Friday, September 19, 2008

God's or man's works?

2 Chronicles 29:36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.

Did Hezekiah restore a godly order on his own initiative? Was it by God's direction? Is free will and sovereignty antithetical?

Psalm 85:1 O LORD, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the captivity of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin. Selah. 3 You withdrew all Your fury; You turned away from Your burning anger. 4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not Yourself revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD, And grant us Your salvation.

8 I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10 Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth springs from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven. 12 Indeed, the LORD will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce. 13 Righteousness will go before Him And will make His footsteps into a way.
I guess it is God. But don't think that human responsibility is denied by affirming God as sovereign. Just because it may not make sense right now to affirm both doesn't mean you should throw one of these biblical truths away. Hezekiah did some amazing things, inspiring really. But God also worked out some wonderful things through Hezekiah and Judah/Israel. So we ought to pray that what we do is God's will because He is going to get His way no matter what. And we should be thankful when what we do is acceptable to God.

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