"Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14)
Chaplain, aren’t there some things, like adultery, that God will not ever forgive? He thought that over for a minute, and then said “Do you remember the story of King David?” No, I didn’t. King David was called both a “Friend of God” and “A Man after God’s own Heart.” Not only that, but a promise was made to him by God. “What promise”, I asked? He was promised the Messiah would come from his bloodline, that an eternal dynasty of King David’s sons would be established by God, because of the way David served God. “David must have been almost perfect”, I said. The ancient Chaplain shook his head. Far from it, my son. Very far from it. How can someone like that be called a “Friend of God”, and “A man after Gods own heart.? We will learn it is what you do after the sin that makes you a Friend of God.
The story was so interesting that I had forgotten where I was. In the Death House of my states Maximum Security Prison, being prepared to be electrocuted. The Warden looked at his watch and cleared his throat. He asked the Chaplain if he was about finished. He looked at me, and I shook my head. We will probably need 45 minutes to an hour. The Warden turned a dark shade of red, looked like a tea kettle just before steam came boiling out, but thought a minute, and said o.k. The Death Penalty opponents had begun monitoring the time convicted prisoner has with his Chaplain. State Law actually gave a prisoner 2 hours to talk to the Chaplain. Some Chaplains had complained they were rushed through their time. So that’s what prompted the Wardens accommodation.
We will read about two major ethical and moral mistakes made by King David in Prelude to an Execution Part V.
This is part IV of a seven story series called Prelude to an Execution. It will be a little different than my other articles, but will contain a powerful spiritual message and dramatic tension that culminates into an ending you won’t believe!
Copyright 2007 Timothy E. Davis