March 25, 2011 Lies Aren't Ever Little

Lies Aren’t Ever Little
Read 1 Samuel 20-22

1 Sam 21:1-3 David went to the town of Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he saw him. “Why are you alone?” he asked. “Why is no one with you?” 2 “The king has sent me on a private matter,” David said. “He told me not to tell anyone why I am here. I have told my men where to meet me later. 3 Now, what is there to eat? Give me five loaves of bread or anything else you have.”
&
1 Sam 22:18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You do it.” So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments.

DAVID AND SAUL SIN. Is one worse than the other?
First, we see David lying to Ahimelech to get food and a weapon. Because of his lie, Saul, in the second scripture, accused Ahimelech of helping David escape. Saul used Doeg, the Edomite—a non-Jew—to do his dirty work and kill all the priests and their families.
Do you ever think a little lie makes no difference? Sure, it seemed right for David to lie to Ahimelech. It was so convenient, and Ahimelech didn’t need to know everything. Could David have been thinking, “My life is certainly worth a little lie.” David’s fear for his life cost Ahimelech and hundreds of others their lives.
And Saul’s fear for his kingdom drives him to order the senseless killing. Yes, sin makes us dirty. Sin makes us guilty. Sin creeps from place to place, person to person. When we sin, the deed does not isolate itself in one place. It extends to places you never intend.
Whatever you do involves others. Sin shows up in places you cannot know. Turn to Jesus to cleanse the dirt of sin from your life. A blameless life shows up in places you can’t imagine!


Pause and Consider: lies are always hurtful.