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of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.%u201d (Colossians 2:13-14).God's love and mercy provided the perfect blood sacrifice in His Son. Christ's death established the %u201cnew covenant%u201d, providing for forgiveness of sins and freedom from sin to all who obey the call to repentance and obedience. (Read Hebrews 9:16-28).%u201cIf you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, %u2018Love your neighbor as yourself,%u2019 you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, %u2018Do not commit adultery,%u2019 also said, %u2018Do not murder.%u2019 If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!%u201d (James 2:8-13).End of comments on the %u201cCovenant%u201dAfter being delivered from Egyptian slavery and receiving a land flowing with milk and honey, Israel was governed by judges that God selected. But the Israelites wanted to be like all the nations around them. They rejected God and wanted a king. So, God gave them a king; Saul. He ruled by what the people wanted %u2013 rule by opinion %u2013 rather than as an obedient servant of God. Therefore, Samuel, at God's direction, anointed David as king, one who would obey him. Many times, David had to flee from Saul because Saul was hunting him down like a common criminal desiring to kill him. Yet, in spite of this David refused to do anything against God's anointed.After Saul's death, David became king. God said of David: %u201c%u2018I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.%u2019 From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.%u201d (Acts 13:22-23).On one occasion David's men were among the flocks of a very wealthy man named Nabal, and while there, they dealt honorably with him protecting him, not mistreating his herdsmen or taking anything that belonged to him. Later David was nearby, his men were hungry and in need of food so David requested assistance, but Nabal, a surly man known for his mean dealings, refused David's request in a harsh and disrespectful manner. David became very angry, intending to kill him, but he repented, allowing God to exercise his judgment.But not everything was godly in David's life. Instead of going to battle with his army, he remained at home. There, he saw a lovely woman, lusted for her, and sent for her to satisfy his sexual pleasure, breaking her marriage covenant - adultery. Learning she was pregnant by him; David ordered the murder of her husband to cover up his sin. Terrible? Yes! Pleasing to God? No! David desired fleshly satisfaction and yielded to the temptation. He suffered much for this sin. But when confronted by Nathan, the messenger from God, he admitted his wickedness, repented and