In 2 Samuel Chapter 13 we have the tragic story of Amnon and Tamar. Amnon was the first son of David, the great King of Israel (2Sam.3:2). David established the Kingdom of Israel to become the world power; as at that time so many nations were loyal to King David. Naturally, David would hand over to his first son. Amnon had such a great prospect before him. He was to be the King of the greatest Kingdom as at that time, but he never was!
As a young person today, you have a great potential and prospect before you, but you may never come into God’s plans for your life if you do not take heed and avoid the foolishness of Amnon. What happened to Amnon is common amongst young people, it is called INFATUATION. Infatuation is an intense but short-lived irrational passion for someone. This was what happened to Amnon. The scripture said he was in “love” with his Sister – how senseless; to lust after his own sister! It was so intense that he became frustrated and sick. All he wanted was to have sex with her, but it seems impossible to him because she was a virgin. Sometimes young people are so desperate, and feel frustrated just because they want to get someone of the opposite sex. He felt so miserable as though he would die. His Cousin noticed it and asked: “Why do you, the king’s son, look haggard morning after morning?” Unfortunately for him, he had the wrong kind of friend; someone who would not help him focus on his future but will teach him all kinds of trick on how to get young girls. He replied: “I’m in love with Tamar my brother Absalom’s sister”. Unfortunately, when you are gripped by this strange fire of lust, you might think you are “in love”.
His friend advised him: “Go to bed and pretend to be ill.” Pretence always goes with infatuation. For Amnon, it was pretence to be ill, for some others they pretend to be rich, or be what they are not. When you have to pretend in anyway just to get someone of the opposite sex, you are a miserable fool. Amnon did exactly as his friend advised. He was able to convince his father to send Tamar. Unfortunately, Tamar was such a naïve young girl; she was so unwise she could not see any danger coming. Some of you young girls are like Tamar, you are so insensitive that you do not know when a young man is lusting after you, or making a crafty move to get you. Some of you have thrown off your guard because he is your cousin, or uncle or even your brother. You take liberty playing around the opposite sex. Tamar must have thought herself privileged to come and serve the prince, in fact she must have felt the prince loved her so much and may have even been wishing the prince would marry her, that was why she suggested that the prince should talk to the king so that they would be permitted to get married (2sam.13:13). To marry your own brother? How foolish!
Young lady, don’t be deceived by the position and wealth of that young man, “those who follow vanity, walk away from their true love” Jonah 2:8 (Paraphrased). Perhaps, he is already buying you gift and telling you sweet words, now you are falling for him. You have started going to his house to wash for him and perhaps cook for him like Tamar, your excuse is that he is my “brother-in-the-Lord”, or he is my mentor. Even when Amnon sent everyone out of the house, Tamar was still carried away by her fantasies; it did not occur to her that it is risky to be in the room alone with someone of the opposite sex, she threw caution to the wind. Are you like Tamar; you stay alone and in dark corners with someone of the opposite sex? You will be blamed for whatever happens to you. It was when he grabbed her that her senses returned that she was a virgin, that she was a princess, and that she has some values to protect. How many young ladies have ruined their lives by falling for the infatuation of a young man? Tamar according to the culture of their day could have married a prince or a king, but she remained desolate the rest of her life.
As for Amnon, how cruel he was, despite the pleading of his sister, he forcefully raped her. Even when she told him how foolish what he wanted to do: “Don’t force me my brother, such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing. What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Isreal” 2sam. 13:12-13. Amnon lost his senses completely because he wants to have sex. He forgot who he was. This is exactly what infatuation does. Tamar herself was surprised to see that her brother didn’t even think about what will become of her, she asked: What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? You see lust is always unreasonable and selfish. The bible said: “But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her. Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out”” Infatuation always leads to heart break. After raping her, he hated her more. Young lady, the moment that young man who is not your husband starts seeing your nakedness, you will lose value where he is, and he will hate you with intense hatred; even if you marry him, he will still not trust and value you, he will treat you like a nobody picked from the street.
Two years after, Amnon thought it was all over; he has had his way, but he never knew his brother Absalom still had it in mind. You may be doing some things today and think you are getting away with it, but a day is coming when your past will speak. Absalom organized a feast, and got Amnon drunk (What a foolish young man, not only was he a sex addict, he was also a drunkard!). When Absalom saw that he was drunk he commanded his servant to strike him. This was how Amnon, who was to be a great king died a fool’s death. Friend, you have a great destiny, why do you want to die a fool’s death by engaging in sexual immorality and drunkenness? The worst part of this story was that when the news got to king David, the messenger said: “Absalom has struck down all the Kings sons”, and as the king was crying , Jonadab the very friend that deceived Amnon came to the King and said: “My Lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead…” So Amnon’s death does not mean anything to him, it is not something to cry about, after all Amnon was a useless son. This was the implication of what Jonadab was saying. You see young friends, those who lead you astray today, who encourage you to join cult and do all sort of rubbish, will be the ones to laugh when you die.
Infatuation has destroyed many young people. It is true that it is God who created the sex drive in man, but the sinful nature have perverted it, because the heart is not regenerated, the sex drive in an unbeliever is uncontrollable. The only way to keep your body under control is by submitting it to God. God will give you the spirit of self-control (see 2Tim.1:7). 1Cor.6:13-17 reads: “The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body…Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself with a prostitute becomes one body with her? For as it is written , “the two shall become one flesh.” But he that is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him”. Do you want God’s Spirit to live in you and give you victory over the flesh? Do you want to know the joy of living a life free from lust and other sinful habit? Then ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart, to forgive you and give you his Holy Spirit.
It is possible that you reading this may have been a victim of sexual abuse, you may have been defiled like Tamar; you might have been blaming yourself for not being smart enough. It is even possible it was not your fault. You may be living in guilt, shame and anger, but Jesus want to fix you back if you let him in. Young man, it is possible you may be asking how can I be free from a life of immorality, I have good news for you; Jesus can save you, if only you will let him.
