What can we learn about resisting temptation from 2 Samuel 13:5? Setting the Scene “ ‘Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick,’ Jonadab said. ‘When your father comes to see you, say to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and feed me some food. Let her prepare the food in my sight, so that I may watch and eat from her hand.” ’ ” (2 Samuel 13:5) Amnon is already nursing sinful desire toward his half-sister Tamar. Jonadab’s crafty suggestion gives that desire a deceptive plan, turning private fantasy into deliberate action. Key Observations from the Verse • Temptation often comes wrapped in counsel that sounds clever or practical. • Deception (“pretend to be sick”) paves the way for deeper sin. • Isolation (bringing Tamar to a private room) removes protective boundaries. • A small, seemingly harmless step can be the hinge on which a devastating outcome swings. Lessons for Resisting Temptation • Guard your heart early – “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” (James 1:14) – Don’t entertain fantasies that oppose God’s design; cut them off at the thought level (2 Corinthians 10:5). • Test every piece of counsel – “The simple believe every word, but the prudent give thought to their steps.” (Proverbs 14:15) – Ask, Does this advice align with Scripture or contradict it? • Flee situations that make sin easier – “Flee from sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) – Amnon invited temptation into the bedroom; we do the opposite—create distance. • Walk with wise, godly friends – “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20) – Seek accountability that challenges, not enables, your flesh. • Keep life in the open – “Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11) – Transparency with trusted believers dismantles secrecy where sin breeds. • Lean on God’s faithful escape route – “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man… He will also provide an escape, so that you will stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) – The Spirit supplies power; our role is to take the exit He shows. Putting It into Practice • Memorize and meditate on Scripture daily (Psalm 119:11). • Pre-decide your response to tempting venues, media, or relationships. • Cultivate quick, honest confession when a sinful impulse surfaces. • Replace deceptive strategies with truthful habits—integrity in speech, openness in schedules, purity in thought. A Final Word Jonadab’s plan demonstrates how temptation uses secrecy, deception, and bad counsel to flourish. By contrast, we resist through truth, transparency, godly companionship, and reliance on God’s promise of deliverance. |
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