Archive for the Trust Category

Don Carson on Psalm 57

Posted in Psalms, Trials and Suffering, Trust on September 13, 2010 by Harry

The superscription Psalm 57 specifies that this psalm was written when David “had fled from Saul into the cave” (cf. 1 Sam. 22:1; 24:3). What we find, then, is something of the emotional and spiritual tone of the man when he could say, in effect, that “there is only a step between me and death” (1 Sam. 20:3). Some reflections:

(1) Even as he cries for mercy, David expresses his confidence in God’s sovereign power. The language is stunning: “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me” (57:2). The title “God Most High” is not very common in the Psalms. Perhaps David is thinking of another man without a home, Abraham, who was more familiar with this way of addressing God. Certainly David does not think that somehow circumstances have slipped away from such a God. He begs for mercy, but he recognizes that God, the powerful God, fulfills his purposes in him. This mixture of humble pleading and quiet trust in God’s sovereign power recurs in Scripture again and again. Nowhere does it reach a higher plane than in the prayer of the Lord Jesus in the garden: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39). In some measure or another, every follower of Jesus Christ will want to learn the anguish and the joy of that sort of praying.

(2) The refrain in 57:5 and 11—“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth”—finds David not only in reverent worship, but affirming something believers easily forget, not least when they are under duress. Perhaps the clearest New Testament equivalent lies in the prayer the Lord Jesus taught us: “Hallowed be your name” (Matt. 6:9). Here David meditates not on God’s sovereign power, but on God’s sovereign importance. More important, for David, than whether or not he gets out of the cave, is that God be exalted above the heavens. The passionate prayer that willingly submerges urgent personal interests to God’s glory breeds both joy and stability: “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music” (57:7).

(3) Rather striking is David’s glance at the orbit where he intends to bear witness: “I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies” (57:9–10). No truncated vision, this. And today as countless millions sing these words, David’s vow has been fulfilled far more extensively than even he could have imagined.

  • Carson, D. A. (1998). For the love of God : A daily companion for discovering the riches of God’s Word. Volume 2 (25). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

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D.A. Carson on Proverbs 3:5-6

Posted in * Favorites, Proverbs, Trust on March 16, 2010 by Harry

Proverbs 3 includes some well-known passages. Many Christians have been told not to be wise in their own eyes (3:7). The passage that likens the Lord’s discipline of believers to a father’s discipline of the son he delights in (3:11–12) reappears in the New Testament (Heb. 12:5–6). Growing up in a Christian home, I was frequently told, “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding.… She [wisdom] is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her” (3:13, 15). Wisdom is either God’s plan or the personified means of establishing the entire created order (3:19–20).
But first place should go to 3:5–6, enshrined on many walls and learned by countless generations of Sunday school students: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Observe:
(1) The first part of this familiar text attacks the independence at the root of all sin. Our own understanding is insufficient and frequently skewed. The only right path is to trust in the Lord. Such trust in the Lord is not an ethereal subjectivism; it is the kind of whole-life commitment (“with all your heart,” Solomon says) that abandons self-centered perspectives for the Lord’s perspectives. In the context of biblical religion, that means learning and knowing what the Lord’s will is, and obeying it regardless of whether or not it is the “in” thing to do. Far from being an appeal to subjective guidance, this trusting the Lord with your whole heart entails meditating on his word, hiding that word in your heart, learning to think God’s thoughts after him—precisely so that you do not lean on your own understanding. Joshua was required to learn that lesson at the beginning of his leadership (Josh. 1:6–9). The kings of Israel were supposed to learn it (Deut. 17:18–20), but rarely did.
(2) The second couplet, “in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight,” demands more than that we acknowledge that God exists and that he is in providential control, or some such thing. It means we must so acknowledge him that his ways and laws and character shape our choices and direct our lives. In all your ways, then, acknowledge him—not exclusively in some narrow religious sphere, but in all the dimensions of your life. The alternative is to disown him.
Thus the second couplet is essentially parallel to the first. The result is a straight course, directed by God himself.

  • Carson, D. A. (1998). For the love of God : A daily companion for discovering the riches of God’s Word. Volume 2 (25). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

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R.C. Sproul on the Book of Job

Posted in Job, Trials and Suffering, Trust with tags on January 3, 2010 by Harry

What is noteworthy in this drama, is that God never directly answers Job’s questions. He doesn’t say, “Job, the reason you have suffered is for this or for that.” Rather, what God does in the mystery of the iniquity of such profound suffering, is that He answers Job with Himself. This is the wisdom that answers the question of suffering — not the answer to why I have to suffer in a particular way, in a particular time, and in a particular circumstance, but wherein does my hope rest in the midst of suffering.

The answer to that comes clearly from the wisdom of the book of Job that agrees with the other premises of the wisdom literature: the fear of the Lord, awe and reverence before God, is the beginning of wisdom. And when we are befuddled and confused by things that we cannot understand in this world, we look not for specific answers always to specific questions, but we look to know God in His holiness, in His righteousness, in His justice, and in His mercy. Therein is the wisdom that is found in the book of Job.

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A Jealous God

Posted in Dependence, Trials and Suffering, Trust on September 12, 2009 by Harry

spurgeonTHE LORD IS A JEALOUS AND AVENGING GOD.  – NAHUM 1:2

Believer, your Lord is very jealous of your love. Did He choose you? He cannot bear that you should choose another. Did He buy you with His own blood? He cannot endure that you should think you are your own or that you belong to this world. He loved you with such a love that He would not remain in heaven without you; He would sooner die than have you perish, and He cannot endure that anything should stand between your heart’s love and Himself. He is very jealous of your trust. He will not permit you to trust in yourself. He cannot stand the thought of you hewing out broken cisterns and neglecting the overflowing fountain that is always free to you. When we lean upon Him, He is glad; but when we transfer our dependence to another, when we rely upon our own wisdom or the wisdom of a friend—worst of all, when we trust in any works of our own—He is displeased and will chasten us, that He may bring us to Himself. He is also very jealous of our company. There should be no one with whom we converse so much as with Jesus. To remain in Him alone, this is true love; but to commune with the world, to find sufficient satisfaction in our earthly comforts, to even prefer the company of our fellow Christians to secret fellowship with Him, this grieves our jealous Lord. He longs to have us abide in Him and enjoy constant fellowship with Himself; and many of the trials that He sends us are for the purpose of weaning our hearts from created things and fixing them more closely on Him who created everything. Let this jealousy that would keep us near to Christ also be a comfort to us, for if He loves us so much as to care about our love, we may be sure that He will allow nothing to harm us and will protect us from all our enemies. May we have grace today to keep our hearts in holy purity for Christ alone, with sacred jealousy closing our eyes to all the fascinations of the world!

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Spurgeon on Jesus

Posted in Dependence, Evil, Holy Spirit, Total Depravity, Trust on June 28, 2009 by Harry

spurgeonLOOKING TO JESUS. – HEBREWS 12:2

It is always the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus. But Satan’s work is just the opposite; he is constantly trying to make us look at ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you do not have the joy of His children; you have such a wavering hold on Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we will never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: He tells us that we are nothing, but that Christ is everything. Remember, therefore, it is not your bold of Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, although that is the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits. Therefore, do not look so much to your hand with which you are grasping Christ as to Christ; do not look to your hope but to Jesus, the source of your hope; do not look to your faith, but to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of your faith. We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our deeds, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we are to overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by “looking to Jesus.” Keep your eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession be fresh upon your mind. When you waken in the morning look to Him; when you lie down at night look to Him. Do not let your hopes or fears come between you and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail you.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

- Morning and Evening June 28th a.m.

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Deuteronomy 29:29

Posted in * Favorites, Deuteronomy, Trust with tags on June 27, 2009 by Harry

Hebrew Scripture29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

ESV Study Bible Notes:

  • Not everything that is true of God has been revealed.
  • That there are secret things anticipates the need to trust, obey, and be humble before God.
  • What God has revealed is for the sake of obedience

Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

  • A full answer is given to that question, Wherefore has the Lord done thus to this land? sufficient to justify God and admonish (correct) us.
  • But if any ask further why God would be at such a vast expense of miracles to form such a people, whose apostasy and ruin he plainly foresaw, why he did not by his almighty grace prevent it, or what he intends yet to do with them, let such know that these are questions which cannot be answered, and therefore are not fit to be asked.
  • It is presumption in us to pry into the Arcana imperii-the mysteries of government, and to enquire into the reasons of state which it is not for us to know.
    • See Acts 1:7; Jn. 21:22; Col. 2:18.
  • Secondly, We are directed and encouraged diligently to enquire into that which God has made known: things revealed belong to us and to our children.
  • Note,
    • 1.Though God has kept much of his counsel secret, yet there is enough revealed to satisfy and save us.

      • He has kept back nothing that is profitable for us, but that only which it is good for us to be ignorant of.
    • 2. We ought to acquaint ourselves, and our children too, with the things of God that are revealed.

      • We are not only allowed to search into them, but are concerned to do so.
      • They are things which we and ours are nearly interested in.
      • They are the rules we are to live by, the grants we are to live upon; and therefore we are to learn them diligently ourselves, and to teach them diligently to our children.
    • 3. All our knowledge must be in order to practice, for this is the end of all divine revelation, not to furnish us with curious subjects of speculation and discourse, with which to entertain ourselves and our friends, but that we may do all the words of this law, and be blessed in our deed.

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Deuteronomy 8:3

Posted in Bible, Deuteronomy, Trust on June 7, 2009 by Harry

Hebrew Scripture” . . . man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

ESV Study Bible notes:

  • Real life derives directly from God and trusting his word (“word” could also be translated “thing spoken of”; see also esv footnote).
  • This was the learning that Israel needed in its heart (Deut. 8:2) if it was to pass the test in the land (e.g., v. 17).
  • This is the first of three verses from Deuteronomy quoted by Jesus in his temptation, affirming his confidence and determined faithfulness toward God (Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4; see also Deut. 6:13, 16).

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Spurgeon Morning and Evening June 1st a.m.

Posted in Trials and Suffering, Trust on June 4, 2009 by Harry

spurgeonAND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING, THE FIRST DAY.  – GENESIS 1:5

Was as it so even in the beginning? Did light and darkness divide the realm of time in the first day? Then it should be no surprise if I have also changes in my circumstances from the sunshine of prosperity to the midnight of adversity. It will not always be the sunshine of noonday, even in my soul; I must expect at times to mourn the absence of my former joys and seek my Beloved in the night. I am not alone in this, for all the Lord’s loved ones have had to sing the mingled song of judgment and mercy, of trial and deliverance, of mourning and delight. It is one of the arrangements of divine providence that day and night will not cease either in the spiritual or natural creation until we reach the land of which it is written, “there will be no night there.” (Revelation 21:25)  What our heavenly Father ordains is wise and good.
What, then, my soul, is it best for you to do? Learn first to be content with this divine order and be willing, with Job, to receive evil from the hand of the Lord as well as good. Then work at beginning and ending your days with joy. Praise the Lord for the sun of joy when it rises and for the gloom of evening as it falls. There is beauty in both sunrise and sunset; sing of it, and glorify the Lord. Like the nightingale, sound your notes at all hours. Believe that the night is as useful as the day. The dews of grace fall heavily in the night of sorrow. The stars of promise shine forth gloriously against the darkness of grief. Continue your service under all circumstances. If in the day your watchword is work, at night exchange it for watch. Every hour has its duty; so continue in your calling as the Lord’s servant until He shall suddenly appear in His glory. My soul, your evening of old age and death is drawing near; do not dread it, for it is part of the day, and the Lord has said in essence, “I will cover him all the day long.” (Deut. 33:12)

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Matthew 18:3

Posted in Dependence, Matthew, Trust on May 21, 2009 by Harry

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

ESV Study Bible notes:

  • The humility of a child consists of childlike trust, vulnerability, and the inability to advance his or her own cause apart from the help, direction, and resources of a parent.

Reformation Study Bible notes:

  • Not because children are innocent, but because they are dependent and make no pre-tense of being otherwise

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Trusting God through trials

Posted in * Favorites, Sovereignty - God's, Trials and Suffering, Trust on April 22, 2009 by Harry
  • From Renewing Your Mind with Dr. R.C. Sproul Regional Conference Q and A 2008
  • God is sovereign over trials and sufferings

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TFL: "Good News, Bad News, Part A" **

Posted in Providence - God's, Trials and Suffering, Trust, Weaknesses, Will - God's, Will - Our with tags on November 29, 2007 by Harry

When you suffer unjustly:

  • Do not be suprised.
    • Do not be mistaken that all will be well if we give our lives to Jesus
    • Romans 8:28 (New International Version):
    • “28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.”

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TFL: "When Trials Come, Part 1, B" *****

Posted in * Favorites, Providence - God's, Trials and Suffering, Trust, Weaknesses, Will - God's, Will - Our with tags on November 28, 2007 by Harry
  • Knowledge over feelings
  • What is this knowledge?
    • God’s Providence
    • We know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose
    • Romans 8:28 (New International Version):
      “28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.”
  • We cannot accept trials for their own sake as a source of joy
  • Trials are painful, but may become the occasions of joy if we respond from the right perspective
  • Unless we think correctly we cannot respond properly
  • Paul in Romans – transform your minds
    • Romans 12:2 (New International Version)
    • “2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
  • Society teaches us to think that when we do not have trials then we have joy and so if we spend all our time removing trials, then we will have joy
    • James says the opposite
  • Now this is difficult, but God would not ask it if it were not attainable
    • Gold will provide for us and is willing to do so
  • Trials are inevitable, they are not unusual
  • Jesus said “in the world we will have tribulations, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.
    • John 16:33
    • 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[d] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Why are there trials, a few reasons are offered:

  • Faith rationalization
    • We are unfit for heaven and by Jesus’s death on the cross he has made heaven available to us
    • So that we may trust unreservedly in Him
  • Trials are the means by which our faith is tested
    • Is our faith genuine?
    • It is easy to be faithful when everything is going “rosey-posey”
    • It is when the wheels come off then we discover if our faith is genuine
    • Is our faith growing?
  • Perseverance
    • By the means of the testing we develop staying power
    • God knows how much we can take
    • We are forced to learn in practice what we know in principle
    • Look into the eyes of a person with soft eyes, ie a caring grandmother or a sensitive youth and you can guarantee they did not come to that point without persevering trials
    • Perseverance when it finishes, renders as its product: maturity, completion, and lacking nothing
    • We do not get the crown without perseverance
    • We become mature, like Jesus through this process
  • Trials are part of God’s program to make us more like Christ.
  • Puritan writer:
    • “The winds of tribulation blow away the chaff of error, hypocrisy, and doubt, leaving the element of Christian character.”
  • More progress is made through disappointment and tears than laughter
  • Spurgeon:
    • “Look at the weather beaten sailor and he would not have gotten toughness if he stayed on the shore.”
    • “You may go to school, but you cannot learn endurance there.”
  • If we believe all this then it will dramatically affect how we respond to trials
    • Trials hurt and may panic us, but we consider them pure joy because endurance and sacred toughness come down that road and not down the road of easiness.
  • If we lack wisdom, ie if none of this makes sense, then ask God and He will get us sorted out -> PRAY
    • It is a supernatural response that James prescribes and without God’s intervention, ie the Spirit’s power, we will never even come close to realizing it.

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TFL: "What is this you have done, Part A" *****

Posted in * Favorites, Faith, Trust on November 17, 2007 by Harry

Trust in Jesus with all.

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