John Piper on the Psalms

Imagine for a moment if a preacher got up in the pulpit and interpreted the parable of the sowers, without looking at Christ's interpretation of what the soils represent. There would be something HORRIBLY WRONG. In the same way, when Piper interprets the Psalms without looking at how Christ and the Apostles interpreted them, he is setting Himself above God and exalting himself as the interpreter of prophecy (which Peter says is role only of the Holy Spirit).

Piper's view of the Psalms saddens me. Many of the Psalms describe Christ's suffering on the cross. Yet, Piper says these Psalms are David's experiences. And therefore, PIPER IMPLIES THAT BELIEVERS SHOULD EXPERIENCE GOD'S WRATH. For example, Piper says that God hides his face from believers, when in reality, the Psalms he quotes are describing Christ under the wrath of God. In this post, you are going to see that Piper is trying to put believers under the wrath that Christ experienced on the cross!

Piper writes,

"Most of you ... when you read the Psalms you see yourselves so often. The experience of the psalmist is your experience." http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2000/1_I_Will_Meditate_on_All_Your_Work_and_Muse_on_Your_Deeds

Piper must have a congregation of people as perfect as Christ !

How else could they "see themselves" in the Psalms? Are the following Psalms part of "their experiences"?

"O Jehovah, judge me according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity on me." Psa 7:8. Or are they the words of Christ? Psalm 7 contains the same words as Psalm 35, which is applied in John 15:25 to Christ.

"I will behave myself in a perfect way ... I will not know evil" Psa 101:4

"Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has repaid me." Psa 18:20. Or isn't Christ the only one with "clean hands? Psalm 18 contains the same words as Psalm 2 which is applied to Christ in Acts 4:25 and Hebrews 1:5.

There are so many problems with saying the Psalms describe David's experiences. Not only would you have to say David was perfect -- "I will behave myself in a perfect way ... I will not know evil." Psa 101 -- you must also say that David came under the wrath of God. 

Ask yourself.

Do you think that God's hand is "heavy" on believers? (Psalm 32:4). Or isn't this describing Christ on the cross? Psalm 32 contains the same words as Psalm 38 which is applied to Christ in Luke 23:49.

Does God "sink arrows" into believers? (Psalm 38:2)

Do you think that believers are "not able to look up"? (40:12). Or doesn't Hebrews 10:6 say this Psalm is about Christ?

Does God have "anger and wrath" upon those that are NO longer children of wrath? and do you think God "lifts up and casts down" believers? (102:10). Or isn't Psalm 102 applied to Christ in Hebrews 1:10,11?

Piper's view of the Psalms saddens me. Many of the Psalms describe Christ's suffering on the cross. Yet, Piper says these Psalms are David's experiences. And therefore, he implies that believers should experience the wrath of God.

For example, Piper writes,

So here is Asaph in Psalm 77 praying and struggling with darkness and discouragement and with a sense of the distance of God. ...Now there is a typical struggle in the Christian life. The FEELING THAT GOD IS NOT FAVORABLE. That his lovingkindness has ceased. ... That his COMPASSION HAS RESCINDED. ... I say that is typical struggle. (http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2000/1_I_Will_Meditate_on_All_Your_Work_and_Muse_on_Your_Deeds)

Piper says that God hides his face from believers, when in reality, the Psalms he quotes are describing Christ under the wrath of God ! Piper is trying to put believers under the wrath that Christ experienced on the cross!

Piper is right that God was NOT favorable towards the person in Psalm 77. His compassion had indeed been rescinded from the person in Psalm 77 and His lovingkindness had ceased. "My voice is to God, and I cry; my voice is to God, and He gave ear to me. In the day of my distress I sought the Lord; my hand was open in the night and did not grow numb; my soul refused to be comforted. I remember God and am troubled; I meditate and my spirit faints." (Psa 77:1-3)

Who is this but Jesus Christ who did undergo God's wrath? And "who in the days of His flesh was offering both PETITIONS and entreaties to Him being able to save Him from death, with STRONG CRYING AND TEARS, and being heard from His godly fear"

Psalm 77 contains the same words as Psalm 22 which is applied to Christ in Matthew 27:37,43,46, and in Luke 23:35 and Hebrews 2:10.

Moreover, if you follow Piper's teaching, you will have to say that believers spend "time in the pit of destruction". He writes,

"We must learn to wait for the Lord. King David gave us an example of this in Psalm 40: "... He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog." Here is a man after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14), WHO SPENT TIME IN "the PIT OF DESTRUCTION" and in "the miry bog" -- where there was no song in his mouth. How long was he there? We are not told." (When I Don't Desire God, p42).

Isn't Piper saying that there IS condemnation for those in Christ Jesus? To say that a believer spends time in the "pit of destruction" is equivalent to saying that believers come under the wrath of God.

On the other hand, it would be consistent to say that Christ went into a "pit of destruction" on the cross, wouldn't it? And doesn't Hebrews 10:6 say this Psalm is about Christ?

But Piper chooses not to follow the Apostles (who only applied the Psalms to Christ and not to David).

Piper says that God hides his face from believers, when in reality, the Psalms he quotes are describing Christ under the wrath of God ! Piper is trying to put believers under the wrath that Christ experienced on the cross!

He writes,

"Again and again the psalmists cry out to God that he not hide his face from them. For example in Psalm 27 (verses 7-9) David says, Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! ...Hide not thy face from me." Hide not thy face from me," is the same as saying, "Be gracious to me!" ... If he TURNS HIS FACE AWAY, WE ARE DISMAYED."
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1986/532_Blessed_are_the_Pure_in_Heart/
 
But isn't Psalm 27 applied to Christ in Matthew 26:60?

Does Piper care what the New Testament says?

Imagine for a moment if a preacher got up in the pulpit and interpreted the parable of the sowers, without looking at Christ's interpretation of what the soils represent. There would be something HORRIBLY WRONG. In the same way, when Piper interprets the Psalms without looking at how Christ and the Apostles interpreted them, he is setting Himself above God and exalting himself as the interpreter of prophecy (which Peter says is role only of the Holy Spirit).

The truth is that God NEVER hides his face from believers and believer do NOT undergo the wrath of God.

Sadly, the reason Presbyterians and Reformed folk doubt their salvation is because they make faith MYSTICAL. They say that it is "more than belief". Countless Reformed folk -- Boston, Warfield, Hodge, Calvin, Luther, Spurgeon, Owen etc -- have said that it's possible to believe the gospel in your "head" and not in your "heart". And that is possible to "assent" to the gospel but not have "faith" in Christ.

And if faith is "more than belief", what in the world is it? I expect you will give me a very confusing definition!

And such confusing definitions -- saying faith is "more than belief" -- make assurance of salvation impossible. We'll never be able to know whether or not we have this mystical thing called "faith".

Let's stick with the Scripture. Abraham had faith in God and this is defined as him being "FULLY PERSUADED OF THE PROMISES OF GOD".

And, according to the Apostle Paul, there is only "ONE FAITH" ( Eph 4:5). Now, if one believer could be doubting their salvation, whilst another believer had full assurance, then wouldn't they have TWO DIFFERENT FAITHS? Can one man know and believe that he "IS JUSTIFIED", whilst another man doubts his justification, and it be said that both men possess the same "ONE FAITH"? Of course not. The man doubting his salvation does NOT have "equally precious faith" with the Apostles.

Now, the most likely reason this man doubts his salvation is because he says faith is "more than belief". And if faith is more than belief, it is mystical, and it will be impossible to work out whether or not we have it.

Faith in Christ is simply intellectual assent to the gospel. God says, "HEAR and your soul shall live" ( Isa 55:3). I hear what God says and believe it, so I live. Faith is simply HEARING and BELIEVING what God says. And this is how believers in the Scripture realised they were saved. They based the evidence of their salvation on their belief of the truth. "And HEARING, the nations REJOICED and glorified the Word of the Lord" ( Acts 13:48). The nations rejoiced straight way because they based the evidence of their salvation on their BELIEF OF THE TRUTH".

"But these have been WRITTEN THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." ( Jn 20:31). Therefore, 1) anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is saved and 2) faith in Christ is simply believing what is written about Him. "Everyone BELIEVING that Jesus is the Christ IS BORN OF GOD"

And "He that believes God has the witness IN HIMSELF" ( 1 Jn 5) Can someone have God manifested in their conscience, and not know it ? It is possible to have the witness "in yourself" and doubt for even a moment that you have it?

You never doubt that you exist, do you? That's because you have evidence – you HAVE THOUGHTS – and only those that exist can think.

In the same way, I can never doubt I am a believer. That because I have the evidence – I HAVE BELIEF in the gospel – and only believers can believe!

The Scripture clearly says that all believers know that

1) God promises salvation through Christ's righteousness and blood to all who believe/assent, and

2) they believe God's promise and therefore are saved.

ALL the OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS had FULL ASSURANCE of salvation:

"These all died by way of faith, not having received the promises, but seeing them from afar, and being PERSUADED, and having embraced and CONFESSED that THEY ARE STRANGERS and tenants on the earth."

This passage says that not only were OT saints persuaded of the gospel. Noah, Enoch and Abraham ALSO knew and confessed that they were destined to heaven (and strangers on earth). They confessed that they were destined for heaven, not hell. "The fathers" knew they were saved.

And God says that New Testaments saints have a GREATER understanding than the OT saints!! If the fathers knew they were saved, how in the world could a NT saint -- with more light -- doubt ???

"And having obtained witness through the faith, these all did not obtain the promise, God having foreseen SOMETHING BETTER CONCERNING US, that they should not be perfected apart from us."

Moses veil is now removed and NT saints see God manifest in the flesh. They see Him obeying the Law to the death for His sheep.

The OT saints did not have the full understanding of believers today, but they were SO CONFIDENT in God's promises that they...

"received trial of mockings and of floggings; yea, more, of bonds and of prison: they were stoned; they were tried; they were sawn in two; they died by murder of sword; they went about in sheepskins and in goatskins, being in need, being afflicted, being ill-treated;"

How could they have undergone these trials if they doubted God was their Justifier and Savior?

"By faith "Enoch" was translated so as not to see death, ... For before his translation, he had OBTAINED WITNESS to have been pleasing to God."

Enoch knew that God was well pleased with him because of God's promise of salvation to all that believe in His Seed. Do you have the faith of Enoch?

"Abraham ... LOOKED FORWARD TO A CITY having the foundations of which the builder and maker is God."

"Moses ... counted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he was LOOKING TO THE REWARD."

Abraham and Moses knew the city and reward was theirs. These men are patterns for all believers. So, if you do not know whether or not you have the reward -- Christ's righteousness and blood -- you are not a believer.

"... others were beaten to death, not accepting deliverance, THAT THEY MIGHT OBTAIN a better resurrection."

"These all died by way of faith, ... being PERSUADED, ... For those saying such things make clear that THEY SEEK A FATHERLAND. And truly if they remembered that from which they came out, they had time to return. But now they stretch forth to a better, that is, a heavenly land. Therefore, God is not ashamed of them, for Him to be called their God; for He prepared a city for them."

God has promised that 1) Christ's righteousness is upon all those that believe, and that 2) Christ mediates for their sins through His Atonement.

The OT saints knew this and today believers have way more light than the OT saints.

Do you have the full assurance of the OT saints?

Extra
- What about Psalm 51? http://Godnoliar.com/psalm51.htm
- List of all the Psalms proving they are not about David http://Godnoliar.com/psalmslist.htm
- How are we to interprete the Psalms http://Godnoliar.com/psalms.htm