Tim Keller writes, “If you want to understand your own behavior, you must understand that all sin against God is grounded in a refusal to believe that God is more dedicated to our good, and more aware of what that is, then we are. We distrust God because we assume he is not truly for us, that if we give him complete control, we will be miserable.” (The Prodigal Prophet, 137)
How true this was for Adam and Eve. God was their Creator and Friend. He knew what was best for them and clearly instructed them in the way they should go. However, they disbelieved God’s character and counsel. They placed greater trust in Satan’s advise and their own contemplations. Our first parents rebelled. They played the part of fools, and tragic consequences followed.
The same is true for us — children of Adam. Too often — weirdly, illogically — we find ourselves trusting God for our eternal salvation while distrusting his wisdom in living life. We believe he loves us enough to send his Son to give us righteousness and forgive our trespasses, but we conclude he is holding out on us in regard to everyday practical instruction. We distrust him. We end up listening to and trusting alternative counsel — Satan, wicked sinners, scoffers, even our own wicked hearts. We rebel. We play the part of fools, and tragic consequences follow.
Woe is me! Woe are we! Why can’t we understand the truth of Psalm 1?
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 1:1-6
Why can’t we understand the truth of Psalm 2?
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 2:1-12
Therefore, with this sad reality in mind, let’s do the next right thing …
Let’s Engage in Gospel Repentance: Let’s recognize God’s good Law. It is right and holy. It is what we ought to do. Then, let us humbly confess both our internal distrust and external disobedience. Then, following up with bold Gospel confidence, let us run afresh to the throne of grace and kiss the Son. There we will find the Blessed Man. There we will find the one who wrote and meditated on God’s Law day and night. There we will find the one who gave us his righteousness and forgave all our debts. And because of his righteousness-swap, there we will find the one who blesses us — every single day — because of our union and communion with him.
Let’s Engage in Theological Distinction: Before the Gospel, the Law was our Taskmaster and Judge. After the Gospel, the Law continues to serve as our Teacher and Counselor. God’s counsel is still good and true. It still presents the best way, and the consequences of following his precepts are sweet. So, let us maintain the distinction between Law and Gospel, but never let us divorce the Law from our Gospel-affected lives. God rescues us from all his condemnation, but he does not always rescue us from the consequences of our choices.
Let’s Engage in Humble Supplication: Finally, let us pray for grace to trust the God who saves our souls and instructs our hearts, minds, mouths, and bodies. He has our best interests in mind. He loves us more than we love ourselves. He knows what he is talking about. So, today, let’s sing along with the hymnist:
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus; just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise; just to know, “Thus saith the Lord”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him; how I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus; oh, for grace to trust Him more.
Unfathomable Grace 