Sin, Judgment and Your Response - Benedict Allmand-Smith

Date: 14th September 2025

Location: Trinity Baptist Church Charlesworth

Title:  Sin, Judgment and Your Response

Text: 2 Kings 6:24-33

Please listen to the audio of Benedict's sermon below:

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermons/915251131463772

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This passage from 2 Kings 6 is shocking and solemn. The king of Syria sieges Samaria (the city where Israel’s King is based) and great suffering follows. Three lessons stand out: the hideous depths of sin, the terrible judgment of God and the tendency to blame God and His servants rather than repent.

1. The Hideous Depths of Sin

The situation of judgment in Israel is the result of long-standing rebellion. Israel had been steeped in idolatry with the worship of the Baals and other false gods, and Israel repeatedly refused to heed God’s commands. This siege from the king of Syria wasn’t a random tragedy; it was the outcome of spiritual depravity.

Even the fact that it is Syria attacking Israel is significant. King Ahab had spared the Syrian king when God had desired his destruction (1 Kings 20), and now that spared enemy returns in judgment from God. God’s had warned of this (1 Kings 20:42), and now it comes to pass.

But the most disturbing part is the story of the two women in verses 28-29. Two women agree to eat their children because of the pangs of hunger; so they eat one child, then the other woman hides her child. It’s horrifying – but it’s also a vivid illustration of the possible depths of human sin. Hunger drove them to this, and hunger – of another kind – drives us too. A hunger for sin.

It’s easy to think, “I would never do that.” But history tells us otherwise. ‘Ordinary people’, given different circumstances, commit terrible acts. Sin sits in every human heart, restrained only by God’s mercy. Paul writes in Romans 1:28 that God “gave them over to a debased mind”, implying that He had been holding them back.

Even as Christians, we still fight that hunger. We’re called to battle our sinful flesh daily. Like young children instinctively reach for milk and for food, so our hearts instinctively reach out for sin. How easy it is to excuse the ‘small’ sins: bitterness, lust, lack of self-control. But those small cracks can expand and deepen into mighty fractures.

Let this passage shock you, and let it warn you. Don’t look away from its horror – God put it here for our instruction. Let it be like the image of an addict ruined by his addiction, showing you what sin can lead to if left unmortified.

2. The Terrible Judgment of God

The economic details in verse 25 show how dire things were: food prices had rocketed. A donkey’s head, which contained little meat, sold for what may have been a year’s wages.

The depraved actions of the women described in verses 28-29 were, also, part of God’s judgment. He foretold of this if Israel should reject his laws and ways (Deut. 28:56–57); he gave them over to their own depravity. God’s judgment is not mild, it is full and complete.

This earthly judgment points to an eternal one. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 speaks of being “away from the presence of the Lord”, that is, cut off from every good gift: food, joy, friendship, peace. Hell is an eternal siege, where the streams of God’s goodness are forever denied access.

But, there is salvation from this judgment, for those who will seek it in Jesus Christ. He died on a cross, taking the punishment for those who would repent and believe. As it were, on the cross, He took the siege of judgment, cut off from all God’s blessings, only experiencing his judgment. If you are not yet a Christian, turn to Him now in repentance and belief.

3. The Blame Laid Upon God and His Messenger

How does King Jehoram respond? Not with repentance. Not with humility. Instead, he blames God and vows to kill Elisha. Just like so many before and after – Elijah, Jeremiah, Jesus – God’s messengers are blamed for delivering the message.

Even today, people say: “How dare God judge?” or “It’s wrong to speak of hell – it scares people.” But refusing to hear about judgment doesn’t make it go away.

Christians are mocked, maligned, and blamed for speaking the truth. But we must not fear. God preserved Elisha, and He will preserve us. We are citizens of a city not under siege, but filled with life and joy.

Unbeliever, are you under siege? Is God surrounding your heart, calling you to repentance? Jesus alone can lead you out. He has already suffered the judgment. He says: “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Will you ignore Him again? One day, His call will be the last.