Saturday, April 26, 2008
Quick thought on redemption man's way
I just finished watching the Kite Runner with my sister and brother-in-law (while eating some amazing chili I might add - thanks again Keri). I thought the movie was fairly interesting. If you're looking for a decent movie I would recommend it unless you're in the need for cheering up. This movie definitely won't help you with that. Anyway, this movie spurred some thoughts on redemption. Don't worry, if you haven't seen it I'm not going to give anything away. Basically, the plot line is you're simple redemption story. Things happen in the character's past that need to be corrected and healed so that all can be made right in his life. This is flatly stated at one point early on in the movie when the main character is told that he can be good again. So the story is told and the man sets out in search of redemption. Ultimately, you could say that redemption is found for him. But what struck me is that at the end of the movie you don't feel like the main character is in a better situation than if what had transpired earlier had never taken place. In fact, you find yourself wishing (or at least I did) that things had turned out very differently. What I learned from this is that when man tries redemption, even if it appears to have succeeded, it ultimately fails because the end result wasn't better than the beginning. However, when God works redemption, the end is always far more glorious than the beginning. Our redemption will spell a much better story, so to speak, at the end then it did at the beginning. God will be more glorified by all that has taken place then he would have if nothing that has transpired took place. The end is better than the beginning. When man tries redemption, he fails. When God accomplishes redemption all is transformed into something glorious and full of purpose.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Church as counter-culture
I've been thinking a bit about the church and it's role in regards to the surrounding culture. I think the first thing that should mark the church is that it is a counter-culture. Everything in the Bible tells us that when we were saved we were changed not just dramatically, but diametrically. We went from children of Satan to children of God (I John 3). We went from being in the domain of darkness to being in the kingdom of God (Col. 1). We went from slaves to sin to slaves of righteousness (Rom. 6). We who were once far off have been brought near. We have been completely and totally changed and are no longer a part of the world that we used to live in. Furthermore, because of our inner change the world that we used to be a part of no longer recognizes us and, in fact, hates us as it hated Jesus. And the church, being made up of these individuals, must reflect this. When we try to assimilate into the world, we lose the distinction that our very salvation gives us. We shouldn't try to hide who we are and what we are. We are completely and totally different from those around us. We must not be proud about this. After all, we did not save ourselves, but it was only by the grace of God. This should create in us a profound sense of humility. But, nonetheless, we must recognize and embrace the fact that we are changed and are no longer like that which is around us. The fact that we are now identified with Jesus and not the world is the basis for our counter-culture.
The problem comes when we look at other counter-cultures. The Amish are the perfect example of a counter-culture. They have done everything they can to demonstrate their seperation from the world around them. They go completely opposite of the culture they live in. If that's not the definition of a counter-culture, I don't know what is. The irony, though, of this counter-culture is that it rarely spreads. The inhabitants of this culture are so intent on being different that they have lost the ability to influence the culture around them. In short, the fact that they are a counter-culture inhibits the spread of the counter-culture. This is true of many, if not most or all counter-cultures. The inhabitants of these cultures see themselves and pride themselves on being the minority and having the majority and it's weaknesses figured out. They don't want to become the majority because then they lose their designation of being a counter-culture. They would, at that point, become just the prevailing culture. So the very nature of being a counter-culture is one of distance from the prevailing culture and a lack of interaction with the prevailing culture. Or at least, a lack of interaction that seeks to transform the prevailing culture.
Where does the church come in? The church is a counter-culture. As a body of saints, we go in an opposite direction from the rest of the world. But here's the difference between the church's counter-culture and the world's version of counter-culture: We attempt to engage the prevailing culture in an attempt to transform the culture into our counter-culture. Furthermore, we do so by becoming all things to all men. We begin to look and act like them in a righteous manner in order to remove any possible stumbling blocks to the message of our culture. Our counter-culture wants desperately to become the culture. We desire to see the hearts and minds and lives of the individuals around us transformed so that they can be like our Savior.
So what is the bottom line? The church needs to embrace the fact that it is a counter-culture and then embrace those who aren't a part of it in an effort to see them transformed. So, in a way, we are a counter-counter-culture. We are different from not only the prevailing culture, but also its sub-counter-cultures. We should act differently because we are different. We should seek the transformation of others, because we have been transformed. I like how Josh Harris puts it: We don't go and tell others the truth because we're right. We do it because we're rescued. Be a counter-culture, but don't act like one. Be in the world, but not of it. And only through the grace of God, through the cross of Christ - the only thing that can truly transform - can this be achieved. Work through us Lord Jesus and bring many to exalt the only Name worthy.
The problem comes when we look at other counter-cultures. The Amish are the perfect example of a counter-culture. They have done everything they can to demonstrate their seperation from the world around them. They go completely opposite of the culture they live in. If that's not the definition of a counter-culture, I don't know what is. The irony, though, of this counter-culture is that it rarely spreads. The inhabitants of this culture are so intent on being different that they have lost the ability to influence the culture around them. In short, the fact that they are a counter-culture inhibits the spread of the counter-culture. This is true of many, if not most or all counter-cultures. The inhabitants of these cultures see themselves and pride themselves on being the minority and having the majority and it's weaknesses figured out. They don't want to become the majority because then they lose their designation of being a counter-culture. They would, at that point, become just the prevailing culture. So the very nature of being a counter-culture is one of distance from the prevailing culture and a lack of interaction with the prevailing culture. Or at least, a lack of interaction that seeks to transform the prevailing culture.
Where does the church come in? The church is a counter-culture. As a body of saints, we go in an opposite direction from the rest of the world. But here's the difference between the church's counter-culture and the world's version of counter-culture: We attempt to engage the prevailing culture in an attempt to transform the culture into our counter-culture. Furthermore, we do so by becoming all things to all men. We begin to look and act like them in a righteous manner in order to remove any possible stumbling blocks to the message of our culture. Our counter-culture wants desperately to become the culture. We desire to see the hearts and minds and lives of the individuals around us transformed so that they can be like our Savior.
So what is the bottom line? The church needs to embrace the fact that it is a counter-culture and then embrace those who aren't a part of it in an effort to see them transformed. So, in a way, we are a counter-counter-culture. We are different from not only the prevailing culture, but also its sub-counter-cultures. We should act differently because we are different. We should seek the transformation of others, because we have been transformed. I like how Josh Harris puts it: We don't go and tell others the truth because we're right. We do it because we're rescued. Be a counter-culture, but don't act like one. Be in the world, but not of it. And only through the grace of God, through the cross of Christ - the only thing that can truly transform - can this be achieved. Work through us Lord Jesus and bring many to exalt the only Name worthy.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
A thought on sports
Alright, I've been pretty good so far this year and haven't brought up the greatest sports team in the history of all sports. That's right, everybody. I'm talking about the Lakers. The only team that can really come close is USC's football team, but that's for another day. Anyway, my Lakers are dominating the Nuggets thus far in the postseason and I'm hoping for a championship this June. I even stayed up past 11 last night to watch the game. This meant that I got less than five hours of sleep last night, but it was worth it. My condolences go out to Lauren and Micah at this time. Lauren, I'm sorry your Mavs probably won't make it out of the first round this year, but, on the bright side, at least they're being taken out by your (I'm assuming) favorite player, Chris Paul (who will lose out to Kobe for the MVP). And Micah, I'm sorry that you can't enjoy the greatest sport that has ever been invented ;)
And that leads me to the purpose for this post. At work today, I was thinking about why God allowed/ordained that sports would exist. Why did God put it in the heart of man to put forth physical exertion in competition against other men? This isn't a full answer, but I have two thoughts. Sports has a sinful purpose and a sanctified purpose. The sinful purpose of sports is the same as when the Israelites asked for a king in II Sam. 8 (I believe). This regards more the watching and idolization of sports more than the actual playing of them. I believe we watch and idolize sports and athletes because we are looking for a hero that looks like us rather than worshiping the true Hero who is not like us, but transcends us and condescended to be with us and like us. The heros we watch on Sunday afternoon are but a poor shadow and symbol of the Hero of the ages who bore every sin and carried our every infirmity and took them to the grave only to conquer the greatest enemy mankind has ever faced in Satan, sin and death (I Cor. 15) by rising from that grave and living in glory for all eternity. There is no greater hero. Sports can be either a sinful escape from the reality of Christ, or it can be sanctified by acknowledging it for what it is - a symbol of Christ and a display of God's handiwork. And this is the sanctified reason why I believe sports exists.
I believe God put sports into the hearts of men to serve first as a symbol of Christ, and second to display the greatness of God's creation. Psalm 139:14 says "I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well." God created man to display the greatness of his works. When we see how amazing the human body functions our thoughts should not terminate there on the sin of self-esteem, but rather our voices ought to resound with the praises of God for how amazing his workmanship is. Sports is one of the ways that we get to see the display of that workmanship. The human body is an amazing thing. The way muscles, ligaments, bones, nerves, sinews, etc. work together to acheive what the mind of the athlete desires is incredible. To see men jump over three feet in the air, or receivers run at a full sprint only to plant one foot and change their entire direction is absolutely incredible. The only words that we have to describe it are words that are generally used in religious contexts. And so it should be, because that display of athleticism is only a small aspect of how great and awesome our God is. His works are wonderful. He is the one who should be praised. God put it in the heart of man to play sports in order that we would look at the display of athleticism and not end there, but praise the display of God's wonderful works.
And that leads me to the purpose for this post. At work today, I was thinking about why God allowed/ordained that sports would exist. Why did God put it in the heart of man to put forth physical exertion in competition against other men? This isn't a full answer, but I have two thoughts. Sports has a sinful purpose and a sanctified purpose. The sinful purpose of sports is the same as when the Israelites asked for a king in II Sam. 8 (I believe). This regards more the watching and idolization of sports more than the actual playing of them. I believe we watch and idolize sports and athletes because we are looking for a hero that looks like us rather than worshiping the true Hero who is not like us, but transcends us and condescended to be with us and like us. The heros we watch on Sunday afternoon are but a poor shadow and symbol of the Hero of the ages who bore every sin and carried our every infirmity and took them to the grave only to conquer the greatest enemy mankind has ever faced in Satan, sin and death (I Cor. 15) by rising from that grave and living in glory for all eternity. There is no greater hero. Sports can be either a sinful escape from the reality of Christ, or it can be sanctified by acknowledging it for what it is - a symbol of Christ and a display of God's handiwork. And this is the sanctified reason why I believe sports exists.
I believe God put sports into the hearts of men to serve first as a symbol of Christ, and second to display the greatness of God's creation. Psalm 139:14 says "I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well." God created man to display the greatness of his works. When we see how amazing the human body functions our thoughts should not terminate there on the sin of self-esteem, but rather our voices ought to resound with the praises of God for how amazing his workmanship is. Sports is one of the ways that we get to see the display of that workmanship. The human body is an amazing thing. The way muscles, ligaments, bones, nerves, sinews, etc. work together to acheive what the mind of the athlete desires is incredible. To see men jump over three feet in the air, or receivers run at a full sprint only to plant one foot and change their entire direction is absolutely incredible. The only words that we have to describe it are words that are generally used in religious contexts. And so it should be, because that display of athleticism is only a small aspect of how great and awesome our God is. His works are wonderful. He is the one who should be praised. God put it in the heart of man to play sports in order that we would look at the display of athleticism and not end there, but praise the display of God's wonderful works.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
A Thought on Pain
Pain is our body’s way of telling us that there is something wrong. Something isn’t working right inside. Something has been damaged. Something needs recuperation or healing. Pain lets us know that there is something that needs to change. If we cut our hand, pain tells us that our hand needs to change from its present state of being cut and be brought back into its correct state of being whole and without damage. Pain tells us when we need to stop doing something and start the process of rest and healing. Psychological pain has different manifestations but tells us the same thing. Depression, for example, tells us that something needs to change either chemically or emotionally. Sorrow tells us that we are not in the state of joy and happiness that we should be in. And the degree of pain that we experience tells us how much needs to be fixed. If we cut our hand the degree of pain that we experience is much less than if we were to break our leg. When we break our leg, our bodies cry out that there is something desperately wrong with our physiological condition and it needs immediate attention. We know that something terrible has happened.
However, we do not make that some conclusion when it comes to our spiritual state. The physical and mental pain that we endure is a physical reminder that this world, including (especially) us, is broken and desperately needs to be restored to its perfect state. We are spiritually broken and our sin tells us over and over again that we need to be fixed. We recognize the problem but we refuse to seek the true cure. We know that we are in pain and are not who we should be but we go through a variety of mental exercises and spiritual evasions to avoid the true cure. It is as though we see our broken leg, but we refuse to see the doctor and either try to set it ourselves and treat it (having no medical knowledge whatsoever) or we try to lie to ourselves and tell us that it really isn’t as bad as it looks (even though it’s a compound fracture). Spiritually we try the same things. We either look at our sin and try to fix it ourselves through religion and self-made laws that try to reform the flesh, or we tell ourselves that we really aren’t as bad off as it seems, or we look around at everyone else and see the degree of their sin (compound fracture) and decide that our sin (leg) isn’t as bad as theirs.
Romans 8:22-23 “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
For those who have been saved, we recognize our pain and we groan for and eagerly await the day when the doctor heals our broken limbs and restores us to the soundness and perfect health that we were designed to enjoy. Praise be to God, that through Jesus our pain is not utter futility, but rather is hopeful futility that will be brought to an end. Redeem us, O Lord. Do not tarry.
However, we do not make that some conclusion when it comes to our spiritual state. The physical and mental pain that we endure is a physical reminder that this world, including (especially) us, is broken and desperately needs to be restored to its perfect state. We are spiritually broken and our sin tells us over and over again that we need to be fixed. We recognize the problem but we refuse to seek the true cure. We know that we are in pain and are not who we should be but we go through a variety of mental exercises and spiritual evasions to avoid the true cure. It is as though we see our broken leg, but we refuse to see the doctor and either try to set it ourselves and treat it (having no medical knowledge whatsoever) or we try to lie to ourselves and tell us that it really isn’t as bad as it looks (even though it’s a compound fracture). Spiritually we try the same things. We either look at our sin and try to fix it ourselves through religion and self-made laws that try to reform the flesh, or we tell ourselves that we really aren’t as bad off as it seems, or we look around at everyone else and see the degree of their sin (compound fracture) and decide that our sin (leg) isn’t as bad as theirs.
Romans 8:22-23 “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
For those who have been saved, we recognize our pain and we groan for and eagerly await the day when the doctor heals our broken limbs and restores us to the soundness and perfect health that we were designed to enjoy. Praise be to God, that through Jesus our pain is not utter futility, but rather is hopeful futility that will be brought to an end. Redeem us, O Lord. Do not tarry.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
II Samuel 24:1
I just got home from hanging out with some friends and watching the Office after getting our butts handed to us in our volleyball tournament. I'm actually kind of glad we were totally humbled (read: I was totally humbled) because I've really been struggling with my pride lately and I needed to be brought low. Praise God he works so faithfully with unfaithful people like me. Anyway, I wanted to post something because I've been slacking off lately, so here's some thoughts I had on II Samuel 24:1. They're pretty unpolished and need to be cleaned up and a lot more work needs to be done on them (work that I'll probably procrastinate unfortunately), but here's my thoughts:
II Samuel 24:1
“Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”
I think this is one of the most provocative statements in Scripture that deals with the will of God and the will of man and how God goes about accomplishing his purposes. This verse begins a narrative wherein David goes out and does what God wanted him to do and then is struck by the sinfulness of what he did. God then judges the nation (apparently) for the sin of David. This raises some difficult questions. Did God cause David to sin? In other words, was God ultimately responsible for the sin of David? How is it that David sinned when all he did was what God told him to do? In other words, did God give David a sinful command?
If the answer to the first question is “yes” then we have a problem with God being the author of sin and sin being attributable to God, thereby destroying all that the Bible tells us of his nature (e.g. God is light and in him there is no darkness [I Jn. 1:5], etc.). If the answer to the second question is “yes” then how can we trust God? Can we trust James when he tells us that God never tempts us to sin?
If we believe the clear teachings of the Bible, then we must believe that God is holy. He does not sin, nor is he the author of sin. Sin does not emanate from his nature. Furthermore, if we base this verse in its context we must agree that what David did was sinful and, based on James 1, we must believe that God did not tempt David to sin, but that David’s sin came from within him.
First, I don’t believe that God caused David to sin or that God gave David a sinful command. This will lead us to examine the means that God uses to bring about his ultimate will and desire. Therefore, David was responsible for the sin he committed. But the question that ultimately must be answered is how could God find fault in David, when it was the will of God that David would do what he did? This presupposes some information about God. This presupposes that God is omniscient and sovereign and omnipotent. Before looking into the deeper meanings of these verses, we must start with a right view of God and his character and attributes. Obviously that would take a multitude of books. But we can know that God is omniscient (Psalm 139 for example), that he is sovereign and he uses his omnipotence to bring about his heart’s desires. For the purposes of this meditation we will assume that these things are true. The proof of them is for another time and many other men have done a far greater job then I could hope to do. Therefore, if God omnisciently knew that David would follow his enticements and number the people of Israel and God actually did entice David to this action, then how could God find fault and bring down justice on the people of Israel? Doesn’t this turn the justice of God into capriciousness?
Short answer: No. God is just in that his justice against and toward the nation of Israel was based upon sin that caused David to act in pride and sin in the nation of Israel that deserved judgment. I think the key to understanding this dilemma rests in verse 10 and in II Kings 22:20-23 and II Chronicles 18:18-22.
In verse 10 we learn that “David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.’” David’s heart struck him. I believe that in order for God to accomplish his purposes he hardened David’s heart for a brief period of time in order that David’s pride might be unrestrained. We see this happening to Pharaoh when God hardened his heart in order that his pride would restrain him from following common sense and letting Israel go. In like manner God hardened David’s heart. David was a man after God’s own heart and possessed a measure of humility only by the grace of God. It is only by the grace of God that we can do anything to please him. David did not earn his humility or favor from God. Rather, God bestowed it upon him as a gift. And as a constant gift, God has the right at any time to withhold that gift and show forth his justice toward sin. In this case, David listened to the enticements of God (we will deal with how God enticed him shortly) because they acted upon his pride and God did not bestow the gift of humility and grace that God had provided in the past. Therefore, God could justly punish the actions of David because his actions stemmed from a heart of pride. God is not required to bestow grace upon us (which is the very definition of grace) but God is required to administer justice upon sin. He will by no means acquit the guilty. He is a just God and his justice required punishment for these actions.
But, you might ask, didn’t God incite David to these actions? Is God just punishing David for something he made David do? Now we must look into how God went about inciting David to sin. The parallel to this story is found in I Chronicles 21. In 21:1 we learn that it was Satan that incited David to sin. So how is it that both God and Satan could incite David to sin? Does this mean that God and Satan were working together to accomplish the same purpose? No. Rather, what it does mean is that God used Satan to accomplish his purposes. Satan may have thought that he won a great victory by causing David to sin, but God was indeed the one who won because Satan was just a pawn to bring about the justice and mercy of God and to glorify his name above all others. In II Kings 22:20-23 and II Chronicles 18:18-22 we read a story of Ahab and Jehoshaphat allying together and seeking the counsel of the prophet Micaiah, who was a true prophet of God. When Micaiah prophesies to Ahab and Jehoshaphat, God pulls back the curtain and shows us what God did to bring about his purposes. “And Micaiah said, ‘Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, “Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying “I will entice him.” And the LORD said to him, “By what means?” And he said, “I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” And he said, “You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.” Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets. The LORD has declared disaster concerning you.’”
God uses Satan to entice people to sin in order that God’s purposes might come to pass. God used Satan to test Job in order that God could reveal his glory. God used Satan to incite David to sin in order that God might bring his justice upon Israel for an undisclosed sin they had committed. God is just in punishing people because it is their sinful nature and desires that drives their wills to choose sin. And God is holy because he doesn’t sin in the process but uses sinful creatures like Satan to give rise to sinful desires while withholding his grace to ensure that those evil desires are chosen. Who can know the mind of God and who can discern his ways? May we all bow before him and worship the glory of our God.
II Samuel 24:1
“Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”
I think this is one of the most provocative statements in Scripture that deals with the will of God and the will of man and how God goes about accomplishing his purposes. This verse begins a narrative wherein David goes out and does what God wanted him to do and then is struck by the sinfulness of what he did. God then judges the nation (apparently) for the sin of David. This raises some difficult questions. Did God cause David to sin? In other words, was God ultimately responsible for the sin of David? How is it that David sinned when all he did was what God told him to do? In other words, did God give David a sinful command?
If the answer to the first question is “yes” then we have a problem with God being the author of sin and sin being attributable to God, thereby destroying all that the Bible tells us of his nature (e.g. God is light and in him there is no darkness [I Jn. 1:5], etc.). If the answer to the second question is “yes” then how can we trust God? Can we trust James when he tells us that God never tempts us to sin?
If we believe the clear teachings of the Bible, then we must believe that God is holy. He does not sin, nor is he the author of sin. Sin does not emanate from his nature. Furthermore, if we base this verse in its context we must agree that what David did was sinful and, based on James 1, we must believe that God did not tempt David to sin, but that David’s sin came from within him.
First, I don’t believe that God caused David to sin or that God gave David a sinful command. This will lead us to examine the means that God uses to bring about his ultimate will and desire. Therefore, David was responsible for the sin he committed. But the question that ultimately must be answered is how could God find fault in David, when it was the will of God that David would do what he did? This presupposes some information about God. This presupposes that God is omniscient and sovereign and omnipotent. Before looking into the deeper meanings of these verses, we must start with a right view of God and his character and attributes. Obviously that would take a multitude of books. But we can know that God is omniscient (Psalm 139 for example), that he is sovereign and he uses his omnipotence to bring about his heart’s desires. For the purposes of this meditation we will assume that these things are true. The proof of them is for another time and many other men have done a far greater job then I could hope to do. Therefore, if God omnisciently knew that David would follow his enticements and number the people of Israel and God actually did entice David to this action, then how could God find fault and bring down justice on the people of Israel? Doesn’t this turn the justice of God into capriciousness?
Short answer: No. God is just in that his justice against and toward the nation of Israel was based upon sin that caused David to act in pride and sin in the nation of Israel that deserved judgment. I think the key to understanding this dilemma rests in verse 10 and in II Kings 22:20-23 and II Chronicles 18:18-22.
In verse 10 we learn that “David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.’” David’s heart struck him. I believe that in order for God to accomplish his purposes he hardened David’s heart for a brief period of time in order that David’s pride might be unrestrained. We see this happening to Pharaoh when God hardened his heart in order that his pride would restrain him from following common sense and letting Israel go. In like manner God hardened David’s heart. David was a man after God’s own heart and possessed a measure of humility only by the grace of God. It is only by the grace of God that we can do anything to please him. David did not earn his humility or favor from God. Rather, God bestowed it upon him as a gift. And as a constant gift, God has the right at any time to withhold that gift and show forth his justice toward sin. In this case, David listened to the enticements of God (we will deal with how God enticed him shortly) because they acted upon his pride and God did not bestow the gift of humility and grace that God had provided in the past. Therefore, God could justly punish the actions of David because his actions stemmed from a heart of pride. God is not required to bestow grace upon us (which is the very definition of grace) but God is required to administer justice upon sin. He will by no means acquit the guilty. He is a just God and his justice required punishment for these actions.
But, you might ask, didn’t God incite David to these actions? Is God just punishing David for something he made David do? Now we must look into how God went about inciting David to sin. The parallel to this story is found in I Chronicles 21. In 21:1 we learn that it was Satan that incited David to sin. So how is it that both God and Satan could incite David to sin? Does this mean that God and Satan were working together to accomplish the same purpose? No. Rather, what it does mean is that God used Satan to accomplish his purposes. Satan may have thought that he won a great victory by causing David to sin, but God was indeed the one who won because Satan was just a pawn to bring about the justice and mercy of God and to glorify his name above all others. In II Kings 22:20-23 and II Chronicles 18:18-22 we read a story of Ahab and Jehoshaphat allying together and seeking the counsel of the prophet Micaiah, who was a true prophet of God. When Micaiah prophesies to Ahab and Jehoshaphat, God pulls back the curtain and shows us what God did to bring about his purposes. “And Micaiah said, ‘Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, “Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying “I will entice him.” And the LORD said to him, “By what means?” And he said, “I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” And he said, “You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.” Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets. The LORD has declared disaster concerning you.’”
God uses Satan to entice people to sin in order that God’s purposes might come to pass. God used Satan to test Job in order that God could reveal his glory. God used Satan to incite David to sin in order that God might bring his justice upon Israel for an undisclosed sin they had committed. God is just in punishing people because it is their sinful nature and desires that drives their wills to choose sin. And God is holy because he doesn’t sin in the process but uses sinful creatures like Satan to give rise to sinful desires while withholding his grace to ensure that those evil desires are chosen. Who can know the mind of God and who can discern his ways? May we all bow before him and worship the glory of our God.
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