Theological Commentary: Click Here
Discipleship Focus: In
- In: This is the word we use to express our relationships with our spiritual family. These are often the people who hold us spiritually accountable. They are the ones to whom we typically go for discussion and discernment. These are the ones with whom we learn to share leadership. They are the ones with whom we become family on mission.
2 Samuel 13 is a great chapter to look at the failure of In. What happens when we don’t have In? What happens when we choose our In
properly? All of these dynamics can be
seen in 2 Samuel 13.
If begins with Amnon. Amnon
lusts after his sister-in-law. Where
were the people of common sense in this story?
Where were the people who could shepherd Amnon into healthier
thinking? Instead of good and healthy
friends, we hear about Jonadab, Amnon’s crafty cousin. When Amnon could have benefited from an In
relationship with someone wise or matual he instead turns to someone with the
descriptor of crafty. Amnon picked his
In poorly. This choice led him to sleep
with Tamar and ultimately this choice leads to an early grave. Wise counsel might have been able to save
Amnon; his poor choice of In hurt him in the end.
What about Absalom? Who
does Absalom turn to for In? Therein
lies the problem. Absalom doesn’t turn
to anyone. Absalom plans and schemes his
half-brother’s death. Granted, I think
this had just as much to do with wanting to be first in line as king and less
to do with repaying the sin. But in
either case, let’s look at what happens.
Absalom doesn’t get bad advice – he gets no advice! Absalom doesn’t have any In to whom he can
turn. He plots and schemes all on his
own.
This leaves me asking one simple question. Where is David? Where is their father figure? Where is perhaps the greatest influence of In
in a young man’s life? David is
silent. He is angered by the actions of
his kids, but he is silent. His silence
only adds to the lack of In felt by Amnon and Absalom both.
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