I originally wrote this back in 2009, and the message hasn’t changed: don’t give the lost world a reason to rejoice when God’s people fall.

2 Samuel 1:20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Saul and Jonathan have just been killed. A man has the gall to come and brag to David about how God’s man has fallen. David’s response is to put the man to death and to say what you find in this verse.

David did not want the lost world to know about how God’s man had fallen. He did not want it published worldwide and certainly did not want the lost people to rejoice over how God’s man had fallen.

When Saul Fell, the Enemy Published It

When Saul was killed, they had already immediately gone running to the house of their idols, their false gods, to publish the news, to praise their false gods, to rejoice at Satan’s victory.

1 Samuel 31:9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.

That’s what the enemy always does. He turns a fall into a headline. He turns pain into propaganda.

Why We Should Stop Repeating Sin-Stained Stories

I often marvel at how we, born-again believers, rejoice to tell the sin-stained stories of our brothers in Christ. We like to look like we know the latest, are superior to the fallen, and who knows what else. David would say to us, keep this quiet, do not publish it in the plazas of the world, do not give more advertising material to Satan.

Here’s the simple line I want you to remember: If you’re not part of the solution, don’t become part of the spreading it.

David Refused to Be the Judge, Jury, and Press Corps

Saul had been his enemy, yet he still recognized him as God’s man and would not touch him or harm him. Saul was wrong in what he was doing, and David and Saul both knew that, yet David would not be part of destroying him, and especially not in the world’s eyes.

David said repeatedly that God would take care of disciplining His man. David would not become the judge, jury, and press corps.

Deal With Sin in the Church, Not Through Gossip

Sin is to be dealt with in the church. If a brother falls into sin, then God tells us how to go to him, deal with him, restore him, etc. However, it is abundantly clear that church gossip is not part of that program.

We do not want to give cause for the world to blaspheme against God. So, unless you are part of the solution, why not keep your mouth shut? It would seem that our attitude is that if we are not part of the solution, we are part of spreading it.

The forgiven are to forgive, and the redeemed should not spread to the lost world the failures of God’s men.

If you need a steady place to stand again in the grace of God, revisit The Big Leap of Faith.

Want more encouragement like this?

 Listen to the Followed by Mercy podcast: https://followedbymercy.buzzsprout.com
Find more articles on the hub at https://waustingardner.com/blog/ and leadership encouragement at https://www.alignmentministries.com/from-austins-pen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should we ever address sin in the church?

Yes. Scripture gives a clear pathway for correction and restoration within the body of Christ. The goal is healing, not humiliation.

What if someone’s failure is already public?

Even if it’s public, you don’t have to become a distributor. Pray, stay gracious, and refuse to add fuel to the fire.

How can I break the habit of gossip?

Pause before you speak and ask, “Am I helping restoration—or just spreading pain?” Replace the impulse to talk with the choice to pray.