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But sometimes I wonder whether we recognize God's work among us when it does come. Oh, sometimes we recognize God's working, I know. At other times, I'm not sure that we do.
The problem is we often have a preconceived notion of what the work of God will look like. When God works, we are sure that it will be an exciting, joyous and easy time. People will overflow with love and joy and peace. Our churches will be filled with new people, and many will accept Jesus. Older saints will have new fire and devotion. These are undoubtedly signs of God's working, but are they the only signs?
Conversely, we also think we know the signs of Satan's working--when Satan works, sin will be clearly evident in society and in the church. While sin is undoubtedly a result of Satan's work, I question whether the signs are really as clear as we think they are.
Our care group has been studying II Samuel this past year, and it has been instructive to me to ponder how God was at work there.
In II Samuel 11, we read that David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband Uriah. That was clearly the result of Satan's work rather than God's.
But what did the average Israelite see at that time? Did he see evidence that suggested God was working, or evidence that Satan was working? Think about the situation. God was richly blessing Israel. The kingdom was winning all of its wars and expanding. The kingdom was prosperous. The kingdom seemed to be blessed with a singularly wise and godly king who was preparing to build a temple for the worship of the one true God. To the average Israelite, it must have seemed that God was at work.
Then consider the changed situation in II Samuel 12. To the average Israelite, it must have seemed as if Satan had suddenly attacked the kingdom. It had become known (in print, even) that Israel's supposedly godly king was a murderer and adulterer. Soon after, the king's son died tragically. Yes, II Samuel 12 seems to be revealing the work of Satan.
But the perception of the average Israelite is the exact opposite of what the Bible records as happening. In I Samuel 11, when things seemed to be going well, Scripture records no action or word from God until the very last verse. In II Samuel 12, when things seemed to be falling apart, Scripture records God speaking and acting decisively.
When sin is revealed in the church, sometimes through the secular media or through law enforcement agencies, we Christians too often see the process as Satan attacking the church. Yet the reality is the opposite. The revelation of sin is the work of God--even if the immediate agents are ungodly people. This should not surprise us because the Old Testament is full of examples of God using ungodly nations to punish Israel for its sin.
It may not have looked or felt like it, but God's revelation of David's sin was a profound blessing. Think of what would have happened otherwise. The rot at the centre of David's life would have continued to grow unabated. There would have been further lies and possibly murders in an attempt to cover up the mess. More of David's servants would have been drawn into the web of deceit until the whole kingdom was corrupted. Instead, God in His mercy revealed David's sin so that he could repent and be forgiven. But God's strange and severe mercy did not just extend to David. God's words and actions were recorded in Scripture for everyone to read. God's action clearly demonstrated to everyone in the kingdom that God was able to see hidden sin and that God would not tolerate sin even in the godly.
Similarly, when sin is revealed in the modern church, do we see this as a Satanic attack? Or do we see it as evidence that God is working, that God is busy at the task of purifying and saving the people of His kingdom? Do we cooperate with Satan in hiding from the truth and pretending that we have nothing to repent of? Or do we see the revelation of sin as God's love and mercy, a call to us to repent and be saved?
In all of life, both God and Satan are constantly at work, the one bringing good, the other evil. One of the ways God brings good is by revealing and denouncing evil. God works in the direction of light, truth, revelation, openness. Sin is Satan's work, but the revelation of sin is God's work. Judgement begins, Scripture tells us, with the people of God (I Peter 4:17), and God's discipline is evidence that He loves us (Hebrews 12:6). God's mercy is severe and radical, but also deep and effective.
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