Basic Disciplinary Purposes
The law given through Moses contains the mind of God on many levels. Amongst them are rules to guide life in a society. For any form of law to have weight, there must be penalties for disregarding them. Whenever there is no consequence, anarchy will reign. And these laws were for the native born and the stranger.(Num 15:5-6) This is the purpose of discipline: to prevent absolute lawlessness and by extension, the reign of satan.
Penalties for Stealing or Killing
If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. (Exo 22:1)
“A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft. “If the stolen animal is found alive in his possession–whether ox or donkey or sheep–he must pay back double. (Exo 22:4)
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God’s Discipline of one He Loves
After David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah, in line with the law of God against stealing and murder, the following things happened as a penalty. In the judgment God pronounced on David’s household. God clearly took away in death, the first son conceived from that illegitimate union (2 Samuel 12:13-14). Thereafter, in subsequent years, David suffered the loss of 3 more sons. Thus, according to the law, he paid back four lives (baby, Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah) for the one life (Uriah) he ended.
In addition, his daughter (Tamar) was raped by one of his sons (Amnon) and a number of his concubines were defiled by another son (Absalom) in the same shameful way he had failed the trust of his faithful friend, servant and neigbour, Uriah. Uriah happened to also be one of his mighty men from the times in exile when he lived in caves and forests. (2 Samuel 23:39)
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The Law of the Lord vs King David
In 2 Sam 12:10- “Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ This is what the LORD says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel. Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD. Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.”
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The Mercy Exception
The discipline that God meted out in the law for murder was death, but David was shown mercy. Why? There are nuances and variations to God’s discipline. What lawyers call mitigating factors. Some major ones are that: He shows mercy to the merciful, and He is merciful and forgives sins.
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:18
“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin…” Exodus 34:6-7
Recall how David never sought vengeance against Saul or his family? That came in handy here even without David asking for it. Same as Saul didn’t ask before David spared his life and those of his descendants.
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Conclusion
God’s methods of judgment or discipline are already stated in the law (the ten commandments), and this is what was applied to David. The rest of the bible lays out the specifics of each law in its different variations and historical events showing how God applied them. This pattern demonstrates how God’s discipline is consistent with His law. When we disobey, He applies His law to correct and discipline us.
We also, ought to apply God’s law in disciplining our own children.
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