Paul said things which to the natural man are folly, or at least hard to understand. Paul told us to fix our eyes on things unseen, see 2 Corinthians 4v18 (NIV). The writer of Hebrews told us to fix our eyes on Jesus, Hebrews 12v2.
For both verses, the KJV uses the word 'look' were the NIV uses 'fix'. The NIV is probably better here. The greek word in the Corinthians verse is 'skopeo' from which we derive 'telescope'. The word is also used for 'taking aim'. It is to look intently.
Here is my rendition of 2 Corinthians 4 verse 18:
'Let us perceive clearly and intently, not the things visible with the physical eyes, but the things that are not seen with the eyes. For the things seen with the physical eyes are temporary, whereas those not so seen are eternal'.
Now Hebrews 12 verse 2.
The word used for 'look' or 'fix' is the greek 'aphorao'. Now I am no greek expert and used Strongs Concordance here. But this word is an interesting composite of two words.
First the second half of the word. 'Horao' is one of several greek words all meaning 'to look'. However, there is a great richness of shade of meaning in those different words. (The greek language is characterised by this, a depth of expression in everyday matters, few technical words). 'Horao' is, like 'skopeo', a word denoting intense observation and not passive, accidental seeing. There turn out to be greek words for casual, unintentional seeing too, but not here. It is observation by deliberate choice. It could be translated 'to take heed of something, stare at it and perceive it clearly'!
The other part of 'aphorao' is a prefix. This is the word 'apo'. In this context the meaning is most likely 'away from, sperate from'. We could therefore render the word 'aphorao' thus; 'to look intently away from something, and disregard it, and at something else, and perceive it clearly'.
This rendition makes sense when we take into account the previous verse. it concerns laying aside weights, sins and distractions, which encumber us.
My rendition of the first part of Hebrews chapter12 verse 2 (in the light of v1 and 2 Cor 4v18), would be;
Let us look away from ourselves, disregarding sin and distractions, and intently perceive and pursue Jesus.
Let us choose to believe that He is drawing us, and His Spirit is wooing us and encouraging us. It is not a barren experience to look to Jesus, but a fulfilling delight.
Let's ask Him to help us truly 'look unto' Him.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Kingdom Living and lessons from Nuclear Physics!
I studued Physics at University and occasionally I like to read about that sphere of activities.
I have been reading an interesting, if somewhat grim book on the development of the first nuclear weapons. Unfortunately it was the weapons, rather than the reactors for peaceful power production, that were realised first. (The book is 'Atomic- The First War of Physics' by Jim Baggott).
The German scientist Otto Hahn and 2 colleagues discovered nuclear fission in Uranium in 1938. Huge amounts of energy were available for release. Some people believed that mind-boggling applications were likely in the near future, and some did not. It was the brink of World War 2. Fortunately, some notable German scientists, in particular Werner Heisenberg, were among those who felt 'practical' applications of nuclear fission were many years away. The Nazis did not seriously pursue the Bomb.
Meanwhile, scientists such as Frisch and Peierls in the UK and Oppenheimer in the US were confident that extraordinarily powerful bombs could actually be built. Eventually, Churchill and, pivotally, Roosevelt, were also convinced. The rest is history and the world was changed, perhaps not for the better.
The key to the release of nuclear energy had been given by Otto Hahn in 1938. Some could not grasp or believe the implications. Some men of vision could however. (Hahn finally got a Nobel Prize for his discovery in 1946).
This made me think of spiritual parallels. Matthew ch 16v 17-19 tells us that the keys to the Kingdom are given to those who accept the revelation that Jesus is the Christ.
Just as a new day in energy and weaponry manifested to those with the foresight to apply the key, the same needs to happen with the Kingdom of God here on Earth. We need to see some more genuine realisation of the Kingdom.
We have been given the keys to the Kingdom. They are set out in Scripture. Do we believe they are sufficient, if we apply them, to usher in the rule of heaven on earth? The work has been done in Christ. The iimplications, the theory, have been set forth by the apostles. Are we going to wholeheartedly apply them? I side with those who believe that Jesus will not come for a weak church, but for one which has at least started to assert Kingdom values in this world. We should be seeing signs of Kingdom revolution against the prince of this world and his system of rule.
I have been reading an interesting, if somewhat grim book on the development of the first nuclear weapons. Unfortunately it was the weapons, rather than the reactors for peaceful power production, that were realised first. (The book is 'Atomic- The First War of Physics' by Jim Baggott).
The German scientist Otto Hahn and 2 colleagues discovered nuclear fission in Uranium in 1938. Huge amounts of energy were available for release. Some people believed that mind-boggling applications were likely in the near future, and some did not. It was the brink of World War 2. Fortunately, some notable German scientists, in particular Werner Heisenberg, were among those who felt 'practical' applications of nuclear fission were many years away. The Nazis did not seriously pursue the Bomb.
Meanwhile, scientists such as Frisch and Peierls in the UK and Oppenheimer in the US were confident that extraordinarily powerful bombs could actually be built. Eventually, Churchill and, pivotally, Roosevelt, were also convinced. The rest is history and the world was changed, perhaps not for the better.
The key to the release of nuclear energy had been given by Otto Hahn in 1938. Some could not grasp or believe the implications. Some men of vision could however. (Hahn finally got a Nobel Prize for his discovery in 1946).
This made me think of spiritual parallels. Matthew ch 16v 17-19 tells us that the keys to the Kingdom are given to those who accept the revelation that Jesus is the Christ.
Just as a new day in energy and weaponry manifested to those with the foresight to apply the key, the same needs to happen with the Kingdom of God here on Earth. We need to see some more genuine realisation of the Kingdom.
We have been given the keys to the Kingdom. They are set out in Scripture. Do we believe they are sufficient, if we apply them, to usher in the rule of heaven on earth? The work has been done in Christ. The iimplications, the theory, have been set forth by the apostles. Are we going to wholeheartedly apply them? I side with those who believe that Jesus will not come for a weak church, but for one which has at least started to assert Kingdom values in this world. We should be seeing signs of Kingdom revolution against the prince of this world and his system of rule.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Kingdom Faith 2- Mammon
We are called to live in a spiritually hostile world. Attempts to organise heaven on earth have generally failed. We can live in a heavenly manner of conduct here on earth regarding provision (and indeed in everything). God will ensure that this world order is overuled where we are concerned when we do this. This is seen in teaching regarding the necessities of life. Jesus assures us that if we will seek to live according to the precepts of heaven, we will be cared for and provided for without having to get anxious about provision. Matthew chapter 6 verse19 onwards contains a mandate to establish Kingdom rule regarding provision.
There is debate about whether Mammon represents a personification, an evil principality, behind the monetary system or just plain money. Because of the context, I incline to the first point of view. The hold money seems to have on us is such that we have immense problems actually putting into practice the teaching of Jesus, regarding seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then trusting money to sort itself out. If Jesus is really taken at face value here, the control money appears to have over the affairs of men is actually a delusion. If we put into effect the living words of Jesus, the control and restrictions money appears to put in our way will crumble before our eyes! Do we really believe this? Let's ask God to help us see things this way!
There is debate about whether Mammon represents a personification, an evil principality, behind the monetary system or just plain money. Because of the context, I incline to the first point of view. The hold money seems to have on us is such that we have immense problems actually putting into practice the teaching of Jesus, regarding seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then trusting money to sort itself out. If Jesus is really taken at face value here, the control money appears to have over the affairs of men is actually a delusion. If we put into effect the living words of Jesus, the control and restrictions money appears to put in our way will crumble before our eyes! Do we really believe this? Let's ask God to help us see things this way!
Kingdom Faith- Blessing AND Persecution
The Bible is designed to assist as we seek to tune ourselves in to God's way of living, as we seek to learn to live in fellowship with Him, to experience His presence, and to shine forth His goodness to the world. God is fitting us out for eternal life and unfathomable and unforseen blessing.
We are (or should be) learning His nature, His values, His way of relating. All of this is going to be somewhat alien to those who have learned their outlook and beliefs from dealings with this world system. As I sit in a Cafe writing this, I eavesdrop on South African surburbanites, very many of whom still profess to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The dominant subject of conversation is money, business and possessions. But we are called to live in a very different way.
This world order, which seems so substantial, is a temporary aberration in the sight of God. We need to learn Kingdom living. The outcome of Kingdom living in this world is not entirely predictable. It can bring favour, but it also may bring persecution. This is a reason most of us prefer to hold onto worldly semblances of security and control. It is this false and temporary security that Jesus was offering to deal with in the rich young ruler, Luke 18v22. (Unfortunately, in the short term at least, he was not responsive). Kingdom living brings some guaranteed benefits, as David realised, Psalm 103 v2-5. Our eternal wellbeing is guaranteed. If we suffer in this world, He is with us and our would-be tormentors will realise that He can make for us a spiritual and emotional banquet in the presence of our enemies.
We are (or should be) learning His nature, His values, His way of relating. All of this is going to be somewhat alien to those who have learned their outlook and beliefs from dealings with this world system. As I sit in a Cafe writing this, I eavesdrop on South African surburbanites, very many of whom still profess to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The dominant subject of conversation is money, business and possessions. But we are called to live in a very different way.
This world order, which seems so substantial, is a temporary aberration in the sight of God. We need to learn Kingdom living. The outcome of Kingdom living in this world is not entirely predictable. It can bring favour, but it also may bring persecution. This is a reason most of us prefer to hold onto worldly semblances of security and control. It is this false and temporary security that Jesus was offering to deal with in the rich young ruler, Luke 18v22. (Unfortunately, in the short term at least, he was not responsive). Kingdom living brings some guaranteed benefits, as David realised, Psalm 103 v2-5. Our eternal wellbeing is guaranteed. If we suffer in this world, He is with us and our would-be tormentors will realise that He can make for us a spiritual and emotional banquet in the presence of our enemies.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
David, Isaiah and me; waiting on the Lord
I often say Christianity, seen correctly, is primarily about relationship with the One who is Life. Working in Africa with no agenda dictated by other men means you sometimes have to decide what to do with your day. There may be nothing urgent to attend to. I can usually think of something to do, but I must choose to believe God is sufficiently interested in me persoanlly to have something to say. This can be a time to wait on the Lord.
To truly wait on the Lord is to be willing to do His bidding. It is to put aside our agenda. Even our 'Christian' agenda. If we have resources and friends, we can do something 'Christian' without waiting on the Lord. It may not clearly reflect the heart of God though.
I am not saying we should be paralysed from doing anything until we have clearly heard from God. Some responsibilities are immediate and obvious. Some guidance is just living out our knowledge of righteousness with situations that present themselves. (We personally have regular commitments 4 days of the week and often school assemblies on 2 other days). However, we should be cultivating this attitude of waiting on the Lord. God may communicate by impression, prompting, inner check, dream, direct word, advice of a friend, Bible verse, maybe another way. If we are sincerely waiting on God, even if we make a mistake, He will clear up and correct; pick us up and dust us off.
If we are to spend time in this way, we must have a conviction that God does want to speak. He is not wanting to find fault all the time. He is passionately and lovingly interested in our lives and callings.
Today I have on my heart a group of young men in the squatter camp we visit. They sometimes hang out near where Julia does a Bible study on Thursdays. The impression I got was that I should pray further about ways to reach them and perhaps approach them today. (I also find this idea intimidating, so I must pray for boldness too).
God will speak as far as we are willing to hear. If we have set our own boundaries and hardened our hearts, we may not hear. Repent and start again. His demands are not onerous. He will not force us to obey.
Often Julia gets the same promptings as me, or related ones. This week we have both been getting impressions about a couple who live in a nearby township, Wattville. They are Gift and Mary. Julia phoned Mary, and together they have been to the Municipality offices researching the land zoning in Wattville. It turns out that a plot of land that Pastor Gift and I (Simon) went to look at recently is zoned for 'faith group activities' amongst other things. So we could be on the right track with a children's centre there.
Now these impressions need to be rightly submitted to relevant spiritual leadership. The pastor of the church we go to suggested Wattville as a location and a member of the congregation introduced us to pastor Gift. Even the Apostle Paul himself submitted his revelations of Christ and the Gospel to the existing apostles for confirmation and approval. However church oversight should not be so overbearing or elitist that individual initiative before God is crushed out. If we turn out to be wrong on this one, God will still guide us on.
David at times was recklessly abandoned to the leading of God. When he shrunk back into natural reasoning and reassurance, he was severly disciplined by God. God was placing very high responsibilities on David as His chosen King over His people Israel. He was also called into a position of prophetic prominence in the earthly lineage of Jesus Christ. (Think about it. God became a man. He took on human form. And he chose a human lineage. And He chose David to be perhaps the most promonent, most honoured figure in that Lineage, see Revelation ch 22v16). We have seen that David was disciplined harshly for stepping out of love in 2 Samuel ch12. What is surprising is that God's wrath was also triggered by David attempting to rely on natural strength. This should be a sobering warning to people in senior spiritual leadership, (2 Samuel ch24). We might see these types of mistake as a trivial or excusable. There may be no physical consequence, but there could be serious spiritual ones. Again, grace and the fear of the Lord are two sides of a 'coin' of knowing God.
Back to waiting on the Lord. This theme is frequent in Psalms and Isaiah and there are promises made to those who practice this habit. They shall not be ashamed. Ps 25v3. They shall be preserved, Ps 25v21. They shall be strengthened, Ps 27v14. He is their help and shield, Ps 33v20. They shall inherit the earth, Ps 37v7 (!!). They shall see the vengeance of God on the wicked, Ps 37v34. He is their defence, Ps 59v9. He is their salvation, Ps 62v1. He is their provider, Ps 104v27. They shall see His mercy and redemption, Ps 130v6-8. They shall rejoice and be glad, Is 25v9. They shall experience His grace, and be blessed and exalted by Him, Is 30v18. They shall renew their strength and soar in life, Is 40v31. They shall be delighted and astonished at what He has prepared for them, Is 64v4!
Probably worth sticking at then!
To truly wait on the Lord is to be willing to do His bidding. It is to put aside our agenda. Even our 'Christian' agenda. If we have resources and friends, we can do something 'Christian' without waiting on the Lord. It may not clearly reflect the heart of God though.
I am not saying we should be paralysed from doing anything until we have clearly heard from God. Some responsibilities are immediate and obvious. Some guidance is just living out our knowledge of righteousness with situations that present themselves. (We personally have regular commitments 4 days of the week and often school assemblies on 2 other days). However, we should be cultivating this attitude of waiting on the Lord. God may communicate by impression, prompting, inner check, dream, direct word, advice of a friend, Bible verse, maybe another way. If we are sincerely waiting on God, even if we make a mistake, He will clear up and correct; pick us up and dust us off.
If we are to spend time in this way, we must have a conviction that God does want to speak. He is not wanting to find fault all the time. He is passionately and lovingly interested in our lives and callings.
Today I have on my heart a group of young men in the squatter camp we visit. They sometimes hang out near where Julia does a Bible study on Thursdays. The impression I got was that I should pray further about ways to reach them and perhaps approach them today. (I also find this idea intimidating, so I must pray for boldness too).
God will speak as far as we are willing to hear. If we have set our own boundaries and hardened our hearts, we may not hear. Repent and start again. His demands are not onerous. He will not force us to obey.
Often Julia gets the same promptings as me, or related ones. This week we have both been getting impressions about a couple who live in a nearby township, Wattville. They are Gift and Mary. Julia phoned Mary, and together they have been to the Municipality offices researching the land zoning in Wattville. It turns out that a plot of land that Pastor Gift and I (Simon) went to look at recently is zoned for 'faith group activities' amongst other things. So we could be on the right track with a children's centre there.
Now these impressions need to be rightly submitted to relevant spiritual leadership. The pastor of the church we go to suggested Wattville as a location and a member of the congregation introduced us to pastor Gift. Even the Apostle Paul himself submitted his revelations of Christ and the Gospel to the existing apostles for confirmation and approval. However church oversight should not be so overbearing or elitist that individual initiative before God is crushed out. If we turn out to be wrong on this one, God will still guide us on.
David at times was recklessly abandoned to the leading of God. When he shrunk back into natural reasoning and reassurance, he was severly disciplined by God. God was placing very high responsibilities on David as His chosen King over His people Israel. He was also called into a position of prophetic prominence in the earthly lineage of Jesus Christ. (Think about it. God became a man. He took on human form. And he chose a human lineage. And He chose David to be perhaps the most promonent, most honoured figure in that Lineage, see Revelation ch 22v16). We have seen that David was disciplined harshly for stepping out of love in 2 Samuel ch12. What is surprising is that God's wrath was also triggered by David attempting to rely on natural strength. This should be a sobering warning to people in senior spiritual leadership, (2 Samuel ch24). We might see these types of mistake as a trivial or excusable. There may be no physical consequence, but there could be serious spiritual ones. Again, grace and the fear of the Lord are two sides of a 'coin' of knowing God.
Back to waiting on the Lord. This theme is frequent in Psalms and Isaiah and there are promises made to those who practice this habit. They shall not be ashamed. Ps 25v3. They shall be preserved, Ps 25v21. They shall be strengthened, Ps 27v14. He is their help and shield, Ps 33v20. They shall inherit the earth, Ps 37v7 (!!). They shall see the vengeance of God on the wicked, Ps 37v34. He is their defence, Ps 59v9. He is their salvation, Ps 62v1. He is their provider, Ps 104v27. They shall see His mercy and redemption, Ps 130v6-8. They shall rejoice and be glad, Is 25v9. They shall experience His grace, and be blessed and exalted by Him, Is 30v18. They shall renew their strength and soar in life, Is 40v31. They shall be delighted and astonished at what He has prepared for them, Is 64v4!
Probably worth sticking at then!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
David and Contrition
2 Samuel Chapter 12
Today I want to talk about what grace is not. Grace is not a license to sin and expect no consequences whatsoever. We talked yesterday about how David walked in grace. He understood that God was firstly concerned about heart attitude and not ceremonial or legalistic observance. There was not necessarily a harsh punishment for every trangression merely against the written code. We are not constantly being measured against an exacting standard, even our own, with a threat of rejection and cursing. The person under grace has this perspective. It is God's favoured way of relating with us.
I should say straight away that if you got into serious sin before you became a Christian, then God will show you the fulness of His kindness and mercy over the consequences. I am talking here about the believer who makes light of serious sin, particulalry that which brings much pain to others.
David walked in grace and he was also a man of passion. By this I mean that he was not a cautious, timid personality. He was a 'people person'. Perhaps we see men of passion and action as inevitably being prone to obvious sins such as sexual immorality or substance abuse. This is not inevitable however, since Jesus was a man of passion and so was Paul. In other words, it is possible to exhibit a passionate nature which is also righteous and pure. God is not leading us into self-preoccupied introversion. Such behaviour generally has little real time for the needs of others. Personally I avoided much sin as a young man simply because of a lack of self-confidence, but that is not real virtue. But a person with the status and personality of David was going to be tempted more than most of us.
We might also consider that the behaviour he got into with Bathsheba and Uriah in 2 Samuel 11 was probably routine misdemeanour for rulers at the time. David could be tempted to excuse himself in this way. This is self-justification by social norm. Of course it doesn't really wash with God.
There are three key issues here.
In 2 Samuel 12 Nathan confronts David, indirectly and then directly, with his sins of adultery and murder. But also Nathan reveals his duplicity (double standards) and attempts at concealment. He gets the full force of God's hot displeasure. First his own duplicity regarding ruthless selfishness is revealed by his response to Nathan's parable. David's wrath is triggered towards a hypothetical individual who has behaved in a less atrocious way than he. Then 2 Samuel 12v9 clearly shows us that God sees the heart intent behind an act of sin, not just the physical act. Here, through Nathan, God addresses David as if he were the one who yielded the sword against Uriah. God sees through our contrivances and blame-shifting immediately. He sees our manipulative plotting.
First key issue. Grace does NOT mean God will negate the consequences of our sin indefinitely and totally, and particularly when the sin affects others seriously.
There were natural and spiritual forces unleashed by the sin of David. It is interesting that in that dispensation, God was not expecting David to be monogamous. However, the behaviour of David with Bathsheba and Uriah triggered the anger of God towards David. Now God is not the author of evil, but he has set in motion a system where evil spiritual forces will bring vengeance on us when we get into sin. David was destined to live in the spiritual and relational consequences of his sin. God made this clear to him. There would be turmoil and violence in his household. In addition, because of his attempts to conceal his unrighteousness, God would make his punishment visible to all.
Then comes a very illuminating verse, verse 13.
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. (2 Sam 12:13 KJV)
David confesses his sin, and sees that it is against the Lord primarily. This is sufficient to release forgiveness into our lives, see 1 John 1 verses 9-10. (However, as we shall see at key issue three, confession and contrition are seperate things).
To understand this verse, we must see the results of our sin at the level of our relationship with God and also at the level of other natural and spiritual consequences. God had just spelt out clearly the consequences for David and his family of his actions. There was obviously a spiritual link involved bringing a curse on his life. Now this was not the curse of the Law discussed in Galatians chapter 3 verse 13. David did not live as one under the letter of the Law of Moses (1 Samuel ch 21v6). Instead it was a curse brought about by moving very seriously out of the Law of Love. This has something important to say to believers today. Nathan made it clear that this action had shown scorn for God himself, and not a contempt born of ignorance.
Second key issue. Crucially, God Himself had put away the sin of David. This means He would not hold it against him or bring it to remembrance as an accusation or hindrance to their intimate fellowship in future.
Since David was a friend, God would not punish David for the sake of mere retribution.
So why did God sometimes allow harsh consequences to result from David's sin? And why does He allow them following ours too?
Here we touch on another attitude of heart displayed by David which sheds light on why Jesus endorsed him and honoured him and why he is pivotal in the prophetic revelation of the Messiah.
I am going to look at Psalm 51. It is definitely worth reading in it's entirely. It was written at some point after these events.
We can react to the discipline of God in one of two ways. We can despise it, or we can submit to it, welcoming it as one would a very effective but unpleasant medicine. Philosophically and robustly would be my recommendation! See Hebrews 12 verse 5. Now God's discipline may or may not follow our outward acts of sin. Here it obviously did.
David submitted to God's discipline, seeing it as an outworking of His love.
But what I really want to draw your attention to is verse 17. Perhaps the main thing the discipline of God brought into David's life is contrition. This is closely related to the fear of the Lord.
Third Issue. God desires and prizes a truly contrite heart.
This is a heart that has stopped defending and justifying itself and sees a desperate and ongoing need for God in all things. It is true meekness of spirit, and it qualifies you before God to inherit both heaven and earth! A contrite heart sees God's ways and perspectives as the final legitimate realities, and soberly judges that God's ways are the only ways things can be.
A truly contrite heart is unlikely to sin again in the same way. A truly contrite heart has much love, see Luke 7 verse 47. David was still not perfect, but by the time this Psalm was written he was in a better place than ever with God.
A contrite heart has been melted by love, but has been conditioned by the right fear of the Lord.
Pray with me that God would form in us a truly contrite heart.
Today I want to talk about what grace is not. Grace is not a license to sin and expect no consequences whatsoever. We talked yesterday about how David walked in grace. He understood that God was firstly concerned about heart attitude and not ceremonial or legalistic observance. There was not necessarily a harsh punishment for every trangression merely against the written code. We are not constantly being measured against an exacting standard, even our own, with a threat of rejection and cursing. The person under grace has this perspective. It is God's favoured way of relating with us.
I should say straight away that if you got into serious sin before you became a Christian, then God will show you the fulness of His kindness and mercy over the consequences. I am talking here about the believer who makes light of serious sin, particulalry that which brings much pain to others.
David walked in grace and he was also a man of passion. By this I mean that he was not a cautious, timid personality. He was a 'people person'. Perhaps we see men of passion and action as inevitably being prone to obvious sins such as sexual immorality or substance abuse. This is not inevitable however, since Jesus was a man of passion and so was Paul. In other words, it is possible to exhibit a passionate nature which is also righteous and pure. God is not leading us into self-preoccupied introversion. Such behaviour generally has little real time for the needs of others. Personally I avoided much sin as a young man simply because of a lack of self-confidence, but that is not real virtue. But a person with the status and personality of David was going to be tempted more than most of us.
We might also consider that the behaviour he got into with Bathsheba and Uriah in 2 Samuel 11 was probably routine misdemeanour for rulers at the time. David could be tempted to excuse himself in this way. This is self-justification by social norm. Of course it doesn't really wash with God.
There are three key issues here.
In 2 Samuel 12 Nathan confronts David, indirectly and then directly, with his sins of adultery and murder. But also Nathan reveals his duplicity (double standards) and attempts at concealment. He gets the full force of God's hot displeasure. First his own duplicity regarding ruthless selfishness is revealed by his response to Nathan's parable. David's wrath is triggered towards a hypothetical individual who has behaved in a less atrocious way than he. Then 2 Samuel 12v9 clearly shows us that God sees the heart intent behind an act of sin, not just the physical act. Here, through Nathan, God addresses David as if he were the one who yielded the sword against Uriah. God sees through our contrivances and blame-shifting immediately. He sees our manipulative plotting.
First key issue. Grace does NOT mean God will negate the consequences of our sin indefinitely and totally, and particularly when the sin affects others seriously.
There were natural and spiritual forces unleashed by the sin of David. It is interesting that in that dispensation, God was not expecting David to be monogamous. However, the behaviour of David with Bathsheba and Uriah triggered the anger of God towards David. Now God is not the author of evil, but he has set in motion a system where evil spiritual forces will bring vengeance on us when we get into sin. David was destined to live in the spiritual and relational consequences of his sin. God made this clear to him. There would be turmoil and violence in his household. In addition, because of his attempts to conceal his unrighteousness, God would make his punishment visible to all.
Then comes a very illuminating verse, verse 13.
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. (2 Sam 12:13 KJV)
David confesses his sin, and sees that it is against the Lord primarily. This is sufficient to release forgiveness into our lives, see 1 John 1 verses 9-10. (However, as we shall see at key issue three, confession and contrition are seperate things).
To understand this verse, we must see the results of our sin at the level of our relationship with God and also at the level of other natural and spiritual consequences. God had just spelt out clearly the consequences for David and his family of his actions. There was obviously a spiritual link involved bringing a curse on his life. Now this was not the curse of the Law discussed in Galatians chapter 3 verse 13. David did not live as one under the letter of the Law of Moses (1 Samuel ch 21v6). Instead it was a curse brought about by moving very seriously out of the Law of Love. This has something important to say to believers today. Nathan made it clear that this action had shown scorn for God himself, and not a contempt born of ignorance.
Second key issue. Crucially, God Himself had put away the sin of David. This means He would not hold it against him or bring it to remembrance as an accusation or hindrance to their intimate fellowship in future.
Since David was a friend, God would not punish David for the sake of mere retribution.
So why did God sometimes allow harsh consequences to result from David's sin? And why does He allow them following ours too?
Here we touch on another attitude of heart displayed by David which sheds light on why Jesus endorsed him and honoured him and why he is pivotal in the prophetic revelation of the Messiah.
I am going to look at Psalm 51. It is definitely worth reading in it's entirely. It was written at some point after these events.
We can react to the discipline of God in one of two ways. We can despise it, or we can submit to it, welcoming it as one would a very effective but unpleasant medicine. Philosophically and robustly would be my recommendation! See Hebrews 12 verse 5. Now God's discipline may or may not follow our outward acts of sin. Here it obviously did.
David submitted to God's discipline, seeing it as an outworking of His love.
But what I really want to draw your attention to is verse 17. Perhaps the main thing the discipline of God brought into David's life is contrition. This is closely related to the fear of the Lord.
Third Issue. God desires and prizes a truly contrite heart.
This is a heart that has stopped defending and justifying itself and sees a desperate and ongoing need for God in all things. It is true meekness of spirit, and it qualifies you before God to inherit both heaven and earth! A contrite heart sees God's ways and perspectives as the final legitimate realities, and soberly judges that God's ways are the only ways things can be.
A truly contrite heart is unlikely to sin again in the same way. A truly contrite heart has much love, see Luke 7 verse 47. David was still not perfect, but by the time this Psalm was written he was in a better place than ever with God.
A contrite heart has been melted by love, but has been conditioned by the right fear of the Lord.
Pray with me that God would form in us a truly contrite heart.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Grace and the Life of David
If we read the story of David's life, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that he was a passionate man who lived from the heart. Religious people in general tend to live in a straightjacketed manner. They are often not people who seem to be living life to the full. David did. It was not some life of contrived excitement either. It was a real entering in to the spheres of human interaction, be they personal, political, military, literary, indeed religious. David lived with exuberance and it was not skin-deep. There is a richness and passion about the way he approached life.
Yet despite the fact that his drive and zeal for life sometimes overflowed into unrighteous conduct, he is a central figure in the Bible. He is mentioned just a few verses before the close of Revelation. Jesus is speaking in Revelation 22v16. He associates his earthly lineage with David and thereby honours him highly. In the prophetic sense the Holy Spirit does the same in Isaiah 11.
Why is this so? Some of my thoughts:
While David loved the Law, he found delight in the Lord Himself. He got a grasp on grace and mercy. He entered into intimacy with the Lord. He was a poet and musician, and in his writings, he was granted a prophetic revelation of the Messiah, the Christ. He came to understand that God did not desire ritual and procedure, even that which He Himself had given, as much as he desired fellowship. He came to understand that the prime motive in God's heart is eternal delight in those who bear His image and have the capacity to be His children. To this end, the Saviour would suffer and die, and be resurrected. David perhaps only perceived these things dimly, but he often lived in the good of them. He understood that God desired a humble and contrite heart more than ceremonial observances. If the sacrificial ceremonies reflected a contrite heart, well and good. If not they were worthless. If the heart was contrite, God would overlook the fact that the sacrifices were not performed.
There was mutual delight in God's encounters with David (Psalm 18v19, 37v4). We have a capacity for delight. With no delight, life is dull and laborious. Will we give that capacity we have for delight to the Lord first? It will be a stabilising factor in our lives and will predispose us towards righteousness in our conduct. It will help us to live in the Spirit and so fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law (Romans 8v4).
Yet despite the fact that his drive and zeal for life sometimes overflowed into unrighteous conduct, he is a central figure in the Bible. He is mentioned just a few verses before the close of Revelation. Jesus is speaking in Revelation 22v16. He associates his earthly lineage with David and thereby honours him highly. In the prophetic sense the Holy Spirit does the same in Isaiah 11.
Why is this so? Some of my thoughts:
While David loved the Law, he found delight in the Lord Himself. He got a grasp on grace and mercy. He entered into intimacy with the Lord. He was a poet and musician, and in his writings, he was granted a prophetic revelation of the Messiah, the Christ. He came to understand that God did not desire ritual and procedure, even that which He Himself had given, as much as he desired fellowship. He came to understand that the prime motive in God's heart is eternal delight in those who bear His image and have the capacity to be His children. To this end, the Saviour would suffer and die, and be resurrected. David perhaps only perceived these things dimly, but he often lived in the good of them. He understood that God desired a humble and contrite heart more than ceremonial observances. If the sacrificial ceremonies reflected a contrite heart, well and good. If not they were worthless. If the heart was contrite, God would overlook the fact that the sacrifices were not performed.
There was mutual delight in God's encounters with David (Psalm 18v19, 37v4). We have a capacity for delight. With no delight, life is dull and laborious. Will we give that capacity we have for delight to the Lord first? It will be a stabilising factor in our lives and will predispose us towards righteousness in our conduct. It will help us to live in the Spirit and so fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law (Romans 8v4).
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