One small step off the path doesn’t sound like a big deal but the longer that misstep is left uncorrected, the more likely you end up in a place you never intended.

The Bible word for this is “iniquity”.

Iniquity comes from the Hebrew word “aVON”

• Used 215 times and is translated as “wickedness”, “guilt”, “sin”, “perverse”, “distorted”
• Avon is the noun for the verb AVAH which is “to be crooked”, “to be bent” or “go astray”

Transgression is felt pretty quickly by the one we transgress with. The tough thing about INIQUITY is that we can keep this hidden for a long time.

• The danger is that it grows until it’s eaten us up from the inside out
• It takes us farther than we want to go and costs more than we intended to pay

Sin is doing the wrong thing, but iniquity is “not doing the right thing”

[James 4:17]

“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

[2 Samuel 11:1-5]In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.  He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”  Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.  Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”

There are two ways that God responds to avon in the Bible.

First, he allows us to experience the consequences of our own avon

Second, he cares our avon for us

[Psalm 32:5]

“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD .” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude.”

[Proverbs 16:6]

“Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for [iniquity]. Be fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.”