From Good to Great
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,
he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
Last week we examined and considered how the good life is indeed conditional — and we do not meet the conditions.
We will never stop wanting those promises. They’re branded right into our souls. And we will seek to counterfeit them — and live in disintegrated chaos or we will believe in the gospel and make Christ’s unique access to the good life ours by faith.
But suppose life gets fairly integrated. The gospel works. Christ bought lives don’t spin around in chaos forever. Progress happens.
What then?
Sensuality vs. Sacrifice
Two stories unfold in 2 Sam that have a similar beginning. David finds himself alone at home — at rest.
In David spends that time alone on sensuality — and a massive train wreck ensues.
In David spends that time alone on sacrifice — and a massive blessing ensues.
The book from Good to Great
The book from Good to Great
All that God had done with David before was good but in , that goodness graduates into greatness. His previous accomplishments made him a historic king. But now God was giving him a place and a promise that transcended history.
You were a prince (8)
You were a prince (8)
I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. (10)
What if I don’t want to be a hero? What if I just want to be average. There can be, and was in this case, a false humility present in that notion. If we’re going to walk with God, greatness isn’t optional.
The pivot from good to great involves not leaving well enough alone.
Failure vs Faith
David was a man of great faith. He was also a man of great failure. Which was greater?
Why did David’s faith win out? Because his failures were rooted in who he was and his faith was rooted in who God was. And guess which one’s bigger? I don’t deserve the promises of God. If that you keeps you from seeking them then you don’t understand the gospel.
Why did David’s faith win out? Because his failures were rooted in who he was and his faith was rooted in who God was. And guess which one’s bigger? I don’t deserve the promises of God. If that you keeps you from seeking them then you don’t understand the gospel.
He could have the best day, but in a quiet moment, Uriah’s ghost would tap him the tap on his shoulder. When you have sinned like David, you never forget it. The realities of his own failures and his faith in a God of mercy played tug of war.
“The most practical truths any Christian can know are that God is all-powerful, all-wise, and all for you. Nothing will have a more important practical impact on the way you use your money, spend your leisure, pursue your vocation, rear children, deal with conflict, or handle anxiety. Heartfelt confidence that the sovereign God is working everything together for your good out of sheer grace affects every area of your life.”
Age vs Ambition
Age vs Ambition
Our best timeline suggests David was 43 years old here. He lived until about 70-75. So he was a little over the halfway point. Life was beginning to be ordered. The Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies.
This kind of thing happens around this time of life. Generally at your peak professionally. You’re pretty good at your job. You’re probably in prime earning years. And wisdom and maturity are starting to set in a little. Some of the battles we fought within and without are perhaps calmed down.
See Stuck in the Middle by Paul Tripp
Rest vs. Work
If you’re living at a rest stop, something’s gone wrong.
Rest vs. Work
David was choosing to get off the couch. He was choosing to make more work for himself. He’d fought many battles, consolidated power, established a capital — but he wants to do more. Knowing what rest is for. It is to reenergize.
Illustration: rest stops
If you’re living at a rest stop, something’s gone wrong.
Once you are taken car
Authority vs Humility
Self vs God
Authority vs Humility
Was his life about himself or was it about God?
Authority vs Humility
David was the king. If he wanted to build a temple he could do it without asking anyone. But David knows better. He isn’t wise in his own eyes. He consults Nathan. It was this consultation that triggered the longer conversation.
Immediacy vs Legacy
Immediacy vs Legacy
Task driven people don’t like to wait. But some of the best things God accomplishes through us take place over the long haul.
Past Faithfulness vs Present Faithfulness
If we aren’t careful, we can use the victories of the past as evidences of present faithfulness.
No
43 year old David takes action — ambitious, selfless, costly, deferential action. And God told him no.
When you want to do something for God, do not be surprised at all if he tells you no.
There are people who want to have kids — and God says no.
There are people who want to get married — and God says no.
There are people who want to become pastors — and God says no.
This can feel very off putting.
But yes to something better
This can feel very off putting.
God tells his children when he better yes in mind.
David was doing the wrong kind of anthropomorphizing. He made the mistake of thinking God needed him. He made the mistake of thinking that God was interested in a house.
But you’d do a lot worse than to make the same mistake. Look at all the goodness when David misses the mark with the right heart.
If David’s heart wasn’t basically right then this “no” would have stung in a different way. God gave him something better than what David was seeking unless...
God gave him something better than what David was seeking unless...
David was seeking a reason for boasting
David was impatient
David wanted what he wanted
David thought he knew better than God
If you ask for bread, and God gives you Christ. You’ll see a lot about your heart.
If you ask to serve God, and God says he isn’t done serving you. You’ll see a lot about your heart.
In the Christian economy, the process of moving from good to great involves treasuring Christ.
In the Christian economy, the process of moving from good to great involves treasuring Christ.
What David lost...
his own idea
immediate public approval
What David gained...
an eternal covenant
a legacy
Christ
God closed the doors of the immediate but swung open the gates of the eternal.
And David responded with praise. That isn’t a given. The heart behind David’s original request becomes seen. If David was seeking a reason for boasting, something he could do for God to put them on even terms, immediate recognition as the man that built the temple… Then he would not respond the way he did.
---
There’s a great frustration with the tension between rousing the rusty off the couch and into the battle, and rebuking the prideful to let go and let god.
But both are evident in this text. On the one hand, David has a kind of righteous and commendable zeal. On the other hand, David’s true greatness comes about because of what he receives from God and not from what he takes.
But both are evident in this text. On the one hand, David has a kind of righteous and commendable zeal. On the other hand, David’s true greatness comes about because of what he receives from God and not from what he takes.
It seems to me that the advantage again goes to the man of action. If the man of action proceeds with humility, the Lord will close doors and open others. In this case, the doors of immediate action were closed and the doors of eternal legacy were opened.
The action to which David aspired was in many ways inappropriate. He was offering God something God did not request. He was anthropomorphizing God. I have a house / why doesn’t God?
But God redeemed the request (as he must do to even our most altruistic requests).
It seems in the final analysis that David’s request was mostly pure-hearted. His response to God’s redirection (don’t call rejection what is really redirection) is humble and grateful.
The proud person always wants to do the right thing, the great thing. But because he wants to do it in his own strength, he is fighting not with man, but with God.
― Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard