There are confessions of a nature that should be brought before a select few and acknowledged by the sinner in deepest humility. The matter must not be conducted in such a way that vice shall be construed into virtue and the sinner made proud of his evil doings. If there are things of a disgraceful nature that should come before the church, let them be brought before a few proper persons selected to hear them, and do not put the cause of Christ to open shame by publishing abroad the hypocrisy that has existed in the church. It would cast reflections upon those who had tried to be Christlike in character. These things should be considered. {5T 645.4}

På Samuels dage strejfede israelitterne bort fra Gud. De led som følge af synd, for de havde mistet deres tro på Gud, mistet deres fornemmelse for hans kraft og visdom til at herske nationen, mistet deres tillid til hans evne til at forsvare og hævde hans sag. De vendte sig bort fra universets store Hersker og ønskede at blive regeret ligesom (641) folkene omkring dem. Før de fandt fred gjorde de denne afgjorte bekendelse: »vi til vore andre synder har føjet den brøde at kræve en konge!« Netop den synd de var blevet klar over, skulle bekendes. Deres utaknemlighed knugede deres sjæle og skilte dem fra Gud.