There is a Sin Unto Death

16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. – 1st John 5

In 2nd Samuel 12 Nathan confronts David with his wicked sins of adultery and manslaughter. He proclaims God’s punishment for David’s sin but also tells him “The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”

David Hands the Letter to Uriah - Pieter Lastman, Public Domain Image

Under the Law of Moses, adultery was a capital offence. “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death (Leviticus 20:10). David was fortunate in the sense that any capital offense under the Levitical law had to be witnessed by two or three men whose accounts perfectly agreed in order for capital punishment to be meted out. It seems that God alone was the witness to the crime and he told Nathan what to say to David about his sin and what God’s judgement against him would be. For David this sin was not the sin unto death that John alludes to in his epistle, but nevertheless his sin still brought forth death.

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death. – James 1

For David the penalty was not death for himself, but instead that death sentence fell on his infant son. When Nathan prophecies the death of David’s son, he goes into prayer and fasting immediately. David is a man of war who had gone into battle countless times, taking no heed for his own life. Had Nathan declared that God had sentenced David himself to death, he may have simply accepted the appropriateness of that sentence and accepted his fate. But there is no grief comparable to the death of a child and any parent will fight for their offspring in a way they probably would not for their own life.

Nevertheless, God’s judgement stood firm and David’s son died. But in this dark moment David gives us an important truth about God’s love, our Blessed Hope, and our eternal security in Christ. When David hears of his son’s passing he does not mourn in the way his servants would expect. He immediately takes off the sackcloth and breaks his fast and resumes his duties as king.

21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. – 2nd Samuel 12

The Resurrection - Rembrandt, Public Domain Image

Believers have a very different attitude toward death than unbelievers, or at least they should. Paul writes to the Thessalonian church who was losing many brethren to a heavy persecution,

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. – 1st Thessalonians 4

David’s words tell us two things: first of all that we are eternally secure in Christ. Even though David sins wickedly he in no way doubts the salvation of his soul (“I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.). He is also telling us that infants are innocent in God’s eyes and that a child who suffers an untimely death goes straight back to the Lord. This refutes the practice of infant baptism and the idea of “original sin” in the way Catholics and some Protestants describe it. Paul writes to the Romans: “For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Adam and Eve were naked in the garden of Eden, but where they had no knowledge of sin it was not imputed upon them, they were as innocent as an infant. It was not until they ate the fruit that they had knowledge of sin and therefore felt the need to cover themselves.

An Allegory of the Old and New Testaments - Hans Holbein the Younger, Public Domain Image

Jesus also tells us, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 18:10).” There may be different ways to interpret the world “angel” in this passage but it seems clear that children are precious to the Lord and he will not cast them into hell until they reach an age where they understand the concept of right and wrong and knowingly depart from what is right, at which point they will need to call on the Lord for salvation.

There is a sin unto death. The chastening of the Lord can include our untimely removal from this earth. And we may not always know exactly what sin that will be for us. For Ananias and Saphira in Acts chapter 5, lying to the Holy Ghost was a sin unto death for both of them. For the Hebrews who ate the quail in Numbers 11:31-34, it was lusting after things of the world. Serve the Lord with fear and trembling because we do not know which sin could cut our lives short, or bring consequences that will vex us for the rest of our lives if we do not die.

Selah.