Letting Integrity be Your Guide
“Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.” (1 Samuel 26:8-10)
King Saul had thought David was trying to usurp the kingdom. He and Israel’s army pursued David, though David had done no wrong. At the time of this story, Saul and the army had set up camp. David and Abishai had found where Saul lay asleep, unprotected. Abishai was willing to sneak into the camp and kill Saul. All he needed was David’s ok. David didn’t give it, and he told Abishai why: “…who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless?”
This was not a war, but more of a task force going after a fugitive. The fact that David had done nothing wrong was secondary at this point. If he had had Saul killed, it would have been like a law enforcement task force trying to arrest someone who is wrongly accused, but he kills an officer. Now he is in the wrong. Since Saul was king, it also would have been an assassination.
This story is a great illustration of an important truth; that is, it is never right to do wrong, even if you are trying to do right.
Take police work. Cops are on the job to help decent people by fighting evildoers. Romans 13:4 says, “…But if thou [criminal] do that which is evil [commit crime], be afraid; for he [police] beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” The Bible calls what criminals do “evil.” It does not say “crime” or “felony” or “misdemeanor.” It says “evil.” Cops are on the job to fight against people who do evil.
Yet if too many people in power don’t seem to care about helping decent people, you may be tempted to skirt the law here and there yourself. After all, aren’t you on the job to help decent people? And if engaging in shady behavior seems to help the cause more than going by the book, who’s the wiser? And if the bad guy complains, who cares about him?
The first problem is that it’s wrong before God. If you sin, you are listening to the devil: “He that committeth sin is of the devil;” (1 John 3:8) And if you justify it once, you’ll likely justify it again, and “…proceed from evil to evil,” (Jeremiah 9:3) Like most criminals, you also will not think about being caught, and the next bad guy you mistreat may be wearing a wire and working for Internal Affairs. Are you ready to lose your career and disgrace yourself and your family?
Doing what’s right is not always easy, especially when the system seems so criminal-friendly at times. Yet Psalm 37:3 says, “Trust in the LORD, and DO GOOD;” (last two words capitals) God is in charge no matter how things seem. Trust Him. Let integrity guide you: “The integrity of the upright shall guide them:” (Proverbs 11:3) God would deal with Saul one day. So it is with the criminals you fight against: “...their foot shall slide in due time:” (Deuteronomy 32:35)
The Bible is filled with gems of helpful info. Most importantly, it tells us how to have our sins forgiven and eternal life by receiving the Lord Jesus as our personal Saviour. Please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?” to learn more.
Brian Miller 10/11/2024
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822