Page 68 - Sarah's Children

of the garment may not be as serious as murdering someone, but in the church it can
be equated to murmuring against an authority, or speaking against them to others.
Our hearts should convict us in these matters.

David always sought to cover the transgressions of Saul. He even wept for him, and
sang a song eulogizing him when he heard he had been slain. When others thought
they would win David’s favor by stating that they had been instrumental in Saul’s
death, David had them put to death, being condemned by their own words.

Another example of covering the sins of one in authority is when Noah became drunk
and fell asleep while naked in his tent. His son Ham failed to see the dignity of the
authority of his father and he went out and reported his fathers ugliness to his
brothers. “When Ham saw his father’s improper conduct he did not have the slightest
sense of shame or sorrow, nor did he try to cover his father’s fault. This reveals that
he had a rebellious spirit.” Shem and Japheth, however, managed the situation quite
differently. They entered the tent backwards - thus avoiding seeing their father’s
nakedness - and they covered their father with a garment they had laid on their
shoulders.

We are told by Paul that “love covers a multitude of sins.” Yet how common it is to
revile those in positions of authority when we see them in error. We should be
grieved for them, and we should seek to cover their transgressions and to ask the
Father to restore them to righteousness.

My own error was not so much being a spreader of slander or gossip, nor being a
malcontent seeking to expose the sins of another. My failure was in not seeing how
the Father would have me to address the situation of seeing a leader in sin. My
response had been to consistently go to them and to tell them of their error. The
Father spoke strongly to me and showed me that my proper response was found in
trusting Him to deal with a wrong authority. The testimony of all of scripture is that
Yahweh will vindicate Himself. He both establishes authorities, and He disciplines
and even removes authorities that sin against Him. He does not ask for those under
authority to correct those over them, for this leads to rebellion.

Father particularly gave me the following passage as my pattern.

I Peter 2:18-3:2
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to
those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man
bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is
there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with
patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently