QT 31 Dec 13, God's sovereignty is not a promise of protection from evil

2 Sam 10:1-5 (ESV) After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, "I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me." So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the Ammonites. 3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?" 4 So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away. 5 When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return."

NOTE: Even when you do the right thing, it is no guarantee that the other person will respond correctly. David did exactly what he should and his actions were misinterpreted. The result is that his men were publicly humiliated. Should he have expected Hanun's reaction? I don't think so. Hanun's advisors were clearly a different group than his father's. It was certainly a possibility, and David's grandson Rehoboam will commit a similarly stupid action based on poor counsel.

We can have the best intentions and do exactly the correct action, but that does not mean things will turn out right for us or for others who are involved in the choice. The problem is sin and it has an effect on everybody around us. In this case the sin originates on the other side. God does not step in and protect the delegation from the shame. God allows the world to turn as it does so that the evil of life separated from God can be made clear. Without the reminder of a fallen world, there is no need to turn to God. So God's sovereignty causes him not to intervene in most cases. He can and will when necessary. And he does promise to bring good out of evil for the believer, but he does not promise to keep us from evil tidings. I think most Christians have a misunderstanding of God's sovereignty and a misunderstanding of the fallen world around them.