Having raised the potential for a reprieve in this world presents a number of questions. We have been spared one trial and then experience another. Psalm 88 presents a trial from the inside where there is no relief granted. When we consider our own life and our own experience, we easily begin to find exceptions and questions.
Having made the general statement that God grants an ease within this life, Boston now develops the nuance of that doctrine.
Secondly, I proceed to a more particular view of the point. And,
I. We will consider the lifting up as brought about in time, which is the partial lifting up. And,
First, Some considerations for clearing the nature thereof.
He begins with the obvious caveat, a general rule always has an exception. Not every Job is restored:
1. This lifting up does not take place in every case of a child of God. One may be humbled in humbling circumstances, from which he is to get a lifting up in time. We would not from the promise presently conclude, that we, being humbled under our humbling circumstances, shall certainly be taken out of them, and freed from them ere we get to the end of our journey.
For it is certain, there are some, such as our imperfections, and sinfulness, and mortality, we can by no means be rid of while in this world.
And there are particular humbling circumstances the Lord may hang about one, and keep about him till they go down to the grave, while, in the mean time, he may lift up another from the same. Heman was pressed down all along from his youth, Psal. 88:15. others all their life-time, Heb. 2:15.
If you are in the midst of a trial, you cannot conclude you will certainly get some sort of temporal benefit following this trial. To believe that every trial turns into an in-this-life benefit is twice wrong.
First, it is the logic of prosperity preacher who promises wealth (when Jesus told the young man to give away his wealth).
Second, it is typically premised upon a faulty exegesis of Romans 8:28. However, when we look at this in context, we see that the “good” is defined in 8:29:
Romans 8:28–29 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
The word “good” is ambiguous when it stands alone. It is only when it is read in context can the good have substance.
Next examine your trial. What is the nature of the trial? What is the source of the trial?
Now consider Boston’s, caveat, “For it is certain, there are some, such as our imperfections, and sinfulness, and mortality, we can by no means be rid of while in this world.”
It would be a wonder to be freed of sin, but we will not be utterly freed until we have been made new. The sin and imperfection and death are the tolls imposed by living here in this world before we are made new. “The body is dead because of sin.” (Rom. 8:10)
Look at your trial, is it such a thing as God will not deliver you, such as a final illness? Cancer in a child is a torment for everyone, but we have no promise that children will not die.
He here references Psalm 88. Stop and read that Psalm, twice. The man who wrote that Psalm was given a place in the Scripture. John Owen somewhere mentions how this godly man was not delivered from his trial.
As for Boston’s reference of Hebrews 2:15, I cannot conclude his use of that sentence is appropriate for this point.
Boston then asks the next question
Objection. If that be the case, what comes of the promise of lifting up? Where is the lifting up, if one may go to the grave under the weight?
And answers:
Ans. Were there no life after this, there would be weight in that objection; but, since there is another life, there is none in it at all. In the other life the promise will be accomplished to the humbled, as it was, Luke 16:22.
Consider, that the great term for accomplishing the promises, is the other life, not this. “These all died in the faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them,” Heb. 11:13. And that whatever accomplishment of the promise is here, it is not of the nature of a stock, but of a sample or a pledge.
A child one a family vacation may complain, “This is taking forever!” The parents may not relish the hours in the car, but they know the trip is not the vacation.
Take to heart the possibility that your current trial may not end. Then consider, it may even get worse.
From that you would wrongly conclude, God will not help, or God does not love me. But such thoughts begin with the wrong assumption. We begin with the idea that God would do we good if he loved me.
Consider the crucifixion of Jesus. From one perspective, Herod and Pilate are the privileged pair. But such an assumption is false. The one being tormented and murdered is the King. The apparent kings are the damned.
Read Hebrews 11.
As you read this chapter, carefully consider the life of each person mentioned. These are not plaster saints, but someone like you.
Consider the manner of life they led, the trials they suffered.
Consider Abraham who was promised a land, but the only property he owned was a tomb to bury his wife.
We are promised the world, but not before it has been burned by God and remade.
You may not receive ease. Your ease when it comes may only last a moment. Why then try at all? Why not simply give up?
You cannot choose “depression” as solution. We are called to be Christians who hope, not those are resigned to trouble.
Question. But then, may we not give over praying for the lifting up in that case?
Ans. We do not know when that is our case: for a case may be past all hope in our eyes, and the eyes of others, in which God designs a lifting up in time, as in Job’s, Job 7:11. “What is my strength that I should hope? and what is mine end that I should prolong my life?”
But, be it as it will, we should never give over praying for the lifting up, since it will certainly come to all that pray in faith for it; if not here, yet hereafter.
The promise is sure, and that is the commandment: so such praying cannot miss of a happy issue at length, Psal. 50:15. “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
The whole life of a Christian is such a praying waiting life, to encourage whereunto all temporal deliverances are given as pledges, Rom. 8:23. “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit; even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” And whoso observes that full lifting up at death to be at hand, must certainly rise, if he has given over his case as hopeless.
It is easier to counsel, Do not despair, than it is to work through trouble and to persist in hope:
Job 30:26 (ESV)
26 But when I hoped for good, evil came,
and when I waited for light, darkness came.
Read the following Psalm.
Memorize verse 5
Psalm 62 (ESV)
62 To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse. Selah
5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.
Answer the following questions:
Verse 1:
For whom does he wait?
Does he complain?
What does he expect from the Lord?
Verse 2
Why will he not be able to endure?
What is God to him?
If God can create the universe, why do you doubt him in trouble?
Verse 3
He turns to those who trouble him
Does he consider himself one who cannot be shaken in himself?
Does he seem to trust in his own strength?
How does he describe himself?
Do you trust in your own strength and then find it will not suffice?
Verse 4
He explains those who are troubling him.
What is their goal?
Have you ever experienced one who lies?
Have you ever experienced a turn-coat “friend”?
Why then would think God does not care about such things, when God has included these troubles in Scripture?
Verse 5
Having looked at his tormentors, he turns back to God.
For whom does he wait?
God trains us to trust in the Creator not the creature. Has God give you a trial of “friends” so that you will leave off from trusting them and not him. Read Isaiah 2:22
Where is his hope?
Where (for real) is your hope?
Verse 6
What will be the effect of trusting in God?
Read verse 3 and compare this verse. What is the difference in how he understands himself and how he understands God.
Do you trust yourself more than you trust God? Read Daniel 4:28-37
Verse 7
Consider how he describes God. What good is there for him that is not in God?
Verse 8
He lists two commandments, what are they?
Consider “pour out your heart”.
“Ye people, pour out your heart before him.” Ye to whom his love is revealed, reveal yourselves to him. His heart is set on you, lay bare your hearts to him. Turn the vessel of your soul upside down in his secret presence, and let your inmost thoughts, desires, sorrows, and sins be poured out like water. Hide nothing from him, for you can hide nothing. To the Lord unburden your soul: let him be your only father-confessor, for he only can absolve you when he has heard your confession. To keep our griefs to ourselves is to hoard up wretchedness. The stream will swell and rage if you dam it up: give it a clear course, and it leaps along and creates no alarm. Sympathy we need, and if we unload our hearts at Jesus’ feet, we shall obtain a sympathy as practical as it is sincere, as consolatory as it is ennobling
C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David: Psalms 56-87, vol. 3 (London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers, n.d.), 51.
Verse 9
Notice how he goes back and forth between his trouble and God. Having disclosed himself to God, he turns back to his trouble.
Look squarely at your trouble and think, Oh this situation is so powerful, my trouble is so great, who can overcome him? And the consider further.
How are the powerful described? List the particulars on a piece of paper and consider it carefully. You have considered God, now consider your trouble in light of God’s evaluation of your tormentor.
Verse 10
It seems like some-thing, some-stuff, some thing of this world will save you you. You may be tempted to sin to relieve your situation. You may hope that money alone will cure your ill.
If you had all the money in the world, what good will it ultimately do for you?
If you walk into the Getty museum in Los Angeles, there is a bust of Getty in the lobby. He is dead and he never saw that museum.
Verses 11 & 12
What belongs to God (two things).
The last line may sound like a warning, but it can also be a comfort if you have taken this Psalm to heart.
(And it does not teach salvation by “works”.)
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