THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SINS MAY AFFECT OTHERS

PROCLAMATION

“And David’s heart smote him after that … And David said unto The Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly … and I beseech Thee’ … Thus saith The Lord, ‘I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.’ … So The Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel … and there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men.” (2 Samuel 24:10-15)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  These are the last words of David, the son of Jesse, the king of Israel, the psalmist and man after God’s own heart.  David said that The Spirit of The Lord spoke to him. (2 Samuel 23:1-2)  The Lord God said that he that rules over men must be just.  David knew that his house was not perfect in the eyes of The Lord but he had been blessed and that God had made a covenant with him. (2 Samuel 23:3-5)  In the remainder of this chapter David goes on to list the mighty men of valor who were with him and their accomplishments. (2 Samuel 23:8-39)  David ordered that a census be taken of Israel and Judah.  This was a sin of David’s pride and security in his military might instead of trusting in The Lord.  Joab, the captain of the army, saw the census for what it was and questioned David but David overruled him. (2 Samuel 24:1-9)  The Lord was angered by David’s sin.  David confessed his sin and The Lord forgave him but he still had to suffer the consequences for his actions.  The Lord gave David a choice of three punishments to choose from which were spelled out by the prophet Gad. (2 Samuel 24:10-13)  David placed himself on the mercies of God and let Him decide which to do.  So The Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel and seventy thousand men died. (2 Samuel 24:14-15)  David went to Araunah the Jebusite and bought some land as the prophet Gad had directed him.  There he built an alter and offered a sacrifice unto The Lord and the plague on Israel ended. ((2 Samuel 24:17-25)

 

APPLICATION

We will all pay a price for our sins.  However, when we sin, there are consequences which affect not only us but also affect those around us which may not occur immediately.  It is hard for us to understand but some of the bad things which happen to us are the results of the sins of our parents, grandparents, or our great grandparents. (Numbers 14:18 and Deuteronomy 5:9)  The punishment that we receive for our sins may also affect the ones that we love.