Selfish Gain
So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron. - >2 Samuel 4:12
David did not wait; he pronounced judgment on the men who murdered Ishbosheth in his bed and commanded his men to execute them. They were judged because they murdered an innocent man. He was not killed in battle; he was murdered in his bed.
This was justice in the Old Testament: But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, (Exodus 21:23-24). David made sure these men were judged according to God’s Word, because it was not an accident or an act of war. They committed murder.
Think about what these men did. They murdered an innocent man for selfish gain. They just wanted to find favor with David. They had no other reason to kill Ishbosheth, so they suffered the consequences.
We see the same thing happening to Christians today. They may not physically murder people, but they murder their character. They spread rumors and tell lies, so they look better—so they can have a position over someone else.
If you decide to come against one of God’s children, and murder their reputation, so you can benefit, be very careful. In the end, it will be your reputation shattered, but it will not be because of lies. It will be because you lied and cheated to come against God’s anointed.
Lies and false reports are among Satan’s choicest weapons.
~J. C. Ryle~
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