Monday May 22nd, 2023
« Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. »
1 After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
2 Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.
3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man.
4 And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?”
Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 So Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ”
6 Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
7 And David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Now go to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”
8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it,made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
9 And she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, “Have everyone go out from me.” And they all went out from him.
10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom.
11 Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing!
13 And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king;for he will not withhold me from you.”
14 However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”
25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you.” Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.
26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.”
And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
27 But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.”
29 So the servants of Absalomdid to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.
Understand:
The influence of peer groups has always been great in molding a person’s character either for good or bad.
Indeed, friends and peer groups are the “third parent” to every individual.
Peer pressure has the power of enticing a person into things they would never have considered doing.
No wonder the Holy Spirit says in Proverbs 1:10:NLT
« My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! »
To entice is to persuade a person to carry out an act, usually by offering something pleasant and attractive as dividend. An example of this is the serpent’s dangling of the forbidden fruit before Eve (Genesis 3:6).
Enticement usually works hand in hand with deception.
May you never fall victim to the enticement of the world like Demas did in Jesus’ Name (2 Timothy 4:10).
The power of temptation lies in its ability to entice its victim.
Parents do not lure their children into temptation; rather, they lead their children on the path of greatness and right living.
The Holy Spirit in our lives represents our divine parents, the Holy Trinity, and this is why we must always listen to the counsel He gives and reject any counsel contrary to His inspired word.
The truth is, the Holy Spirit cannot lead you to do anything that is contrary to God’s written word.
Speaking on His mandate, our Lord said in John 16:13: GWT
« When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into the full truth. He won’t speak on his own. He will speak what he hears and will tell you about things to come. »
He then went on to say in John 17:17NKJV
« Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. »
In other words, the Holy Spirit is to guide us into all of God’s word, which is truth.
Associating with evil people has the potential to corrupt any person of good character.
That is why the Holy Spirit is sending the warning in today’s memory verse.
Those who are wise will give heed to what the Holy Spirit says because He knows more than we know and sees better than we see.
To avoid the snare of wicked peers and finish your race in heaven, let the Holy Spirit have the greatest influence on you.
Do not keep friends like Jonadab in today’s Bible reading, whose advice cost Amnon his life.
Jonadab and Amnon were even cousins!
Irrespective of family links, don’t allow anyone influence you into destruction, because when it’s all said and done, you will bear your cross yourself.
May the Lord make you wise concerning this in Jesus’ Name.
Application: Examine if the company you keep influences you for good and adds value to you. Discreetly withdraw from those who influence you negatively.
Author: Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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