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Sin’s Way is Hard, June 23
2 Samuel 12:1-14
By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to
blaspheme.
2 Samuel 12:14
.
Through successive generations infidels have pointed to the character of
David, bearing this dark stain, and have exclaimed in triumph and derision,
“This is the man after God’s own heart!” Thus a reproach has been brought upon
religion, God and His word have been blasphemed, souls have been hardened in
unbelief, and many, under a cloak of piety, have become bold in sin.
But the history of David furnishes no countenance to sin. It was when he
was walking in the counsel of God that he was called a man after God’s own
heart. When he sinned, this ceased to be true of him until by repentance he had
returned to the Lord....
Though David repented of his sin, and was forgiven and accepted by the
Lord, he reaped the baleful harvest of the seed he himself had sown.... His
authority in his own household, his claim to respect and obedience from his
sons, was weakened. A sense of his guilt kept him silent when he should have
condemned sin; it made his arm feeble to execute justice in his house....
Those who, by pointing to the example of David, try to lessen the guilt of
their own sins, should learn from the Bible record that the way of transgression
is hard. Though like David they should turn from their evil course, the results of
sin, even in this life, will be found bitter and hard to bear
A man incurs guilt by injuring a fellow-being, but his chief guilt is the sin that
he has committed against the Lord, and the evil influence of his example upon
others. The sincere child of God does not make light of any of His requirements
God intended the history of David’s fall to serve as a warning that even those
whom He has greatly blessed and favored are not to feel secure and neglect
watchfulness and prayer. And thus it has proved to those who in humility have
sought to learn the lesson that God designed to teach
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40
Patriarchs and Prophets, 722-724
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41
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 3:1147
.
42
Patriarchs and Prophets, 724
.
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