6th Commandment

If you were watching or reading a thriller and the corrupt king entered the same cave as the hero and his trusted team of warriors, you wouldn’t expect the king to walk out alive, would you?

In mainstream culture, strength & power are measured by violence. And David has lots of reasons to wish Saul was dead:

· In jealousy, Saul threw his javelin at David to pin him to the wall.

· Driving him away from his marriage and his country, Saul harassed & harried David and his merry band of men for years.

· What’s more, Samuel, who anointed Saul 1st king of Israel, on God’s instructions, anointed David 2ndking. David is waiting for Saul’s reign to end so he can sit on the throne.

· Even his men think murdering Saul might fit God’s plan. They urged David to stab the king, saying:

This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’

I Sam. 24:4a.

It’s a golden opportunity, isn’t it?

David’s refusal to kill Saul is an unlikely a plot twist. His remorse for cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe catches us by surprise.

Saul was rejected as king b/c he disobeyed God’s instructions and marched to the beat of his own drum. David is described in the OT and NT as a man after God’s own heart. He doesn’t always succeed, but David works hard to be obedient to the Lord. And when David fails, like his sinful night with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband, David confesses his sin and asks for God’s forgiveness.

Even w/ so many reasons to want King Saul dead, David resists the temptation to stab the king while he’s busy in the cave. He just cuts off a corner of the king’s robe. With that scrap of cloth, David shows his innocence and good wishes towards the Lord’s anointed king.

Standing on the hill outside the cave brandishing the corner of Saul’s robe is a dramatic conclusion to the scene in the cave. David looks like a hero. Even Saul admits David’s goodness:

“You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lorddelivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.”

I Samuel 24:17–18 (NIV)

It’s a success story. It’s part of David’s legacy as a man after God’s own heart. David’s obedience to God’s law on this day points ahead to his great, great grandson Jesus: truly human, but also true God, whose obedience to his heavenly Father is the hope of the world.

Truth is: we don’t often life up to that standard, do we?

I’m confident that nobody here has stabbed someone with a sword in a dark corner of a cave in the Desert of En Gedi. But when Jesus sits down on the mountainside of Galilee to teach his disciples what righteousness looks like, he explains that murder is not just about stabbing someone to death.

Murder starts in the heart and in our imagination. By Jesus’ definition, the men who advised David to kill Saul were probably guilty of murder, even though David wasn’t.

Jesus’ standard of goodness is recorded in Mt 5:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister,will be subject to judgment.

Matthew 5:21 (NIV)

That sets the bar a little higher, doesn’t it?

There are lots of things that make us angry. We don’t like getting hurt or treated unfairly. We don’t like to see others being hurt or treated unfairly. Anger is an appropriate response to the wrongness we find in the world. But our anger and actions will be evaluated, “anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement.” What did you do w/ your anger?

· In your anger did you sin?

· Did you have murder in your eyes when you confronted them?

· Did you lash out at them w/ words that cut like knives?

Anger at wrong-doing is not the problem. It’s one of the ways we reflect God’s image. Wrong-doing makes God angry too.

But God holds you accountable for the way you act and talk when you are angry. Jesus teaches that our language can be murderous:

Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Matthew 5:22 (NIV)

Quick poll: anybody here say “Raca” to a brother or sister recently?

I didn’t think so. It’s not English. It’s a rude Aramaic word.

New Q: Have you called anyone a jerk, a fool, or an idiot? Have you said “damn you” or told anyone to F-off? Have you given the finger?

Jesus says the consequences of that kind of language are serious before the judgement seat of God. Expressing contempt and hatred for your neighbour is akin to murdering them. Jesus says, “Anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

Take a moment to ponder that. Murder is not just a matter of stabbing someone to death. It starts with viewing someone and treating someone as if you don’t think they should be alive.

We’ll need to answer to God when we slam doors, throw things, or hammer a 2X4 to splinters when we’re angry. It’s not just loss of self-control. Breaking or throwing things when you’re angry is a threat to the person you’re angry w/: I’m so angry I want to smash whatever or whoever gets in my way. I’m only slamming the door . . . but you might be slammed next.

This is serious stuff. When Jesus draws the connection b/t hurtful words and murder, when he helps us see that lashing out in anger w/ words or fists isn’t that far removed from striking a murderous blow . . . we start to see that we don’t live up to God’s standard of goodness; at least, not all day everyday.

It’s uncomfortable b/c the punishment for murder in the OT is death. In Canada, the toughest punishment for murder is a lifetime locked away from family, friends, open spaces, unable to set your own schedule. Being judged guilty of murder before God as judge results is an eternal sentence of being cut off from family, friends, and the source of life: God himself. It doesn’t get worse than being damned to hell.

That’s why the gospel is such good news. Jesus entered his creation as a human. Instead of bringing anger, hatred, and death, Jesus went around doing good and making people more alive. Even when Jesus was arrested, he didn’t lash out with words or fists.

Do you remember the way Luke describes when armed men came to arrest Jesus?

When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Luke 22:49–51 (NIV)

Jesus didn’t just allow himself to be arrested; in the scuffle, he stopped the bleeding and reattached the man’s ear.

It’s a taste of the healing, renewal, and restoration Jesus entered his creation to bring. Later that night Jesus was sentenced to die. When he was lifted on the cross to suffer and die the next day, he shouldered all your guilt and shame. He died the death we deserve for all the times we intended to hurt other people.

When Jesus rose from the grave 3 days later, his resurrection gives life to all who believe in him. What’s more, Jesus and his heavenly Father sent God the HS to help you grow in love and self-control. Life as a follower of Jesus isn’t easy though.

Our salvation is a gift that we don’t deserve. God generously forgives your sin and pardons you for all your wrongdoing. But now, you’ve entered training in righteousness and holiness. Jesus has demonstrated the way we’re called to love our neighbour. It’s not sufficient to avoid murdering your neighbour. Following Jesus’ example, we’re called to treat others with respect, bring healing and renewal, and in God’s name make our brothers, sisters, and neighbours more alive.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43–48 (NIV)