FAITH CAPSULE: Foolish desire is a route to untimely death.

2 Samuel 13

The word of God cannot be broken. The word of God is wisdom in place to position us rightly when consciously engaged. Understanding the word of God is the key to having edge over the wicked world. Isaiah 33:6 confirmed the truth about the importance of wisdom and knowledge stating, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times and the strength of salvation…” It is the lack of wisdom and knowledge that set up Amnon (son of David) that set him up for self-destruction.”It is recorded in 2 Samuel 13:2, “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.”   

Desire that causes man to be distressed is the evidence that one is missing wisdom and knowledge that gives stability in the world of challenges. Ammon was so much consumed in the love for his sister to the point of sickness and he allowed an agent of evil to step in as his counselor. The one and only better way of making any decision on confronting issues of life is to seek for wisdom and knowledge in the word of God. Ammon’s crafty friend became his counselor concerning his distressed desire. 2 Samuel 13:3-5 recorded, “But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man. 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.’ 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.’” On the first note, the desire of Ammon was a foolish one. Also, the crafty friend was the wrong one for Ammon and at the wrong time.

Are you engaging a foolish counselling over your distressed situation? Wisdom and knowledge is what will make all the difference in different steps that we take in life. Book Proverbs 2:10-12 also buttressed, “When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil…” Ammon did a shameful, disgraceful and evil thing by forcing her sister to lay with her. Absalom could not let go the evil committed by Ammon so he sent his servants to kill Ammon. Evidently, Ammon died an untimely death because his desire drove him in the route of death.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace that your heart be kept with diligence against every thought that is self-destructive.