#unpardonable

So we're going to jump right into it.

The question that Tim Keller is seeking to answer in the sermon was what was so wrong with David counting his men & this was taken from a passage in 2 Samuel 24.

You can also find it in 1 Chronicles 21, and it's an interesting story because it does on the surface bring up the question or the issue well.

   •  What exactly was the deal here?    •  Why was this such a big problem?

I know when I've read through that passage I've also found it to be a little bit confusing and not really understanding why taking a census on the Army & how that would be such an offense?

Obviously as we'll see, there's going to be quite the punishment that comes as a result of doing this action — so Tim starts by stating kind of an aside up front and making an overarching point

Which is this: that any time that we disobey the command of GOD that's already cause for being disobedient & we're wrong just for that reason.

……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… And just for that purpose, it typically makes a great point right up front & that is we don't just obey GOD because it aligns with our reason or our own understanding of why it's important to do something or not not do it ……………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………

In American society, we run into this philosophy of pragmatism & we always want to know why & if we don't understand conceptually what's right or wrong about the thing that we're doing often -times we tend to not obey.

It's got to align with our own understanding.

We have to be in agreeance with it; & what Tim states here is if it's agreement & that's the thing that's driving you to comply then you don't have obedience—agreement and obedience are two different things & we can't put GOD through that lens and say I'm only going to follow YOU when it follows suit with my own understanding.

And I'm okay with it because it obeys some kind of objective reasoning of my own—we live in a world where there's a morality of:.

……………………………………………………………………………… IF it feels right—then it's okay to do it, & that is the way the world thinks & as Christians—that's not the same type of understanding that we can apply to GOD's Word & to HIS commands for us. ………………………………………………………………………………

And Tim uses a metaphor here of being a parent sometimes when your kids ask you why you do not necessarily have an explanation that they're going to be able to understand at their level

especially if they're younger & you expect your kids to just obey & do what you tell them to do because you know what's best for them even if you don't have intent to explain the rationale behind your decision making

And it's the same way with us, as GOD's children what's interesting is Tim shows us in Scripture who the first pragmatist was the first time this comes up & it's right in the Garden of Eden:

1.]  Serpent Presses For Rationale

      In Eden with the serpent asked Adam & Eve       “did GOD really say that you can't eat from       this tree?” & what is he doing there? He's       trying to play to their sense of rationality       & if they can't see a reason why this would       be bad to do—then therefore it must be OK

      And what did they do?

      They went ahead & they participated in that       sin & now we have the context of life where       we have today as a result of that decision a       rational framework is not proper framework       to evaluate GOD's commands for us...

      And so Tim makes that point right up front       before he goes into some of the essential       truths or kind of really digs into the passage       with a more fine-tooth comb to get to the       intent behind it.

2.] Pits King Saul as Deserving Wrath

      So what Tim does next is he gives us some       historical context about the time that Israel       was living in & he really goes back to some       of his earlier teachings on the time of King       Saul—he evaluates Saul's conquest of the       Amalekites.

      It teaches us a little bit about the Amalekites       — so the Amalekites, like all ancient peoples,       were living in sort of a power complex society

      Meaning that anytime that your military have       the might or the strength to take out a smaller       power—the temptation would be to do it then       when you would do it you'd conquer the other       nation's King & capture them — and plunder all       their wealth & their resources & their goods &       you would take it for your own.

………………………………………………………………………………       So might was kind of the rule of law & Israel was       the only exception to those types of societies—       where they were a society that ruled thru justice       & mercy.. ………………………………………………………………………………

      When GOD told Israel to go in & conquer another       nation—it wasn't due to their ability to go in with       superior forces & superior power & the superior       military — it was at HIS command and with HIS       provision.

      That's how they would win battles & it would be       for the purpose of either inflicting justice/mercy       on that opposing force of those other peoples..

……………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………       And so there was a very stark distinguishing line       there between how other ancient peoples would       live & how they would flex their military might ……………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………

      —whereas it was very different with Israel in the       way that they would go about their conquests &       so you have to be able to distinguish those two       points of position in terms of how they would go       about their conflicts or their battles or fighting       against other people.

3.]  Now what Saul did, when he went in & fought       against the Amalekites—he actually did capture       their King and he did take a small percentage of       the wealth of that nation.

      He brought it back to Israel & so when you look       at that passage—it seems like a small thing esp-       ecially given the justification that Saul used of

      “Hey I'm going to take these goods & I'm going       to sacrifice them to YOU LORD — and that's my       intent behind doing that”

      And that sounds like well okay..

      You know he's taking something from this other       people because GOD gave him this great victory       & he's giving it back to the LORD..

      This sounds like a good justification.

      But it's not!

      Nathan goes & tells Saul that this act of small       disobedience is massive disobedience because       what Saul had done here according to Timothy       Keller is he now used a tactic or approach that       was aligned with how other nations conquer..

      —just by doing that in a small way, it is still the       same technique that these other nations would       do & it blurred the distinguishing line about how       Israel would approach battle

      as opposed to how other nations would do it &       that was a pure act of disobedience — now that       was merging Israel with other nations — rather       than distinguishing them.

      And in fact, that was what was in it Saul's heart       is he was comparing & contrasting himself with       other Kings & wanted to be kind of part of that       fraternity & that was his deep justification?

      And that's what made it such an egregious sin?

4.] Distinction for David vs. Saul [unforgiven]

      When David was going to count his fighting men       —he was in a sense doing that same thing where       other nations would look at their fighting force       & that would be their symbol of strain — and by       David wanting to take a census of his military,       he was a sense doing that.

      In a sense doing that same thing where he was       trying to measure himself up to other nations       that were out there & that's what made it such       an egregious thing to do.

————————————————————————       So Tim states there's a contrast & how we are to       live & how others are to live, so we can live thru       justice & mercy or through power & exploitation ————————————————————————

      And that is the heart of what is going on in this       passage—it's when we trust GOD & allow HIM to       rule our lives, and when we're obedient to HIM       —HE's going to enable us to live with a sense of       equity, justice, & mercy towards others

      serving them & relying on HIS strength & power       to give us what we need—or would we put GOD       aside? Our temptation is going to be to live with       a sense of power & exploitation that we're going       to use the same tactics in the world.

      their same moral framework to take what it is we       want thru the means we think is most appropriate

      We are not to do that.

5.] Racism Symbolic of Worldly Mentality

      Tim uses the metaphor of racism.

      So in the United States of course there's this       egregious history of racism & exploitation &       what Tim says the temptation is:

      To do this when tide turns, and the aggrieved       party becomes the party that now has a power       position, the #temptation would be to exploit       & exert power to inflict pain [extract revenge]

      And that's not what we as believers are to do       whether we're in the power position or in the       exploited position—that our approach should       always be justice & mercy & reliance on GOD

      And it's hard to not fall into the trap of       surrounding empires, or in our case the       other people around us live, whether:

       •  it's in the workplace or        •  it's in the community or        •  it's whatever your position is or        •  it's school you're trying to get good grades or        •  if you're manipulating people & using power           & exploitation to get to your goal

      Then you're mimicking & mirroring the world &       the way they would approach solving problems       & we need to come at it from an approach of       service/justice/mercy.

      Tim references here his favorite book it's the       LORD of the Rings & he pulls a metaphor out       of that book showing that the rings of power       the evil forces use power & exploitation to       inflict pain in order to gain territory & to seek       out their goals or the lead protagonists were       very unassuming & had a sense of service and       duty. And at the end of the day, we know they       end up winning out.

      In the book J.R.R Tolkien was trying to illustrate       this concept thru story & in the same way Israel       was not to have a standing army..

————————————————————————       They were supposed to be a force of defense       which when they were called to go out & do       battle—it was with this overarching sense of       justice & that GOD had a design and a plan for       each time they were to go out to march & take       out another country. ————————————————————————

6.] Personal Application

      So to zoom in again to our lives:

      What Tim is asking us to do is, he asked us to       evaluate our own heart—& he starts with the       concept of wealth.

      Are we using money to build a fortress in our       lives that we can trust?

      Are we counting it?

      Are we looking at it as our security & safety or       Are we relying upon GOD?

      Are we in relationship with HIM in the sense of       that we're praying, & we're trusting in HIS Word       to guide us & not looking to material possession       to be our strength — in the same way that David       counted his troops?

      If we're counting what we have & we're looking       to that as our comparison to others around us &       finding our strength in that source then we are       off track & the same is true in all areas of our       lives & our relationships & our title at work..

      All those areas need to be evaluated & if we're       putting our confidence in our strength in those       things—then we're not where GOD wants us to       be, so why did GOD handle David differently       than HE did Saul???

      or Saul was punished & he lost his Kingdom       —GOD still punished David, but David didn't       lose his Kingdom.

      He didn't lose his destiny.

      And Tim says the reason why GOD distinguished       between the two men in different ways — was       because of David's penitent heart.

      He was truly sorry for his sin, he was truly       repentant for his action & Tim states that       the more you mature & grow as believer       the more penitent your heart will be.

      —the more you're going to be conscious of your       own sin & you're going to repent of it & finally

7.]  Significance of Location

      David offers himself as a sacrifice for the nation       of Israel.

      And at the point, where GOD is at the threshing       floor to kill David, he finds mercy — and it was       actually at the same spot where Abraham was       about to sacrifice Isaac & GOD spiritize

      it was the exact same spot where eventually       Solomon actually built the Temple to GOD &

      finally it's important to note that when GOD       sent JESUS to die for our sins, HE didn't send       JESUS down to Earth with the sword, but HE       sent HIM to serve & to sacrifice & redeem us

      And so we need to model that behavior, we       need to put on the holiness of JESUS & follow       HIM wholly & with full devotion

      —not always understanding the answer why,       but trusting GOD in our lives.