How Our Sin Affects Others (1 Samuel 21:1–2)

In this episode of Pray the Word on 1 Samuel 21:1–2, David Platt explains the broader effects of our sin on those around us.

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Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from radical dot net. First Samuel chapter twenty one verses one and two Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, and Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, Why are you alone and no one with you? And David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has charged me with the matter, and said to me, Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you. I've made an appointment with the young man for such and such a place. So in this story David's fleeing from King Saul, and David is deceptive. He lies here, saying that he's on some official business for the king, and that lie we find out later, will result in the deaths of Ahimelech and the priests at Nob. So this is a sobering passage when you let this soak in, because yes, David was in many ways a man after God's own heart. At the same time, we see sinfulness, deception, lying, and evil in him right here, in ways that will lead to catastrophic consequences in others' lives. Here it's Himelech and the other priests at Nob, and we know later it will be Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, and others will follow after that. The point is we cannot overestimate the effects of sin in our lives and on others' lives. The effects here of lying and deception and lack of honesty. So I just want to encourage you, even as I encourage myself, to see sin as seriously as the Bible sees it, to see a small lie in our eyes as seriously as the Bible sees it. Any lack of honesty or integrity in us is serious before God. And if we're not careful, we can get into a routine where small lies, half truths, deceptions, hiding this or that can start to seem like no big deal to us. But when we compromise with sin in what seems like small ways, we have no idea the effects. Not only of that sin in our lives, but that sin in others' lives and the way that leads us to be more casual with sin in the future. Oh God, we need your help. We need you to purify us. We pray for each of our hearts and lives. Help us to speak honestly today. Help us not to in any way deceive others, to share half-truths in an effort to preserve ourselves or promote some agenda. God, help us to speak in ways that honor and glorify you and honor others. We pray for honesty in our lives, for integrity in our lives, and we pray, oh God, for sensitivity to sin. Help us not to in any way become casual with sin, even or especially sin we might think as small, that will create in our hearts a hardness towards you and your spirit's promptings when we're tempted to sin in other ways. God, we pray for pure hearts before you, for pure lips before you and others. Please make us holy, we pray. Help us to hate sin and to live in the light of victory over sin that you've made possible for us, Jesus. And in this way to spread good news of salvation from sin. God, may this be the truth on our lips today. We pray for opportunities to share the gospel today. We pray for the spread of the gospel of truth. It's found in Jesus all around the world. We pray for the Linga Yacht people of India. For three and a half million of them, God, please cause the good news of salvation from sin through Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life to spread to the Linga Yat people of India. We pray all of this in light of your word in 1 Samuel chapter 21. In Jesus' name, in the name of the one who has died and rose again, that we might be forgiven of all our sin. Help us to live in the fullness of all you've paid for us and for others. In Jesus' name. Amen.