What lessons on discernment can we draw from David's response in this chapter? Setting the Scene • 2 Samuel 13 opens with Amnon’s sin against Tamar and Absalom’s two-year simmering resentment. • Absalom now plans a festive sheep-shearing party—really a trap. • Verse 24 records Absalom’s polite invitation: “Then Absalom went to the king and said, ‘Your servant has shearers; will the king and his servants please come with your servant?’ ”(BSB). • David’s response (vv. 25-27) gives a window into discernment—its presence and its absence. David’s Initial Check • He senses something: “No, my son…we would be a burden” (v 25). – Refusal shows a spark of caution. • He “gave him his blessing” anyway—perhaps eager to preserve family peace. • When Absalom singles out Amnon, David asks, “Why should he go with you?” (v 26). – Good question, right motive—yet he never pursues the answer. • Absalom’s persistence wears him down: “So he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons with him” (v 27). – Lack of follow-through turns caution into capitulation. Where Discernment Fell Short • Ignored unresolved sin. David had been “furious” (v 21) over Tamar’s violation but did nothing. Resentment festered. • Mistook courtesy for sincerity. Absalom’s polite tone masked murderous intent (vv 28-29). • Relied on natural reasoning. He weighed logistics (“burden”) but not moral danger. • Failed to heed his own hesitation. A probing question without action is wasted. • Allowed emotions to override wisdom. Longing for normal family interaction muted alarm bells. Timeless Principles for Today • Discernment demands action, not just intuition. Proverbs 4:23—“Guard your heart with all diligence.” • Address sin promptly; unresolved evil breeds deeper evil (Ephesians 4:26-27). • Do not let flattery or polite language dull vigilance (Proverbs 27:6). • Ask the next question and verify motives (John 7:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). • Parental/familial love must be paired with firmness (Proverbs 13:24). • Passivity can become complicity when warning signs are obvious (James 4:17). Cultivating Godly Discernment 1. Seek wisdom in prayer. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5). 2. Saturate the mind with Scripture—“Your word is a lamp to my feet” (Psalm 119:105). 3. Confront sin biblically and promptly (Matthew 18:15-17). 4. Surround yourself with trustworthy counselors (Proverbs 15:22). 5. Train the senses by practice—“those who by reason of use have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). 6. Stay alert to relational undercurrents; peace at any cost can cost more later (1 Peter 5:8). Encouraging Verses to Anchor Discernment • Philippians 1:9-10—“that your love may abound…in all discernment, so that you can approve what is excellent.” • Proverbs 18:13—“He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.” • Psalm 32:8—“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” |
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