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Questions from Our Readers

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Questions from Our Readers

4 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

In Psalm 139:8, David writes that if he made his bed in hell, God would be there. If God were with David in hell, hell would no longer be hell, right? Can you explain?

There once was a pagan philosopher who asked, “Where is God?” A Christian then answered him and said, “Let me first ask you, where is He not?” The key to the answer of your question lies in the preceding verse. The incommunicable attribute of God’s omnipresence is the theme of his praise and comfort. He asks: “Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?” However, when hell is then mentioned, so also is heaven, but to neither place could the poet literally “flee” and come outside of God’s presence. So here hell refers to an utmost place far away from God. Hence, the purpose of his statement is neither to reference the bliss of heaven nor the punishment of hell but the most opposite and remote distance between the two. Hell in Scripture sometimes signifies the lower parts of the earth, without relation to punishment. Think in this respect, for instance, of Jonah 2:2: “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and He heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and Thou heardest my voice.” Following the train of thought of the question, it would be impossible for Jonah to be answered from hell, for the damned in hell are never answered. The thought is that no matter where the poet found himself to be, he is still in the presence of his God.

Reader, is this very truth for you and me comforting or fearful? It is comforting, indeed, if circumstances in the life of grace can find us with the poet of Psalm 61 at the end of the earth, when the heart is overwhelmed. There is no circumstance—no matter how desperate the case may be— where the grace of God is not able to reach us. Yet, how fearful it is if in our life, instead of hiding in the covert of God’s wings, we flee to the utmost parts of the earth “from the presence of the LORD” as Jonah sought to do and as Adam our covenant head did. Remember, the will of God will never take us where the grace of God cannot reach us.

In closing, I am writing this answer in the middle of the Passion weeks. The question “where is God” is worthwhile to answer, and I found an interesting quote in this respect: “The presence of God’s glory is in heaven; the presence of His power on earth; the presence of His justice in hell; and the presence of His grace with His people. If He deny us His powerful presence, we fall into nothing; if He deny us His gracious presence, we fall into sin; if he deny His merciful presence, we fall into hell.” It is there, dear reader, that Zion’s Redeemer went! No, He did not fall into hell, but as our fathers express it in Lord’s Day 16: “That my Lord Jesus Christ, by His inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish agonies, in which He was plunged during all His sufferings, but especially on the cross, hath delivered me from the anguish and torments of hell.”

That is something—where He went and paid the ultimate payment, the Church for Christ’s sake no longer needs to go. Yes, at the end of the earth, they may often find themselves, perhaps with the pangs of hell, finding trouble and sorrow, afflicted, buffeted, fools for Christ’s sake, even unto this present hour suffering hunger and thirst (2 Corinthians 4:9-13)—but not in that hell into which Christ descended. On the other hand, what shall it be for those who would not that He should reign over them? They will find trouble and sorrow in the place where not the least glimmer of hope will ever enter. That is never the case on this side of eternity, no matter how dark and hopeless it may be. Seek, then, to be covered, seek to hide in the shadow of the Almighty while today is called the day of grace.

Send your questions to: Rev. H. Hofman, 2339 Deer Trail Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505, or hofman@premieronline.net.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van maandag 1 mei 2023

The Banner of Truth | 24 Pagina's

Questions from Our Readers

Bekijk de hele uitgave van maandag 1 mei 2023

The Banner of Truth | 24 Pagina's