The Dangers of Idolatry

2 Samuel 13:1–2 (ESV) Now Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. 2 And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.

Notice the language of idolatry. Nothing is wrong with beautiful women but Amnon is both tormented and heartsick that he cannot have his beautiful sister. Idolatry is evident when our desires affect our emotions and well-being. That's because idolatry turns something good into something ultimate. It becomes the only thing we can think about. We see that Amnon's desires affected him enough to be noticeable to others. 

2 Samuel 13:3-4 (ESV) But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. 4 And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

Idolatry will find assistance. Perhaps Amnon had other friends who steered him away from this desire. We don't know. What we do know is he listened to the advice of the one who would help him fulfill his desires. Be careful who you listen to.

2 Samuel 13:5–6 (ESV) Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ” 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

Our relationships can lead us toward the Lord or away from Him. Our friends can feed our faith or lusts. A true friend would have warned Amnon against these actions and prayed for him. Jonadab instead paves the way for him to follow his lusts.

2 Samuel 13:6 (ESV) So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

Idolatry goes to work. It creates an opportunity for us to capture what we desire. Methodically Amnon's strategy comes about. He gets his sister in front of his eyes, then he sends everyone out so that his desires might grow. 

2 Samuel 13:10–11 (ESV) Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”

She seeks to rebuff him gracefully, suggesting marriage may be possible. He doesn't listen:

2 Samuel 13:14 (ESV) But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.

Now the most stunning part of the story is the change in Amnon's spirit toward her immediately after this. Watch what idolatry fulfilled ends up doing:
2 Samuel 13:15 (ESV) Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!”

This transformation in Amnon is the end game of all idolatry. We build something up in our mind as that which will make us feel fulfilled and it cannot! Then we find the truth about us: that we are made for something NOTHING in this world can truly fill. We are made for the Lord. Amnon is proof that seeking the things this life offers never lives up to the hype. If we follow through, idolatry will not only dominate our minds, spirits and well-being, it will destroy our lives and those we love.

The passage is dark but the lesson is clear for us to see - only the Lord is able to satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. Apart from him, we walk into the soul-crushing darkness of our own desires.