Friendship
«Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge» (Proverbs 14:7).
Amnon had grown up with privilege and attention in the royal palace. His father, King David, was Israel’s absolute sovereign. Being young, attractive and influential, the young man had a promising future. Any Israelite young lady would have accepted the love of a man like him. «Like other sons of David, Amnon had been left to selfish indulgence. He had sought to gratify every thought of his heart, regardless of the requirements of God»—Patriarchs and Prophets, Ch. 72, p. 727. But as is sometimes the case with the most powerful, he suffered from the disease of dissatisfaction, so he only took notice of none other than his half-sister, Tamar. Her beauty impressed him, and his imagination was set lose every time he saw her. He was infatuated with her to the point of obsessing; the Bible even mentions, «Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick» (2 Samuel 13:2).
Sick because of a forbidden love? Does that story sound familiar? Not at all! Instead, it sounds like a child’s tantrum when he’s not bought the toy he’s demanding and, therefore, he makes a scene at the toy store. And there you have the prince «in love,» with a downcast face, teary eyes and lack of appetite, spending his lonely afternoons writing the name of his «forbidden loved one.»
Amnon had a crafty friend, the kind that have no scruples and are frequently around gullible people to take advantage of them. It was his cousin Jonadab. He longed for the prince’s life and luxury, so he thought it was unbearable for Amnon not to satisfy any personal desire, no matter how revolting it seemed, even if it was with his own sister. So, he devised a trick for the son of the king to force himself on Tamar. A few days later, a couple of rascals achieved their goal and the Hebrew maiden was disgraced by her own brother. Tamar’s life was forever changed. The king didn’t punish the offender, as was expected, and Absalom, the victim’s brother, swore revenge.
Jonadab soon became Amnon’s trusted friend and received the prince’s preferential treatment. Life seemed to smile on both young men who had the world at their feet. Until one day Absalom kept his promise and killed Amnon, his half-brother. A bad friend’s influence had cost the life of the young man who had a promising future ahead of him.
Choose your friends well. They influence you more than you imagine.
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Take From: Daily Devotions for Youth 2020
«A New You»
From: Alejandro Medina Villareal
Collaborators: Gezer Noria & Misael Morillo
