Monday, June 20, 2011

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 13

Recall 2 Sam. 12:10-11. This prophetic word from Nathan to David comes within YHWH's rebuke for David's sin. We see this terrible word fulfilled in 2 Samuel 13ff; there we see the fallout of David's sin. To cite all the text would be to urge you to read it. And to read all the text in light of 2 Sam. 12:10-11 would be a lesson in God's glorious sovereignty governing all things according to his word.

As you read, consider how all the evils that arise in David's house have been brought to pass by the word of the Lord. We see rape, murder, deceit, inhumanity, intrigue, conspiracy, defection, treachery, all manner of evil. Even David's right hand man Ahithophel turns on him (2 Sam. 15:31). It is an awesome word given and effected by an awesome God. Look at it, and stand in awe. Does not beholding his glory herein cause you to tremble and bow low in adoration, to fear so great and awesome a God? It does me. I love the glory of this great God of Scripture. I want to see more of it and live in accord with it. But I will not worship that weak and pathetic god fashioned by man, a god who is at the whim of mortals.

Now zoom in on one frame of these unfolding scandals. David is on the run from Absalom in 2 Samuel 15. And in 2 Sam.15:25-26 he utters what might seem to some like a fatalistic word. But David knows that he lives and moves and has his being in the hands of YHWH (Acts 17:28; actually, even the pagans knew this!). He shall do this or that at God's good pleasure, if God wills, if God bestows favor, as God sees fit. Regarding Ahithophel's treachery and defection, David knows his only hope: a plea for the sovereign Lord to make Ahithophel's counsel foolishness (2 Sam. 15:31). Don't you want to live your life aware of the same sovereign divine reality? I do.

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