The most cunning Satan is using subtle deception

to turn love into hatred in romantic relationships.

Amnon, David’s son, was so in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom,

that he was deeply infatuated with her and so passionate about her

that he eventually became ill with longing for Tamar.

Especially because Tamar was a virtuous virgin,

Amnon could not easily approach her, and despite his intense love, he was powerless to act

(2 Samuel 13:1-2).

At this time, the person who came to Amnon was his very cunning friend Jonadab (v. 3).

When I meditate on this Scripture,

I am reminded of the serpent approaching the woman (Eve) in Genesis 3.

This is because the Bible says,

"The serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made"

(Genesis 3:1).

The most cunning Satan approached Amnon through the very cunning Jonadab

when Amnon was deeply in love with and passionately infatuated with Tamar,

yet unable to approach her easily and falling ill with longing.

This led Amnon to commit the foolish act (2 Samuel 13:12) of violently raping her (v. 14).

Furthermore, Satan caused Amnon's love for Tamar to turn into hatred,

making him despise her with an intensity greater than his former love (v. 15).

In this way, the most cunning Satan uses crafty deception in romantic relationships

(2 Corinthians 12:16) to lead people into sins

such as adultery and rape, and to turn love into hatred.

However, Jesus, knowing Satan's cunningness

(Ref.: Luke 20:23),

overcame the devil's temptations by resisting him with God's Word

as recorded in the Old Testament

(Matthew 4:1-11; James 4:7).

Like Jesus, we must put on the full armor of God

so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes

(Ephesians 6:11).