The Outlaw Expositor

Series Introduction:

I have many times been struck by the prayers of the Puritans. If you’re like me, sometimes your prayer life is not where you’d like it to be. Many times we struggle to find the right words to say or we may even feel unworthy to approach the throne of God with our concerns and needs. When I feel this way, I regularly pick up one of the Puritan prayer books I have in my library and read what they prayed. Not always, but most of the time I find myself either bursting into praise or weeping as I read their words. Robert Elmer in his book, Piercing Heaven, writes this in his introduction about Puritan prayers, “Their aim was neither casual nor perfunctory prayer. The prayers of the Puritans shook lives to the core, pled with a sovereign God for mercy, and praised him in the brightest sunshine of grace.” In this series on Puritan Prayers, I will be selecting some of my favorites and sharing a few words of commentary. I hope these will encourage you as much as they have me.

“Mercy Upon Mercy” – Richard Sibbes

“Lord, reveal yourself more and more to us in the face of your Son Jesus Christ.

Magnify the power of grace by cherishing the seeds of that grace in the midst of our corruption.

Bring us to humility by the way you show us our own sin and weakness.

And since you have taken us into the covenant of grace, you will not cast us away, though our sins grieve your Spirit and remind us how far off we are.

And because Satan tries to obscure the glory of that mercy through discouragement, add this to the rest of your mercies:

Since you are so gracious to those who follow you as Lord, help us not to misuse your grace or lose any part of the comfort that is laid up for us in Christ.

Let the prevailing power of your Spirit be evidence of the truth of grace begun in us, a pledge of final victory for the time when you will be all in all, all yours, for eternity.

Amen.”

(Prayer taken from, Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans edited by, Robert Elmer, 2019. Lexham Press)

Commentary:

reveal yourself more and more to us in the face of your Son Jesus Christ – Christ is the fullest revelation of God to us. The apostle Paul writes in Colossians, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” (Col 2:9-10, ESV). Jesus himself in the gospel of John says, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9, ESV) And the author of Hebrews in the opening verses writes, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:1-3, ESV)
Sibbes rightly recognizes that it is in Christ that we see the nature of God. He is the perfect revelation to us.

in the midst of our corruption – It’s remarkable to think that grace works within our corrupt nature. Sibbes acknowledges the ongoing process of our sanctification through the power of the Spirit. This power of grace that works within us, shaping us, pruning us, molding us more and more into the image of Jesus. Even in the midst of our continued sinful state, the power of grace works within us. It is right to recognize this in our prayers and to ask the Lord to continue this work within us. Only in our reliance on Christ can the fruit of the Spirit begin to grow.

Bring us to humility by the way you show us our own sin and weakness – In our pride we may forget to consider our helpless state. That in our sin and weakness we could never reconcile ourselves to God. “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, let astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:3-5, ESV) It is right for us to contemplate on these things and be humbled by the sheer mercy of God to look upon us with love. May that humble you.

you have taken us into the covenant of grace, you will not cast us away – Oh how our hearts should sing at the thought of being taken into the covenant of grace! For he will not cast us away! Genesis 15 tells us about how God keeps his Covenants. In this chapter we see what could be described as a covenant ceremony taking place. In the early twentieth century archeologists and scholars found ancient Near Eastern treaties. In these treaties a sovereign would establish a covenant with a vassal, they would typically declare protection or benefits to the vassal and the vassal would swear allegiance to the sovereign. These types of agreements would have been common in the time Genesis was written. There was a certain language and format to them. Remarkably, we see similarities in Genesis 15. God condescends to the the people of Israel by establishing his covenants in a way they would understand.

Typically, there would be a covenant ceremony to visibly display each others commitment to the covenant. These Near Eastern treaties would describe the action of taking animals and cutting them in two, placing the pieces across from one another. This created an aisle between the pieces. Both the sovereign and the vassal would read the covenant aloud while walking down the aisle of bloody animal parts. It was bloody for a reason. This action was to visibly display to both party members and all the witnesses, what would happen if either party would break the covenant set there that day. Incredibly, we see this same kind of covenant ceremony depicted in Genesis 15. “He [God] said to him [Abram], “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other…” (Gen. 15:9-10, ESV)

There is, however, one major difference between what we see in the Near East covenant ceremonies and what we see in Genesis 15. And it’s a very important difference. “When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.” (Gen 15:17, ESV) The major difference is that in this ceremony, the Lord is the only one that walks down the bloody aisle. It is He, that guarantees the fulfillment of this covenant! The late R.C. Sproul, when teaching on this text, explains that it is as if the Lord is saying to Abram, if this covenant be broken, may I be slit in two like these animals. An astounding idea, and something we know can never happen, because God accomplishes what He wills. This action would have filled Abram with confidence, knowing that the Lord Almighty will keep His promises. Dear friends, be filled with this confidence, knowing that you’ve been taken into the covenant of grace, and the Almighty guarantees it!

help us not to misuse your grace or lose any part of the comfort that is laid up for us in Christ. – The Devil will try to dissuade you of your confidence in the covenant of grace. By God’s mercy, pray that the Spirit, would direct you in all your ways and sanctify you so that you may not misuse this grace. Also, that you would retain all the comfort and assurance, knowing that your union with Christ is secure.

a pledge of final victory – Rest in this. Those that have been redeemed by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, will have final victory. John 18:9 reminds us, “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” (ESV)

Thoughts for Reflection:

• Consider reading Genesis 15 and paying attention to the scene that is depicted there, now knowing about the Near East treaties.
• How has the Devil tried to obscure the glory of God’s mercy in your life? Think on the promises of God in response.
• “Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do” a lyric from the Hymn, Praise To The Lord, The Almighty, but relevant here. How does the promise of the covenant of grace give you assurance?

Richard Sibbes Bio:

Richard Sibbes lived from 1577-1635. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1608. He lectured and preached around London, influencing many. His writings were widely read in colonial America and England. He is known for his comforting sermons and writings, earning him the nickname, “the heavenly Doctor Sibbes.” His most well known work is The Bruised Reed.

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