1 Samuel 12 reads,
12:1
Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. 12:2Now, behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and gray-headed; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my youth to this day. 12:3Here I am: witness against me before Yahweh, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or of whose hand have I taken a ransom to blind my eyes therewith? And I will restore it you. 12:4They said, You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man’s hand. 12:5He said to them, Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. They said, He is witness.It Is Sin To Seek To Have Another Reign Over You When Yahweh Reigns Over You
12:6
Samuel said to the people, It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 12:7Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which he did to you and to your fathers. 12:8When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place. 12:9But they forgot Yahweh their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. 12:10They cried to Yahweh, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh, and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you. 12:11Yahweh sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety. 12:12When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us; when Yahweh your God was your king. 12:13Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have asked for: and, behold, Yahweh has set a king over you. 12:14If you will fear Yahweh, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, and both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of Yahweh your God, well: 12:15but if you will not listen to the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then will the hand of Yahweh be against you, as it was against your fathers. 12:16Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which Yahweh will do before your eyes. 12:17Isn’t it wheat harvest today? I will call to Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Yahweh, in asking you a king. 12:18So Samuel called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.12:19
All the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 12:20Samuel said to the people, "Don’t be afraid; you have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart: 12:21and don’t turn aside; for then would you go after vain things which can’t profit nor deliver, for they are vain. 12:22For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people to himself. 12:23Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 12:24Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he has done for you. 12:25But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king."12:23 shows that it is sin for a prophet or servant of Yahweh to cease to pray for Yahweh's people. It is also the duty of a prophet or servant of Yahweh to instruct Yahweh's people in the good and the right way.
A Great Battle Between Israel And The Philistines
1 Samuel 14:23-46 reads,
14:23
So Yahweh saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over by Beth-aven.14:24
The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man who eats any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted food. 14:25All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground. 14:26When the people were come to the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. 14:27But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father charged the people with the oath: therefore he put forth the end of the rod which was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 14:28Then answered one of the people, and said, Your father directly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man who eats food this day. The people were faint.14:29
Then said Jonathan, My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 14:30How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? For now has there been no great slaughter among the Philistines. 14:31They struck of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint; 14:32and the people flew on the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.14:33
Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Yahweh, in that they eat with the blood. He said, you have dealt treacherously: roll a great stone to me this day. 14:34Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, Bring me here every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against Yahweh in eating with the blood. All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there.14:35
Saul built an altar to Yahweh: the same was the first altar that he built to Yahweh. 14:36Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. They said, Do whatever seems good to you. Then said the priest, Let us draw near here to God. 14:37Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he didn’t answer him that day.14:38
Saul said, Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people; and know and see in whom this sin has been this day. 14:39For, as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 14:40Then said he to all Israel, Be you on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. The people said to Saul, Do what seems good to you. 14:41Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, Show the right. Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot; but the people escaped. 14:42Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. Jonathan was taken. 14:43Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done. Jonathan told him, and said, I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and, behold, I must die. 14:44Saul said, God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan. 14:45The people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it: as Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he didn’t die. 14:46Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.Israel's Two Sins Arising Out Of Saul's Commands
Israel committed two sins after this great battle in which Yahweh gave Israel victory. The first was Jonathan's unwitting sin in tasting a little honey, after Saul had commanded that no Israelite eat any food until the evening. The second was the people eating meat with blood, on account of their great hunger and starvation, because Saul had forbidden them to eat food until the evening. It is therefore evident that both sins arose out of Saul's command.
Do Not Speak Rashly That Sin May Not Arise On Account Of The Rash Words Spoken
14:29 notes Jonathan correctly stating that his father had troubled the land by his command and the curse that he had pronounced on anyone violating his command. For the people did not wreck as much havoc on the Philistines on account of their faintness, and Saul's curse befell Jonathan when he tasted a little honey, even though he did it unwittingly. It therefore appears that those in authority should not issue commands with potentially adverse effects on those under their authority. For this command resulted in sin existing in Israel, whereas had the command been absent there would have been no sin, and the battle victory would have been greater than it was!
Those Under Authority Should Abide By Their Superiors' Words
It should also be noted that the word of those in authority carries great weight. For when Jonathan unwittingly violated his father's command, a command accompanied by a curse for its violation, the effect of the curse was immediate upon Jonathan! It therefore appears that those under authority should abide by the words of those in authority over them, for Yahweh indeed upholds the words of those in authority!
Yahweh Does Not Dwell Among Those In Whom Is Sin
It should also be noted from 14:37-38 that where sin exists, and that sin has not been repented of, been confessed and been atoned for, Yahweh does not dwell in the habitation of those with that sin. For when Jonathan's sin had yet to be atoned for Yahweh refused to give guidance for the continuation of the battle against the Philistines. Yahweh's behaviour in this matter is similar to his behaviour in the matter of the capture of the city of Ai in the days of Joshua. It should therefore be clear that where sin exists, and that sin has not been acknowledged, confessed, repented of and atoned for, Yahweh does not guide those carrying that sin!
Consult Yahweh To Reveal Difficult Matters
It should also be noted that in difficult matters, where an issue needs to be found out, and people are reluctant to disclose the matter, for fear of the consequences, Yahweh ought to consulted to reveal the matter. For this is what Joshua did in the matter of the city of Ai and this is what Saul did in this matter here. And in both cases the manner Yahweh revealed the matter was by the casting of lots. It is therefore evident that the lot ought to be used to determine difficult matters, especially where a sin needs to be found out yet the person responsible for it is reluctant to disclose it.
Yahweh Commands Saul To Utterly Destroy Amalek
1 Samuel 15 reads,
15:1
Samuel said to Saul, Yahweh sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore listen you to the voice of the words of Yahweh. 15:2Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt. 15:3Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.Saul Did Not Utterly Destroy Amalek
15:4
Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 15:5Saul came to the city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley. 15:6Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 15:7Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, that is before Egypt. 15:8He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 15:9But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and wouldn’t utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.Yahweh Was Sorry For Having Chosen A King Who Eventually Turned Out Disobedient To Him
15:10
Then came the word of Yahweh to Samuel, saying, 15:11It repents me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments. Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night.Saul Considered His Disobedience To Be Obedience!
15:12
Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a monument, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal. 15:13Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, Blessed are you by Yahweh: I have performed the commandment of Yahweh. 15:14Samuel said, What means then this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15:15Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 15:16Then Samuel said to Saul, Stay, and I will tell you what Yahweh has said to me this night. He said to him, Say on.Yahweh Rejected Saul From Being King On Account Of Saul's Rebellion
15:17
Samuel said, "Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel; 15:18and Yahweh sent you on a journey, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 15:19Why then didn’t you obey the voice of Yahweh, but flew on the spoil, and did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh?" 15:20Saul said to Samuel, Yes, I have obeyed the voice of Yahweh, and have gone the way which Yahweh sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 15:21But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal. 15:22Samuel said, Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 15:23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has also rejected you from being king.Saul Sinned Because He Feared The People More Than He Feared Yahweh
15:24
Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 15:25Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh. 15:26Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel. 15:27As Samuel turned about to go away, Saul laid hold on the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 15:28Samuel said to him, Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. 15:29Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent. 15:30Then he said, I have sinned: yet honor me now, Please, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God. 15:31So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshiped Yahweh. 15:32Then said Samuel, Bring you here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. 15:33Samuel said, As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women. Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal. 15:34Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 15:35Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul: and Yahweh repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.Selectively Obeying Yahweh Is Evil In His Sight!
It should be noted that Saul disobeyed Yahweh's command, in that he did not fulfil the command as it was given. Nevertheless, Saul attempted to justify to Samuel that he had indeed obeyed Yahweh's command, seeing he had fulfilled a portion of the command, even though not the entirety of it. 15:19 clarifies that selectively obeying Yahweh is evil in Yahweh's sight! For Yahweh desires that we obey him wholly, not choosing those portions of his word that we find convenient to obey and disobeying him in portions we find inconvenient.
One In Authority Is Responsible For The Actions Of Those Under His Authority
It should also be noted that the person in authority is responsible for the actions of those under his authority, especially when those under his authority act in accord with his word. Saul attempted to wash himself of the responsibility over his people's actions, trying to argue that it is the people who sinned and not him. Nevertheless, it should be remembered from 1 Samuel 14 that the people listened to Saul's word and dared not disobey it. For in that case when he issued a command and backed up that command with a curse none of the people presumptuously disobeyed Saul. Saul therefore had no valid justification in the sin committed by the people. For had he commanded the people in the manner Yahweh commanded him they would have duly followed his word. It should therefore be clear that those in authority are responsible for the actions of those under their authority, especially when those under their authority act in accord with their word.
Disobedience To Yahweh On Purported Grounds Of Otherwise Serving Yahweh Is Unacceptable To Him
It should also be noted that Yahweh does not accept disobedience of his word justified on the ground that the proceeds of that disobedience are to be applied to serving Yahweh! What is important to Yahweh is obedience to his word, not disobedience of his word on the purported justification of otherwise serving him. For the person who disobeys Yahweh's command on the pretext of serving Yahweh with the proceeds arising out of that disobedience is effectively telling Yahweh that he knows how to serve Yahweh better than Yahweh himself! For he is telling Yahweh disobeying Yahweh and otherwise serving Yahweh with the proceeds of sin is better than obeying Yahweh! In other words, he is arrogantly telling Yahweh that rebellion against Yahweh is better than humbly serving Yahweh according to Yahweh's word! As Samuel clarified in 15:23, rebellion and stubbornness is a great sin and evil!
Yahweh Rejects Rebels And Removes Them From Their Place
It should also be noted that Yahweh rejects rebels! He removes them from their place! For Yahweh does not accord rebels a place in his household. Instead he replaces them with humble servants.
Yahweh's Servants Should Not Fellowship With Rebels Against Yahweh
Learning from Samuel it should be noted that Yahweh's servants should not fellowship with rebels against Yahweh! For those who serve Yahweh have no business fellowshipping with those who rebel against Yahweh, just as holiness has no fellowship with profanity!
Do Not Sin Against One Who Is Innocent
1 Samuel 19:1-6 reads,
19:1
Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. 19:2Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeks to kill you: now therefore, please take care of yourself in the morning, and live in a secret place, and hide yourself: 19:3and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will commune with my father of you; and if I see anything, I will tell you. 19:4Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you: 19:5for he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh worked a great victory for all Israel: you saw it, and did rejoice; why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause? 19:6Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan: and Saul swore, As Yahweh lives, he shall not be put to death.Learning from Jonathan we should not sin against someone who is innocent, especially someone who has done nothing against us.
Do Not Put Forth Your Hand Against Yahweh's Anointed
1 Samuel 24 reads,
24:1
It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi. 24:2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats. 24:3He came to the sheep pens by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave. 24:4The men of David said to him, Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly. 24:5It happened afterward, that David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 24:6He said to his men, Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Yahweh’s anointed. 24:7So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.24:8
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance. 24:9David said to Saul, Why listen you to men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt? 24:10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you; but my eye spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh’s anointed. 24:11Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know you and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt after my life to take it. 24:12Yahweh judge between me and you, and Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you. 24:13As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be on you. 24:14After whom is the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea. 24:15Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.Render Good To Those Who Do Evil To You
24:16
It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 24:17He said to David, You are more righteous than I; for you have rendered to me good, whereas I have rendered to you evil. 24:18You have declared this day how that you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me. 24:19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me this day. 24:20Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 24:21Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house. 24:22David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men got them up to the stronghold.He Who Puts Forth His Hand Against Yahweh's Anointed Is Not Guiltless
1 Samuel 26 reads,
26:1
The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doesn’t David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert? 26:2Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 26:3Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 26:4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.26:5
David arose, and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped round about him. 26:6Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? Abishai said, I will go down with you. 26:7So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him. 26:8Then said Abishai to David, God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time. 26:9David said to Abishai, Don’t destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against Yahweh’s anointed, and be guiltless? 26:10David said, As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish. 26:11Yahweh forbid that I should put forth my hand against Yahweh’s anointed: but now please take the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go. 26:12So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head; and they got them away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Yahweh was fallen on them.26:13
Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them; 26:14and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Don’t you answer, Abner? Then Abner answered, Who are you who cries to the king? 26:15David said to Abner, Aren’t you a valiant man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord, the king? For there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord. 26:16This thing isn’t good that you have done. As Yahweh lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, Yahweh’s anointed. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.Those Who Drive The Innocent Away From Yahweh's Inheritance Bring A Curse Upon Themselves
26:17
Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this your voice, my son David? David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. 26:18He said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 26:19Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it be Yahweh that has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if it be the children of men, cursed be they before Yahweh: for they have driven me out this day that I shouldn’t cling to Yahweh’s inheritance, saying, Go, serve other gods. 26:20Now therefore, don’t let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Yahweh: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one does hunt a partridge in the mountains.Yahweh Renders To Every Man His Righteousness And His Faithfulness
26:21
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. 26:22David answered, Behold the spear, O king! Let then one of the young men come over and get it. 26:23Yahweh will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn’t put forth my hand against Yahweh’s anointed. 26:24Behold, as your life was much set by this day in my eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of Yahweh, and let him deliver me out of all oppression. 26:25Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son David: you shall both do mightily, and shall surely prevail. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.Nathan Confronts David Over The Latter's Sin
2 Samuel 12:1-15 reads,
12:1
Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 12:2The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 12:3but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter. 12:4A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man who had come to him."He Who Greatly Sins Against The Innocent And Without Pity Deserves To Die
12:5
David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die! 12:6He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!"Yahweh's Sentence Against David For Despising Yahweh's Word
12:7
Nathan said to David, "You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 12:8I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added to you many more such things. 12:9Why have you despised the word of Yahweh, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 12:10Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 12:11This is what Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12:12For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’"12:13
David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against Yahweh."Yahweh Forgave David The Death Penalty For His Sin
Nathan said to David, "Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die. 12:14However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die." 12:15Nathan departed to his house.
It Is Sin For One's Heart To Be Devoid Of Compassion Or Pity
12:5-6 shows that a person without pity or compassion deserves to die! In other words, it is sin for one's heart to be devoid of compassion or pity.
Honour Yahweh By Doing Righteousness
12:9 shows that when one does evil in Yahweh's sight that one despises Yahweh! Therefore, to honour Yahweh one must indeed do righteousness before Yahweh and avoid doing evil.
David's Primary Sin Was His Covetousness
David's covetousness led to his adultery with Uriah's wife, which resulted in her conception, which further led in David's murder of Uriah at the hands of the Ammonites! The primary sin was David's covetousness, for David coveted his neighbour's wife!
It should be noted that Yahweh does not just let sin go by just like that. He PUNISHES for sin! And as a result of David defiling someone else's wife and murdering someone else, Yahweh decreed that his wives also would be defiled and murder would occur in his own house!
Yahweh's Mercy In Sparing Us The Death Penalty Does Not Mean That He Spares Us Lesser Penalties
It should be noted that when David acknowledged his sin and confessed it, Yahweh spared him the death penalty, for he deserved to die for his multitude sins. It should indeed be noted that Yahweh is merciful, forgiving iniquity. Nevertheless, just because Yahweh spares us the ultimate penalty for our sin does not mean that he spares us lesser or intermediate penalties for the same sin. For he decreed that David indeed had to pay the lesser or intermediate penalties on account of his sin. It therefore appears that when we sometimes undergo afflictions it is in lesser or intermediate payment of our sins, even though Yahweh forgives us the ultimate penalty of death for our sins.
Yahweh Punishes For Sin To Teach That He Should Not Be Blasphemed
It should be noted from 12:14 that some of Yahweh's penalties for sin are effected against sinners to ensure that those who witness the sins do not blaspheme against Yahweh by disobeying Yahweh. For if sin goes unpunished there is no deterrent to avoid sinning. But when observers see that Yahweh indeed punishes for sin they indeed become fearful of disobeying Yahweh, lest they suffer the same adverse consequences. Sin should therefore be punished for, that observers may learn not to sin or profit from sin.
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