The World's Ruined: Mercy Musings

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Mercy Musings - Psalm 5

Some thoughts that hit me upon reading Psalm 5 this morning. I was especially struck by the first seven verses.

Hearken to my words, O Lord, attend to my cry. 2Attend to the voice of my supplication, my King, and my God: for to thee, O Lord, will I pray. 3In the morning thou shalt hear my voice: in the morning will I wait upon thee, and will look up. 4For thou art not a God that desires iniquity; neither shall the worker of wickedness dwell with thee. 5Neither shall the transgressors continue in thy sight: thou hatest, O Lord, all them that work iniquity. 6Thou wilt destroy all that speak falsehood: the Lord abhors the bloody and deceitful man. 7But I will enter into thine house in the multitude of thy mercy: I will worship in thy fear toward thy holy temple.*

David is coming to the Lord in prayer, asking to be heard of God. He then describes the LORD's disposition regarding sinful man. Though a forgiven sinner, David knows that what he prays in verses 4-6 describes himself, even as it does all mankind. David knew himself. He had no allusions regarding the sinful man that he was. In verse 6 he sums up God's indictment and judgment by declaring that the LORD abhors the bloody and deceitful man. The corruption of sin that touches every part of not only the unbeliever's nature, but that of the believer, places one in a position of rightly deserving God's abhorrence and wrath.

One can almost hear Paul's cry found in Rom. 7:24, Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?

But is wrath and condemnation the response David finds? He supplies the answer in verse 7, But I will enter into thine house in the multitude of thy mercy... David's acknowledgment of the LORD's diagnosis of his corrupt and sinful condition leads him to trust in the only remedy offered, God's free mercy. David will enter the house of the LORD "in the multitude of His mercy." David, having a reality-based fear of God, is thus able to comprehend something of the immensity of the LORD's mercy bestowed on him. That mercy is the promise of righteousness to the ungodly; to those who like Abraham put their trust for forgiveness in the mercy of God offered alone in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Paul in Rom. 4:5-8, But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Paul again in Rom. 7:25; 8:1, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord... There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.

*(Brenton English Septuagint)

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The Mere Mercy of God

This calling of Abram is a signal instance of the gratuitous mercy of God. Had Abram been beforehand with God by any merit of works? Had Abram come to him, or conciliated his favour? Nay, we must ever recall to mind that he was plunged in the filth of idolatry; and God freely stretches forth his hand to bring back the wanderer. He deigns to open his sacred mouth, that he may show to one, deceived by Satan's wiles, the way of salvation.

But this is done designedly, in order that the manifestation of the grace of God might become the more conspicuous in his person. For he is an example of the vocation of us all; for in him we perceive, that, by the mere mercy of God, those things that are not are raised from nothing, in order that they may begin to be something.

-John Calvin, Genesis, (Banner of Truth), p. 343

"Nor the faith also does not shut out the justice of our good works, necessarily to be done afterwards of duty towards GOD (for we are most bounden to serve GOD, in doing good deeds, commanded by him in his holy Scripture, all the days of our life): But it excludes them, so that we may not do them to this intent, to be made good by doing of them. For all the good works that we can do, be imperfect, and therefore not able to deserve our justification: but our justification doth come freely by the mere mercy of God..." (Thomas Cranmer - Homily of Justification)

Justification-Sanctification/Law-Gospel

In short, I affirm, that not by our own merit but by faith alone, are both our persons and works justified; and that the justification of works depends on the justification of the person, as the effect on the cause. (John Calvin, Acts of the Council of Trent with the Antidote)

The law guides, directs, commands, all things that are against the interest and rule of sin. It judgeth and condemneth both the things that promote it and the persons that do them; it frightens and terrifies the consciences of those who are under its dominion. But if you shall say unto it, “What then shall we do? this tyrant, this enemy, is too hard for us. What aid and assistance against it will you afford unto us? what power will you communicate unto its destruction?” Here the law is utterly silent, or says that nothing of this nature is committed unto it of God: nay, the strength it hath it gives unto sin for the condemnation of the sinner: “The strength of sin is the law.” But the gospel, or the grace of it, is the means and instrument of God for the communication of internal spiritual strength unto believers. By it do they receive supplies of the Spirit or aids of grace for the subduing of sin and the destruction of its dominion… (John Owen, A Treatise of the Dominion of Sin and Grace)

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Mercy Musings - Psalm 5

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