Character or Orientation – Webster on Piper on God

The folks at Upstream Collective pointed to this post by Derek Webster. This came to mind when thinking back over the message offered yesterday at Snow Hill. The text was David’s indulgence in power to take another man’s wife and then have him killed. Troubling dissonance enters the equation when we set this incident side by side with the description that David was a man after God’s own heart.

Either we are comparing David’s character to God’s or we are pointing out the orientation of David’s heart. Certainly we would not define the character of God by the fickle acts of a human being – though many do just that as criticism of God. Rather, what may be at work is a description of a Godward heart. David maintains his desire to seek God’s face, uphold his ways, and point to them in his songs despite his failing. In other words, he is undeterred by his own failing to continue plodding Godward. His heart is bent toward God – “after God’s heart.”

I think you will find Webster’s post interesting and challenging.

About the Author
Husband to Patty. Daddy to Kimberly and Tommie. Grandpa Doc to Cohen, Max, Fox, and Marlee. Pastor to Snow Hill Baptist Church. Graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reading. Photography. Golf. Colorado. Jeeping. Friend. The views and opinions expressed here are my own and should not be construed as representing the corporate views of the church I pastor.

2 comments on “Character or Orientation – Webster on Piper on God

  1. Lyndel Littleton says:

    We heard about David and Bathsheba yesterday too. It was the tenth sermon in a series on “Home life in light of the 10 commandments.” Perhaps part of being a man after God’s own heart is that when confronted by Nathan “You are the man!” David didn’t harden his heart but was immediately sorrowful and confessed his sin.

  2. Lyndel,

    I really think the David/Bathsheba story is about more than “thou shalt not commit adultery.” It is hardly a tale of romance and flirtation. It is a story about power and corruption, of greed and expectation, it is more about rape of soul and body than about what we term adultery. Who would resist the King. The story adds a little interest when it notes Bathsheba was making herself ready for worship according to the laws of purification. She, by virtue of the law, had to spend some time “outside” the fellowship. Now that her period had ended she was readying to worship. There is much more going on in the story.

    Your reference to David’s response in repentance is just the point. He did not lose his desire for God, even when confronted with his own sin. But, one would hardly want to suggest David’s character was the issue. Instead his Godward orientation would be what we should all pursue.

    Glad we hit the same text on Sunday.

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