2 Samuel 13:3  Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

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These chapters of 2 Samuel tell the consequences of King David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Just about everything went downhill for him after the sordid affair. Intrigue and manipulation became the rule of the day. Yes, David repented (Psalms 32 and 51). However, the consequences were already in play. 

Chaucer asked in the prologue to the Canterbury Tales, “If the gold rusts, what will the iron do?” These chapters show us the downstream results of the king’s unkingly behavior. Whatever we do, there will always be results. 

Amnon, one of King David’s many sons, had an advisor named Jonadab. He was a relative. He was shrewd. His advice was also lewd. Please read it for yourself. It is too disgusting to repeat. 

In the following chapters, there is more intrigue and shrewd behavior. Some people esteem this conduct as entertaining or as a way to get ahead. 

Jesus shows us the positive alternative. Here are two of his direct teachings to wash your mind out with after reading these chapters in 2 Samuel.

• Keep it simple.
• Keep it honest. 
• Don’t be blindsided.
• Don’t blindside others. 

What a refreshing difference it is when we encounter people who conduct themselves in this manner!

How uncomplicated are our lives when we do the same.

An email arrived in the inbox with dozens upon dozens of others. A salesman promised extraordinary good things if we chose to work with his company. All it would take to find out is an hour or so of our time. Our response was a polite but firm, No.

His response was to push it further with intriguing language and additional calls to action on our part. Since he was so insistent regarding what he could do for us, he was invited to do further research in answer to three simple, but important, questions regarding how he could improve our situation based on his further insights into what we do and how we do it. He immediately expressed how much he enjoyed this challenge and promised to get back with us.

He hasn’t. At least not yet. 

Simple. 
Honest. 
Direct. 
Non-manipulative. 

If he comes back with prescient insights, we will talk. If he does not, we have saved one another at least an hour of time and unnecessary expense. 

The simplest, most direct route in conversation and activity is usually the best.

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I will live simply and shrewdly so that I neither deceive nor manipulate. 

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Our Father, empower me to keep life simple by taking the direct and simple route in preference to any unnecessary intrigue. Amen.