Punishment and Consequences

“And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.” (2Samuel 15:23)

This happened when David and his company of people were fleeing Jerusalem from Absalom.  The Scripture says, “all the country wept.” Not only the people who were with him wept, but the country showed their sorrow at the departure of the king. Although Absalom had won the hearts of the men (2Samuel 15:6), David was king and favored by the people.  And now he fled Jerusalem. The city was left defenseless for Absalom to come and do whatever he wanted.

All the people that fled with King David had to cross the brook Kidron.  The Scripture emphasizes that the king also crossed the brook. This was the last landmark before the uninhabited land. This was part of David’s punishment for his sin with Bathsheba. (2Samuel 12:1-14) He suffered and because he was king, the kingdom suffered also.

David knew that his sufferings were a result of his sin. Nathan had declared it clearly. Remember that in David’s time Jesus had not taken on the punishment for sin yet.  When people sinned, they suffered the punishment for that sin. In the New Covenant, there is no punishment for sin. Jesus took all the punishment for sin. He took our sin upon Himself and took the punishment for them even the death due to us because of our sin. It was a once and forever done thing. The complete payment for sin was given and received of the Father, the punishment and death. “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1Peter 2:24) But this doesn’t give us the liberty to sin. The Truth is that sin is an aversion to us. Our new born again spirit of God hates sin.  It’s a detestable thing to us. This doesn’t mean that we don’t sin because we do. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:8-9) We sin because we’re in this body, in this world and have the enemy of God tempting us.

When evil comes our way, we immediately think and might even say aloud, “What did I do to deserve this?” What we suffer are the consequences of sin or wrong choices. There are natural laws in place that cannot be broken.  In other words, if you jump from the highest building in the city, you will break your neck and die.  If you jump in front of a speeding car, you will be hit. A bad diet will result in ill health. The natural laws of gravity and consequences still apply and so do the laws of the land. If we rob a bank, we will go to jail. If we don’t stop at the red light, we will have an accident. So, when evil comes our way, it’s not a punishment from God, but a consequence of our actions. Does God help us in such times? God never fails to help us in our foolishness.

Paul wrote, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) Jesus was tempted in every way we all are tempted but didn’t sin. He knows what we are going through. He knows the power of temptation and the weakness of our faith and strength. He is our High Priest making intercession for us. “Who is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34) It’s necessary for Him to intercede for us because we continue sinning. But the sacrifice of Jesus, His death and resurrection still apply. It’s all covered by the Blood of the Lamb.

Yes! The New Covenant is a better covenant.  There was punishment in the old covenant for sin.  But in the New Covenant, Jesus paid the punishment for our sin and lives to make intercession for us at the right hand of the Father. “ Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself.” (Hebrews 7:25-27)