Sinful Census, Sovereign God

Feb. 17, 2002                                                                                                       Northwest Bible Church

2 Samuel 24:1-10

Sinful Census, Sovereign God

INTRO

This passage poses of the most difficult theological issues in all the Bible, that is, the relationship of God to sin and evil.

I.  THE PROBLEM DEFINED.

A.  David's census was sin.

1) Joab thought it was foolish (2 Samuel 24:3).

2) David realized it was sin (2 Samuel 24:10).

B.  David's census was incited by God (2 Samuel 24:1).

II.  THE PROBLEM DELIBERATED.

A.  Two truths to be affirmed:

1) God is holy and completely righteous (1 Jn. 1:5; Isa. 6; Hab. 1:13).

2) God is sovereign over all things.

-Good actions of men, Eph. 2:10.

-Evil actions of men, Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28; Lk. 22:22;                                                                      Prov. 16:4; Rev. 17:17; Ex. 4:21; 2 Thess. 2:11.

-Evil actions of evil spirits, 1 Kngs 22:20-23; Job 1-2.

-Incidental events, Prov. 16:33; Mt. 10:29-31; 1 Kngs                                                                         22:34.

-Duration of life, Ps. 39:4; 139:16; Job 14:5.

-Weather, Job 28:26; Jonah 1:4.

-Suffering and afflictions, 1 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:6;                                                                              Gen. 50:20.

-Means as well as the ends, Eph. 1:11; Gen. 45:5-8;                                                                50:20.

C.  Understanding God's use of secondary causes.

1) God is the primary cause of all things.  But under this there are also secondary causes.

2) Everything happens according to His sovereign decrees.  However, God does not cause evil in the same way He causes good.

3) The Bible teaches there are two levels of causality when it comes to sin.  There is an immediate and secondary cause of sin in which the guilt is attributed.

As for the secondary cause of David's sin, see 1 Chron. 21:1

This helps us to understand James 1:13.

God's ways are higher than ours, and His thoughts than our thoughts.

Charnock, "The counsels of a boundless being are not to be scanned by the brain of a silly worm, that hath breathed but a few minutes in the world."

D.  Understanding God's will. Is it permissive?

E.  Understanding God's foreknowledge.

III.  COMFORT FROM GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER EVIL.

A.  No evil can touch your life that is not subject to God's control and limitations.

B.  God has promised good to all of His children and His love controls every temptation and brings good out of every evil that touches our lives. Rom. 8:28.

CONCLUSION