Mr. Thompson, sir, did you get a chance to read and digest my 8850 which I beamed up to you early this morning? In Pink's argument he cited Prov 16:9 to support his claims. This passage reads:
Prov 16:9
9 In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines [or directs] his steps.
NIV
But there are several other similar passages that teach this truth, and this is what I want to share now to add more support to Pink's premise.
Prov 16:1
1 To man belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
NIV
Prov 19:21
21 Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
NIV
Prov 21:1
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;
he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
NIV
Prov 21:30
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the LORD.
NIV
Jer 10:23
23 I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own;
it is not for man to direct his steps.
NIV
Isa 46:10
10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.
NIV
And then this final one that ends with an important rhetorical question and is a kissing cousin text for Jer 10:23:
Prov 20:24
24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
NIV
You might recall that I have on several occasions quoted a very well known Shakespeare passage that I wholeheartedly agree with because it accords beautifully with these passages I just quoted, especially with Jeremiah and this last one!
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
I wonder if the great Bard, who wasn't particularly religious from what I read about him, knew just how biblical he waxed when he wrote that? After all, if "all the men and women [are] merely players", then who did the Bard believe was running the production? Who was the Direrctor? The playwright? Who was the "man behind the curtain"? Who owned the stage on which we actors play our parts?
The Sovereignty of God as the active King and Ruler of this Universe on the one hand and the Moral Responsibility of Helpless, Powerless, Pathetic enslaved men on the other can never be completely understood. But so what!? I can't understand the Trinity, or the Incarnation, or the Hypostatic Union, or the width, length, breadth or height of God's infinite love toward his people, OR why or how God could ever love a miserable wretch like me -- but that doesn't prevent me from believing in these, and other great incompensible truths, as well. But some of us are so arrogant and proud that we keep inventing clever ways to make the scriptures above disappear from our minds. Most of us prefer to suppress those kinds of passages because they don't fit in with our wordly, carnal presuppositions. They just don't fit in with how we mere mortals reason!
But as for you, Mr. Thomposn, just remember what Pink said in his article and supported with scripture: Judas owned his sin! Judas knew he betrayed innocent blood -- even though God directed his steps to do so! Judas knew his own self-deceived heart well enough to admit to his guilt!
And Pink probes deeper into this mystery in the last queston he tackles if you're up to the challenge. If you are, I'll post it here.