Apt to Hang and Rest Upon Creature Props
God strips away our creature props to promote dependence on Himself and reveal His sufficiency.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that God sometimes removes our earthly comforts to draw us into a deeper reliance on Him. He illustrates this through the psalmist's experience of feeling abandoned and turning to God as his only refuge. When all human supports fail, believers are led to fully trust in God, recognizing that true sustenance comes from Him alone. This process of stripping away is ultimately for our spiritual benefit, leading us to declare that all our fountains are found in God.
Text
("A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day")
God sometimes strips His people of their dearest mercies, that
He may win them to a more complete and full dependence upon
His blessed self. Man is a creature apt to hang and rest upon
creature props. "Look to my right and see;" says the psalmist,
"no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for
my life." Psalm 142:4. Well, what does he do, now that all props
fail him? Why, now he sweetly leans upon God--"I cry to You, O
Lord; I say--You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the
living." verse 5. Men will hold upon one prop, and if God cuts off
that--then they will catch hold on another, etc., until God cuts
off all their props--and then they will come and rest and center
in God, and say, "All my fountains are in You!" Psalm 87:7
Sermon Outline
- Man's Tendency to Rely on Creature Props
- God's Purpose in Stripping Away Creature Props
- The Result of Relying on God
- A Sense of Refuge and Provision
- A Declaration of God's Sufficiency
Key Quotes
“Man is a creature apt to hang and rest upon creature props.” — Thomas Brooks
“All my fountains are in You!” — Thomas Brooks
“I cry to You, O Lord; I say--You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Recognize your tendency to rely on creature props and seek to rest in God.
- When God strips away your creature props, lean upon Him and acknowledge His sufficiency.
- Declare God's sufficiency and provision in your life, and experience His refuge and protection.