How does Jonadab's role in 2 Samuel 13:3 illustrate the danger of ungodly counsel? Key Passage “Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.” — 2 Samuel 13:3 Who Was Jonadab? • Cousin to Amnon and Tamar (David’s nephew) • Reputed for cleverness, not godliness • Close enough to influence the crown prince’s private thoughts What Jonadab Actually Did (2 Samuel 13:4-5, 6-10) 1. Listened to Amnon’s sinful desire, yet offered no rebuke 2. Devised an elaborate deception: “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill…” 3. Set the stage for Tamar’s violation and the cascade of violence that followed Characteristics of Ungodly Counsel on Display • Appealing: sounds like a quick solution to felt desires • Calculated: uses intelligence to engineer sin rather than prevent it • Fearless of consequences: ignores God’s law (Leviticus 18:9; Deuteronomy 27:22) and royal accountability • Lacking love: prioritizes personal ingenuity over another’s purity and safety • Short-sighted: sees only immediate gratification, not long-term fallout Consequences Traced to Jonadab’s Advice • Tamar’s innocence shattered and her life scarred (v. 12-20) • Amnon murdered by Absalom two years later (v. 28-29) • David’s household plunged into distrust, grief, civil war • Generational witness to Israel of what one “shrewd” suggestion can unleash Scriptural Echoes and Warnings • Psalm 1:1 — “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…” • Proverbs 13:20 — “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” • 1 Corinthians 15:33 — “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” • James 3:15-16 — “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic…” Timeless Lessons • Proximity ≠ godliness; family and friends can still steer us away from the Lord • Cleverness divorced from righteousness becomes a weapon • Sinful desires look for confirmation, and ungodly counselors supply it • One moment of unchallenged lust, fueled by bad advice, can reap years of sorrow Cultivating God-Honoring Counsel • Seek counselors who love God’s Word and will confront sin (Proverbs 27:6) • Measure every suggestion against clear Scripture, not feelings (Acts 17:11) • Surround yourself with companions who fear the Lord and value holiness (Proverbs 9:10) • Pray for discernment to recognize “shrewd” voices that sound helpful but lead to harm (Philippians 1:9-10) Jonadab’s cameo in 2 Samuel 13 stands as a sober reminder: the voices we invite into our decisions can either guard our hearts or pave the path to ruin. Choose wisely. |
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