Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Introduction

Common Grace of God

Theological term

Distinguishes "Special Grace"

A few different dimensions

1. God's Favorable Attitude towards his creatures

Matthew 5:43-48 - Christ teaching... "love your enemies"

v.45 - He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous

Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

2. Restraint of sin in a person / societies life

Genesis 20 - Abimelech restrained from touching / lying with Sarah

Genesis 20:6... Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me.

That is why I did not let you touch her.

God protected Israel from evil... men needed to go and appear before Him.

(Ex.

34:23-24)

Exodus 34:24...

I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the LORD your God.

3. Righteousness by the unregenerate

God gives grace to unregenerate to live righteously...

Romans 2:14–15 ... (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

We know this well...

We live under the common grace of God

This mornings sermon title : Living with joy under common providence...

Providence goes beyond just grace... also the bad things that happen...

As we go into this - remember God's Common Grace.

Somewhat morbid topic

Very negative sentiments...

1. God's Providential Working is Universal (vv.14-15)

Observation (v.14)

Something else meaningless

Not new - considered before

Different perspectives / adds to what he's already said.

Obs: Good happens to wicked, bad happens to righteous

The wicked person...

Selfish

Living life of wanton impurity

Spurning God.

Living according to the ways of the world.

The righteous person...

General terms... living unselfish life.

Specifically - lives for God.

Striving after the Lord.

Seeking to know God and pursue God

Seeking to grow in holiness and purity.

Note: Righteous vs. Wicked

Not saying "righteous" is entirely righteous

Romans 3:10 - no one is righteous, not one.

We must apply context of Scripture.

Same with us today... can often criticize a person for saying certain things without understanding what they're truly saying, and that contextually what they're saying is right and true

Righteous get what wicked deserve

Wicked get what righteous deserve.

As Solomon observes, there is a great reversal of what ought to be

Not ALWAYS... but there are those cases

In our lives?

Ever seen?

As you look - think evil people do so well.

You look at your own life, lives of saints... seem to suffer.

How does this affect you?

This may lead us to become weary...

Psalm 73:13 - Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

Righteous should expect suffering

Godly leaders in OT - faced persecution

David under Saul

Prophets in OT

NT - Jesus Christ - ultimate example.

Christ said to His disciples - you will suffer

You, YOU... will suffer!

Remember... observation.

there are times (not always) where good happens to wicked, bad happens to the righteous.

We need to accept this from the hand of God if we are going to live out Solomon's commendation... (next verse)

Commendation (v.15)

"I commend the enjoyment of Life"

This is what Solomon says we should do

How is it that Solomon can commend this when bad happens to the righteous?

Because when we accept the reality of God's sovereignty, much of our problem is solved.

We struggle to accept...

spend our time worrying / being anxious / fussing over / grumbling and complaining about... etc. etc.

God has made a beautiful world, with countless opportunities for delighting both in God and what He has created.

"Nothing is better ... than to eat, drink and be glad..."

"Joy will accompany him in all His work"

Psalm 128...

V.1 - joy in the fear of the Lord

v.2 - Vocational Joy

v.3 - Domestic joy - in the family

vv.4-5 - worshipful joy

Jerusalem was the city of worship

People would go up to worship God

The city would prosper.

v.6 - future joy

Covenantal faithfulness of God

For us - hope in a future glory

2. God's Providential Working is Incomprehensible (vv.16-17)

Read verses...

Birds eye-view of life... what does he see?

Worldview...

Through the ages, man has pursued this understanding.

Think of philosophers at the Areopagus in Greece... Paul

In our own day, the rise of Darwinian Evolution.... driven by an attempt to understand and make sense of life.

Why do things happen in life as they do?