He Who Has Deserved a Hanging
We should not complain when punished for our sins because we have deserved a damning and God's punishment is a reflection of our sin, but also a display of His mercy and love.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the concept of divine justice, arguing that those who have sinned and deserve punishment should not complain when they face consequences. He uses the analogy of a person deserving a hanging who should not blame the judge for cruelty if they only receive a lesser punishment. Similarly, he points out that we, who deserve condemnation, should not accuse God of harshness when we experience discipline instead of ultimate judgment. This perspective encourages humility and gratitude for God's mercy in our lives.
Text
"Why should any living man complain when
punished for his sins?" Lamentations 3:39
He who has deserved a hanging has no reason
to charge the judge with cruelty--if he escapes with
a whipping!
And we who have deserved a damning have no
reason to charge God for being too severe--if we
escape with a fatherly lashing!
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of God's Justice points: - God's justice is based on our deserving punishment - We have all sinned and fallen short of God's standards
- The Severity of Our Punishment points: - We have all deserved a damning - Our punishment is a reflection of our sin
- The Mercy of God's Lashing points: - God's punishment is a fatherly lashing - It is a display of God's mercy and love
- The Response to God's Justice points: - We should not complain when punished for our sins - We should instead thank God for His mercy
Key Quotes
“Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?” — Thomas Brooks
“He who has deserved a hanging has no reason to charge the judge with cruelty--if he escapes with a whipping!” — Thomas Brooks
“We who have deserved a damning have no reason to charge God for being too severe--if we escape with a fatherly lashing!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- When faced with punishment for your sins, do not complain to God but instead thank Him for His mercy.
- Recognize that your punishment is a reflection of your sin and a display of God's justice.
- Respond to God's justice with humility and thankfulness, acknowledging your deserving of punishment.