The Christian in Sin

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Mar 6, 1855

The Christian in Sin.

"ALL Scripture is profitable." There is a simple story in the sacred pages, contained in a single chapter, and yet replete with instructions for every Christian. It is in the Old Testament, that part of the Bible containing the history of God's ancient people, for the benefit of his people in all ages. The story is simply this. The pride of king David is great; to gratify it he conceives the design of numbering his people. His friend and counsellor, Joab remonstrates, but the king persists and accomplishes his design. God sees the sin and determines to punish it. He gives David the choice of three punishments, and he chooses a pestilence of three days. David is deeply humbled, confesses his sin, and his punishment is removed.

These are the impressions derived from a cursory perusal of the history; thousands read it and perceive nothing more. But let us for a moment dive into its meaning, and scan it with a searching eye.

1 Chron. xxi. It was Satan who provoked David to number Israel. They were the chosen people of the Almighty, selected to keep alive the knowledge of God upon the earth, and from whom should come forth him, who was "to bruise the serpent's head." Of course, Satan hated them.

There is then, a tempter, the arch fiend Satan, notwithstanding the scoffs and denials of the unbelieving, and he lives, and is permitted to tempt, not only the sinner, but the child of God.

David was "the man after God's own heart." Think not then, O, Christian, however advanced in godliness, that you are delivered from the tempter's snare.

Our friends often know us better than we know our selves. Joab forsaw the sin of David; the pride of the king's heart was manifest. Joab strongly remonstrated, and sought to dissuade him from his purpose. Let us then not despise the words of a friend, for they are faithful. Let us distrust ourselves, and lay hold upon a wise counsellor. Let us not be resolved in the pride of our own heart to do all our pleasure, for that pleasure may be accompanied with sin, which shall surely bring its punishment.

Joab was captain of the host, yet was he as a servant before David, and dared not resist his will. Yet to him the "the word of the king was abominable."

Let Christians search their hearts and try their consciences, lest they thus appear in the sight of their inferiors.

God declares his purpose to punish David. Dear as David was to him, highly as he had exalted him before men, he must now feel the rod of correction and be abased. Many are the Fatherly strokes received by God's people, but blessed be his name, they have their punishment, and not their "good things" in this world. For their humbling it is necessary for him to smite them, and when their sins are public, they must be publicly reproved. Pride, so natural to the heart, of such quick and easy growth, is highly offensive in the eyes of the Lord, and he has declared that "it goeth before destruction."

God is merciful even in his punishments. "He does not afflict willingly." He gives David his choice of three things, famine, war or pestilence. David throws himself into the hands of the Lord and chooses the latter.

"God will not always chide, And when his strokes are felt, His strokes are fewer than our crimes, And lighter than our guilt."

Christians sometimes see their sins visited upon others. His people, dear to David as his own children, are chastened in the stead. "I, it is, that have sinned and done evil indeed, but what have these sheep done? Let thy hands, I pray thee, oh Lord, my God, be upon me." Thus do all God's people mourn and are in bitterness for sin. Thus do they feel that God "is a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation." How many a mother, how many a father has cried, "Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions against me."

David was quick to confess his sin. Herein consists the true mark of the Christian; he cannot live under the hidings of God's countenance. He exclaims, "my sin is continually before me," and until he can be rid of it in the blood of atonement, he is wretched. But he knows there is forgiveness, and he seeks it without delay. Thus David erected his altar and offered thereon his burnt offerings, and his peace offerings in type of our Great sin offering, whom he saw, and in whom he believed. They were accepted, and his sin was pardoned. We live under a better dispensation; we can go to Christ, to the Fountain, and wash and be clean; Jesus has borne our sins in his own body on the tree, and now lives to make intercession for all who come unto God through him.

Christian Diadem.