6TH BROKEN COMMANDMENT

(Message by Tanny Keng)

0. Introduction

a) The 10 Commandments were God's standard for right living. To obey them was to obey God. Yet throughout the Old Testament, we can see how each commandment was broken.

b) As you read the stories, notice the tragic consequences that occurred as a result of violating God's law.

1. 6th Commandment

a) The 10 Commandments said ...

i) ¹³ “You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13 NKJV)

b) Notable Violations

i) Hazael
(Text: 2 Kings 8:7-15)

@1. ⁷ Then Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, “The man of God has come here.” ⁸ And the king said to Hazael, “Take a present in your hand, and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’” ⁹ So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads; and he came and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’” ¹⁰ And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ However the Lord has shown me that he will really die.” ¹¹ Then he set his countenance in a stare until he was ashamed; and the man of God wept. ¹² And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.” ¹³ So Hazael said, “But what is your servant—a dog, that he should do this gross thing?” And Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will become king over Syria.” ¹⁴ Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me you would surely recover.” ¹⁵ But it happened on the next day that he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water, and spread it over his face so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his place. (2 Kings 8:7-15 NKJV)

2. What is the text all about?

a) Elisha told Hazael he would sin greatly. Hazael protested that he would never do that sort of thing. He did not acknowledge his personal potential for evil. In our enlightened society, it is easy to think we are above gross sin and can control our actions. We think that we would never sink so low. Instead, we should take a more biblical and realistic look at ourselves and admit our sinful potential. Then we will ask for God's strength to resist such evil.

b) Elisah's words about Hazael's treatment of Israel were partially fulfilled in 2 Kings 10:32-33.

@1. ³² In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel; and Hazael conquered them in all the territory of Israel ³³ from the Jordan eastward: all the land of Gilead—Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh—from Aroer, which is by the River Arnon, including Gilead and Bashan. (2 Kings 10:32-33 NKJV)

c) Apparently Hazael had known he would be king because Elijah had anointed him (see 1 Kings 19:15).

@1. ¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. (1 Kings 19:15 NKJV)

d) But he was impatient and instead of waiting for God's timing, took matters into his own hands, killing Ben-Hadad. God used Hazael as an instrument of judgment against the disobeident Israelites.

The End ...