Series: Youth for Jesus, Number: Vol. 3, No. 37
“Why do people commit crimes so readily? Because crime is not punished quickly enough.” (Eccl 8:11-12GNT)
According to the Scriptures, the natural man is naturally delinquent and so will readily do wrong things, especially if the opportunity is there to do so (Rom 3:9-18). But then, it is not only because human beings are naturally prone to do evil that they readily do wrong things; it is also because wrong things are often not quickly punished by those in a position to do so.
For example, we have in the bible an account of how Amnon, the eldest son of King David, raped his half-sister, Tamar, and also threw her out of his house (2Sam 13:1-19). And what did the law of the land say against that kind of atrocity? First, the law says that is wrong for a man to marry his sister, even if she is his half-sister, not to talk of having sexual relations with her (Leviticus 20:17). People who do such things must be cut off from the assembly of God’s people. Second, the law says if a man rapes a virgin that is pledged in marriage to someone else, and the virgin is absolutely in a helpless situation when this happens, one in which no one could rescue her, that man must be put to death (Deut 22:23-27). Third, the law says if a man rapes a virgin that is not pledged in marriage to anyone, he must be made to marry the girl, and he cannot divorce her as long as he lives (Deut 22:28-29).
Therefore, if Amnon’s case were to be judged, the most merciful judgment he could get was a lifetime married life with his sister, Tamar, a married life away from the royal house and away from the land of Israel. Unfortunately, even though King David heard about this matter, as bible records show, he only got furious with Amnon; he did not judge his crime or sentence him in any way. Yes, he may have called him and reprimanded him. But if that young man were not a prince, would he only reprimand him and not make him face the full wrath of the law of the land? I don’t think so. (Cf. 2Sam 13:21)
Now that, of course, was not the first or only time David, a God-fearing man, would be reluctant to judge an obvious crime because of his relationship with the one involved. For instance, when Joab, his nephew and army commander, murdered Abner, Israel general, who had come in peace to him in order to end the war between his house and Saul’s house, he only wept and fasted for Abner. He did not punish Joab in any way. And that only strengthened the man to commit more acts of wickedness, for, years later, he would murder in cold blood another Israel’s general, who was even a cousin of his and whose only crime was that he was made his senior in the army. Yet what did David do about this? Nothing! He simply passed the matter on to Solomon, who became king after him. (Cf. 2Sam 3:17-39; 2Sam 19&20; 1Kings 2:5-6)
In like manner, because Amnon was his son, his eldest son and perhaps the one he was grooming for kingship at that time, he overlooked his crime. And because he overlooked his crime of rape, he unconsciously encouraged Absalom, another son of his and brother to the raped girl, Tamar, to take matters into his hand and murder Amnon, who was his own brother as well. So, Solomon, who was aware of all this, says to us in our opening text, “When we fail to judge and punish people’s crimes on time, we are strengthening wickedness in the land.” And when we strengthen wickedness where we are because we will not use our position or authority to judge it, lawlessness will at some point take over. Then there may come a time in which we too will become victims of it.
Therefore, regardless how little your authority to judge or punish evil may be where you are, make sure you are using it appropriately and adequately, without partiality. That way, you will be discouraging those around you from giving themselves to wickedness.
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