needs to realize the position they are in. A person like Jonadab will always be present wherever we go. But, are we like Amnon or do we accept Christ and with that confidence in what He says is right?

Katelyn Erickson
Katelyn Erickson
13 years ago

I remember growing up surrounded and consumed with my popular friends. Though we were all good kids, when I got saved I knew that if they weren’t walking with Christ, they were headed in a different direction than I needed to be. I thank God for the friends I made at church who helped me grow closer to the Lord, but being in public school there were times I was tempted to just quit and go back with my old crowd. During the times of trial I reminded myself that Christ died for me so the least I can do is live for Him. I couldnt let myself quit on my Savior!
Whatever it is that you are struggling to give up for God, just remember that it is our “reasonable service”-it’s the least that we can do. Each time I have surrendered something in my life to Christ, He always replaces it with so much better. My Best Friend wants me to have an abundant Christian life, and He will fill every area in His perfect way.

Gary Geiger
Gary Geiger
13 years ago

The Path of Sin

Verses 1-5 are the suggestions of an ungodly man. daily I am tempted with ungodly men most times the suggestions don’t penetrate me but yes sometimes they do. Verses 6-8 set the scene. Once I am tempted I deceive myself and begin to set the sin trap in motion. Verse 9 remove witnesses. I begin to remove witnesses even though I know God is watching; go figure; as stupid as it sounds that is what happens. Verse 11 I take hold. If sin cannot suduce or deceive me at this point it makes itself personal and it takes hold. Verse 12 The folly. I call this the folly because at this point there is still room to turn away from the sin or to continue deeper into it. Verses 13-15 Powerful lies. The devil hates the folly so he makes it perfectly clear by his lies where he wants you to go. Accepting this is the point of no return. Verses 16-18 The unfair judgement. This is when you finally realize that a a saved person you have been deceived into sin. Verses 19-20 The defiled believer. The wages of sin is death. Every beiever who has ever been deceived by sin acknowledges his sin with God and feels the pain of defilement. Verses 21-31 The kings vengeful plot. Sin effects alot of people. I see the king as my earthy Father and I admit with this writing that if my Father knew half the sin I committ he would have vengence upon not just me but whom-ever had the smallest part in it. (Just for context my Father died on April 1st when I was 17). Verses 32-39 The sorrow of sin. Death no matter how you slice it brings forth sorrow. In the context of this chapter the sorrow brought on by this sin in evident in all who came in contact with this evil plot. I found this to be very close to home with me. I wounder how many of us; myself included; have allowed our sin to affect unsaved people around us and now by our thoughtless actions those people may have a very hard time coming to Christ. Even writing this for me at this particular time makes me think about just how important having the right people around you and being accountable for my actions may determine the cause of another persons future acceptance of Jesus Christ as their saviour. Thanks pastor; I didn’t sin as a result of this writing!!!

Don
Don
13 years ago

Hi Pastor!
I have been reading your devotions and they have been a blessing!!! The comments from your congregation is very encouraging. Keep on pressing on.

Gary Geiger
Gary Geiger
13 years ago

hello all; I couldn’t sleep. have been reading and meditating on Pastors profound message last night. I just wanted to share this for those who may be willing to study:

13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. The interpretation of the parable of the treasure, which makes the buyer of the field to be a sinner who is seeking Christ, has no warrant in the parable itself. The field is defined (v. 38) to be the world. The seeking sinner does not buy, but forsakes, the world to win Christ. Furthermore, the sinner has nothing to sell, nor is Christ for sale, nor is He hidden in a field, nor, having found Christ, does the sinner hide Him again (cf) Mark 7:24 ; Acts 4:20 . At every point the interpretation breaks down. Our Lord is the buyer at the awful cost of His blood 1 Peter 1:18, and Israel, especially Ephraim Jeremiah 31:5-12 Jeremiah 31:18-20 the lost tribes hidden in “the field,” the world (v. 38), is the treasure ; Exodus 19:5 ; Psalms 135:4 . Again, as in the separation of tares and wheat, the angels are used ; Matthew 24:31 ; Jeremiah 16:16 . The divine Merchantman buys the field (world) for the sake of the treasure (v. 44) Romans 11:28, beloved for the fathers’ sakes, and yet to be restored and saved. The note of joy (v. 44) is also that of the prophets in view of Israel’s restoration. ; Deuteronomy 30:9 ; Isaiah 49:13 ; 52:1-3 ; 62:4-7 Isaiah 65:18 Isaiah 65:19 . (See “Israel,”) Genesis 11:10 ; Romans 11:26 . kingdom (See Scofield “Matthew 3:2”)
13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: pearls The true Church, “one body” formed by the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:12 1 Corinthians 12:13 . As Israel is the hid treasure, so the Church is the pearl of great cost. Covering the same period of time as the mysteries of the kingdom, is the mystery of the Church ; Romans 16:25 Romans 16:26 ; Ephesians 3:3-10 ; Ephesians 5:32 . Of the true Church a pearl is a perfect symbol: (1) A pearl is one, a perfect symbol of unity 1 Corinthians 10:17 ; 1 Corinthians 12:12 1 Corinthians 12:13 ; Ephesians 4:4-6 . (2) a pearl is formed by the accretion, and that not mechanically, but vitally, through a living one, as Christ adds to the Church Acts 2:41 Acts 2:47 ; 5:14 ; 11:24 ; Ephesians 2:21 ; Colossians 2:19 . (3) Christ, having given Himself for the pearl, is now preparing it for presentation to Himself Ephesians 5:25-27 . The kingdom is not the Church, but the true children of the kingdom during the fulfilment of these mysteries, baptized by one Spirit into one body 1 Corinthians 12:12 1 Corinthians 12:13 compose the true Church, the pearl. kingdom (See Scofield “Matthew 3:2”) . 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: the kingdom of heaven The parable of the Net ( (Greek – daimonivzomai -net) presents another view from that of the wheat and tares of the mysteries of the kingdom as the sphere of profession, but with this difference: there Satan was the active agent; here the admixture is more the result of the tendency of a movement to gather to itself that which is not really of it). The kingdom of heaven is like a net which, cast into the sea of humanity, gathers of every kind, good and bad, and these remain together in the net (v. 49) and not merely in the sea, until the end of the age. It is not even a converted net, much less a converted sea. Infinite violence has been done to sound exegesis by the notion that the world is to be converted in this age. Against that notion stands our Lord’s own interpretation of the parables of the Sower, the Wheat and Tares, and the Net. Such, then, is the mystery form of the kingdom. (See Scofield “Matthew 3:2″) . See Scofield ” Matthew 6:33 “. It is the sphere of Christian profession during this age. It is a mingled body of true and false, wheat and tares, good and bad. It is defiled by formalism, doubt, and worldliness. But within it Christ sees the true children of the true kingdom who, at the end, are to “shine forth as the sun.” In the great field, the world, He sees the redeemed of all ages, but especially His hidden Israel, yet to be restored and blessed, Also, in this form of the kingdom, so unlike that which is to be, He sees the Church, His body and bride, and for joy He sells all that He has 2 Corinthians 8:9 and buys the field, the treasure, and the pearl. heaven (See Scofield “Matthew 3:2”) 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, end of the consummation of the age. Matthew 24:3 . 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? James Son of Alphaeus. (See Scofield “Matthew 4:21”)

Looking up every verse is profitable.

Thanks Pastor!!!

7
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x