SHEEP IN THE WORD MINISTRIES Rev. Robert C. Lewis Glendale Baptist Church Houston, Texas quicknotes.org 2007

CONFESSION OF SIN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT The Ins and Outs of Confession

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ISRAEL AT KADESH Numbers 14

their sin: unbelief (Numbers 14:11) complaining and disobedience (Deuteronomy 1:26)

their confession: they confessed (14:40) but immediately disobeyed (Numbers 14:41–45)

consequences: their confession (14:40) did not restore their inheritance (14:22–23) or remove the sin unto death (14:29, 32–35; 26:64–65)

intercession: Moses' intercession gained their pardon (14:20) and reduced their discipline: they died over 40 years (14:33–34) instead of immediately (14:12)

principle: confession may come to late to avert divine discipline

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ACHAN Joshua 7

his sin: stealing things under a ban (Joshua 7:1, 11)

his confession: he admits his guilt and names his sin (7:20–21)

the opposite of confessing is hiding sin (7:19)

consequences: confession did not reduce his punishment or lift the ban— his whole family was stoned and burned (7:24–26)

consequences: 36 men died because of his sin (7:5)

principle: confronting sin may bring about confession (7:19; cf. Genesis 3:8–13; 1 Samuel 12:17; 15:14–23)

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ISRAEL UNDER THE JUDGES 1 Samuel 12:9–11

their sin: idolatry (1 Samuel 12:10)

their confession: they admit their guilt and name their sin (12:10)

consequences: confession and repentance removed their discipline (compare 12:9 with 12:11)

principle: discipline often brings us to the point of confession

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ISRAEL 1 Samuel 12:12–22

their sin: asking for a king (1 Samuel 12:17, 19, 20)

their confession: they admit their guilt and name their sin (12:19)

consequences: their confession did not restore the rule of the judges— they will pay dearly (8:9–18)

principle: confession may not remove God's permissive will or restore God's perfect will

principle: some sins have irreversible consequences

principle: continue serving the Lord after confessing your sins

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SAUL 1 Samuel 15

his sin: keeping things placed under a ban (1 Samuel 15:2–3, 8–9, 18–19

his confession: he finally confesses his sin after being confronted by Samuel (15:24–25)

excuses: he rationalized, made excuses, and passed the buck (15:15, 21)

consequences: his confession did not restore his throne (15:26–29) or lift the ban from him (31:1– 6)

consequences: confession reduced and postponed his discipline—he was not replaced immediately and his family and possessions were not all killed and burned

principle: others may cause you to sin, but you're responsible (cf. Adam and Eve, Genesis 3:12, 13)

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DAVID 2 Samuel 24

David’s Sin (24:1–9) David’s Confession (24:10–14) David’s Punishment (24:15–17) David’s Sacrifice (24:18–25)

his sin: numbering the people (2 Samuel 24:1–9)

his confession: his confession (10, 17) did not remove the divine discipline (11–17)

consequences: he was given a choice of three punishments (13)

consequences: 70,000 die after his confession

shared guilt: Israel was not without guilt (1)

principle: others may be punished severely for your sin (15–16) David asked to be punished instead of Israel but his substitutionary offer was ignored (17)

principle: a guilty conscience often motivates confession (10)

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DAVID 2 Samuel 12:7–18

his sins: adultery (2 Samuel 11:4) and murder (11:14–17; 12:9)

his confession: confession and forgiveness (13) reduced but did not remove his divine discipline

two capital offenses: capital punishment was waived by God (13; cf. Lev 20:10; 24:17)

consequences: immediate discipline— the baby will die (14)

consequences: future discipline—trouble in his family from now on (10– 12)

principle: one sin can bring divine discipline for the rest of your life

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SHIMEI 2 Samuel 19:16–23

his sin: he cursed and threw stones at David—the LORD's anointed (2 Samuel 16:5–13; 19:21; cf. Exodus 22:28)

his confession: he confesses his sin to David at a ford of the Jordan (20)

he asked David to not count and not remember his sin (19)

sacrifice: he does good deeds to show his repentance, submission, and desire for fellowship (16–18)

forgiveness: David overlooks and forgets his sin (22–23)

consequences: confession, initiative (16, 17, 20), and good works saved his life (23)

principle: …confess your sins to one another… (James 5:16a)

Shimei sinned against David (16:5–13) and against God (Exodus 22:28) so he confessed his sin to David (19:19–20) and presumably also to God

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RESTITUTION Numbers 5:6–8

sin: theft

confession plus restitution plus a penalty: confession, full restitution, and a 20% penalty is required

recipients: full restitution is given to the victim (7), or to the closest relative (8a), or to the LORD for the priest (8b)

sacrifice: a guilt offering is given to the LORD (8c; cf. Leviticus 6:1–7)

forgiveness: after (1) confessing his sin to the victim and to God (Numbers 5:7), (2) making full restitution, (3) adding 20% for compensation, and (4) making a guilt offering to the LORD, he is forgiven (Leviticus 6:7)

SHEEP IN THE WORD MINISTRIES Rev. Robert C. Lewis Glendale Baptist Church Houston, Texas quicknotes.org 2007