Owen's Method in Controversy

In volume 3 of John Owen's works, a discourse on the Holy Spirit, Owen provides his method of proceeding in controversy (and here he is speaking particularly of controversy concerning the Spirit's person and operations). He speaks of those who "unduly rage against persons who have imbibed [imaginations and errors], falling upon them with violence and fury . . . . The course . . . of opposing errors and false spirits by praying, preaching, and writing is despised by them. . ." (37).

But, Owen asserts, "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:4-5, KJV). So the course "particularly suited to obviate the evil mentioned is to give a full, plain, evident declaration from Scripture of the nature and operations of the Holy Spirit of God" (37).

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 17

Chapter 22 of 2 Samuel provides a Davidic song that David spoke to YHWH "on the day when YHWH delivered him from the hand of his enemies, and from the hand of Saul" (2 Sam. 22:1). The Psalter essentially reproduces this song as Ps. 18. And God's sovereign activity in the psalm ranges wide. To comment on that activity would be to comment on nearly every verse. I urge the reader to recall this song when reading through Samuel and read Samuel in the light of it. A most salutary exercise!

So one brief comment on the text. David, a military man through and through, says, God "trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze" (2 Sam. 22:35). By God David can run against a troop, and by God he can leap over a wall (2 Sam. 22:30). This man's military prowess was given him by God. Think about that. Meditate on what sort of sovereignty we're talking about for this to be true. How many variables are involved in David's being or not being the military man he was, and in David's achieving success or not in battle?

Journaling a Spiritual Discipline?

I don't journal. I don't have a diary. A while back I tried. Yet I decided that I'd rather study God's will, works, and ways instead of recording my feelings and experiences (especially if not connected with God's will, works, and ways). It is commonplace in our day to hear of the great importance of the "spiritual discipline" of doing a diary or journal. I frankly don't buy it. I'm not totally against it. But I'm suspicious of it's value. And here's one reason why (from Spurgeon): 

I do not believe in keeping a detailed diary of each day’s experience, for one is very apt, for want of something to put down, to write what is not true, or at least not real. I believe there is nothing more stilted or untruthful, as a general rule, than a religious diary; it easily degenerates into self-conceit.

HT: Tim Challies

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 16

In an earlier post (Part 13) I pointed out David's plea for the Lord to thwart Ahithophel's counsel (2 Sam. 15:31). In 2 Sam. 17:14 it gets answered. And the means God used included David's encouragement to Hushai to return to Absalom to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel (2 Sam. 15:34). Awesome! 'Tis mystery all! So Absalom and his men thought the counsel of Hushai was better than Ahithophel's. And we're also given the reason why God "ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel." It's crystal clear: "that YHWH might bring harm upon Absalom" (2 Sam. 17:14).

Now how did God ensure that would happen? How did he know that they would embrace that counsel and not Ahithophel's, especially when Absalom had previously thought that Ahithophel's counsel was as from God? Well, isn't the answer obvious? God heard David's plea. And the Lord of the spirits of all flesh worked his sovereign will once again. Can what he purposes be turned back? Whatever is under the whole heaven is God's (Job 41:11). So let no one darken "counsel by words without knowledge" (Job 38:2).

Proverbs and Wisdom in the ANE

It's often said that the book of proverbs contains proverbs from the ANE outside of Israel or proverbs similar to noncanonical proverbs from the ANE. Fine. There's undoubtedly truth in this. Yet we ought to recall 1 Kgs. 4:29-30. The wisdom given to Solomon was given by the infinitely wise God. And Solomon's wisdom, beginning with the fear of the LORD as it does (Prov. 1:7; 9:10), far outstrips the merely natural wisdom found in even the best of the noncanonical ANE wisdom literature. For the canonical wisdom found in Proverbs is Spirit; but the noncanonical wisdom found in the ANE is flesh. Is there any overlap? Sure. For God's Spirit even animates and illuminates pagans. Yet the distinction between the canonical and noncanonical wisdom literature must be firmly maintained. One is heavenly, the other earthly. One is supernatural, the other natural. One is spiritual, the other carnal.

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 15

In line with the subject matter of the previous post on Calvinism Everywhere, Part 14, consider also 2 Sam. 16:22-23. In fulfillment of 2 Sam. 12:11, Absalom "went into his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel." This accorded with Ahithophel's counsel (2 Sam. 16:21). Moreover, this counsel, we read, was esteemed both by David and by Absalom "as if one consulted the word of God"! Verse 23 adds, "so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed."

Is this shocking to you? Were David and Absalom wrong in discerning this counsel of Ahithophel "as if one consulted the word of God"? But it accords with that word in 2 Sam. 12:11 exactly. God's word came to pass yet again. And the only proper response—worship! Fear and trembling! Behold your God! Behold him ruling his world and creatures with infinite power and skill. And adore that holy majesty, hand over mouth, arms laid down, knees bowing low.

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 14

Continuing with the fallout of David's sin with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 13ff, in the light of 2 Sam. 12:10-11, let's consider an intriguing passage: 2 Sam. 16:5-14. There we read of one Shimei who curses David continually. And Abishai didn't like this one bit (2 Sam. 16:9). "But the king [David] said, 'What have I to do with you . . . ? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, "Curse David," who then shall say, "Why have you done so?"'" (2 Sam. 16:10). Then David adds, "Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to" (2 Sam. 16:11). David appears to be interpreting this harassment in view of 2 Sam. 12:10-11. And he knows, in any case, that this could not happen unless the Lord had ordained it.

Now although we're not typically in David's position (at least I hope not!), do we ever respond this way, aware of our own sin and its social consequences? Do we acknowledge—ever—the Lord's sending a messenger of Satan to keep us humble? (2 Cor. 12:7).

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 13

Recall 2 Sam. 12:10-11. This prophetic word from Nathan to David comes within YHWH's rebuke for David's sin. We see this terrible word fulfilled in 2 Samuel 13ff; there we see the fallout of David's sin. To cite all the text would be to urge you to read it. And to read all the text in light of 2 Sam. 12:10-11 would be a lesson in God's glorious sovereignty governing all things according to his word.

As you read, consider how all the evils that arise in David's house have been brought to pass by the word of the Lord. We see rape, murder, deceit, inhumanity, intrigue, conspiracy, defection, treachery, all manner of evil. Even David's right hand man Ahithophel turns on him (2 Sam. 15:31). It is an awesome word given and effected by an awesome God. Look at it, and stand in awe. Does not beholding his glory herein cause you to tremble and bow low in adoration, to fear so great and awesome a God? It does me. I love the glory of this great God of Scripture. I want to see more of it and live in accord with it. But I will not worship that weak and pathetic god fashioned by man, a god who is at the whim of mortals.

Now zoom in on one frame of these unfolding scandals. David is on the run from Absalom in 2 Samuel 15. And in 2 Sam.15:25-26 he utters what might seem to some like a fatalistic word. But David knows that he lives and moves and has his being in the hands of YHWH (Acts 17:28; actually, even the pagans knew this!). He shall do this or that at God's good pleasure, if God wills, if God bestows favor, as God sees fit. Regarding Ahithophel's treachery and defection, David knows his only hope: a plea for the sovereign Lord to make Ahithophel's counsel foolishness (2 Sam. 15:31). Don't you want to live your life aware of the same sovereign divine reality? I do.

Motherhood as a Mission Field

This post on mothering at Desiring God is salutary stuff. Oh what a high and glorious calling! The highest! Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that preaching was the greatest, highest calling of all. In my view, he was close. Second only to the biblical calling of mothering biblically, preaching is the greatest, highest calling.

The Sum and Substance of our Christian Profession: Produced by the Spirit

"No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, which is the sum and substance of our Christian profession, but by [the Holy Spirit] (John Owen, Works, vol. 3, p. 19).

The Great Wisdom and Glorious Work of God

A while back I made a beginning at poking away at John Owen's Pneumatologia. On account of pressing responsibilities and unforeseen circumstances, I was sidetracked a while. But I've gotten back into Owen's unsurpassed work on the Spirit. And I'm enjoying it thoroughly. Here's a taste:

When God designed the great and glorious work of recovering fallen man and the saving of sinners, to the praise of the glory of his grace, he appointed, in his infinite wisdom, two great means thereof. The one was the giving of his Son for them, and the other was the giving of his Spirit unto them. 

And hereby was way made for the manifestation of the glory of the whole blessed Trinity; which is the utmost end of all the works of God. Hereby were the love, grace, and wisdom of the Father, in the design and projection of the whole; the love, grace, and condescension of the Son, in the execution, purchase, and procurement of grace and salvation for sinners; with the love, grace, and power of the Holy Spirit, in the effectual application of all unto the souls of men—made gloriously conspicuous.

 —John Owen, Works, vol. 3, p. 23. 

Is Jesus Lord of All? Or Playing It Safe?

Is Jesus Lord of all? Uh oh. That sounds dangerous. Might get us in real trouble. Like the prophets. Like the apostles. Like the holy saints and martyrs of old. Like Jesus.

Ruling in the Fear of the LORD

Is 2 Sam. 23:3f a dead letter for rulers and governors? My answer: Not if Jesus rose from the dead. Not if Jesus is Lord of all.

Another text comes to mind: Ps. 2:2-3. I wonder how the apostles would have understood this? Huh. Wish we knew. Hey, wait a minute: Acts 4:26. Ahh! Well, I guess that means the rest of the psalm applies. So, princes and rulers of the earth, "Kiss the Son" (Ps. 2:12).

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 12

Chapter 12 of 2 Samuel always hurts to read. It contains, of course, Nathan's rebuke to David, and the fallout of David's sin with Bathsheba. Much instruction might be gained from considering the scope of the chapter, but since my stated aim is to expound "Calvinism Everywhere," I shall limit myself to a few verses highlighting the holy and heavenly reign of the high King of heaven.

After Nathan utters his stinging rebuke, "You are the man!" he says: "Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more'" (2 Sam. 12:7-8). God anointed David king over Israel. God delivered David out of Saul's hand. God gave David his master's house. God even gave David his master's wives into his arms. God also gave him the house of Israel and of Judah. Then he says, "I would add to you as much more." Raw sovereignty rises to plain view for faith to behold and bow before. God has governed all that has come to pass, including David's multiple wives being given into his arms. I'll not deal at all here with the ethical troubles this gives us. I simply want to reckon with what the text straightforwardly says: God did it.

Well then, you might say, did God therefore do David's sin?

The Glory of the Gospel: The Ministry of the Spirit

Owen commenting on the "ministry of the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:8):

The ministry of the Spirit is either that ministry which the Spirit makes effectual, or that ministry whereby the Spirit in his gifts and graces is communicated unto men. And this is what gives unto the ministry of the gospel both its glory and its efficacy. Take away the Spirit from the gospel and you render it a dead letter, and leave the New Testament of no more use unto Christians than the Old Testament is of unto the Jews.

 —John Owen, Works, vol. 3, p. 26. 

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 11

In 2 Samuel 10, we read of the Ammonites and the Syrians joining forces to battle Israel. Joab, the commander of Israel's army, saw that the battle set against him would be fierce. So he "chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians" (2 Sam. 10:9). "The rest of his men he put in charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites" (2 Sam. 10:10). Then Joab said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may YHWH do what seems good to him" (2 Sam. 10:11-12).

Now that's revealing. Joab and his brother Abishai take the necessary steps to win this battle. Joab chooses the best men. Abishai prepares his men. They agree to help each other if the enemy is too strong. And then they stir each other up to be courageous for their people and the cities of their God. And yet. They know something. Even after all the preparations, God must grant victory. God will determine the outcome. God will "do what seems good to him" (2 Sam. 10:12). This is Calvinism. And there Joab and Abishai lived. And there I love to be.

Two Giants on Faith

Packer on faith: "Faith is . . . an empty hand stretched out to receive Christ, grasping him and holding him fast."

Luther on faith: "Faith taketh hold of Christ, hath him present, and holdeth him enclosed, as the ring doth the precious stone."

—J. I. Packer, Honouring the People of God: Collected Shorter Writings on Christian Leaders and Theologians, vol. 4, p. 8.  

Coming Clear

". . . the rule that operates in preaching, as in all teaching and instruction of any sort, is that you can say what you can see. When a thing is clear to you, and no inner reserve holds you back, the words you need to express it come naturally; but if you can't see it you can't say it" (J. I. Packer, Keep in Step with the Spirit, p. 211).

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 10

In 2 Samuel, David rises to the throne. And he "became greater and greater." Why? Or how? "For YHWH, the God of hosts, was with him" (2 Sam. 5:10). Sounds like the favor shown to Joseph, who rose and succeeded, "because YHWH was with him" (e.g., Gen. 39:21, 23). And David knew that God had effected his rise to power (2 Sam. 5:12). David did not bring this to pass. Read 1 Sam. 16ff. David did not seek the throne, not even after he was anointed by Samuel. Even then he waited on YHWH to bring to pass his rise to power, although he could have taken Saul's life countless times. But God did it. God brought it to pass. And David knew it.

Then YHWH told David, "I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand" (2 Sam.5:19). And so he did (2 Sam. 5:20, 24, 25; 8:1). In fact, "YHWH gave victory to David wherever he went" (2 Sam. 8:6, 14). We've seen this before, haven't we? God hands peoples over. God grants military victory. God reigns supreme, in salvation and in judgment.

Now turn two chapters later in the narrative. There we listen in to the great promises of the Davidic covenant. And the striking element, almost impossible not to notice—God initiates and resolves to bring to pass his good pleasure! Although David had not sought kingship, he now seeks to do something for YHWH, namely, build him a house (2 Sam. 7:2-3). But the word of YHWH won't have it (2 Sam. 7:4-5). He then declares through Nathan the prophet what he will do for David, namely, build him a house. See 2 Sam. 7:8-14. How many times does YHWH say that he will do this or that? Read it. It's striking. He is the Lord. And he reigns over all. His purposes will come to pass. None shall say to him, "What are you doing?" and thwart his plans. Nor shall any make plans and succeed, unless the Lord grants success. For the sovereign LORD is great, and there is none like him, no God besides him. And David knew it (2 Sam. 7:22). David knew that this was the God who drove out a nation and its gods before his people, whom he redeemed from Egypt (2 Sam. 7:23).

A Father's Firm Affection

Here's a good word to fathers from Doug Wilson, entitled Love Tanks. Loving fathers are crucial and yet in short supply. We live in a fatherless society. So may God bestow on our churches the glory of dads imitating him. Talk about being salt and light.

Reading Wilson's post, my mind easy drifted to thinking about my father-in-law. I'm deeply grateful for his love toward his daughter for years before I ever came on the scene. She's an exceedingly beautiful woman in large measure on account of her father's steadfast love. So I bless God for that man's labors of love. He got, I think, the balance that Wilson discusses just about right. And I've learned a lot from him (and I'm still learning). Thank you, God in heaven! And thanks, Dad Haag!

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 9

In noting a number of texts that point up the Lord's absolute sovereignty, particularly in Samuel through Chronicles, it seems that some of the same notes shall be struck again and again. So here strikes a number of notes already heard. But to recall these things is no trouble for me and is safe for us (Phil. 3:1).

Moving along, 1 Sam. 23:4 is no exception. We read once again of God's promise to give over an enemy into someone's hand, this time the Philistines into David's hand. And then one reads in 1 Sam. 23:5 this: "So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah." Wait a minute. I thought God gave over the Philistines into David's hand. He did. And he did it through David. But God was behind it all.

Contrast this with Saul's attempt to lay hold on David for evil. Saul had said, "God has given him into my hand. . ." (1 Sam. 23:7). Oh really. Just like in v. 4, right? No. See 1 Sam. 23:14: "God did not give him into his hand." Not a hair of David's head could perish apart from God's sanction.

Next we see the glory of YHWH in taking life that he gave.

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 8

Moving through Samuel, God's sovereign glory continues to shine brightly. After the Lord rejects Saul from being king, he provides for himself a king after his heart (1 Sam. 16:1; 13:14). And no one saw this provision coming, not David, not anyone (1 Sam. 16:6ff). YHWH chooses the youngest, a keeper of sheep, David. And YHWH chooses him because he has looked on David's heart and found a man after God's heart.

Now should the heart of David be thought of as prepared by YHWH for the mediatorial and typical role he would assume in redemptive history? This is not explicit. Yet 1 Sam. 16:1 does seem to point in this direction. For there YHWH says, "I have provided for myself a king among his sons." It sounds as though God had prepared and shaped David to be king. No doubt his heart, then, the core of who David was, oriented after God's heart as it was, was part of the provision.

Another text in this chapter speaks similarly to an earlier text cited (Judg. 9:23-24) in this series on Calvinism everywhere. If you're with me as we've moved through all these texts, no comments are really necessary. So I'll simply record the text: 1 Sam. 16:14ff. There we read of an "evil spirit from the LORD" that torments Saul after the Spirit of YHWH had departed from him (cf. 1 Sam. 18:10; 19:9-10, NASB).

Can our view of God embrace these sorts of texts. Or have we fashioned a god to our own liking? Are texts like these rushed over and forgotten for kinder, gentler texts that don't mess up our hair?

The triune God is the Lord, and he is Lord everywhere. And in case you've forgotten, it's called Calvinism.

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 7

So we're pressing on with beholding theocentrism everywhere, because we're pressing on with reading the Bible and pressing on in a God-centered universe.

First look at 1 Sam. 14:23. YHWH is said to have saved Israel. Now go ahead and read what preceded v. 23 in 1 Samuel 14:1ff. Consider all the human plotting and acting. Now look again 1 Sam. 14:23. That all of the human plannings and actings that worked toward victory for Israel were means of the Lord's working may be seen by the first word of 1 Sam. 14:23: "So" (taking the waw of the Hebrew preterite form for "to save" inferentially, which is how the ESV, NIV, NASB, HCSB, KJV, and NAB take it). This points up that what came about was YHWH's work. But men, free agents, were planning and doing, you say. Yes. And men are clay. But God is the potter. And he fashions, shapes, and deploys his pots according to his good pleasure (see Jer. 18:4ff; Rom. 9:20ff). 


To add to the tension, see also 1 Sam. 14:45: Jonathan worked the salvation. But I thought YHWH did (v. 23). Well, who worked it? Jonathan, or YHWH? The answer, of course, is "Yes." Both did (1 Sam. 14:46). But Jonathan is the means of the salvation. God is the orderer and ordainer of it. Jonathan is an actor who is animated. God is the actor who animates. Remember, God is the potter, we are the clay. Always. Never the other way around.  

The Goal of Christian Society

"The highest end and happiness of men is to view God's excellency, to love him and receive expressions of his love; and that therefore their greatest business is to meditate on and use means to understand God's bounty, and to express suitably their love; this love including all those other affections which depend upon it and are necessarily connected with it, which we call worship. The highest end of society, therefore, must be to assist and join with each other in this" (Jonathan Edwards, Works, vol. 13, p. 291).

Jesus is Lord: The Basic Christian Confession

In confessing Jesus as Lord (e.g., Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 12:3), we Christians are not simply saying that Jesus is a great king. That he is, to be sure. We are not simply saying that he is king or sovereign of our lives, though he is. But we are declaring much more. We are confessing nothing less than that he is God over all, blessed forever (Rom. 9:5). Jesus is the sovereign covenant King of the old covenant, even YHWH, King of the nations, before whom there is no other. He is Lord of all. And if he is not Lord of all, he is not worthy to be Lord of any life, he is not a great king at all. But he is in fact Lord of all. And every tongue shall confess this in due course (Phil. 2:9-11).

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 6

Recently it was raining and thundering hard. It was awesome. The sovereign Lord was baring his arm in the heavens yet again. I love this display of holy majesty in God's glorious governance of the created order, which the Lord himself sustains by the word of his power (Heb. 1:3).

And then I thought about how unbelief speaks of the weather (always). Naturalism pervades the discussion. Boring. Idolatrous. Flip on the weather channel. What do you see and hear? Not glory, but unbelief. It's rather painful and tragic that there is never, ever any reference to the glory of God. But it's everywhere. His glory can't be hidden, despite unbelief.

Consider conversations with believer and unbeliever alike. Not one conversation in a hundred about hail, snow, rain, lightning, thunder, tornado, hurricane, tsunami, or the like acknowledges the holy hand of heaven majestically moving heaven and earth. His puny creatures stand by as the living Lord speaks glory into our world and respond perfectly pathetically. Shame on us! Hallowed be your name, O Father in heaven! As our Lord taught us to pray, May your name be hallowed, sanctified, regarded, adored, marveled at, acknowledged, praised, blessed! (Matt. 6:9). Forevermore!

Now in the course of 1 Samuel 12 there are numerous displays of God's sovereign glory.

The High Temperature of High Office

Ambrose Bierce's definition of abdication seems apropos for the current leadership of the White House: "An act whereby a sovereign attests his sense of the high temperature of the throne" (The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary, p. 7).

Calvinism Everywhere, Part 5

Here are yet more glorious texts telling of the glorious reign of God over all (and they just keep coming, being everywhere as they are): 1 Sam. 2:21 (over the womb); 1 Sam. 2:25 (over wills); 1 Sam. 5:6 (afflicting with tumors); 1 Sam. 6:19 (smiting irreverence in his holiness; note also the response in 1 Sam. 6:19-20); 1 Sam. 7:10 (throwing pagans into confusion and routing them militarily); 1 Sam. 10:9 (changing hearts).

Now note especially 1 Sam. 2:25. Why did Eli's son's not listen to the voice of their father? Autonomous free will that God would not touch? No. That's clearly not what the text says. Yes, they are responsible, as the whole Bible loudly shouts, and held responsible, as the narrative bears out. But, the text says that they did not listen to their father "because it was the will of the Lord to put them to death." God's purpose had a hand in their free choice, a decisive hand.

Look also at 1 Sam 5:6ff, an awesome statement of God's sovereign judgment on the Philistines. God's heavy hand on the Philistines was manifested in tumors breaking out (vv. 6, 9, 12). Now do we even have categories for reckoning with tumors from God, suffused with naturalistic and deistic assumptions as we are? Is a tumor sent from God even a possibility in our minds? Are most Christians today deists?