S) "32 Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, responded, 'Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart, namely, "all the king’s sons are dead," for only Amnon is dead.'"
2 Samuel 13:32-33 (NASB)
O) This is a sort of classic game of "telephone" well before the device was invented. The report got distorted, the further it got from firsthand accounts, and David got caught up in the worst-case-scenario. It is a little interesting that it was Jonadab who gives this good advice. Earlier in the chapter, it was this same Jonadab whom gave the ill-fated advice to Absolam in the first place, which created this tragedy. That shows how a person can give wise counsel, or risky advice, and how we still need to pray to discern which is which.
A) I cannot jump to conclusions; that is perhaps the most clear and simple application. It's easy to allow things to go from molehill to mountain pretty quickly, so I have to force myself to slow down and inquire of God to determine how serious something really is. This goes for everything from local news to Facebook posts. I need to rely on the Spirit to steady my mind and give me peace, even when there are relative emergencies and tragedies.
P) Father, maintain my peace, and calm my spirit within me. Help me to seek You first, when I receive alarming news, so that I can appropriately react in obedience and submission to Your will. Let the Holy Spirit lead me in mourning, fasting, grieving, and prayer, so that I am not aimless, and so that my prayers are the most effective they can be. I don't want to spin my wheels, praying about problems that are not real, and I don't want to blow off problems that are actually severe. Give me discipline to react as You instruct me to react. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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