Throughout God's Word, there are examples of those whose lives were required because of their sin. God judged them accordingly.
As this study continues, you will observe that different persons committed many different sins. Although each person did not commit the same sin, each person committed the same type of sin.
Hopefully we will understand that a sin unto death cannot be named as “the sin” unto death.
The word “the” usually is indicative of “one” while the word “a” indicates one of many.
Whatever sin goes beyond that line God has drawn in the sand; it is “a” one of many that brings death.
Let us consider some folks from both the Old and the New Testaments that committed “a”
sin – not “the” sin unto death.
Old Testament Examples of Sin Leading to Death
Leviticus 10:2 and Numbers 3:4 tell of the first two sons of Aaron, NADAB and ABIHU
who "died before the Lord when they offered profane fire before the Lord." They deviated from God’s will in worship.
Leviticus 10:2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them,
and they died before the LORD.
Numbers 3:4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they
offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they
had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office
in the sight of Aaron their father.
Leviticus 10 records the account where Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, offered "strange fire" which "consumed them, and they died before the Lord" (Lev. 10:2) Ray Stedman of Palo Alto Bible Church says:
This was a sin of presumption, not a sin of ignorance. They knew better and what incense they were supposed to burn. . . they had been told emphatically that God would be offended if they offered incense other than that which he had prescribed.
It was a sin dealt with severely because it distorted God's revelation of Himself. All of the sacrifices and rituals were intended for us to learn what kind of God He is. Perverting the incense perverted the understanding of God’s Person.
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God used it to set an example. God is here teaching a lesson—-to show how important it was for the priests at the beginning of their priesthood to follow explicitly what God commanded.
Similarly, though the sin of Ananias and Saphira (deception, hypocrisy) was common among Christians of the early church and common ever since.
It is a manifestation of God's love and concern. At the outset, He is wanting to stop this kind of thing from happening again, and He is giving fair warning of the eventual consequences to anyone presumptuous enough to sin deliberately in this way."
Many times, God operates in conjunction with the way we as human beings work. Unless an issue is vividly, dramatically, openly, symbolically made clear to us, we'll go right on and do the wrong thing.
So, God stops the person that has committed sin unto death by arresting it with His judgment so that others will see and will learn that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But He really wants us to learn to refrain for the sake of His glory, not out of fear for our lives.
Numbers 16 tells of KORAH who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron.
1Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and
Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of
Reuben, took men: 2And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the
children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in
the congregation, men of renown: 3And they gathered themselves together
against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much
upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the
LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the
congregation of the LORD? 4And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his
face: 5And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to
morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause
him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to
come near unto him. 6This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his
company; 7And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD
to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he
shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. 8And Moses said
unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 9Seemeth it but a small thing
unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation
of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of
the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
10And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of
Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? 11For which cause both
thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what
is Aaron, that ye murmur against him? 12And Moses sent to call Dathan
and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: 13Is it a
small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk
and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether
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a prince over us? 14Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that
floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards:
wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up. 15And Moses
was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I
have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. 16And
Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou,
and they, and Aaron, to morrow: 17And take every man his censer, and put
incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two
hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
18And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense
thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with
Moses and Aaron. 19And Korah gathered all the congregation against them
unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the
LORD appeared unto all the congregation. 20And the LORD spake unto
Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 21Separate yourselves from among this
congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22And they fell upon
their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man
sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? 23And the LORD
spake unto Moses, saying, 24Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you
up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25And Moses
rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed
him. 26And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from
the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be
consumed in all their sins. 27So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah,
Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and
stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little
children. 28And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent
me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 29If
these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the
visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 30But if the LORD
make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with
all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye
shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 31And it came to
pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground
clave asunder that was under them: 32And the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto
Korah, and all their goods. 33They, and all that appertained to them, went
down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished
from among the congregation. 34And all Israel that were round about them
fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. 35And
there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and
fifty men that offered incense. 36And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
37Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers
out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.
38The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them
broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the
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LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the
children of Israel. 39And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers,
wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad
plates for a covering of the altar: 40To be a memorial unto the children of
Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer
incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as
the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses. 41But on the morrow all the
congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against
Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. 42And it came to pass,
when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that
they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the
cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43And Moses and
Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. 44And the LORD
spake unto Moses, saying, 45Get you up from among this congregation, that
I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. 46And
Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar,
and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an
atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague
is begun. 47And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst
of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people:
and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 48And he
stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. 49Now
they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred,
beside them that died about the matter of Korah. 50And Aaron returned unto
Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague
was stayed.
God caused the ground to open up and swallow him and all who followed after him. Korah’s sin was a sin of presumption. He presumed to believe he could change the selections and choices God had made. Korah and his followers collaborated in their opposition to the men of God. Their presumption was that they could undo what God had put His hand to. No doubt the people following Korah presumed following Korah was as good as following Moses and Aaron. The people stood with “alongside” Korah making this incident a case of standing with the wrong side and becoming one with it.
It makes no difference whether you are the leader or the follower. Presuming someone else will suffer the consequences may well be your sin unto death.
Numbers 20:1-13 is an account of MOSES in rebellion when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God had required.
1Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the
desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam
died there, and was buried there. 2And there was no water for the
congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and
against Aaron. 3And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would
God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! 4And why
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have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that
we and our cattle should die there? 5And wherefore have ye made us to come
up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or
of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
6And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces:
and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. 7And the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying, 8Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou,
and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it
shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the
rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 9And Moses
took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 10And Moses
and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said
unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
11And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice:
and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their
beasts also. 12And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye
believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore
ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
13This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with
the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.
He said, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" God said to him in v.12, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children
of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given
them."
He didn’t die immediately but he did die shortly thereafter, and he was not permitted to enter the promised land.
Moses presumed that having smote the rock previously, he could do so again. In opposition to direct and explicit instructions from God, Moses rebelled in a most significant manner. He committed a sin unto death when God commanded him to speak to the rock in the wilderness so that water would come forth to meet the needs of the children of Israel. Previously he had been commanded to strike the rock for the water to come out, but on a second occasion he was told to speak to the rock. This change was important because the rock was a type of Christ and to strike it was a picture of the judgment of the cross. The cross is the way by which the refreshing water of grace first comes into our life as Christians. After we have become Christians we are not to strike the rock (crucify Christ again) but to speak to it. We are simply to ask of him and out of the Rock will flow the rivers of living water we need.
Moses broke the significance of that type when, in anger, he struck the rock twice. Though God in grace, allowed the water to come flowing out, He said to him, 'Because you have disobeyed me and not sanctified me in the eyes of the people, you will not be allowed to lead these people into the land of promise.
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When they came to the borders of the land, Moses said to God, in effect, 'Lord, allow me to go on in. Forgive this, and let me go on in. The Lord said to him, 'Speak no more to me about this matter,” that is, “Do not pray about this, but get up to the mountain and I will let you see the land, but that is as far as you can go.”
Moses had committed a sin unto death, although in his case it did not occur right away.
Nevertheless, he died prematurely, before his work was really completed. Moses presumed He could do other than what God said, and it would be just fine with God. Some sin will not be cast behind the back of God, will not be placed into the depth of the sea and will not be dealt with short of death.
The ultimate slap in the face by Moses to God was that his sin was a public show of disrespect for God and for what God said. A sin unto death is initiated because of a blatant disrespect for God or for what He has clearly said. In a brief moment of anger, Moses crossed the line with God.
He presumed it was he and not God bringing forth water from the Rock, or at the least he took credit for bringing forth the water. He implicated Aaron in his sin and Aaron did not object.
Moses in a fit of anger and irritation became ineffective and unusable for God. Moses’ anger was a desecration of God's name done publicly in front of the Jewish people. The Sages say that anger is a form of idolatry, because if God runs the world, then everything that happens to you, whether for bad or for good, is the will of God. Losing your temper is a form of denial that God is running the world, a rejection of the idea that whatever happens is for your own good.
This brings several questions to mind. How many have rendered themselves useless in the service of God? How many are publicly slapping God in the face with their show of contempt for God, His house, and what He has commanded? How many are living a life of neglect as a habitual sin that Scriptures declares to be an indication of having never been born again?
How responsible are we to other believers actual or false” to make the effort to reclaim them for service and fellowship? How close are you, how close am I to dying as the result of sin unto death? All of those being mentioned in this study were doing something they presumed was all right. Are we any different? Are we less likely than others to face the full consequence of our disrespect of God? Numbers 20:8-13 is the record of Aaron in participation with Moses in the striking of the Rock. This event was the last straw for Aaron. On several occasions he had found himself in opposition to God.
At first, Aaron was a faultless servant with his brother At Rephidim, when Moses overlooked the battle with the Amalekites from a nearby hill with the rod of God in his outstretched hand, it was Aaron and Hur (his brother-in-law, Miriam's husband), who held up Moses' tired arms until Israel's forces under Joshua won the battle (Exodus 17:8-13).
Exodus 17:8-13 8Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with
Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in
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mine hand. 10So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with
Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11And
it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and
when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12But Moses' hands were
heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and
Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other
on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the
sun. 13And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the
sword.
Aaron had his faults, yet God dealt with him mercifully until he with Moses made a public display of disrespect for God. He was in opposition to God at the “golden calf” incident.
While Moses was on Mount Sinai forty days receiving the law, the children of Israel, encamped below compelled Moses' brother to: "Up, make for us gods who shall lead us, for we do not know what has become of Moses, the man who led us up out of the land of Egypt."
Aaron obliged the people. He was not aware that God on the mountain had appointed him head of the Israelite priesthood. He collected gold from the people and used a graving tool to form a molten calf for the people to worship. (A young bull was the symbol of fertility in ancient Near Eastern cults.)
An altar for the golden calf was erected and Aaron proclaimed a feast, at which the Israelites ate, drank and then rose up to “play." The word translated “play” in this account is the same word used for Isaac's sexual "sporting" with Rebekah in Gen. 26:8).
When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, he had with him two tablets inscribed written by God. Moses was so incensed by what he saw that he threw down the tablets and broke them.
He questioned Aaron as to the matter by asking, “What did this people do to you that you have brought upon them so great a sin.?
Aaron began his defense. He blamed the people. “You know the people; they are set on evil."
He admitted accepting their gold. He lied. "Threw the gold into the fire and there came out this calf."
Punishment followed this sin. Moses punished all guilty parties by burning the calf, grinding it to powder, putting the powder in water, and making everyone drink it. God then sends a plague in further retribution. Aaron came very close to being killed for that incident.
Deuteronomy 9:20 And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have
destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.
He was in opposition to God in Moses marriage to a Cushite (Ethiopian) woman. Aaron displayed irreverence “disrespect” for God at Hazeroth when he and Miriam spoke out against Moses for marrying a Cushite (Ethiopian) woman. This was an affront against the man God had chosen and therefore, an affront against God Himself. The Lord vindicated Moses, and punished Miriam, who had led the minor rebellion, with leprosy (Numbers 12:1-24
16). Moses interceded before God after Aaron acknowledged his and Miriam's error. Both were forgiven by God.
Numbers 12:1-16 1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of
the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an
Ethiopian woman. 2And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by
Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 3(Now the
man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of
the earth.) 4And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron,
and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the
congregation. And they three came out. 5And the LORD came down in the
pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron
and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6And he said, Hear now my words:
If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto
him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 7My servant Moses is
not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8With him will I speak mouth to
mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the
LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against
my servant Moses? 9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them;
and he departed. 10And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and,
behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon
Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. 11And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas,
my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done
foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. 12Let her not be as one dead, of
whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
13And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech
thee. 14And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her
face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the
camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. 15And Miriam
was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till
Miriam was brought in again. 16And afterward the people removed from
Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
He was in opposition to God at the striking of the Rock at Meribah. Although Aaron did not physically and personally strike the Rock, he was involved in the event as an apparent collaborator with Moses. His rebellion against God’s word was no less severe than Moses’
rebellion. Moses included Aaron in taking credit for bringing forth the water. By implication and association, Aaron was also guilty. For that presumptuous disobedience to God's direct, clear, explicit instructions, both were refused entrance into the Promised Land.
Numbers 20:24 24Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not
enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because
ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.
Aaron was a forerunner of Jesus Christ in his role as high priest. His priesthood was a
"shadow of heavenly things," and was intended to lead the people of Israel to look forward to the time when "another priest" would arise (Hebrews 6:20).
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Hebrews 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made
an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
By rebellion against the word of God, Aaron crossed the line and entered into a sin unto death. The Aaronic priesthood pointed to Jesus Christ. Aaron’s participation in striking the Rock at Meribah effectively brought his physical death. God could not allow Aaron to continue to live after having publicly given a picture of striking Christ again.
Aaron died at Mount Hor. He was 123 years old. His priestly authority was transferred to his son Eleazar.
Numbers 20:23-29 23And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in
mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, 24Aaron shall be
gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I
have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my
word at the water of Meribah. 25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and
bring them up unto mount Hor: 26And strip Aaron of his garments, and
put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his
people, and shall die there. 27And Moses did as the LORD commanded:
and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
28And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon
Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses
and Eleazar came down from the mount. 29And when all the
congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty
days, even all the house of Israel.
Deuteronomy 10:6 And the children of Israel took their journey from
Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there
he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his
stead.
Deuteronomy 32:50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be
gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and
was gathered unto his people:
Joshua 7:1-26; 22:20; 1 Chronicles 2:7 recounts the events leading to Achan’s sin unto death.
Joshua 7:1-26 1But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the
accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of
Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of
the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. 2And Joshua sent
men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of
Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the
men went up and viewed Ai. 3And they returned to Joshua, and said unto
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him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men
go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they
are but few. 4So there went up thither of the people about three thousand
men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 5And the men of Ai smote of
them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate
even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the
hearts of the people melted, and became as water. 6And Joshua rent his
clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD
until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their
heads. 7And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all
brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the
Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on
the other side Jordan! 8O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their
backs before their enemies! 9For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants
of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our
name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? 10And
the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon
thy face? 11Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my
covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the
accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have
put it even among their own stuff. 12Therefore the children of Israel
could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their
enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more,
except ye destroy the accursed from among you. 13Up, sanctify the people,
and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD
God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel:
thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed
thing from among you. 14In the morning therefore ye shall be brought
according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD
taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which
the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which
the LORD shall take shall come man by man. 15And it shall be, that he
that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all
that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD,
and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. 16So Joshua rose up early
in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah
was taken: 17And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family
of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man;
and Zabdi was taken: 18And he brought his household man by man; and
Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe
of Judah, was taken. 19And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray
thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him;
and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. 20And Achan
answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God
of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21When I saw among the spoils
a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a
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wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them;
and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver
under it. 22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and,
behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. 23And they took them
out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all
the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. 24And Joshua,
and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and
the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and
his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had:
and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. 25And Joshua said, Why
hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel
stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned
them with stones. 26And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto
this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore
the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
Joshua 22:20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the
accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and
that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
1 Chronicles 2:7 And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who
transgressed in the thing accursed.
God gave clear orders, through Joshua, about Jericho regarding their first conquest in the promised land. God told them not to keep anything for themselves. The word "accursed,"
in verse 18, means dedicated. God said the whole city was to be devoted to Him. All but the metals in it were to be destroyed.
Joshua 7 teaches that Achan “uncertain” also known as Achar “troubler” rebelled when he violated God’s direct, clear, and explicit command not to take anything from the destruction of Jericho. Achan went his own way -- instead of God's way. He tried a different way than God had instructed. He followed his own plan instead of following God's plan. He took what God said was His presuming a token from Jericho would be all right. He took for himself a Babylonian garment, a piece of gold, and a quantity of silver from the spoil of the city.
He tried to live a double life. He was a hypocrite. He no doubt would have said he was serving God while in essence he was serving self. He did not have the interest of God in mind; he had his own interest. His sin was presumptuous disobedience. Mankind comes up with many plans. But unless they are God's plans, they are doomed to failure. It may seem reasonable and right to us, but we are not God. Our accounting before God will be on His basis; not on what we thought or how we felt about a matter. We will be accountable to what God said and expected of us; not to what we wished or thought He had said or expected.
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His act like Aaron’s at the golden calf incident brought a curse upon the whole nation. This presumptuous sin caused the defeat of the Israelites at Ai. Achan was guilty of disobedience to a clear, known command of God. How many folks today are guilty of sin when it comes to Hebrews 10:25?
As punishment he and his family were stoned to death and all his property was destroyed.
Joshua 7:1-26; 22:20; 1 Chronicles 2:7 Achan’s’ family did not partake in the sin. No doubt they were in his mind when he took the accursed thing. Maybe he reasoned that his violation of what God had commanded would be good for his family.
His sin brought judgment upon his family. It may be that his love for his family momentarily clouded his thinking or perhaps he just thought this would be a good way to reap some benefit for service rendered.
Whatever his thinking, he could not hide his sin from God. He was summarily found out.
He confessed the sin, yet he had crossed the line with God and death could not be averted by repentance. His sin brought his death and his family’s death. Sometimes in trying to do what we think is alright, our wrong actions bring hurt upon those we love most.
We must not lose sight of the fact that it is not a particular sin that is “the” sin unto death; but it is a particular type of sin. Achan’s sin was a presumptuous sin. He presumed he would not be found out in his disobedience to a clear, known command of God.
Uzzah, 2 Samuel 6:6-8; 1 Chronicles 13:9-11.
2 Samuel 6:6-8 6And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah
put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen
shook it. 7And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and
God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon
Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.
1 Chronicles 13:9-11 9And when they came unto the threshingfloor of
Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
10And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote
him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
11And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon
Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.
2 Samuel 6 speaks of UZZAH who dared touch the Ark of the Covenant as it was being moved. Verse 7 says, "Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and
God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God."
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The man Uzzah. His name means “strength.” He was a son of Abinadab, in whose house the men of Kirjath-jearim placed the ark when it was brought back from the land of the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:1). He with his brother Ahio drove the cart on which the ark was placed when David sought to bring it up to Jerusalem. When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah, in direct violation of divine law (Numbers 4:15), put forth his hand to steady the ark, and was immediately smitten unto death. The place where this occurred was henceforth called Perez-Uzzah, 1 Chronicles 13:11). Because of Uzzah’s death, David feared to proceed further, and placed the ark in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite, 2 Samuel 6:2-11; 1
Chronicles 13:6-13.
1 Samuel 7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark
of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and
sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
Numbers 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of
covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp
is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but
they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the
burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
2 Samuel 6:2-11 2And David arose, and went with all the people that were
with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God,
whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth
between the cherubims. 3And they set the ark of God upon a new cart,
and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and
Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. 4And they
brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah,
accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5And David
and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of
instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on
timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. 6And when they came to
Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and
took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7And the anger of the LORD was
kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there
he died by the ark of God. 8And David was displeased, because the LORD
had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place
Perezuzzah to this day. 9And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and
said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 10So David would not
remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David
carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. 11And the ark of
the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months:
and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.
1 Chronicles 13:6-13 6And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that
is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark
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of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is
called on it. 7And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the
house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. 8And David and
all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and
with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and
with trumpets. 9And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon,
Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 10And the
anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because
he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God. 11And David
was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza:
wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day. 12And David was
afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to
me? 13So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David,
but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
His intentions. Uzzah undoubtedly meant well. On the surface he did a useful, helpful, even noble thing; but he did not do the right thing, and it cost him his life. The very fact that the Ark was being transported on a cart was in violation of divine instruction. The Art was to be transported by four men with carrying poles. David’s desire initiated this strange circumstance because he wanted to do things his way. Had David followed the clear, explicit instructions of God this event would have never occurred. In this case the right thing for Uzzah to do would have been to let the ark touch the earth instead of his sinful hands
Absalom
The man Absalom. His name means, “Father of peace” hence “peaceful.” The name Absalom has come to be the continuing name for a rebellious child. Absalom was the third son of David and Maacha, the daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur.
1 Kings 1:6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying,
Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his
mother bare him after Absalom.
2 Samuel. 3:3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
He was noted for his personal beauty and for the extra-ordinary abundance of hair on his head, 2 Samuel 14:25, 26.
2 Samuel 14:25, 26 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised
as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of
his head there was no blemish in him.
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Absalom did not live up to the Hebrew meaning of his name since the first public act of his life was the blood-revenge that he executed against Amnon, David's eldest son, who had basely wronged Absalom's sister Tamar. This revenge was executed at the time of the festivities connected with a great sheep-shearing at Baal-hazor. David's other sons fled from the place in horror, and brought the tidings of the death of Amnon to Jerusalem. Alarmed for the consequences of the act, Absalom fled to his grandfather at Geshur, and there lived for three years (2 Samuel 3:3; 13:23-38).
2 Samuel 3:3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the
Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of
Talmai king of Geshur;
2 Samuel 13:23-38 23And it came to pass after two full years, that
Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and
Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24And Absalom came to the king, and
said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech
thee, and his servants go with thy servant. 25And the king said to
Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto
thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
26Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with
us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? 27But
Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with
him. 28Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now
when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite
Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be
courageous, and be valiant.
David mourned his absent son, now branded with the guilt of fratricide. Joab received David's approval to invite Absalom back to Jerusalem. At the time of his return from Geshur, Absalom was probably the oldest surviving son of David. Two years elapsed before his father admitted him into his presence (2 Samuel 14:28).
2 Samuel 14:28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw
not the king's face.
He was of royal descent by both his mother as well as by David. He began to desire David’s throne. The people favored his pretensions. He gained the favor of the people. A great number followed him to Hebron where he made a public break with David.
2 Samuel 15:7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said
unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed
unto the LORD, in Hebron.
Absalom’s declaration. After having returned from Geshur he revolted against David.
After fleeing from David, Absalom took the army he had raised and established a military 32
headquarters at Hebron, the old capital of Judah, and proclaimed himself king. The revolt was so successful that David found it necessary to leave Jerusalem in pursuit of Absalom.
This move forced Absalom to enter "the forest of Ephraim" east of the Jordan River.
Absalom eventually marched out against his father, whose army, under the command of Joab, he encountered on the borders of the forest of Ephraim. There with his military knowledge and skill David easily defeated his son. Twenty thousand of Absalom's army were slain in that battle, and the rest fled. Absalom fled on a swift mule.
Absalom’s death. While fleeing the battle on the borders of the forest of Ephraim, Absalom’s his long flowing hair was caught in the bough of an oak. He hung there until Joab caught up with him. Joab, against David’s orders, pierced him through with three darts.
Absalom’s sin unto death was directly connected to his desire for the position God had given David. Absalom presumed that God would allow His anointed to be overthrown and disrespected. Absalom was not satisfied with David. He knew God had said not to touch his anointed.
David could have killed Saul, but he knew God had said not to lay a hand upon His anointed. Absalom pitted himself against the clear, explicit word of God by trying to kill David, the anointed of God. His body was then taken down and cast into a pit dug in the forest, and his grave was marked with a heap of stones.
David’s dilemma. The news of the result of that battle were brought to David as he sat at the gate of Mahanaim. When he was told that Absalom had been slain, he gave way to the cry that which has become a classic expression of a father's grief, 2 Samuel 18:33.
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate,
and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my
son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Eli. 1 Samuel 2:27-36 27And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said
unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy
father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 28And did I choose
him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar,
to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house
of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
29Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have
commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make
yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
30Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house,
and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the
LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour,
and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31Behold, the days
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come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that
there shall not be an old man in thine house. 32And thou shalt see an
enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and
there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 33And the man of
thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine
eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die
in the flower of their age. 34And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall
come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall
die both of them. 35And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do
according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build
him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 36And
it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come
and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall
say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a
piece of bread.
The man Eli. The first mention of Eli in Bible History was when Hannah prayed to The Lord at the Tabernacle for a son. When Samuel was born she dedicated him to the service of God and placed him in the care and custody of Eli, 1 Samuel 1:1-28, 1 Samuel 2:1-11.
1 Samuel 1:1-28 1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of
mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son
of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2And he had
two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other
Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice
unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and
Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 4And when the time was
that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons
and her daughters, portions: 5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion;
for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. 6And her
adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD
had shut up her womb. 7And as he did so year by year, when she went up
to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and
did not eat. 8Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why
weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am
not I better to thee than ten sons? 9So Hannah rose up after they had
eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a
seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10And she was in bitterness of
soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11And she vowed a vow,
and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of
thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but
wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the
LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his
head. 12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD,
that Eli marked her mouth. 13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only
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her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had
been drunken. 14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken?
put away thy wine from thee. 15And Hannah answered and said, No, my
lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor
strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16Count not
thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my
complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 17Then Eli answered and
said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou
hast asked of him. 18And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy
sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was
no more sad. 19And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped
before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and
Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah
had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying,
Because I have asked him of the LORD. 21And the man Elkanah, and all
his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his
vow. 22But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will
not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may
appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. 23And Elkanah her
husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have
weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and
gave her son suck until she weaned him. 24And when she had weaned
him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of
flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD
in Shiloh: and the child was young. 25And they slew a bullock, and
brought the child to Eli. 26And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth,
my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which
I asked of him: 28Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as
he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD
there
1 Samuel 2:1-11 1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the
LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over
mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as
the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our
God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of
your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are
weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled
are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves
for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born
seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6The LORD
killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth
up. 8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from
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the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the
throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath
set the world upon them. 9He will keep the feet of his saints, and the
wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven
shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth;
and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his
anointed. 11And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did
minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
He was of the line of Ithamar, the son of Aaron. The name means “lofty” or “ascent.” He was a good and righteous servant of God. He became high priest of the tabernacle at Shiloh toward the end of the period of the judges, 1 Samuel 1:9; 1 Kings 2:27; 1 Chronicles 24:3, 6. He also was a judge for 40 years, 1 Samuel 4:18. When The Ark Of The Covenant, containing The Ten Commandments, was at Shiloh, he lived in a dwelling adjoining The Tabernacle, 1 Samuel chapters 1-4.
1 Samuel 1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after
they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple
of the LORD.
1 Kings 2:27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the
LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake
concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
1 Chronicles 24:3, 6 3And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons
of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their
offices in their service….6And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe,
one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok
the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the
fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for
Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
1 Samuel 4:18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of
God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and
his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he
had judged Israel forty years.
The sons, Hophni and Phinehas, fell far short of Eli’s good character. They exhibited corrupt and contemptuous behavior in God's service. They defile the Holy Place and induced disgust in the people. Although Hophni and Phinehas were priests who should have dealt with their office in dignity, they were extremely wicked, 1 Samuel 2:12-17.
1 Samuel 2:12-17 12Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew
not the LORD. 13And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when
any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was
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in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; 14And he struck
it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought
up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites
that came thither. 15Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant
came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest;
for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16And if any man said
unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as
much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt
give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 17Wherefore the sin of
the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the
offering of the LORD.
Their reckoning with God. Eli knew what his sons were doing but failed to deal firmly with their misconduct. Although Eli was aware of their defamation of the office of priest, he still permitted them to serve in that capacity at the Tabernacle, 1 Samuel 1:3; 2:12-17.
Eli's poor judgment in allowing them to remain crossed over the line bringing the consequences of a sin unto death.
1 Samuel 1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and
to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli,
Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
1 Samuel 2:12-17 (see previous entry of this reference) An unnamed prophet denounced his house and predicted its downfall, 1 Samuel 3:1-18.
1And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the
word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place,
and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3And ere the lamp
of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was,
and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4That the LORD called Samuel: and
he answered, Here am I. 5And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for
thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went
and lay down. 6And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel
arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he
answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 7Now Samuel did not yet
know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto
him. 8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose
and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli
perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9Therefore Eli said unto
Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say,
Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in
his place. 10And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times,
Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at
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which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12In that day
I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his
house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13For I have told him that
I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because
his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 14And
therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's
house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. 15And
Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the
LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 16Then Eli called
Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. 17And
he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee
hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any
thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18And Samuel told
him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD:
let him do what seemeth him good.
A partial fulfillment came when Hophni and Phinehas carried the ark to the camp of the Israelites as a hoped-for aid in a war against the Philistines. They were slain in battle, and the ark was taken. Eli, who was then 98 years of age, upon receiving the news fell from his seat, broke his neck, and died, 1 Samuel 4:1-18. The final fulfillment came when Solomon removed Abiathar, Eli's descendant, from the high priesthood, 1 Kings 2:26, 35.
1 Samuel 4:1-18 1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel
went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer:
and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. 2And the Philistines put themselves
in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten
before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four
thousand men. 3And when the people were come into the camp, the elders
of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the
Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of
Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the
hand of our enemies. 4So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring
from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth
between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas,
were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5And when the ark of the
covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great
shout, so that the earth rang again. 6And when the Philistines heard the
noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout
in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the
LORD was come into the camp. 7And the Philistines were afraid, for they
said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there
hath not been such a thing heretofore. 8Woe unto us! who shall deliver
us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote
the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9Be strong, and quit
yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the
Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
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10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every
man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of
Israel thirty thousand footmen. 11And the ark of God was taken; and the
two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. 12And there ran a man
of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his
clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. 13And when he came, lo, Eli
sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark
of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried
out. 14And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth
the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. 15Now
Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could
not see. 16And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army,
and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my
son? 17And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the
Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people,
and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of
God is taken. 18And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of
God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and
his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he
had judged Israel forty years.
1 Kings 2:26, 35 26And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to
Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will
not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord
GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all
wherein my father was afflicted….35And the king put Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put
in the room of Abiathar.
God pronounced His judgment of death upon Eli and his sons Hophni and Phinehas because they had disrespect for God and what He had clearly and explicitly spoken regarding the office of priest, 1 Samuel 2:29. Eli’s unwillingness to remove his corrupt sons from the priesthood brought about the doom of them all.
1 Samuel 2:29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering,
which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above
me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel
my people?
Lots wife, her rebellion against God’s instructions 39
Genesis 19:15-26 15And when the morning arose, then the angels
hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which
are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16And while he
lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife,
and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto
him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17And it
came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said,
Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain;
escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18And Lot said unto them,
Oh, not so, my Lord: 19Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy
sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto
me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil
take me, and I die: 20Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a
little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul
shall live. 21And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning
this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast
spoken. 22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou
be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23The
sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 24Then the
LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from
the LORD out of heaven; 25And he overthrew those cities, and all the
plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the
ground. 26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a
pillar of salt.
Luke 17:28-33 28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat,
they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29But the
same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from
heaven, and destroyed them all. 30Even thus shall it be in the day when
the Son of man is revealed. 31In that day, he which shall be upon the
housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it
away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
32Remember Lot's wife. 33Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose
it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
The woman
She belonged to an excellent family. She had seen many blessings from God. She knew Abraham and had probably eaten at his table and heard devotions. She was well acquainted with this holy family God had called to become the great nation of Israel. But in spite of this closeness with Abraham, she failed to understand the real meaning of faith.
She joined with her husband in a decision that that would affect their entire family. She with her husband looked on the well-watered plains of Sodom. She probably knew of the wickedness of the city, but because of desire for riches, a better home, and social prestige she moved into a city known for its shameless, incontinent, impious, vile, rotten, immoral 40
behavior. She decided to raise her children in the midst of this exceeding wicked city. Lot and his family moved into the city and ironically it wasn’t long before the city moved into them.
She was warned. The angels entered the city and showed their power by striking blind the Sodomites that surrounded the house that night. No doubt she believed the warning given by the angels because she did not mock like her sons in law. She believed, but she lingered.
She lingered as the destruction came closer and closer. The only reason she left the city was because the angels took her by the hand and led her away. She lingered while death was at the door.
Her sin unto death. She and Lot had only one command from God. "Look not backward."
The command of God was simple, clear, and explicit. It was not an unreasonable command; but her heart was not in saving her life; It was in Sodom, with what she loved the most, with no regard for that which God had spoken.
Why did she look back? She had a divided will. She was still in love with Sodom, even though she knew God was going to destroy it because of the abomination that had come up before Him. She had two voices calling her. There was the voice of God calling her to the mountains, to life, to salvation, and to purity of life. There was the voice of Satan calling her to the sin of Sodom, the popularity of society, and the destruction of God. She had yielded to the voice of Satan for so long that she did what was customary to her. Probably out of habit she yielded to the voice most familiar to her. She yielded to the flesh, forgetting the blessings of God, and discounting the clear, explicit command of God. Her judgment was swift. She crossed the line and a sin unto death took its toll.
The ten spies.
Numbers 14:26-39 26And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron,
saying, 27How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which
murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of
Israel, which they murmur against me. 28Say unto them, As truly as I
live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
29Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered
of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and
upward, which have murmured against me, 30Doubtless ye shall not come
into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save
Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31But your little
ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall
know the land which ye have despised. 32But as for you, your carcases,
they shall fall in this wilderness. 33And your children shall wander in the
wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be
wasted in the wilderness. 34After the number of the days in which ye
searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your
iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. 35I
the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that
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are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be
consumed, and there they shall die. 36And the men, which Moses sent to
search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur
against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, 37Even those men
that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before
the LORD. 38But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of
Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.
39And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the
people mourned greatly.
The backdrop to this, the greatest of all Jewish blunders. Hundreds of years had passed since God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants. The time of the fulfilling of the promise had arrived (Acts 7:17), so God raised up Moses as a Deliverer to lead the Israelites from the land of Egypt. After God brought the ten plagues on the Egyptians, they allowed the Israelites to leave the land of Egypt and to begin their journey to the "promised land." The Israelites left the land of Egypt, and crossed the Red Sea after God miraculously parted it. After the Red Sea crossing the Israelites journeyed to Mt. Sinai.
They remained at the mount for almost a year. While here, four notable events occurred.
1.
God delivered to Moses the Ten Commandments on the table of stone.
2.
The people built the golden calf to be their "god"; which Moses destroyed.
3.
The people were numbered. (counted).
4.
The tabernacle (a large tent to be the center of Jewish worship) was built.
After leaving Mt. Sinai, the Israelites headed toward the promised land. When they arrived at a place called Kadesh-Barnea, twelve spies were sent into the land to find out about it.
They should have entered the land before the spies were sent out. God had made it their privilege and their duty to enter the land at the time of His appointment, but through their willful neglect that permission had been withdrawn. Had they obeyed God, the land would have been theirs without a fight; however, they chose to do what they wanted. The spies were sent and returned after forty days, with the report of the beauty of the land, but ten of the twelve spies forgot about the fact that God was helping them and persuaded the people they just were not able to capture the land.
God had promised the land to Israel. Caleb urged the people saying, "Let us go up at once and possess it for we are well able to overcome it." Jubilation at the report of the “goodly land” turned to cowardly despair as the spies uttered the sentiments of their unbelieving hearts. The false report of the ten spies cast a gloomy shadow over the congregation, and the mighty power of God, so often manifested in behalf of the chosen nation, was forgotten.
The ten stubbornly set themselves against Caleb, Joshua, Moses, and against God. In their resolve to discourage taking the promised land, they gave an “evil” report, distorted the truth, and made inconsistent claims saying, the country was fruitful and prosperous, and the people of giant stature, all of which would be impossible if the climate were so unhealthful that the land could be said to "eat up the inhabitants."
The effects of the false report
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The people did not consider that God had brought them thus far and would certainly give them the land; they did not call to mind how wonderfully God had delivered them from their oppressors, cutting a path through the sea and destroying the pursuing hosts of Pharaoh. They left God out of the question, and acted as though they must depend solely on the power of arms.
They disbelieved and limited the power of God and distrusted the hand that had hitherto safely guided them. And they repeated their former error of murmuring against Moses and Aaron. "This, then, is the end of our high hopes," they said. "This is the land we have traveled all the way from Egypt to possess." They accused their leaders of deceiving the people and bringing trouble upon Israel.
They refused to take the land while God was willing to give it to them but after God removed the opportunity, they decided to go in under their own power and take the land.
They did not seek the will of God in either instance of rebellion. They moaned and complained against God’s anointed and went so far as to lift up stones with which to kill Caleb and Joshua. They accepted the majority report of the ten spies.
The consequence of their rebellion
Moses is absolutely horrified, and God is very angry. He issued two decrees of punishment: Because of their unbelief, God determined that the Israelites would be punished. They were told that they must wander in the wilderness forty years until all of the men who did not believe Him died. For forty years the nation of Israel wandered in the wilderness. Everyone died as God had decreed. The ten spies sin unto death brought with it death for those in agreement with them. Their sin of presumption that they could refuse to take the land under the power of God and then decide to take the land when God had removed the opportunity brought forth death. Their rebellion against God and His anointed continues to plague Israel.
God tells the Jews that because they cried on this day for no good reason, they will cry on this day in history for some very good reasons. The nation of Israel can verify that on this day through history, major catastrophic events have occurred.
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New Testament examples of Sin leading unto death Acts 5:1-11 tells of Ananias and Saphira who lied to the apostles about money that received from the sale of some land. They were struck down one at a time and taken out and buried for their lie. Their sin is associated to not only lying to the Holy Spirit but also attempting to deceive the Lord’s Anointed. Folks should be careful how they deal with God’s men.
Acts 5:1-11 1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife,
sold a possession, 2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being
privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3But
Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy
Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained,
was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?
why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto
men, but unto God. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and
gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and
buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his
wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto
her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for
so much. 9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together
to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried
thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10Then fell she
down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men
came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her
husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many
as heard these things.
Ananias - Head of home --- Saphira - collaborator
Consider a couple of interesting things concerning this couple. It is interesting to note that his name means, “The favor and protection of Jehovah” and her name means, “Love and Blessing.” In spite of their names, and their experience of God's grace and mercy, they desired natural acclaim and praise. Their fleshly desires caused them to pay the ultimate price. It is also interesting to consider that the word used for “keeping back” means to embezzle or misappropriate.
Ananias and his wife, Saphira, pretended to a devotion that they did not really possess, and, wanting a reputation in the eyes of other Christians, they lied about the money they received for certain land. As a result, they were immediately put to death by God, one by one, and buried. They too had committed a sin unto death. This couple serves as a graphic reminder that there is sin unto death. This husband-and-wife team were known in the church, and it seems outside the church as well. They were ignorant of neither the power nor work of God for they had seen both in abundance.
The background to this sin unto death.
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Their story.
It began in Acts 4 and came to its conclusion in Acts 5. The generosity of the early Christians and especially Barnabas impressed Ananias and Saphira. They decided to take part in the collection for the saints at Jerusalem; thus, they sold some property and took some of the money to the church; but what they actually did was to pretend the sale brought in a certain amount and all that amount was being given into the collection. What they gave was not what they wanted others to believe they were giving. The fact was they kept part for themselves. They were under no obligation to sell anything. They were under no obligation to give any of what they received from their sale to the church. They could have said, we give you part of what we sold; but they pretended, that they gave all they had.
Here was the sin of hypocrisy, of deception, of insincerity and of lying.
Their sin.
Their sin was a sin against the Church. Their sin was a sin against God. Their sin was a sin against the Holy Spirit. Their sin was against Christ. Their sin was against the anointed men of God. Their sin was presumptuous in that they thought they could lie to God, deceive the church and God’s anointed, receive the praise of men all the while not being found out in their foolishness. Their sin affected the work of the Church. Their sin was conceived in their hearts, premeditated, deliberate, and intentional. Both were partners in this deception.
Their death.
Their death was sealed when they concocted a scheme they though would fool God, the church, and the men of God. They failed to realize that no one can succeed in playing games with God. In their calculations as to how to deceive everyone involved, they miscalculated God's omniscience, holiness, power, right and ability to Judgment. Often God does not judge immediately; but judgment will come at the time of God’s choosing.
In the case of Ananias and Saphira God judged immediately and severely. God is showing too how He desires His Church to be pure. There are many serious lessons to be drawn here.
Lessons to be learned from their sin unto death
God gives different things to each of us. How many of us have said at some time, I will give all only to break the vow we made? How many of us have said, “I will love the Lord and serve Him with all that I am and with all that I have only to hold ourselves back from that commitment? How many of us have embezzled from God, love, service, time, gifts, talents, tithes, etc. God speaks through Solomon In Ecclesiastes 4:5 saying, “It is better not to vow, than to vow and not pay.”
Not taking God and His Word seriously may well be our stepping over the line bringing us physical death. Just because we do not often see instant judgments neither means that God is not angry with us nor that He will not execute judgment.
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We cannot fool God; therefore, we must not fail to give Him glory in the church, Ephesians 3:21. God is not mocked and trifling with His Church will not go unnoticed or unpunished.
God’s Son died for the church, He shed His precious blood for the church, and the church is the apple of God's eye. It is dangerous to rebel against the clear, explicit Word regarding responsibility, action, and reaction regarding the church.
Although we can fool ourselves by pretense, fool others with a religious song and dance causing them to think we are Christians all the while being hypocrites, we cannot fool God.
God always takes sin seriously. Sin is never a minor matter. God’s judgment upon Ananias and Saphira should serve as a warning to all of us. John declares in 1 John that all sin is unrighteousness. All sin brings consequences. Some sin is not unto death. Some sin is unto death. The scripture is emphatic saying, “He that sayeth he hath no sin is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Let us be careful that we not find ourselves crossing the line committing a sin unto death for surely God will execute judgment.
The Corinthian church
1 Corinthians 11 teaches that some in the Corinthian church profaned the Lord’s Supper.
Their profaning was a sin unto death for some. They were guilty not discerning the body and blood of the Lord. Their sin was a total disregard for the sacrifice that Christ made for their sins. Their sinful practice showed a insensitive disregard for Christ's sufferings for them.
A person who "professes" to be saved but continually practices sin without receiving chastening in his life shows he is not saved. God does not chasten the unsaved who are not His children. Chastening is evidence of having been born again.
Hebrews 12:6-8 6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him. 7By faith Noah, being warned of God of
things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of
his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith. 8By faith Abraham, when he was called to
go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Those who are not turned from the error of their way
James 5:19-20 19Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one
convert him; 20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from
the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a
multitude of sins.
The implications of James 5:19-20 to those not turned from their way. Brothers in error have a need to be turned. Fellow believers are responsible to turn the brother in error from 46
his sin. God is longsuffering yet may choose to end a wayward believer’s life so as to protect His kingdoms work. When a believer has crossed that boundary set by God, no amount of confession or repentance will stop the physical death of the offender.
The duty to turn from their way
James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the
error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude
of sins.
The position of fellow believers urges us to convert wayward brothers from their sin. The believers’ responsibility to one another presses upon us the necessity to serve as a minister of reconciliation to our erring brothers. All believers are encouraged to care for erring brothers so much that we will strive to safeguard that fellowship we have with one another and with God.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that
is set before us,
There is joy and blessing in store for converting a brother in error from his way.
Psalm 126: 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall
doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
The bottom line is this: If we do not attempt to convert our brothers from the error of their way, we fall into our own error, contribute to their sin, sanction their death and heap to ourselves judgment from God.
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Exhortations And Admonition
(With Emphasis Upon Fellowship With God – So As Not To Die An Early Death) Introduction
Hebrews 12:5-13 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh
unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the
Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth
he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom
the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all
are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have
had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:
shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and
live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own
pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby. 12Wherefore lift up the hands
which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for
your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather
be healed.
We are exhorted and admonished not to fight against God.
Acts 23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
Those who fight against God will not prosper.
2 Chronicles 13:12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain,
and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O
children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for
ye shall not prosper.
Those who fight against God will come to naught.
Acts 5:38-39 38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let
them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to
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nought: 39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be
found even to fight against God.
Those who fight against God cannot overthrow Him.
Acts 5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found
even to fight against God.
We are exhorted and admonished to live by the same rule Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us
walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
We are all accountable to the same standard. All are subject to the same rule.
Let us walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Walking in the Spirit indicates to whom you belong.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Walking in the Spirit results in keeping the Word of God.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk
in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Walking in the Spirit directs away from fleshly lusts.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil
the lust of the flesh.
Let us walk in one accord.
Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Acts 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things
which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
In speech.
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1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no
divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same
mind and in the same judgment.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt,
that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade
men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made
manifest in your consciences.
In doctrine.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the
common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort
you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned;
and avoid them.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears;
In practice.
Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and
ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye
shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Proverbs 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers
have set.
In honesty.
Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and
envying.
We are exhorted and admonished to consider one another and follow those things that make for peace and that edifies others.
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Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and
to good works:
Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for
peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Let’s encourage one another in love and good works.
Ecclesiastes 4:10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to
him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Let’s remember one another in regular prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brethren, pray for us.
Let’s edify one another in spiritual things.
Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for
peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
We are exhorted and admonished to not be weary in well doing
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not.
It is the will of God that we engage in doing well.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
It is the plan of God that we go about doing good.
1 Peter 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and
ensue it.
It is the example of God that we do good.
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and
with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
We are exhorted and admonished to safeguard our conversation,
as it becomes the gospel of Christ
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Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel
of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear
of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving
together for the faith of the gospel;
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee.
Conversation does not refer to what we say. It considers what we do.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
your own selves.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which
is in heaven.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth
righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
The mouth may say one thing while we do that which is far from what we say.
Matthew 7:21-23 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and
in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Conversation involves lifestyle. A lifestyle of sin indicates a life void of the new birth.
1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he
that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him
not.
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son
of God hath not life.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship
of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of
the world is the enemy of God.
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1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If
any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We are exhorted and admonished to inculcate the mind of Christ
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us
walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
We are to set our mind on heavenly things.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the
earth.
We are to set our mind on a humble spirit.
Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many
tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
We are to set our mind on winning the lost.
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that
winneth souls is wise.
We are exhorted and admonished to labor in the kingdom Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man
fall after the same example of unbelief.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast,
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye
know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
It demonstrates of love.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and
labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight
of God and our Father;
It verifies the acceptance of our commission.
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Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
It involves intensity.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the
common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort
you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints.
We are exhorted and admonished to go on to perfection (maturity) Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let
us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance
from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Christians reach maturity by casting away transgressions.
Ezekiel 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye
have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why
will ye die, O house of Israel?
Christians reach maturity by following Father’s example of perfection.
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect.
Christians reach maturity by growing in grace and knowledge of God and His Word.
2 Peter 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Colossians 3:6 (wisdom) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh
on the children of disobedience:
Christians reach maturity by growing in the Spirit.
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the
flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Christian must reach maturity to be an example to others.
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1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of
the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in
purity.
We are exhorted and admonished to love in deed and in truth
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue;
but in deed and in truth.
If our heart is right we will love the brethren.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because
we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
If our heart is right we will love the sinner.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in
love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
If our heart is right we will walk in love.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling
savour.
We are exhorted and admonished to hold fast our profession Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed
into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
We are not to waver in matters pertaining to faith.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth
is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
We are not to be tossed about by false doctrine.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
We are not to lose sight of our eternal destiny.
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Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus.
We are exhorted and admonished to draw near
“Fellowship” Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water.
To draw near to God is by worship in truth and spirit.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him
in spirit and in truth.
To draw near to God is to come by His Son who is truth.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
To draw near to God is to completely trust Him.
Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust
in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
We are exhorted and admonished to lay aside
every weight and run with patience
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us,
The weights to be laid aside
Let us lay aside the weight of doubt.
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy
hands, without wrath and doubting.
Let us lay aside the weight of envy.
Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of
the LORD all the day long.
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Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee.
Let us lay aside the weight of vainglory.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
The race to be run
There are many participants in the race.
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:
lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should
be a castaway.
There is a crown of glory for those finishing the race.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that
day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
There is a word of commendation for the victors of the race.
Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler
over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Conclusion:
We are exhorted and admonished to hear the conclusion of the whole matter.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear
God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
The conclusion of the matter is to fear God.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever:
nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it,
that men should fear before him.
The conclusion of the matter is to keep His commandments.
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John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even
as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
The conclusion of the matter is summed up in Deuteronomy 10:12 and Micah 6:8.
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God
require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and
to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all
thy soul,
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the
LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God?
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It is with a grateful heart for the work of Dr. John W. Teague that he left behind when he went to meet the Lord. May his efforts continue to be enjoyed with the publication of the John Teague Series of books and eBooks.
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