WEBVTT

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 So I'm going to read God's word for us, 2 Samuel chapter 24.

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 I'm going to read the whole chapter to us.

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 We are right at the end of our series in 2 Samuel.

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 Let's listen to God's word.

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 Again, the anger of the Lord burned against Israel,

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 and he incited David against them, saying,

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 go and take a census of Israel and Judah.

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 So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him,

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 go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba

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 and enroll the fighting men so that I may know how many there are.

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 But Joab replied to the king,

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 may the Lord your God multiply the troops 100 times over

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 and may the eyes of my Lord the king see it.

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 But why does my Lord the king want to do such a thing?

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 The king's word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders,

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 so they left the presence of the king

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 to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

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 After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aror,

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 south of the town in the gorge,

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 and then went through Gad and on to Jazir.

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 They went to Gilead and to the region of Tahim Hodshi

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 and to Danjan and round towards the Sidon.

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 When they went towards the fortress of Tyre

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 and all the time of the Hivites and the Canaanites,

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 finally they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.

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 After they'd gone through the entire land,

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 they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and 20 days.

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 Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king.

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 In Israel, there were 800,000 able-bodied men who could handle a sword,

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 and in Judah, 500,000.

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 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men,

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 and he said to the Lord,

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 I have sinned greatly in what I have done.

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 Now, Lord, I beg you,

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 take away the guilt of your servant.

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 I have done a very foolish thing.

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 Before David got up the next morning,

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 the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet,

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 David's seer.

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 Go and tell David,

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 this is what the Lord says.

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 I am giving you three options.

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 Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.

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 So Gad went to David and said to him,

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 Shall there come on you three years of famine in your land?

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 Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you?

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 Or three days of plague in your land?

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 Now then, think it over and decide

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 how I should answer the one who sent me.

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 David said to Gad,

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 I am in deep distress.

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 Let us fall into the hands of the Lord,

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 for his mercy is great.

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 But do not let me fall into human hands.

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 So the Lord sent a plague on Israel

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 from that morning until the end of the time designated,

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 and 70,000 of the people died.

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 The people from Dan to Beersheba died.

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 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem,

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 the Lord relented concerning the disaster

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 and said to the angel who was afflicting the people,

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 Enough!

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 Withdraw your hand.

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 The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor

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 of Arunah the Jebusite.

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 When David saw the angel who was striking down the people,

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 he said to the Lord,

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 I have sinned.

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 I, the shepherd, have done wrong.

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 But these are but sheep.

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 What have they done?

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 Let your hand fall on me and my family.

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 On that day, Gad went to David and said to him,

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 Go up and build an altar to the Lord

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 on the threshing floor of Arunah the Jebusite.

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 So David went up as the Lord had commanded through Gad.

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 When Arunah looked and saw the king

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 and his officials coming towards him,

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 he went out and bowed down before the king

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 with his face to the ground.

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 Arunah said,

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 Why has my Lord the king come to his servant?

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 To buy your threshing floor, David answered,

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 so that I can build an altar to the Lord

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 so that the plague on the people may be stopped.

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 Arunah said to David,

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 Let my Lord the king take whatever he wishes

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 and offer it up.

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 Here are oxen for the burnt offering

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 and here are the threshing sledges

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 and ox yokes for the woods.

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 Your majesty, Arunah gives all of this to the king.

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 Arunah also said to him,

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 May the Lord your God accept you.

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 But the king replied to Arunah,

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 No, I insist on paying for it.

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 I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God

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 burnt offerings that cost me nothing.

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 So David brought the threshing floor

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 and the oxen and paid 50 shekels of silver for them.

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 David built an altar to the Lord there

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 and sacrificed burnt offerings

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 and fellowship offerings.

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 Then the Lord answered his prayer

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 on behalf of the land

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 and the plague on Israel was stopped.

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 Well, this is God's word for us this morning

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 and we're going to look at it together.

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 Let me pray very briefly

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 and ask for the Lord's help.

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 Father, we thank you for all that we have seen

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 in the book of 2 Samuel

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 and we pray even now

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 that as we consider it again together

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 that you might speak to us

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 by your spirit through your word.

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 More than just that,

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 we pray please that you might change us,

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 move our hearts which are slow to trust,

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 to trust you and love you.

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 Pray for those who maybe

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 have never really understood

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 who you are or never trusted you.

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 May you open their eyes.

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 May all of us,

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 me as I preach

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 and all of us as we listen,

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 encounter you in your word,

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 we pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 I wonder whether you've watched this TV show.

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 A few of us in our family

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 have been watching it together.

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 It's called The Majorca Files.

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 Has anyone seen The Majorca Files?

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 It's kind of like a whodunit type series.

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 It's very kind of sedate.

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 It's a British and a German detective

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 both working in Majorca.

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 They're kind of a bit hapless,

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 so they don't really know what they're doing.

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 And in the episode that we watched the other day,

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 these two detectives had been asked

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 by a senior police officer from Madrid

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 to try and catch a conman.

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 So they did.

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 These two hapless detectives

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 managed to catch the conman

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 and they chased him through the town.

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 They cuffed him

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 and put him in the back

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 of the senior police officer from Madrid's car.

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 As they were driving away from it,

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 really feeling quite satisfied with themselves,

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 they realized and it dawned on them

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 that the conman was not the person

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 that they'd put in the back

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 of the senior police officer's car,

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 but the senior police officer himself.

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 So they were distressed.

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 What are we going to do now?

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 So they spun the car around

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 and they chased after

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 the senior police officer from Madrid.

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 Then they were chasing him down

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 and that involved speedboats

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 and trying to chase him down,

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 trying to shoot him,

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 all that sort of stuff.

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 And it looked like he'd got away.

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 And then what happened

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 was the woman in charge

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 of the Majorca police

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 turned up with a whole load

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 of police boats

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 and arrested the senior police officer

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 and the guy that they'd caught and cuffed.

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 And it turns out

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 that all along,

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 this Majorca commander

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 in charge of the police

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 knew exactly what was happening

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 and knew that her two hapless detectives

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 were after the wrong person.

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 So they'd let it happen.

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 Now, in a kind of bizarre

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 sort of roundabout way,

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 that is kind of what's happening

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 in 2 Samuel.

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 In 2 Samuel,

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 you discover, don't you,

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 that 70,000 Israelites

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 died in a plague, right?

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 But it's not the natural disaster

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 that you might have thought.

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 You know, you might just think,

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 oh, well, plagues happen,

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 don't they?

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 We know that.

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 And this one happens.

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 But it's not that

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 because this plague comes

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 as judgment against David's sin.

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 He chooses it, doesn't he?

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 Instead of three years of famine

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 or three months of military defeat,

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 he says,

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 I'll have three days of plague.

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 And when you see that,

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 you realize it's not just that either.

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 Rather, that we find

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 that behind all of that

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 is God and his plan.

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 God in sovereign power

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 who is executing judgment

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 on the people of Israel,

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 even against David's sin

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 that he had incited

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 and the plague that followed.

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 You might remember

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 that we're at the conclusion

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 of the book of 2 Samuel.

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 So basically,

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 these last few chapters,

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 picking it up

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 from chapter 21,

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 these chapters

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 are the conclusion,

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 the summary,

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 the epilogue

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 at the end

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 of the book of 2 Samuel.

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 And really,

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 the writer is trying

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 to round off

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 his whole book

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 and trying to tell you

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 what's been going on.

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 And it's not

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 an ordinary history book.

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 The book is not ending

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 with the death of David.

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 We've now

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 sort of leapt back

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 into the story of David

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 to an unidentified point

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 in David's history.

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 But the writer thinks

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 if you understand

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 this story

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 and what's happening here,

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 you will understand

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 the whole book.

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 This is the sort of summary.

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 And what the writer

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 wants us to understand

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 is that everything

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 that's been going on

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 in the book,

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 so Absalom's rebellion,

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 Joab's murders,

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 David's adultery,

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 Amnon's rape,

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 in all of that,

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 even though God

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 often was not

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 mentioned directly,

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 what the writer

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 now wants you

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 to understand

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 is that all the time,

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 God was there

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 and God was in charge.

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 God was ruling

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 and reigning.

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 God has been behind it all,

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 the good and the evil

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 accomplishing his purposes.

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 Let me try

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 and demonstrate that to you.

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 It's there in verse 1.

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 Look down at verse 1.

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 Let me read it to you again.

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 Again,

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 the anger of the Lord

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 burned against Israel

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 and he incited David

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 against them,

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 saying,

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 go and take a census

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 of Israel and Judah.

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 Just keep your eyes

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 down on the verse

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 and work through it

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 backwards with me

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 for a moment.

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 Start at the end.

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 King David

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 is the speaker

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 of the words

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 in quotation marks.

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 He's declaring

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 that a census

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 of Israel and Judah

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 should be taken.

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 Specifically,

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 it turns out,

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 and we discovered this,

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 it's a census

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 of their fighting men.

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 There are 1.3 million

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 fighting men in Israel,

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 800,000 in Israel,

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 500,000 in Judah.

00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:01.639
 Now,

00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:02.200
 the whole point

00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:02.759
 of the chapter

00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:04.000
 rests on the idea

00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:05.220
 that you understand

00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:06.879
 that David's instruction

00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:07.519
 there to go

00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:08.299
 and take a census

00:10:08.299 --> 00:10:10.679
 is a sinful instruction.

00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:12.779
 It was a wicked thing

00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:13.480
 for him to do.

00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:15.199
 You see that,

00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:15.480
 don't you,

00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:16.559
 in Joab's response

00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:17.340
 and the commanders

00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:18.819
 in verses 3 and 4.

00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:19.679
 They're objecting,

00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:19.899
 aren't they?

00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:21.019
 Don't do this, David.

00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:22.079
 We don't want to do this.

00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:22.840
 Don't do this.

00:10:23.539 --> 00:10:24.259
 They try and persuade

00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:25.100
 David out of it.

00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:25.939
 But if you look down

00:10:25.939 --> 00:10:26.840
 at verse 10,

00:10:27.199 --> 00:10:28.539
 even David himself

00:10:28.539 --> 00:10:29.120
 acknowledges

00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:29.840
 that it was sinful.

00:10:30.699 --> 00:10:32.220
 David was conscience-stricken

00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:33.079
 after he counted

00:10:33.079 --> 00:10:33.939
 the fighting men.

00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:35.120
 And he said to the Lord,

00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:35.159
 Lord,

00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:36.139
 I have sinned greatly

00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:37.000
 in what I have done.

00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:37.840
 Now,

00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:38.039
 Lord,

00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:38.539
 I beg you,

00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:39.360
 take away the guilt

00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:39.960
 of your servant.

00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:40.519
 I have done

00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:41.899
 a very foolish thing.

00:10:43.779 --> 00:10:44.159
 Now,

00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:44.799
 what you need to understand

00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:46.419
 is not that censuses

00:10:46.419 --> 00:10:48.200
 themselves are immoral

00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:49.519
 or wrong always.

00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:51.100
 The book of Exodus

00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:51.899
 in chapter 30

00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:52.879
 permits the leaders

00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:53.519
 of God's people

00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:54.500
 to take censuses

00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:55.919
 of the people of Israel.

00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:56.899
 It gives them

00:10:56.899 --> 00:10:57.679
 certain conditions

00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:58.200
 under which they're

00:10:58.200 --> 00:10:58.679
 to do it.

00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:00.100
 The book of Numbers

00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:00.680
 in your Bible

00:11:00.680 --> 00:11:01.620
 is actually centered

00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:03.340
 around two censuses

00:11:03.340 --> 00:11:04.220
 of God's people.

00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:05.840
 So it's not always wrong

00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:06.580
 to count the people,

00:11:06.680 --> 00:11:07.420
 but it is wrong

00:11:07.420 --> 00:11:08.780
 in certain circumstances

00:11:08.780 --> 00:11:10.040
 and for certain reasons.

00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:11.460
 And we're not told

00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:13.120
 exactly why that is here,

00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:14.300
 but still we're left

00:11:14.300 --> 00:11:15.160
 in no doubt

00:11:15.160 --> 00:11:16.399
 that David's intention

00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:17.360
 in taking the census

00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:19.240
 was a sinful one.

00:11:20.060 --> 00:11:21.200
 Perhaps it was pride.

00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:22.440
 I want to see

00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:23.700
 how big my army is.

00:11:24.180 --> 00:11:24.879
 Let me work out

00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:25.440
 how powerful

00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:26.560
 I really am,

00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:27.080
 maybe.

00:11:28.540 --> 00:11:29.519
 We're just not quite sure

00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:30.720
 what the intention was,

00:11:30.780 --> 00:11:31.540
 but we are told

00:11:31.540 --> 00:11:32.940
 that it is sinful.

00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:33.660
 Perhaps he didn't

00:11:33.660 --> 00:11:34.880
 collect the relevant tax

00:11:34.880 --> 00:11:35.880
 that God had told him to

00:11:35.880 --> 00:11:37.060
 in the book of Exodus.

00:11:37.880 --> 00:11:38.900
 Now it was sinful

00:11:38.900 --> 00:11:40.360
 and the people knew it.

00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:42.680
 Now despite that

00:11:42.680 --> 00:11:43.520
 and despite the fact

00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:44.400
 that by verse 10

00:11:44.400 --> 00:11:45.740
 David is conscience stricken,

00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:47.240
 still what you need

00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:47.740
 to notice

00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:48.320
 in the beginning

00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:48.760
 of the chapter

00:11:48.760 --> 00:11:49.440
 is that David

00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:50.620
 is really determined

00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:52.000
 to do this sinful thing.

00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:53.880
 Notice how verse 4

00:11:53.880 --> 00:11:54.480
 puts it.

00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.760
 David's word prevails

00:11:56.760 --> 00:11:58.320
 over the objections

00:11:58.320 --> 00:11:59.180
 of Joab

00:11:59.180 --> 00:12:00.120
 and his army commanders.

00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:03.679
 Joab and the army commanders

00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:03.940
 are saying,

00:12:04.060 --> 00:12:04.419
 please David,

00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:05.019
 don't do this,

00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:05.779
 don't do this.

00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:07.639
 But David's word prevails.

00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:09.799
 David gets his way.

00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:11.740
 Now if that's all

00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.840
 there was in verse 1,

00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:13.679
 if all you had

00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:14.320
 in verse 1

00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:15.879
 was David saying,

00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:16.840
 go and take a census

00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:17.659
 of Israel and Judah

00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.580
 and you knew it was sinful,

00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:19.899
 then what you would have

00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:20.779
 in some ways

00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:21.960
 is something a bit similar

00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:22.899
 to the rest of the things

00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:23.860
 going on in 2 Samuel

00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:24.899
 with the mess

00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:25.500
 that's meant.

00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:26.799
 You know,

00:12:27.180 --> 00:12:28.700
 Amnon desires Tamar

00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:29.900
 and makes a mess.

00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:31.840
 Absalom desires the nation,

00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:33.340
 makes a mess.

00:12:33.900 --> 00:12:35.240
 David desires a census,

00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:37.259
 makes a mess.

00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:38.960
 But there's more to it

00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:39.500
 than that

00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.060
 because there's a twist

00:12:41.060 --> 00:12:41.740
 here, isn't there?

00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:43.500
 It turns out

00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:45.020
 that the chief of police

00:12:45.020 --> 00:12:46.120
 knew all along

00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:47.200
 and knew exactly

00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:47.820
 what was happening

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:49.060
 and was behind it all.

00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.160
 Verse 1,

00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.879
 above and behind,

00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:53.100
 overruling everything

00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:53.759
 that happens

00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.400
 is God.

00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:57.460
 The taking of the census,

00:12:57.460 --> 00:12:58.680
 David's desire

00:12:58.680 --> 00:12:59.600
 to take a census

00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:00.620
 is verse 1,

00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:00.940
 what?

00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.540
 Incited by God.

00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:05.900
 In other words,

00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.160
 God is leading David.

00:13:08.660 --> 00:13:09.420
 He's leading him

00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:10.639
 not against his will,

00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:11.600
 yet David wants

00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:12.400
 to do it as well.

00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:13.900
 He was willingly led,

00:13:14.300 --> 00:13:15.000
 but still,

00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.360
 chapter 24,

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.600
 verse 1,

00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:20.740
 God incited David

00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:22.420
 to want to take

00:13:22.420 --> 00:13:23.139
 this census

00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:25.120
 to punish

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:26.100
 the people of Israel.

00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:26.420
 Now,

00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:29.000
 God is angry,

00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:29.420
 isn't he?

00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:30.740
 He is burning with anger,

00:13:30.780 --> 00:13:31.519
 we find at the beginning

00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.160
 of verse 1.

00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.139
 He is heated up

00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:34.080
 against the people of Israel

00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:35.360
 for some sin or behavior

00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:37.060
 that's not directly recorded

00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:37.920
 for us in the chapter.

00:13:39.019 --> 00:13:39.360
 In other words,

00:13:39.400 --> 00:13:40.300
 the story is not just

00:13:40.300 --> 00:13:41.360
 the story of a sort of

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.300
 hapless David

00:13:42.300 --> 00:13:43.180
 blundering into sin

00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:43.780
 by accident,

00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:44.960
 nor is it the story

00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.900
 of innocent Israel

00:13:45.900 --> 00:13:46.620
 getting caught up

00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:47.580
 in the wickedness of David.

00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:48.240
 Now,

00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:48.759
 here's God

00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:50.180
 in righteous anger,

00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:51.540
 burning against

00:13:51.540 --> 00:13:52.620
 the people of God,

00:13:53.180 --> 00:13:54.379
 inciting David

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:56.000
 to take a sinful census

00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:57.399
 so that judgment

00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.019
 might fall

00:13:58.019 --> 00:13:58.639
 on all the people.

00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:01.639
 There's a parallel account

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:03.139
 in 1 Chronicles 21,

00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:03.720
 verse 1.

00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:04.439
 You can turn to it

00:14:04.439 --> 00:14:04.960
 if you wanted to,

00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:05.639
 but there,

00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:07.240
 in 1 Chronicles 21,

00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:07.700
 verse 1,

00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.679
 you're told that actually

00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:09.960
 it is Satan

00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:11.759
 who incites David.

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.240
 It says that Satan

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.720
 rose up against Israel

00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:16.220
 and incited David

00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:17.000
 to take the census.

00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:18.059
 Now,

00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:18.700
 that's not because

00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:19.559
 1 Chronicles

00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:21.059
 and 2 Samuel

00:14:21.059 --> 00:14:21.919
 are contradicting

00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:22.399
 one another.

00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:23.000
 Rather,

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.899
 it seems as though

00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:25.399
 God's incitement

00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:26.099
 of David

00:14:26.099 --> 00:14:27.860
 is done through Satan.

00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:29.959
 God is not the author

00:14:29.959 --> 00:14:31.099
 of David's sin.

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.199
 He's not morally

00:14:32.199 --> 00:14:33.599
 responsible for it.

00:14:34.079 --> 00:14:34.379
 Instead,

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.860
 while Satan desires

00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:36.699
 to ruin the people

00:14:36.699 --> 00:14:37.699
 and David desires

00:14:37.699 --> 00:14:39.299
 to count the people

00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:40.199
 in pride,

00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.819
 still God stands

00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:42.759
 behind it all

00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.339
 in his ruling

00:14:43.339 --> 00:14:43.799
 and reigning.

00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:45.919
 God incites David

00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:46.579
 against the people

00:14:46.579 --> 00:14:46.980
 of Israel

00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:47.539
 in punishment

00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:48.240
 for their sin

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:50.659
 and 70,000 people die.

00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:53.659
 I don't know

00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:54.319
 how well you guys

00:14:54.319 --> 00:14:55.360
 remember Sermon Series.

00:14:55.579 --> 00:14:55.679
 Okay,

00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:57.639
 so I wonder

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.319
 if you might

00:14:58.319 --> 00:14:59.360
 possibly remember

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.579
 when we were looking

00:15:00.579 --> 00:15:02.259
 at 2 Samuel chapter,

00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.379
 I think it was chapter 10,

00:15:03.479 --> 00:15:04.219
 we talked about

00:15:04.219 --> 00:15:05.459
 the rollercoaster

00:15:05.459 --> 00:15:06.379
 of 2 Samuel.

00:15:06.599 --> 00:15:07.259
 We said that we'd

00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:08.360
 arrived at the top.

00:15:08.459 --> 00:15:09.240
 You know how rollercoasters,

00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:10.860
 they take you up,

00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.179
 don't they,

00:15:11.199 --> 00:15:11.860
 and up and up and up

00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:12.919
 and you get to the very top

00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:13.819
 and then they let you go

00:15:13.819 --> 00:15:15.579
 and you fly down.

00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:16.039
 Well,

00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:17.240
 that's what 2 Samuel does.

00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:18.219
 And chapter 8,

00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:20.419
 you achieve the high point

00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:21.039
 of 2 Samuel,

00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.319
 right,

00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:22.740
 and you're sort of

00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:23.399
 suspended there

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.219
 for a couple of chapters

00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:25.819
 as we see David

00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:26.379
 and all his greatness

00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.899
 and then you fly down

00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:28.679
 the rollercoaster,

00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:29.099
 right,

00:15:29.459 --> 00:15:31.259
 and it's just plummeting

00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:32.639
 the depths of David's sin

00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.219
 and the chaos

00:15:33.219 --> 00:15:34.259
 that comes as a result.

00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:36.199
 But actually what you find

00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:36.899
 by the time you get

00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:37.659
 to chapter 24

00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:38.319
 is that that

00:15:38.319 --> 00:15:39.399
 was not a very good

00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:40.759
 illustration of what's going on

00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:42.299
 because it's not a rollercoaster

00:15:42.299 --> 00:15:43.519
 where there's no driver

00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.860
 and where you're just going

00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.699
 in an aimless loop.

00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:46.659
 Actually,

00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:48.179
 it's more like a proper train

00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:50.279
 and God himself

00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:51.099
 is the driver

00:15:51.099 --> 00:15:52.620
 and knows exactly

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.439
 where he's going

00:15:53.439 --> 00:15:54.939
 and exactly what he's doing.

00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:56.199
 The train is going somewhere.

00:15:56.739 --> 00:15:58.259
 It's not going just the direction

00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:59.559
 of David's wicked desires.

00:15:59.979 --> 00:16:00.299
 Instead,

00:16:00.579 --> 00:16:01.500
 the direction is led

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.359
 by the Lord himself.

00:16:04.239 --> 00:16:04.620
 Now,

00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:05.899
 I think if you're following

00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.620
 at this point,

00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:08.599
 you should at least

00:16:08.599 --> 00:16:09.620
 have some questions

00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.659
 flying around your head.

00:16:11.459 --> 00:16:11.899
 Not,

00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:13.219
 what are we going to have

00:16:13.219 --> 00:16:13.559
 for dinner,

00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:14.739
 but some questions

00:16:14.739 --> 00:16:16.679
 about the nature of God

00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.879
 and what he's like.

00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.699
 You should be thinking,

00:16:20.239 --> 00:16:21.159
 how can God

00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:23.719
 incite David into sin

00:16:23.719 --> 00:16:25.319
 without being wicked himself?

00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:27.539
 How can I believe

00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:28.239
 in a God

00:16:28.239 --> 00:16:29.739
 who is involved

00:16:29.739 --> 00:16:30.539
 like that

00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:31.579
 in David's life

00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:33.059
 and is still claiming

00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:33.779
 to be good?

00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.500
 Doesn't the Bible say

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.879
 that God can't tempt

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.739
 people to sin?

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:38.979
 That every good

00:16:38.979 --> 00:16:39.739
 and perfect gift

00:16:39.739 --> 00:16:40.599
 comes from above?

00:16:40.979 --> 00:16:41.979
 How is it now

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.879
 that in 2 Samuel 24 verse 1,

00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.000
 I find God

00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:46.500
 inciting the king of Israel

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.180
 to do something

00:16:47.180 --> 00:16:48.039
 which we know

00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.279
 was not a good thing to do?

00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:50.759
 Now,

00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.800
 those are brilliant questions

00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:53.399
 and they're not very easy

00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.259
 questions to answer,

00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:55.800
 but we must say

00:16:55.800 --> 00:16:57.460
 that it must be true

00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:58.940
 that God is good.

00:16:59.300 --> 00:17:01.000
 The Bible is so very clear

00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:01.539
 on that.

00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:03.399
 But whilst it doesn't

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:04.960
 undermine God's goodness,

00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:05.779
 still,

00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:07.440
 2 Samuel 24 verse 1

00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:09.099
 must also be true.

00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:11.339
 Which means that we

00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:12.159
 we live,

00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:12.439
 don't we,

00:17:12.459 --> 00:17:12.879
 in a world

00:17:12.879 --> 00:17:13.679
 which is ruled

00:17:13.679 --> 00:17:14.299
 and reigned

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:14.980
 by a God

00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:15.799
 who is good.

00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:17.899
 A God who in his goodness

00:17:17.899 --> 00:17:19.079
 and his moral perfection

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:21.119
 without ever undermining

00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:21.720
 any of it,

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.439
 without becoming

00:17:22.439 --> 00:17:23.720
 wicked himself,

00:17:24.139 --> 00:17:24.539
 still,

00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.019
 in uncompromising goodness,

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:29.599
 he rules and reigns

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:31.359
 and sovereignly rules

00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:32.419
 even over

00:17:32.419 --> 00:17:34.379
 the sinful intentions

00:17:34.379 --> 00:17:36.359
 of wicked people's hearts

00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:38.139
 in order to accomplish

00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:39.279
 his purposes.

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:43.299
 I know it's so easy

00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:44.119
 for me to say that

00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:45.240
 and it's easy for me

00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:45.619
 to look at you

00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:45.940
 and think,

00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:46.720
 I don't know

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.279
 whether you've got that.

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.720
 But let me say it again

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.460
 because it's incredible.

00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:51.259
 God in moral perfection

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:52.879
 rules and reigns

00:17:52.879 --> 00:17:53.599
 over our world

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.519
 in such a way

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:56.099
 that even the sinful

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:57.639
 intentions of the hearts

00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:58.619
 of people who rebel

00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:59.279
 against him

00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:01.059
 are still in his hands.

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.379
 Still in his hands.

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.220
 He can still do

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:05.440
 his purposes

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.299
 and his plans.

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:08.899
 So at the end of the book

00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:10.159
 which has catalogued

00:18:10.159 --> 00:18:11.139
 the disasters

00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:11.919
 of the sinfulness

00:18:11.919 --> 00:18:12.700
 of men and women,

00:18:13.139 --> 00:18:14.180
 mostly men to be fair,

00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:15.159
 but men and women,

00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:17.779
 here at the end of the book

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.440
 you find that God

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.419
 has not lost the plot,

00:18:19.879 --> 00:18:21.099
 he's not left the stage,

00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.379
 he's not given up,

00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.659
 rather God has been

00:18:23.659 --> 00:18:24.819
 driving it all along,

00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:26.359
 accomplishing his purposes.

00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:27.980
 And let me show you that

00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:29.659
 in two specific areas.

00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.379
 That God is sovereign

00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.919
 over our world

00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:33.539
 and the intentions

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.339
 of human hearts

00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.199
 in judgment

00:18:35.199 --> 00:18:36.500
 and in salvation.

00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.659
 So let's start

00:18:37.659 --> 00:18:38.419
 with in judgment.

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:40.439
 This is where verse one starts.

00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:41.559
 God rules over sin

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.720
 in judgment.

00:18:43.899 --> 00:18:45.119
 God is angry, isn't he,

00:18:45.139 --> 00:18:46.000
 with the people of Israel.

00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.959
 We're not told why.

00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.519
 There are plenty of possibilities

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.099
 as you read

00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:49.939
 the book of 2 Samuel.

00:18:50.439 --> 00:18:51.139
 Sort of depends

00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:51.919
 on when you think

00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:52.799
 these events happened.

00:18:53.179 --> 00:18:53.859
 But the point is

00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:54.720
 that God's desire

00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.299
 to judge Israel

00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:58.740
 leads him to incite David,

00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:00.359
 using David's desire

00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:01.639
 to sinfully count the army

00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:02.699
 against the people

00:19:02.699 --> 00:19:03.779
 so that they're judged.

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.699
 I think as we watch

00:19:06.699 --> 00:19:07.559
 the things happening

00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.079
 in our world,

00:19:08.139 --> 00:19:09.299
 it's common for us

00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:10.059
 to feel there's a sort

00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:11.059
 of sense of hopelessness,

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.399
 isn't there,

00:19:11.419 --> 00:19:11.939
 in our world?

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:14.179
 Oh, there's never

00:19:14.179 --> 00:19:14.819
 any justice.

00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:16.980
 Evil people always seem

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.759
 to be able to get away

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.259
 with it.

00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:20.240
 Wicked people seem untouchable.

00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:21.059
 Good people seem

00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:22.159
 so inconsistent.

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.220
 Wickedness seems spiraling

00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.000
 out of control.

00:19:25.399 --> 00:19:26.679
 But in 2 Samuel 24,

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.299
 you're introduced

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:27.919
 to this idea

00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:28.259
 that no,

00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.459
 God is in charge of it.

00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.720
 And he is able

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.259
 to bring sin

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.559
 back on itself.

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:35.039
 He's able to sort of

00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:36.940
 pile up wickedness

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.059
 in judgment

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:39.460
 on sin itself.

00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:41.400
 Not necessarily always

00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:42.259
 in a kind of instant

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.059
 karma kind of way

00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:44.380
 that if you rob a bank,

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:45.140
 you'll get knocked over

00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:45.620
 by a bus

00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:46.700
 as you try and run away.

00:19:47.100 --> 00:19:47.860
 But rather that

00:19:47.860 --> 00:19:48.539
 in our world

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.279
 that God has made,

00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:50.440
 there is a connection

00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:52.299
 between sin

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:54.539
 and more sin

00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:56.839
 in God's righteousness

00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.740
 in the way

00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.559
 that he has hardwired

00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.200
 our world.

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.839
 Now think about it.

00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:01.440
 If you're a person

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:03.299
 who is sinfully angry

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.899
 with people all the time,

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:06.240
 you can expect

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.240
 to experience

00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:08.259
 sinful anger

00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:09.500
 coming back at you,

00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.039
 can't you?

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.180
 Because that's the way

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.220
 that God has made the world.

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.659
 Sin grows sin

00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:16.139
 in judgment at sin.

00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:18.000
 If you're full

00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.539
 of sinful self-interest,

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:21.319
 you are insecurely

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:22.279
 thinking about yourself

00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.460
 all the time,

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.559
 you can expect

00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.259
 to experience

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.900
 a sort of shallowness

00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:27.860
 in your relationships

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:29.819
 or a sinful dismissiveness

00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:30.880
 of others in return

00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:32.500
 because that's the way

00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.420
 the world works.

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.460
 Galatians 6

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.079
 talks about it

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:36.680
 in the context

00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:37.819
 of withholding support

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.259
 from those

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.039
 who teach the scriptures

00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.519
 and it says,

00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:40.960
 do not be deceived.

00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.039
 God is not mocked

00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:43.299
 for whatever one sows,

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:46.440
 that will he also reap.

00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:49.160
 All of it which make us

00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:49.980
 sit up and think,

00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:50.319
 you know,

00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:51.079
 wow, God,

00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:52.380
 this is how you've wired

00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:52.840
 the world.

00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.360
 1 Corinthians 11

00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:55.079
 talks about people

00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:56.100
 in the church dying

00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:57.039
 because of the way

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.940
 they treated one another

00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:58.700
 in the Lord's Supper.

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.660
 Now, we might not be able

00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.700
 to always draw the lines

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.460
 super clearly

00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.200
 and I don't think

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:03.880
 we're supposed to.

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.779
 I think the Bible says

00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.720
 that innocent people

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:07.600
 suffer innocently as well,

00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.980
 but actually we live

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.420
 in a world

00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:11.140
 that has been handed over

00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:11.620
 by God

00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:12.720
 to the sinful desires

00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.160
 of people,

00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:14.519
 not in an absence

00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:15.340
 of his control,

00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.880
 but in his judgments.

00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:20.420
 And so here in 2 Samuel 24,

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:21.500
 sinful Israel

00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:23.259
 have a sinning king

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.680
 because God

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.620
 is judging them.

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.180
 Interestingly,

00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:28.880
 the New Testament

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.700
 talks about it

00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.220
 even more

00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.900
 than just a sort of

00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:31.900
 sowing and reaping.

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.980
 In Romans chapter 1,

00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:34.580
 Paul says

00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:35.900
 that you can see

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:37.600
 in our world today,

00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:39.120
 you can see

00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:40.000
 that God is angry

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.800
 with our world.

00:21:41.300 --> 00:21:41.759
 You can see

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.380
 that the word

00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.320
 it uses is wrath.

00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:44.539
 You can see

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:45.259
 God's wrath

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.620
 in the world.

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.440
 God's wrath

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.440
 is revealed

00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.420
 against the sinfulness

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.039
 and wickedness

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.740
 of our world.

00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.720
 Where might you expect

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.380
 to see

00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:53.519
 God's wrath revealed?

00:21:55.060 --> 00:21:55.500
 Well,

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.060
 if you look

00:21:56.060 --> 00:21:57.380
 at Romans chapter 1,

00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.460
 you see it

00:21:58.460 --> 00:22:00.080
 in the wickedness

00:22:00.080 --> 00:22:00.720
 of the world.

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.880
 So three times

00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.800
 in Romans 1,

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.120
 you get this repeated,

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:05.700
 the idea

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.940
 that God gives people

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:08.539
 over to their sinful desires.

00:22:08.860 --> 00:22:09.779
 That's what he is doing

00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.380
 in judgment

00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:11.279
 to their sinful desires,

00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.420
 handing them over

00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:13.360
 to do what they want.

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.259
 So much so

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.960
 that the anger

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.640
 or wrath of God

00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.640
 is seen

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.720
 in the sin

00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.640
 that it leads to

00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.579
 in the world.

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.960
 So Romans chapter 1,

00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.600
 verse 28,

00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.039
 says this.

00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:24.120
 It's on the slide

00:22:24.120 --> 00:22:24.480
 behind you,

00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.000
 but you might want

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.579
 to turn to it

00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.319
 because it's so important.

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:28.440
 It's page 1,129.

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:30.579
 1,129.

00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.640
 Romans chapter 1.

00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:34.059
 Romans chapter 1,

00:22:34.120 --> 00:22:35.259
 verse 28.

00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.500
 Paul writes this.

00:22:44.500 --> 00:23:07.599
 They are full of envy,

00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:09.519
 murder, strife,

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.380
 deceit,

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.280
 and malice.

00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:12.740
 They are gossips,

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.860
 slanderers,

00:23:14.300 --> 00:23:15.020
 God-haters,

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:15.920
 insolent,

00:23:16.100 --> 00:23:16.400
 arrogant,

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.420
 and boastful.

00:23:18.020 --> 00:23:18.860
 They invent ways

00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:19.560
 of doing evil.

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.440
 They disobey their parents.

00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:22.880
 They have no understanding,

00:23:23.040 --> 00:23:23.540
 no fidelity,

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.180
 no love,

00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:24.800
 no mercy.

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.180
 Although they know

00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.180
 God's righteous decree

00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:28.500
 that those who do such things

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.340
 deserve death,

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:30.760
 they not only continue

00:23:30.760 --> 00:23:32.320
 to do these very things,

00:23:32.540 --> 00:23:33.620
 but also approve

00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:34.760
 of those who practice them.

00:23:35.820 --> 00:23:36.500
 It's shocking,

00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:36.960
 isn't it?

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.400
 Why is our world

00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.380
 so full of envy?

00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.039
 Why is it that people

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.960
 in our world gossip?

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.500
 Why is it that children

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.299
 are disobedient

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:44.940
 to their parents?

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.259
 Why is it that people

00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.420
 are heartless and ruthless?

00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:49.220
 What is it that leads people

00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:50.380
 to such terrible actions?

00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:50.840
 Well,

00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:51.980
 Romans chapter 1

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:53.059
 is because God

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.700
 in his judgment

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:55.079
 has handed them over

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:56.299
 to their evil desires

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:57.539
 in judgment

00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:59.299
 on their evil desires.

00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:02.680
 Now,

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.460
 understanding this,

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:05.019
 that God judges wickedness

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:06.339
 with more wickedness

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:07.279
 should bring at least

00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.539
 two responses in us.

00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:10.299
 One,

00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:10.700
 I think,

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.720
 is that it should bring

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.680
 a sense of consolation.

00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:17.220
 This idea

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.339
 that God is sovereign

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.619
 over the wickedness

00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.379
 of our world

00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:21.940
 brings great consolation

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.039
 because you know

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.399
 that there is nothing

00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:24.919
 in our world

00:24:24.919 --> 00:24:25.519
 that is outside

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.240
 of God's control.

00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:28.839
 the spiraling wickedness

00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.579
 of our world,

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.240
 the spiraling wickedness

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.480
 which you may have felt

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.160
 personally,

00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:35.440
 is not outside

00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.200
 of God's control.

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.700
 It's not a sign

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.519
 of his absence.

00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.079
 Actually,

00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:41.180
 it's a sign

00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:42.019
 of his presence

00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:43.019
 and his involvement.

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.960
 You're not to assume

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.019
 just that because things

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:47.440
 go disastrously wrong,

00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.259
 that must mean

00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:49.059
 that God's not there

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.819
 or that he's forgotten.

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.720
 Nor are we to ever imagine

00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.620
 that people get away

00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:53.220
 with sin.

00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:54.720
 No,

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.640
 God sees it all

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.900
 and is navigating

00:24:56.900 --> 00:24:57.400
 this world

00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.320
 in such a way

00:24:58.320 --> 00:24:59.340
 that we see

00:24:59.340 --> 00:25:00.180
 the consequences

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:00.940
 of sin

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.440
 in a world

00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.360
 that was made good

00:25:02.360 --> 00:25:02.940
 but ruined

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.740
 by our rebellion.

00:25:05.040 --> 00:25:05.840
 That doesn't always mean,

00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.060
 does it,

00:25:06.080 --> 00:25:06.740
 that it's proportional.

00:25:07.780 --> 00:25:08.580
 We're not to assume

00:25:08.580 --> 00:25:09.860
 that it was the 70,000

00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:11.080
 worst people in Israel

00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:12.180
 who died in the plague.

00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:13.259
 David,

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:15.259
 whose sin led to this,

00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.580
 remained alive.

00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:19.320
 There is a final judgment

00:25:19.320 --> 00:25:20.560
 yet to come

00:25:20.560 --> 00:25:21.180
 for sin

00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:22.180
 when all of this

00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:23.460
 will be finally resolved

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.759
 and yet still

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:26.299
 sin breeds sin

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.500
 under the judgment

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.500
 of God in his world

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.440
 and no one escapes.

00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:32.620
 The second response though,

00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.100
 it should mean

00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:35.100
 that we realize

00:25:35.100 --> 00:25:36.640
 that the big problem

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.400
 in our world

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.799
 is that God

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.600
 burns

00:25:39.600 --> 00:25:40.680
 with anger

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.759
 at the sin

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.319
 and wickedness

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:42.940
 in our world.

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:45.380
 God is not just,

00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:46.319
 I think sometimes

00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:46.799
 we imagine

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.680
 that God might be

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:49.400
 concerned with the injustices

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.759
 that I'm concerned with

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:52.279
 but not others.

00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:53.740
 But actually,

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.579
 the message of the Bible

00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.460
 is that God is concerned

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.400
 with all injustice

00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.920
 and all wickedness

00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.819
 including mine,

00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:00.160
 including yours.

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.879
 So that the moral God

00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.500
 who has left

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.180
 his fingerprints

00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:04.879
 all over you and me

00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:07.259
 has shown us

00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:08.059
 so that just in the way

00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.480
 that we get outraged

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.519
 by injustice

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.359
 and wickedness,

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.859
 so God is outraged

00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:14.119
 at all injustice

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:15.359
 and all wickedness

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:15.799
 in the world

00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:17.180
 including mine

00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:18.379
 and including yours.

00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.299
 So that my big need,

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.319
 your big need

00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.399
 is not so much

00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:23.059
 for comfort,

00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:23.839
 not so much

00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.960
 for a good night's rest,

00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:25.839
 not so much

00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.919
 for a refreshing holiday

00:26:26.919 --> 00:26:27.599
 in the Caribbean.

00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:28.960
 My great need,

00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:29.899
 your great need

00:26:29.899 --> 00:26:31.019
 in this world

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:32.299
 of spiraling wickedness

00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:33.019
 is what?

00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:34.779
 Forgiveness,

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:37.180
 reconciliation with God,

00:26:37.919 --> 00:26:38.680
 mercy,

00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:39.919
 grace,

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:41.819
 a sacrifice for sin.

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:43.759
 That's what I really need

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.919
 because I live

00:26:44.919 --> 00:26:45.399
 in a world

00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:46.919
 of spiraling wickedness

00:26:46.919 --> 00:26:47.799
 under the judgment

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.659
 of a just God

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:50.019
 who sees it all

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.220
 and knows it all.

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.960
 I think we can be

00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.940
 even more clear on it

00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:55.620
 than just that,

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:55.779
 though.

00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:56.740
 The point here

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:58.480
 is that David

00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:01.320
 in 2 Samuel 24

00:27:01.320 --> 00:27:02.540
 gets to pursue

00:27:02.540 --> 00:27:03.540
 his desires.

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.940
 You see that?

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.420
 Verse 4,

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.800
 chapter 24,

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.460
 it is the king's word

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.279
 that overrules

00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:11.440
 Joab and the army commanders.

00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:12.820
 David is getting

00:27:12.820 --> 00:27:13.660
 what he wants.

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.660
 You know,

00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.380
 if you were

00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:16.960
 David's counselor

00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:18.259
 in 2 Samuel 24

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.920
 in a kind of

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.160
 modern day speak,

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.820
 you'd sit down

00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:21.320
 with David

00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:22.040
 and you'd say,

00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:23.019
 listen David,

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.460
 you do you.

00:27:25.340 --> 00:27:26.160
 You be who

00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:27.060
 you want to be.

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:29.840
 You are the only person

00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:30.560
 who can do you,

00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:31.320
 so you do it.

00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:32.160
 You do what you want

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.820
 to do, David.

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:33.840
 Brilliant,

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.320
 says David.

00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:35.320
 I want to count the people.

00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.259
 Well, go ahead.

00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:37.340
 Count the people.

00:27:37.339 --> 00:27:39.359
 But actually,

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:41.220
 it is in the very process

00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.319
 of him doing

00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:44.299
 what he wants to do

00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.639
 that he faces

00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:47.059
 the judgment of God

00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:47.859
 for his sin.

00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.720
 We assume,

00:27:49.919 --> 00:27:50.359
 don't we,

00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:51.720
 that getting what we want,

00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:53.240
 doing what we want,

00:27:53.379 --> 00:27:54.899
 is a sign of success

00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:55.579
 and blessing.

00:27:55.899 --> 00:27:57.500
 But in 2 Samuel 24,

00:27:57.939 --> 00:27:58.959
 getting what you want,

00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.220
 doing what he wants,

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:02.319
 is a sign of God's judgment.

00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:05.339
 Have you considered

00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:07.259
 that perhaps

00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.519
 getting what you want

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.599
 might not be

00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:10.619
 the road to glory,

00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:12.099
 but might be

00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:13.000
 the road to hell?

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.939
 But if what you're

00:28:14.939 --> 00:28:15.819
 living for

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:17.779
 is simply the desires

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:19.119
 of your own heart,

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.959
 and you're getting them,

00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.899
 have you considered

00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:24.399
 that that might not

00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.039
 be the blessing

00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:26.319
 that you assume it is?

00:28:26.879 --> 00:28:28.939
 Our lives were given to us

00:28:28.939 --> 00:28:29.599
 not to live for

00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.740
 our own desires,

00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:32.039
 but to live for

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.779
 God's glory.

00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:34.559
 And if you're living

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.319
 simply for yourself,

00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:36.819
 and you're being

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:38.000
 successful in it,

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.099
 it might not be

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:40.099
 a sign of God's blessing,

00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.539
 it might just be

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.159
 that you're getting

00:28:42.159 --> 00:28:42.720
 the judgment

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:44.539
 that God wants you to get.

00:28:44.699 --> 00:28:45.639
 That's the challenge

00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:46.639
 of 2 Samuel 24.

00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:48.619
 David does exactly

00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.559
 what he wants to do,

00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:50.899
 but he does so

00:28:50.899 --> 00:28:51.579
 under the hand

00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:52.259
 of God's judgment.

00:28:54.159 --> 00:28:54.879
 Secondly though,

00:28:54.959 --> 00:28:55.899
 God's power over sin

00:28:55.899 --> 00:28:56.839
 not only means judgment,

00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.359
 it also means salvation.

00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:00.159
 God rules over sin

00:29:00.159 --> 00:29:00.959
 in salvation.

00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.079
 This I think is perhaps

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.099
 easier to miss

00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:04.699
 in the passage,

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.279
 but this is where

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:05.899
 it's leading to.

00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:08.279
 God's rule over David's sin

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:09.379
 in judgment on the sin

00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:09.859
 of the people

00:29:09.859 --> 00:29:11.619
 steers all these events.

00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:12.879
 You see all of the events

00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.879
 of 2 Samuel 24

00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:15.179
 arrive at a particular

00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:16.159
 location,

00:29:16.379 --> 00:29:17.039
 and it might not

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.799
 seem much to you,

00:29:17.879 --> 00:29:19.079
 it's the threshing floor

00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:20.799
 of Arunah the Jebusite.

00:29:20.879 --> 00:29:21.899
 That's where you end up.

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.219
 In fact,

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.639
 when you read

00:29:23.639 --> 00:29:24.480
 the story aloud,

00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.639
 you notice that

00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:26.359
 Arunah's name

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.019
 gets mentioned

00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:28.379
 an uncomfortably large

00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:29.059
 amount of times

00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:29.799
 in these end verses.

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.759
 The NIV,

00:29:30.939 --> 00:29:31.439
 just to make it

00:29:31.439 --> 00:29:32.279
 slightly easier to read,

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:32.980
 has missed out

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.539
 a few of them

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.299
 just because

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.240
 it's so awkward.

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.500
 It's a strange

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.319
 sort of emphasis.

00:29:37.879 --> 00:29:38.319
 Arunah,

00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:38.960
 Arunah,

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:39.639
 Arunah,

00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.240
 Arunah,

00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:40.700
 Arunah.

00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:40.960
 Do you know

00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.399
 where you are?

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.420
 You're at the threshing

00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:43.180
 floor of Arunah,

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:44.019
 Arunah the Jebusite.

00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:44.319
 Do you know

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:44.779
 where you are?

00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.519
 You're at the threshing

00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:46.579
 floor of Arunah the Jebusite.

00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.839
 Why that emphasis?

00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:49.240
 Well,

00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.579
 actually,

00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:50.139
 I think that would

00:29:50.139 --> 00:29:51.019
 have meant something

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.039
 more to the people

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:52.519
 of Israel

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.619
 when they're reading it,

00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:55.160
 because this turns out

00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.920
 to be the site

00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.599
 of the temple

00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:58.039
 that gets built.

00:29:59.899 --> 00:30:00.759
 The point of this

00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.759
 is that David

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.759
 ends up there

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:04.359
 not with a sinful

00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:05.160
 desire to count

00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:05.579
 the people,

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.420
 but with a desire

00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.339
 to pay for the sin

00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:07.779
 of the people,

00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.220
 doesn't he?

00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:10.319
 He calls them sheep

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.160
 in verse 17,

00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.079
 and he asks that

00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.960
 he as the shepherd

00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:14.640
 might stand in their place.

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:16.339
 Please judge me,

00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.400
 says David,

00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.019
 as shepherd,

00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.019
 may I stand

00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:20.480
 in the place

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.160
 of the sheep

00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:22.519
 and face punishment

00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.059
 instead.

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:25.200
 And Gad steps in

00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:25.460
 and says,

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:25.619
 no,

00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.660
 build an altar here.

00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:28.339
 Again,

00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:29.059
 just think about

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.299
 God's involvement.

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.699
 David is following

00:30:31.699 --> 00:30:32.500
 God's lead

00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.240
 as he's instructed

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.819
 by Gad,

00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:34.459
 and he builds

00:30:34.459 --> 00:30:34.959
 the altar,

00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:36.139
 which he pays

00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:36.819
 for himself,

00:30:37.459 --> 00:30:38.079
 and it leads

00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:38.839
 not just to

00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:39.559
 the salvation

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.759
 of David

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:42.919
 and the ending

00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:43.459
 of the plague,

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.079
 but actually

00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:44.699
 it becomes

00:30:44.699 --> 00:30:45.639
 this great sign

00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:46.359
 of atonement

00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:47.559
 for years

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:48.240
 and generations

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.759
 to come

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.299
 as the temple

00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:49.899
 is built there,

00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:51.500
 right up until

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:51.799
 the age

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.439
 of the New Testament.

00:30:53.399 --> 00:30:53.740
 So here,

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.299
 God sovereignly

00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.319
 rules over

00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.199
 David's sin,

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:58.220
 not just to

00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:58.840
 lead David

00:30:58.840 --> 00:30:59.299
 and the people

00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.080
 to judgment,

00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.400
 but actually

00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:02.000
 to lead

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.620
 and steer

00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:03.140
 the people

00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:04.100
 to salvation

00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:04.720
 as well.

00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:05.779
 And not just

00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:06.180
 for the sin

00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:06.519
 of counting

00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:06.960
 the people,

00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.720
 but in the

00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.120
 ministry of

00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:08.519
 the temple

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.319
 for generations

00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:09.980
 and generations

00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.420
 to come.

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.220
 This is the

00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.160
 scene of

00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:13.319
 acted forgiveness

00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.880
 for generations.

00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.059
 Now,

00:31:17.100 --> 00:31:17.360
 of course,

00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:17.779
 what we're going

00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.120
 to find,

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:18.600
 which we've been

00:31:18.600 --> 00:31:19.160
 finding over

00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:19.680
 and over again

00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.240
 in 2 Samuel,

00:31:20.340 --> 00:31:20.920
 is that David

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.920
 is a picture

00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:22.539
 for us

00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:23.120
 of Jesus.

00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:24.319
 Now,

00:31:24.380 --> 00:31:24.680
 you know,

00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.000
 don't you,

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.340
 that he's not

00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:26.160
 a perfect picture.

00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:28.100
 Jesus is not

00:31:28.100 --> 00:31:28.660
 proud.

00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:29.800
 He has no

00:31:29.800 --> 00:31:30.660
 sinful desire

00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.440
 to incite.

00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:32.519
 In fact,

00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.620
 in 2 Samuel 24,

00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.340
 for much of it,

00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.000
 David is the

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.600
 opposite of

00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:35.840
 Jesus,

00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:36.300
 isn't he?

00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:37.860
 You see this,

00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:38.080
 don't you?

00:31:38.560 --> 00:31:39.840
 David's sin

00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:41.019
 leads to

00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.740
 judgment

00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:43.259
 on his people,

00:31:43.820 --> 00:31:44.040
 right?

00:31:44.560 --> 00:31:44.980
 That's the

00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.500
 opposite of

00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:45.740
 Jesus.

00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.320
 Jesus'

00:31:46.600 --> 00:31:47.500
 actions of

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.180
 righteousness

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.060
 lead to

00:31:49.060 --> 00:31:49.779
 life and

00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.300
 salvation

00:31:50.300 --> 00:31:50.680
 for his

00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:50.920
 people.

00:31:51.040 --> 00:31:51.519
 David is the

00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.040
 opposite in

00:31:52.040 --> 00:31:52.620
 much of this.

00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:53.960
 But you see,

00:31:54.080 --> 00:31:54.340
 don't you,

00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:55.000
 the echo of

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.559
 Jesus in

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.240
 verse 17,

00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.279
 where David

00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.319
 recognizes that

00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:58.680
 he,

00:31:58.859 --> 00:31:59.380
 as a king,

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.500
 wants to be

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:01.480
 representative for

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:01.980
 his people,

00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.039
 that his death

00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.779
 might mean their

00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:04.380
 salvation.

00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:06.460
 Pointing forward

00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:06.880
 to Jesus.

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.759
 And here at the

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:08.940
 end,

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.740
 the parallels are

00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.339
 so clear,

00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:10.740
 aren't they?

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:12.420
 That the true

00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:13.259
 temple of God

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:14.160
 is the Lord

00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:15.039
 Jesus Christ.

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:16.599
 Standing in the

00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:17.460
 place of Arunah's

00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:18.059
 threshing floor

00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:18.799
 is the cross of

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.599
 Jesus Christ.

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.779
 As the great

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.400
 shepherd of the

00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.380
 sheep stands in

00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:23.059
 the place of the

00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:23.279
 sheep,

00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:24.079
 the true

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.920
 sacrifice for

00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:25.180
 sin,

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.059
 not on an

00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.279
 altar,

00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:27.180
 but the cross.

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.899
 And the parallels

00:32:28.899 --> 00:32:29.519
 are even clearer

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:29.940
 than that only.

00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:30.519
 Think about what

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.000
 happens at the

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.220
 cross.

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:31.680
 We were thinking

00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:32.160
 about this with

00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:32.619
 the kids.

00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:33.799
 The cross,

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:34.180
 remember,

00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.059
 is the desire

00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:35.799
 of sinful men

00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:36.160
 and women.

00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:37.539
 Men and women

00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:38.059
 who have an

00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:39.160
 inexplicable hatred

00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:39.740
 for Jesus.

00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.740
 And they yell

00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.480
 for Jesus to be

00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:42.740
 killed,

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.079
 don't they?

00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:44.039
 Despite the fact

00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:44.779
 they know Jesus

00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:45.319
 has done no

00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:45.660
 wrong.

00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.740
 Hard to think

00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.480
 of a more wicked

00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.559
 act than shouting

00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:50.339
 for the death of

00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:51.119
 the Son of God

00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:52.160
 in human flesh.

00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:53.600
 That's exactly

00:32:53.600 --> 00:32:54.140
 what the crowds

00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:54.340
 do,

00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:54.660
 don't they?

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:55.759
 You know,

00:32:55.820 --> 00:32:56.720
 kill this man.

00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:57.400
 Oh,

00:32:57.540 --> 00:32:58.460
 he's had compassion

00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.140
 on the crowds

00:32:59.140 --> 00:32:59.900
 all of his

00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:00.320
 ministry,

00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:01.120
 yet they're

00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:01.380
 shouting,

00:33:01.560 --> 00:33:02.040
 kill him,

00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:02.920
 kill him.

00:33:03.600 --> 00:33:04.519
 He healed my

00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.279
 mum from a

00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:05.580
 disease.

00:33:05.860 --> 00:33:06.160
 Kill him

00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:06.500
 anyway.

00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:07.740
 I saw him

00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.140
 raised to death.

00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:08.519
 Kill him

00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:08.900
 anyway.

00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:11.820
 He fed

00:33:11.820 --> 00:33:12.600
 $5,000.

00:33:14.060 --> 00:33:14.720
 Crucify him.

00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:15.620
 Crucify him.

00:33:16.820 --> 00:33:16.980
 Now,

00:33:17.040 --> 00:33:17.300
 if you want

00:33:17.300 --> 00:33:17.820
 to know that

00:33:17.820 --> 00:33:18.540
 our sin problem

00:33:18.540 --> 00:33:19.560
 is its heart,

00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:20.320
 a hatred of God,

00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:20.820
 then look no

00:33:20.820 --> 00:33:21.340
 further than the

00:33:21.340 --> 00:33:21.779
 cross.

00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:23.220
 But still,

00:33:23.360 --> 00:33:24.140
 in all of that,

00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:24.779
 in God's

00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.740
 sovereign power

00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.580
 over the

00:33:26.580 --> 00:33:27.180
 sinfulness of

00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:27.600
 humanity,

00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:28.560
 what is God

00:33:28.560 --> 00:33:28.880
 doing?

00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.680
 He is

00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:32.360
 saving his

00:33:32.360 --> 00:33:32.700
 people.

00:33:33.320 --> 00:33:33.620
 He has a

00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:34.460
 plan to save.

00:33:35.320 --> 00:33:36.019
 So much so

00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.500
 that you could

00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.000
 say God

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:38.019
 incites their

00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:38.700
 wicked cries

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:39.380
 so that King

00:33:39.380 --> 00:33:39.960
 Jesus would

00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.560
 arrive at the

00:33:40.560 --> 00:33:41.500
 cross and

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.180
 provide the

00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:43.100
 means for our

00:33:43.100 --> 00:33:44.200
 forgiveness in

00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:44.720
 his death on

00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:45.180
 our place.

00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.560
 In 2 Samuel,

00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:47.120
 all the roads

00:33:47.120 --> 00:33:47.640
 are leading,

00:33:47.800 --> 00:33:48.060
 aren't they,

00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:48.920
 to Arunah's

00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:49.480
 threshing floor,

00:33:49.540 --> 00:33:50.080
 to the place of

00:33:50.080 --> 00:33:50.460
 atonement.

00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:51.039
 Actually,

00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:51.380
 in the Bible,

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.000
 all the roads

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.440
 are leading to

00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:53.100
 the cross,

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.279
 to the place

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:54.720
 of forgiveness.

00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:57.680
 Now,

00:33:57.720 --> 00:33:58.140
 think about how

00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:58.640
 that applies

00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:59.299
 for us today.

00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.559
 I do think,

00:34:01.640 --> 00:34:02.440
 I'm no great

00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:03.380
 cultural commentator,

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.059
 but I do think

00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:05.460
 there is a growing

00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.559
 sense of hopelessness,

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:06.900
 isn't there,

00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.480
 in our world.

00:34:08.700 --> 00:34:10.079
 We live at a time

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:11.139
 where climate

00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:12.200
 change has now

00:34:12.200 --> 00:34:13.400
 become the

00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:14.280
 climate crisis

00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:16.420
 and it makes it

00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:17.720
 sound even worse,

00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:18.180
 doesn't it?

00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:20.700
 We live at a time

00:34:20.700 --> 00:34:21.400
 when politicians

00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.139
 seem to think that

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:23.160
 their job is basically

00:34:23.160 --> 00:34:23.940
 just to tell us the

00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.660
 bad news all the

00:34:24.660 --> 00:34:24.940
 time.

00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.139
 Let me tell you the

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:26.680
 economy is in a

00:34:26.680 --> 00:34:27.400
 really terrible way,

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:27.860
 they say.

00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.019
 Let me tell you that

00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:29.760
 public services are

00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:30.300
 in a really terrible

00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:30.559
 way.

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.440
 Let me tell you the

00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.099
 bad news about the

00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:32.380
 NHS.

00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:33.400
 Let me tell you the

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:33.980
 bad news about

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:34.900
 global politics.

00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:35.880
 Now that's not a

00:34:35.880 --> 00:34:36.559
 political comment,

00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:37.539
 everybody's doing

00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:37.940
 that, aren't they?

00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:39.480
 And it's easy I

00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.000
 think for us just

00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.780
 to be swept along

00:34:40.780 --> 00:34:42.260
 with this tide and

00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:42.639
 then there's a

00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.500
 sense of hopelessness

00:34:43.500 --> 00:34:44.280
 in the church as

00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:44.840
 well, isn't there?

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.840
 Oh look, we live in

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:48.619
 a morally declining

00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:50.619
 nation, churches are

00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:51.200
 shrinking all the

00:34:51.200 --> 00:34:52.400
 time, they're getting

00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.280
 turned into box of

00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:53.780
 apartments.

00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:55.260
 Let me tell you,

00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:55.840
 it's terrible,

00:34:56.200 --> 00:34:56.519
 hopeless.

00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.860
 Think about the

00:34:58.860 --> 00:34:59.720
 loosening of Christian

00:34:59.720 --> 00:35:00.599
 values from public

00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.240
 life, we've seen

00:35:01.240 --> 00:35:01.780
 that this week,

00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:02.160
 haven't we?

00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:04.599
 But 2 Samuel 24

00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.360
 in its fulfillment

00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:06.799
 at the cross stands

00:35:06.799 --> 00:35:07.779
 there as a reminder

00:35:07.779 --> 00:35:08.619
 that the story of

00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:09.559
 our world is not the

00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:10.880
 story of uncontrolled

00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:11.860
 sin and chaos.

00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.880
 The story of our

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:15.079
 world is the story of

00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:17.159
 a God who longs to

00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:18.639
 save and is

00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:19.639
 orchestrating all

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.519
 things for the

00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.139
 salvation of his

00:35:21.139 --> 00:35:22.360
 people at the cross

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.259
 of Jesus Christ.

00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:25.000
 One who brings

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:26.000
 judgment and holds

00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:27.159
 to account, who

00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:27.839
 brings forgiveness

00:35:27.839 --> 00:35:29.219
 and reconciliation even

00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:30.059
 in the midst of sin

00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:30.819
 and wickedness.

00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:32.299
 So that for you and

00:35:32.299 --> 00:35:33.539
 me this morning, and

00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:34.300
 maybe this is for the

00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:36.320
 first time, my hope

00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:37.159
 and my prayer is that

00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:37.940
 through this series in

00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:39.199
 2 Samuel, you and I

00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:41.480
 might arrive at Arunah's

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.159
 threshing floor.

00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.880
 Not Arunah's threshing

00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:45.119
 floor literally, but

00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:46.059
 its fulfillment in the

00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:47.139
 cross of Jesus Christ.

00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:48.960
 Have you been led

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:50.300
 there by the book of

00:35:50.300 --> 00:35:52.119
 2 Samuel to see that

00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:53.739
 what you really need in

00:35:53.739 --> 00:35:55.460
 life and in death is

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.539
 the forgiveness that is

00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:57.779
 only provided by the

00:35:57.779 --> 00:35:58.900
 cross of Jesus Christ?

00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:00.420
 Will you see that?

00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:01.820
 Will you discover it

00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:02.559
 maybe even for the

00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:03.420
 first time that God

00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:04.360
 has been behind all

00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:05.099
 the events of your

00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:06.539
 life, leading you to

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:08.079
 turn from your sin and

00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:08.980
 to trust in him?

00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:10.699
 And if you're a

00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:11.239
 Christian this morning,

00:36:11.299 --> 00:36:11.799
 maybe that happened

00:36:11.799 --> 00:36:14.259
 years ago, well just

00:36:14.259 --> 00:36:15.799
 be reminded by 2 Samuel

00:36:15.799 --> 00:36:16.779
 24 that there is

00:36:16.779 --> 00:36:17.820
 nothing in your life or

00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:18.659
 your world that God is

00:36:18.659 --> 00:36:19.539
 not in charge of.

00:36:20.340 --> 00:36:21.199
 God will bring you

00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:23.199
 home because he is in

00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:24.980
 charge of all things and

00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:26.559
 you can trust him.

00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:29.679
 God is the driver of the

00:36:29.679 --> 00:36:31.920
 train of human history and

00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:33.940
 you and I trusting in

00:36:33.940 --> 00:36:35.840
 Christ get to be part of

00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:37.340
 what he's doing for his

00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:39.039
 glory and for our good.

00:36:39.639 --> 00:36:40.220
 Let me pray.

00:36:40.900 --> 00:36:44.019
 Let's just take a few

00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:44.659
 moments of quiet.

00:36:44.740 --> 00:36:45.460
 Maybe you pray in your

00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:47.340
 own hearts, thanking God

00:36:47.340 --> 00:36:48.220
 that he's in charge of

00:36:48.220 --> 00:36:49.980
 your life and all that

00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:50.500
 happens.

00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:50.559
 Amen.

00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:50.619
 Amen.

00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:50.700
 Amen.

00:36:50.700 --> 00:36:50.780
 Amen.

00:36:50.780 --> 00:36:50.980
 Amen.

00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.619
 Amen.

00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:52.559
 Amen.

00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:52.619
 Amen.

00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:52.700
 Amen.

00:36:52.700 --> 00:36:52.740
 Amen.

00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:52.980
 Amen.

00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:53.139
 Amen.

00:36:53.139 --> 00:36:53.180
 Amen.

00:36:53.180 --> 00:36:53.260
 Amen.

00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:53.740
 Amen.

00:36:53.740 --> 00:36:53.780
 Amen.

00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:54.180
 Amen.

00:36:54.180 --> 00:36:54.220
 Amen.

00:36:54.220 --> 00:36:54.740
 Amen.

00:36:54.740 --> 00:36:54.780
 Amen.

00:36:54.780 --> 00:36:54.920
 Amen.

00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:55.260
 Amen.

00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:55.280
 Amen.

00:36:55.280 --> 00:36:55.380
 Amen.

00:36:55.380 --> 00:36:55.860
 Amen.

00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.380
 Amen.

00:36:56.380 --> 00:36:56.920
 Amen.

00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:02.920
 Amen.

00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:03.920
 Amen.

00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:04.920
 Amen.

00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:05.720
 Heavenly Father, how

00:37:05.720 --> 00:37:08.440
 we thank you that you

00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:09.780
 are sovereign over all

00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:10.340
 things.

00:37:11.659 --> 00:37:12.740
 Thank you that there is

00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:14.260
 nothing in our world, good

00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:16.800
 or bad, which threatens you

00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:17.800
 and your plans and your

00:37:17.800 --> 00:37:18.180
 purposes.

00:37:19.860 --> 00:37:20.840
 Thank you that the

00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.980
 wickedness of our own

00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:23.059
 hearts and the wickedness

00:37:23.059 --> 00:37:23.840
 of the hearts of those

00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:25.320
 around us have only ever

00:37:25.320 --> 00:37:26.300
 been able to accomplish

00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:27.059
 your plans.

00:37:28.200 --> 00:37:29.139
 And thank you that while

00:37:29.139 --> 00:37:30.420
 we don't see complete

00:37:30.420 --> 00:37:32.619
 justice today in our world,

00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:33.860
 there is a day coming

00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:35.920
 when justice will be done,

00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:37.700
 when every wrong will be

00:37:37.700 --> 00:37:39.619
 put right, every evil will

00:37:39.619 --> 00:37:40.280
 be punished.

00:37:41.240 --> 00:37:42.980
 And we recognize that day

00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:44.659
 involves and includes us.

00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:47.360
 So we come trusting not in

00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:48.460
 ourselves but in Jesus

00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:49.019
 Christ.

00:37:49.940 --> 00:37:51.360
 Thank you that he died in our

00:37:51.360 --> 00:37:52.360
 place for our forgiveness,

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:54.519
 that we might know you and

00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:56.119
 love you and belong to you.

00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:58.200
 Please we pray, give us great

00:37:58.200 --> 00:37:59.740
 confidence and joy in you.

00:38:00.420 --> 00:38:02.760
 In a hopeless world, help us

00:38:02.760 --> 00:38:03.840
 to hold on to this great

00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:05.300
 hope that you know what

00:38:05.300 --> 00:38:06.760
 you're doing and that you

00:38:06.760 --> 00:38:07.440
 rule and reign.

00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:09.599
 In Jesus' name, amen.