The Failings Of Man And The Triumphs With God
Lesson Four: by turtle

The story of Adam and Eve is often done to death when speaking of the tempters snare. How about other stories in the Bible.
The devil will use anyone he can to cause deception. However I have to ask no in all cases is the devil involved directly. Man
makes a choice to sin or not to sin. Friends make choices how they advise their friends. David third son of Abigail  would take
some bad advice. David son’s name was Ammon who had a friend name Jonadab that would give wicked advice to him. Peer
pressure at any age is often difficult to overcome. The peer pressure on Amnon was great. Jonadab had great influence on him.
In fact so great influence that it would cause him to rape his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 13:1-7 KJV
(1)  And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the
son of David loved her.
(2)  And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to
do any thing to her.
(3)  But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil
man.
(4)  And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said
unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
(5)  And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee,
say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and
eat it at her hand.
(6)  So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray
thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
(7)  Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.

David the father thought nothing about Amnon request. Amnon must of been so convincing to his father that he believed he
was sick. David sent his sister to feed his brother. Now the plot continues. Just like when God warns Cain to not to sin so does
Tamar warn her brother. Gave him a way out. After all he was the kings son and she was the king’s daughter. Though they had
different mothers.

2 Samuel 3:2-3 KJV
(2)  And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
(3)  And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the
daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

The fact is this it would still be a sin for Amnon to sleep with his sister, however it would be worse if he raped and did not
marry her first. And the truth of the matter she took time to warn him of the folly he was fixing to make. Yet he would not
listen to her.

2 Samuel 13:8-14 KJV
(8)  So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes
in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
(9)  And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me.
And they went out every man from him.
(10)  And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes
which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
(11)  And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
(12)  And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this
folly.
(13)  And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I
pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
(14)  Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

Now the sin has been commit and like any sin there are consequence to every story. Tamar goes out of the room and puts
ashes on her head and rips her clothing a sign of distress and mourning as well a sign of shame and disgrace. Amnon, became
angry after the even and had Tamar removed. Though even after the sin Tamar gave Amnon a second chance.


2 Samuel 13:16-20 KJV
(16)  And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me.
But he would not hearken unto her.
(17)  Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after
her.
(18)  And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins
apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
(19)  And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head,
and went on crying.
(20)  And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is
thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

David son Absalom gets involved when he hears what been done to his sister and he is also ashamed his father does nothing.
Absalom plots for two years what he is going to do. He takes time to plan to murder his brother for revenge of what he did to
his sister.   

2 Samuel 13:21-33 KJV
(21)  But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
(22)  And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his
sister Tamar.
(23)  And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and
Absalom invited all the king's sons.
(24)  And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and
his servants go with thy servant.
(25)  And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him:
howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
(26)  Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go
with thee?
(27)  But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
(28)  Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I
say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
(29)  And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every
man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
(30)  And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's
sons, and there is not one of them left.
(31)  Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
(32)  And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the
young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day
that he forced his sister Tamar.
(33)  Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon
only is dead.

Some might consider what Absalom did justifiable because of his brother sin against his sister, however this did not make the
king angry with Absalom, though Absalom leaves and goes to another place to live. Often the cause and effects of sin and the
effects of how one treats another person sin can effect the outcome of sin.

2 Samuel 13:34-39 KJV
(34)  But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much
people by the way of the hill side behind him.
(35)  And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
(36)  And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their
voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
(37)  But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
(38)  So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
(39)  And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was
dead.

Now let us look back at Amnon sin for a moment. If he had not listen to his friend and had harkened to his sister request he
might not of been killed. However Amnon folly was not listening to the voice of reason. Not listening to truth. Often we plow
straight ahead into sin and continue to sin even with warning. If we refuse to listen to the warning there is going to be
consequences for our actions. However one has to note that even with every reaction there can be a positive or negative
reaction. Tamar willingly to forgive willing to give her brother a second chance to make things right even after the sin, yet
Amnon would not listen. His lust had gotten to great that instead of coming to repentance he became angry. When one refuses
to repent one becomes angry concerning sin. Like Cain in Genesis four he had a choice to not to sin, he had a choice to correct
the situation and did not.

We need to remember to correct our mistakes when possible. Sometimes we can not. However when we confess our sins Jesus
is faithful to forgive us all our sins.

1 John 1:9-10 KJV
(9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

God gives us a choice to repent or not to repent. He gives us a choice. What is your choice today.