Bottom line up front: Implied and Specifics

Intro: It was a long time ago now, but it was my first semester in seminary. One of my first classes was Spiritual Disciplines. After class began the first day, the professor who was to become a mentor to me, spoke some of many words that I still carry with me. “I teach several other courses, but this is my favorite one. ‘Why?’ you might ask. Because you can learn a great deal of theology but lose your first love, why you’re here, and why God called you to serve.” Bam! It was a mic drop moment for me. He then assigned us the 6-7 books we had to read for that term—some great stuff from John Owen, Richard Baxter, J.I. Packer, and more. I devoured that stuff. It’s still on my shelves in my library at home today.

That professor has since gone on to be with the Lord, but I want to share a story about the first exam he gave us in that course. He told us how he memorized Scripture and walked us through his method. One of first pieces he memorized was Psalm 19. So, here’s how this relates to the exam: “I want you to use the English translation of your choice, memorize Psalm 19, then write it out word-for-word on a piece of paper. Then, grade yourself via the honor code by opening your copy of the actual text, and mark down any/all errors. The point is not to be pedantic; the point is for us all to remember the lessons of Psalm 19. Theologically speaking, it’s about general and special revelation. But in plain terms, it’s about why I’ve designed this course. Because you can learn a great deal of theology but lose your first love—about why you’re here, and why God called you to serve.”

Until that term, I had not memorized Psalm 19, but I did then. And it’s still with me today. Sometimes when I don’t know how to pray as I ought, or when I’ve blown it spiritually, or if I’m angry, sad, or depressed, Psalm 19 washes over me. I see God’s general revelation in nature but then His special revelation in Scripture. In Army parlance, we might term them implied and specified tasks. That is, there’s the big picture evidence of what to do vis-à-vis the mission. And then there are all the associated tasks that are linked to that to be successful. Here’s Psalm 19 (ESV):

1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Encouragement/takeaway: Those first (6) verses are what we call in theology general revelation. They say, in short, that God has revealed Himself to all men, everywhere. There is no “innocent man on a remote island,” etc. And then the following verses are special revelation; they unpack the specifics of Scripture, God’s revealed will, the posture of humility before the holy, what discipleship looks like, the requirements of the gospel, etc. Specified tasks and implied tasks, in other words.

My professor was teaching me and those other men all those many nights ago in the lecture hall, about how to keep the main thing the main thing, how to not lose focus, how to persevere in the faith, but it all goes back to maintaining that first love, that call to love God and those He puts in our path. I miss you, Dr. C. I truly do. And one of my goals is to see you again one day, and say, “Thank you.”