1 Kings 5

1 Kings 5:18

In this thing pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon; when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lone pardon thy servant in this thing.

I do solemnly protest unto thee, that I will do no worship to any God, save to the true God of Israel only; and I could well wish, that I never might have occasion to come into any of the temples of those idol gods; but, in this, I shall desire to be dispensed with, that, when, upon the necessity of my place and service, I must wait upon the king, into the temple of his Rimmon, and my master (leaning on my arm) shall bow to his false god; I may then (after public notice given of my free intentions) not out of any respect of devotion to the idol, but out of my due service to my master, bow down under my master in the house of Rimmon; which, however in itself it may be construed as a gesture of adoration to the idol, yet, when the world shall be thoroughly possessed of my hatred of this idolatry, and my unfeigned purpose to reserve myself wholly for the true God, it shall perhaps avoid that offence, which otherwise might be taken at this, not religious, but civil gesture: in this I beseech thee pray to God, that he will not impute sin unto me; as one, that would fain be serviceable, and not idolatrous.

1 Kings 5:19

And he said unto him, Go in peace.

And he said unto him, God speed thee well; Go, and do that which may best stand with the peace of a good conscience: for me, I give thee neither warrant, nor dispensation.

1 Kings 5:26

Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot, &c.?

Couldst thou vainly hope to elude a prophet? Had not I notice from God of all the way that thou wentest, and of all thy carriage towards Naaman, &c.