VII.  Living Within the Enemy's Camp

Those trained by the Lord's chastening will yield the "peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:11). Those who live within the enemy's camp will yield another fruit. By inspecting fruit, we are told by the Lord, we will know where a person's allegiance is. If our lives and / or the lives of our children bear the fruit of darkness, we had best evaluate the home's spiritual residency.

A.  General Exhortation [The Fruit of Darkness]

Proverbs 10:17b (refuses Godly input)

He that refuseth reproof [correction] erreth.

Proverbs 20:11 (evil deeds)

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Proverbs 19:26 (disrespectful)

He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

Proverbs 20:20 (curses parents)

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. (See Leviticus 20:9; Proverbs 30:11-12.)

Proverbs 10:23a (enjoys evil)

It is as sport to a fool to do mischief.

Proverbs 28:10a (stumbler)

Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit.

Proverbs 28:24 (thief)

Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

Proverbs 30:17 (mocker)

The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

Malachi 4:6 ("generation gap")

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Jeremiah 17:9 (deceitful)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (See Proverbs 2:15.)

Romans 1:28 (perverse mind)

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. RSV

2 Kings 17:15,17a (reject truth--idolatry / witchcraft)

And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant...and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments. (See Jer. 7:18.)

Proverbs 3:34a (scornful)

Surely He [the Lord] scorneth the scorners. (See Proverbs 1:22.)

Proverbs 15:20b (hates mother)

A foolish man despiseth his mother.

Deuteronomy 27:16a (dishonoring)

"'Cursed be he who dishonors his father or his mother.'

Proverbs 1:7b (despises wisdom)

Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 15:27a (greedy)

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house. (See Proverbs 1:19)

Proverbs 26:20b (vicious tongue)

Where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Proverbs 11:29a (troubles home)

He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind.

Proverbs 16:28a (strife)

A froward [disobedient] man soweth strife.

Proverbs 17:4 (deceived)

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

Colossians 3:5 (sexual immorality/ covetousness)

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:8 (anger / filthy mouth)

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

1 Timothy 6:9 (ambition to be rich)

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Proverbs 24:2 (violent / trouble-making)

For their [the evildoer’s] heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Proverbs 24:9 (foolishness / scoffer)

The devising of foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men. NKJV

2 Timothy 3:1-2 (disobedience / wickedness)

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy

Proverbs 14:9a (mocks sin)

Fools make a mock at sin.

 

B. Consequences of Living in the Enemy's Camp

[Note: God states His commands, the consequences of breaking or obeying His commands then illustrates historically what happens when one breaks or obeys His commands.]

Proverbs 17:25 (grief / bitterness)

A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. (See Proverbs 10:1.)

Proverbs 17:21 (sorrow)

He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. (See Proverbs 22:8.)

Proverbs 12:8b (despised)

He that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

Isaiah 66:4 (deception / fears)

I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

Matthew 24:12 (no love / apathy)

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Romans 1:24 (uncleanness)

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.

Proverbs 3:33a (cursed)

The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked.

Isaiah 3:12 (oppression / destruction)

As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

2 Kings 17:20 (God's rejection / captivity)

And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.

1 Tim. 1:19 (shipwrecked)

Having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck. NKJV

Proverbs 19:13a (ruin)

A foolish son is the ruin of his father.

Romans 2:8-9a (wrath / tribulation)

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil.

Isaiah 57:4-5 (death to children)

Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood. Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of rocks?

Mark 13:12 (death)

Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. (See Matthew 10:21.)

Proverbs 1:32 (death)

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. (See Romans 6:23.)

Proverbs 19:16b (death)

He that despiseth his ways shall die.

 

C. Failure of the Unrighteous

1. Jehoram / Jehoram's Son Ahaziah

2 Kings 8:18 (Ahaziah's father)

And he (Jehoram) walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.

2 Chron. 22:3 (Ahaziah's mother)

He (Ahaziah) also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counseller to do wickedly.

2 Chron. 22:4 (Ahaziah)

Wherefore he (Ahaziah) did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellers after the death of his father to his destruction.

2. Ahaz / Ahaz's Children

2 Kings 16:2-3a (Ahaz)

Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign… and did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel.

2 Chron. 28:3 (Ahaz's children)

Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

3. Peoples of Samaria

2 Kings 17:33,41 (the Sepharvites)

They [the Sepharvites] feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they [the Assyrians] carried away from thence. So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

2 Kings 17:31b (Sepharvite children)

The Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

4. Jeroboam / Jeroboam's Son Nadab

1 Kings 12:28 (Jeroboam)

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

1 Kings 15:26 (Jeroboam's son)

And he (Nadab) did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father (Jeroboam), and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

5. Sennacherib / Sennacherib's Sons

2 Kings 19:16 (Sennacherib)

[Hezekiah's prayer] Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, Lord, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.

2 Kings 19:37a (Sennacherib's sons)

And it came to pass, as he [Sennacherib] was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword.

6. Manasseh / Manasseh's Children

2 Chron. 33:2 (Manasseh)

But [Manasseh] did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

2 Chron. 33:6a (Manasseh's sons)

And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom.

2 Chron. 33:22 (Manasseh's son)

But he [Amon] did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.

 

D. Failure of the Righteous

Treasonous Behavior:

It is possible to be a Christian yet to take up residency in the kingdom of darkness. Although remaining a son or a daughter, the Christian despises his or her birthright. Since there is no neutral kingdom, one who rejects taking orders from the King of light will start taking orders from the prince of darkness.
More often, however, a Christian does not despise his or her birthright. He or she isn't taking up residency in the prince's domain. Rather, this Christian "only" takes extended field excursions into enemy territory. This Christian is not there to do battle but to take in "the sights". The results of this behavior may not be immediately apparent or understood. The Christian's children, though, are often the ones wounded or destroyed by their behavior.

1. Samuel / Samuel's Sons

1 Samuel 3:13 (Samuel's fathering role model)

For I have told him that I will judge his [Eli's] house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

1 Samuel 7:16-17a (Samuel puts his job before being present to train and to restrain his sons, disobeying Deuteronomy 6:7-9)

And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all these places. Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there.

1 Samuel 8:4-5a (Samuel does not restrain his own sons; outcome)

And his sons walked not in his [Samuel's] ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways.

 

2. Jehoshaphat / Jehoshaphat's Son

2 Chron. 18:1,3 (Jehoshaphat -- compromise)

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.

2 Chron. 20:35 (Jehoshaphat -- compromise)

And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly.

2 Chron. 21:6 (Jehoshaphat's son)

And he [Jehoram] walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

 

3. Lot / Lot's Family

Genesis 13:10,11a (Lot—choice with no regard for negative spiritual influences upon his family)

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan.

2 Peter 2:8 (Lot tormented his own soul by continuing his commitment to that choice)

For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.

Genesis 19:8 (Lot doesn’t protect his daughters)

Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

Genesis 19:14 (Lot's sons-in-law--no respect)

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Genesis 19:32,35-36 (Lot's daughters--no respect)

Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

Genesis 19:15 (Other family and servants didn’t follow)

And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. (See Gen. 19:12.)

Genesis 19:26 (Lot loses his wife. Her heart turned back to her former life)

But Lot's wife behind him looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

 

4. David / David's Family

Deuteronomy 17:17 (God's command)

Neither shall he [any Israelite king] multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

2 Samuel 5:13a (David's multiple wives)

And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

1 Kings 11:3-4 (David's son—despised Lord's commandment)

And he [Solomon] had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

2 Samuel 12:9 (David--murder)

Wherefore hast thou [David] despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword... and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

2 Samuel 13:28 (David's son--murder)

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

2 Samuel 11:4a (David--sexual sin)

And David sent messengers, and took her [Bathsheba]; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her.

2 Samuel 13:14,21 (David's son--sexual sin)

Howbeit he [David’s son, Amnon] would not hearken unto her [David’s daughter, Tamar's] voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

2 Samuel 17:22 (David's son--sexual sin)

So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. (See 2 Samuel 12:11—note that God saw these as "wives".)

1 Kings 1:6a (permissive dad when his son exalted himself)

And his father had not displeased him [Adonijah] at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so?

1 Kings 2:25 (execution of that son at the word of his half-brother)

And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him [Adonijah] that he died.

See Also:

2 Samuel 14:33 regarding David's permissiveness with Absalom after murdering his half-brother.
David's permissiveness led to Absalom's loss of reverence for him. That, in turn, led to open rebellion. In the midst of attempting to have his father killed, he was killed.

2 Samuel 13:21, regarding David’s permissiveness with Amnon after violently raping his half-sister.
David's permissiveness led to Amnon being murdered and Absalom becoming a murderer. Absalom in turn violently rapes his father's concubines.

 

5. Eli / Eli's Sons

1 Samuel 2:29 (Eli—gluttony at the expense of offering)

God: Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

1 Samuel 2:16b-17a (Eli’s sons—gluttony at the expense of offering)

Then he [either of the sons] would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord.

See Also:

Eli was fully aware that his sons were gluttonous and had disdain for God's offering. Also, he knew that they fornicated with women who came to the tabernacle. [1 Samuel 2:22] He rebuked his sons [1 Samuel 2:23-25]. He did not stop them, though.

Because Eli was a permissive dad, honoring his sons above God's commands, the Lord cursed him, his sons, and their generations. [1 Samuel 2:31-34]

Because Eli remained a glutton until old, his heaviness contributed to him breaking his neck and dying. [1 Samuel 4:18]

Because Eli's son's remained gluttons despite their father's rebuke and the prophets' words, God struck them both down in one day. [1 Samuel 4:11]

6. Abraham / Abraham's Son / Abraham's Grandson

Genesis 20:11-13 (Abraham stretches the truth to save himself)

And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

Genesis 26:9 (Abraham's son lies to save himself)

And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

Genesis 27:19 (Abraham's grandson just plain lies--to steal something not his)

And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

 

 

 

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