To Whom Shall We Go?

Paul Tripp recently posted a poem where he meditates on God's judgment of sin and unrighteousness. It's a reflection particularly on Psalm 73. Here's how it starts: To transgressing of your boundaries You will put an end. To human thoughts of autonomy You will put an end. To delusions of self-sufficiency You will put an end. Grace forbids these going on forever. This is the basic structure, and it concludes like this: Grace has drawn me near to you. Grace has paid for my unfaithfulness. Grace has made me clean in Your eyes. Grace put my stripes on Jesus so I would not face them when you put what is now to an end. Great stuff to help us remember the gospel in the face of our sins.

I had the privilege of taking a course this Fall on Old Testament II (Job through Malachi) with Dr. Jim Hamilton . My love for God’s Word has grown as a result, and I am deeply grateful for Dr. Hamilton’s erudition and passion for the truth. One particularly helpful lecture he gave was on the book of Proverbs. I could point to many helpful things he discussed including the structure of chapters 1-9 or the proverbs about parenting. But one compelling idea I want to point out comes from his discussion of Prov 7. In that chapter Solomon observes the foolish young man who is enticed by the seductive adulteress (note: this should be seen as paradigmatic; young women are certainly open to seduction). Solomon looks out his window and sees the young man “passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness” (7:8-9). The young man has set himself up for sin, and, indeed, sin is what follows. Jim Hamilton e...

One handed typing. Holding newborn son. Helpful quote from file: “The least sin is contrary to the law of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the glory of God; and therefore it is often punished severely by God; and do not we see daily the vengeance of the Almighty falling upon the bodies, names, states, families, and souls of men, for those sins that are but little ones in their eyes?” p. 38 From Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.

From John Calvin's commentary on 1st Timothy: [The] Spirit of God does not accuse or reproach us, in order to triumph over us, when we we are covered with shame, but, when we have been cast down, immediately he raises us up (p70)