"Led her to the Soudan's right." Spenser
Bathsheba is caught up in the web of an intrigue that David’s son, Adonijah, inflicts upon the family of the old king (1 Kings 1:5-27). David had promised that Solomon would be King of Israel when he died but Adonijah decided to make himself king. David, even though he is old and cold (1 Kings 1:1), is not dead. Bathsheba and Nathan, the prophet, stir him into action and he delivers a stunning rebuke to his own son, Adonijah.
When Calvin used this scene to illustrate his idea of justification, he must have been watching some 2-bit 1950’s black & white movie made by an English lawyer. David, the judge who is napping on the bench with his ridiculous wig askew, is finally awakened by Nathan – the attorney – and Bathsheba. Hearing their case, the old man gavels and sends a writ of right to Adonijah who reads the verdict and surrenders himself to Solomon. Calvin’s idea of justification is a courtroom trial where God, knowing that a sinner is a sinner, shrugs off that status because He arbitrarily wants to acquit the sinner of guilt
The real picture of justification that comes from this passage shows that David, man with God’s heart in him, orders a military and spiritual challenge to Adonijah: rebel son without a promise to act upon.
Jesus (who is God!) followed a predetermined plan (no other persons were included in that plan) by which He could, as God and man, hold the rank and title of Lord of Hosts. First-born from among the dead (Colossians 1:18), Jesus Christ is qualified to lead the dead who will follow Him and be the human component of His Host – His Army.
Jesus Christ is your judge if you surrender yourself to His ability to champion your cause – your lostness and hopelessness and rebellion against Him. His verdict against the rebellion of Satan must be military and spiritual – not a lot of foolish rhetoric and paper shuffling. Jesus invites humans to join Him in spiritual warfare; the ministry of reconciliation. The door opens at the cross.
Come to the cross.
No comments:
Post a Comment