Knowing God, pt.1 (The Study of God, p.15-16)

Jim Packer, the author of this esteemed volume Knowing God, open chapter one with a quote from an early sermon from Charles Spurgeon, on the benefits and necessity of the study of God for a Christian.

Spurgeon notes four particular blessings from the immersion of one's self in the contemplation of God: it is improving to the mind, more than reflection on any other subject; it is humbling, in that our ponderance upon God reveals increasingly our smallness, and His greatness; it is expanding to the mind; and it is "eminently consolatory", in that in our darkest moment, God offers us a sure unshakeable hope, a "quietus for every grief".

I am questioning the fourth point a little, as whilst I know that this should be the case, and whilst I know that God's faithfulness and love is not dependent upon our fickle and swaying human emotion, it seems that there are times in some people's lives that God deprives them of a sense of His closeness for a long or short period. In those times, they seem not to find anything consolatory about immersion in the Word of God, but rather a depression that they are not emotionally connected with Him, and hence cannot feel the benefit from the contemplation of God that they once did.

Statement of Intent

With my spare time, whilst I have not much to do, I shall make the most of it by intentionally (and with discipline, when needed):

1. Studying the Bible;

2. Exercising;

3. Writing.