Texts on Suffering: 1 Chronicles 22 - 2 Chronicles 3

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the end of the first book of Chronicles and the beginning of the second don't offer any insights into the depths of evil, suffering, and death.

So, to mix things up a little bit, here is a YouTube video remix of a sermon that CJ Mahaney preached called "The Cup." Enjoy!

Texts on Suffering: 1 Chronicles 18-21

Let's get to it...

1 Chronicles 19:13

This instance of evil, suffering, and death isn't necessarily explaining the reasons behind these atrocities. However, this instance does show a response to possible suffering and death. Brothers Joab and Abishai, both a part of the elite group of "mighty men" in David's army, are up against the Syrians and the Ammonites. Joab takes "some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians" and he put the rest of the Israelite men under the charge of Abishai who arrayed them against the Ammonites. Then, the brothers set a plan. If Abishai is having trouble with the Ammonites, Joab will come to his aid, and if Joab is having trouble with the Syrians, Abishai will come to his aid. And then Joab says this to his brother: "Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him." Whether that be victory or defeat, life or death, imprisonment or execution, Joab and Abishai trusted that God was working all things together for good. Where is that today?

1 Chronicles 21:1-27

You're going to have to read the whole thing here. It's a pretty long passage, and pretty confusing if you ask me. Here's what I can gather. The same story is told in 2 Samuel 24:1-25. Here's what's interesting about both accounts of the story. Samuel says, "Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, 'Go, number Israel and Judah.'" But the Chronicler begins by saying, "Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel." So, the question is raised, who incited David to number Israel? Was it God or Satan? For the purpose of this post, I will not dive into the depths of God's sovereignty over evil and the use of it to accomplish his purposes. I'm just going to skim the wake, leaving the deep diving for a later time. Skimming...

If I know one thing absolutely about God, it is that he never does evil. Never. However, God does use evil moral agents to accomplish his good purposes (see the story of Job or Joseph or Jesus). Therefore, in order to reconcile these two accounts, I think you could say that God used Satan to incite David to take a census. Samuel wants us to see that it is ultimately God who is causing this census to be taken (for purposes that are seen later on in this passage), and the Chronciler wants us to see that it is Satan who is actually carrying out the evil incitation. On top of that, both accounts want us to see that David gave in to the incitation and sinned by taking the census.

As confusing as that is, I think that the purpose of this story is for the reader to get a glimpse of the coming Christ. After taking the census, David realizes the evil he has done and repents. God sends a pestilence on Israel, killing nearly 70,000 men. And as the angel, whom God sent to destroy Jerusalem, was stretching out his drawn sword over all of Israel, God had mercy on them and told the angel to stay his hand. There would be a substitute in their place. God incited David to build an altar and sacrifice upon it. That's foreshadowing! A better substitute is coming, Israel!

Conclusions about evil, suffering, and death for today

1. May the Lord do what seems good to him
2. God is sovereign over evil and sometimes uses it to accomplish his good purposes.
3. Sin requires immediate death, but we have a merciful and gracious God.

Texts on Suffering: 1 Chronicles 1-17

Yes... I started to read through the bible in 4 months beginning in 1 Chronicles. Why? I just wanted to mix things up a little bit. I've started to read through the whole bible so many times that I usually end up stopping somewhere between 1 Samuel and 2 Kings. Therefore, in order to keep it interesting, I am starting in 1 Chronicles. Deal with it.

Now, in light of keeping things interesting, little did I know that the first 9 chapters of 1 Chronicles are genealogies. That's okay. After trudging through those, the book begins to get a little more interesting. Here are the first 3 significant and relevant instances of evil, suffering, and death that I have come across so far.

1 Chronicles 10:13-14: As they continue their rampage of the Israelites, the Philistines overtake king Saul and his sons. The soldiers slay the sons of Saul, and the archers soon wound king Saul himself. Seeing that his impending death, Saul orders his armor-bearer to kill him with the sword before the Philistines come upon them. After the armor-bearer refused due to great fear, Saul fell on his own sword, thus killing himself. The Philistines eventually find the dead Saul, cut off his head, and fastened it in their temple. In light of his death, the author of Chronicles says that Saul died because "he broke faith with the Lord... and alos consulted a medium, seeking guidance" from him instead of God.

1 Chronicles 13:9-10, 1 Chronicles 15:13: Everytime I think of the holiness of God, this passage comes to mind. The new king David had assembled all Israel to bring the ark of God to the city of David. David and all of Israel are rejoicing before God with all their might as the ark is being brought to the city. As the ark is being brought to the city, the oxen stumble and Uzzah, a layman, not a Levite, takes hold of the ark to keep it from falling. For taking hold of the ark, God strikes down Uzzah. The first time I read this, I was struck with bewilderment and fear. However, the notes from my ESV Study bible (which I would highly recommend to anyone) have shown some light on the issue. Despite their zeal, David has failed to respect the sanctity of the ark, since the way he treats the ark is a reflection of how he is treating God. According to the law of Moses, the ark was to be carried on poles by the Levites only, not on a cart like the Philistines did. Therefore, when Uzzah takes hold of the ark, he is demonstrating a lack of reverance for the sacred object of God's presence and is transgressing its awesome holiness. Divine punishment is, therefore, just.

A Study on Evil, Suffering, and Death

After coming to a close on my first paper (Snatched: The Glory & Beauty of God in the Doctrine of Election), I am going to begin research for the next one. The paper is going to try to answer the following question:

How can a good and loving God allow so much evil and suffering in the world?

Out of all the questions that I have heard from Christians and non-Christians alike, this one seems to be the asked the most and sufficiently answered the least. God has put it on my heart to try to answer this question in a way that is biblically sound and pastorally comforting.

To begin my research, I am going to try to read through the whole bible in about 4 months, noting every significant and relevant instance of evil, suffering, and death. This blog will be used as a database where I can store all of these instances as well as share with others what I am learning as I go through the research process. Please feel free to question, comment, and encourage me along the way.