Whiter Than Snow

Paul Tripp's assertion in Whiter Than Snow will surprise many and offend some: Psalm 51 is our psalm, because the story of David and Bathsheba is our story. He's not saying we're all adulterers and murderers (though who hasn't committed those sins in his heart?). Rather, he's showing us that we're all sinners in need of grace.

After a preface showing the Gospel focus on our sinfulness and the grace that rescues us from it, Tripp presents 2 Samuel 11:1-12:13 and Psalm 51 to set the stage for what follows: a series of brief devotions based on Psalm 51. These aren't academic essays on sanctification and repentance, they're thoughtful reflections on the nature of God's mercy.

These aren't your typical devotional entries. First of all, they're meant to be read once a week rather than every day, and each of the 52 entries should take just a few minutes to read. Second, they're contemplations rather than expositions of particular passages, though each one deals in some way with Psalm 51.

One of the entries is a list of quotes about sin; several are free verse poems about confession and repentance; there are stories, doctrinal reflections, and meditations on God and Scriptural truth. Yet Tripp never wanders into uncharted territory, and he never makes stuff up or twists the Bible to match his own ideas.

Each entry ends with two "Take a Moment" thoughts for reflection. These are hard-hitting—questions about our motivations, our attitudes toward sin and temptation, our prayer lives, etc. It's tempting to overlook these questions (mainly because they're so convicting!), but it's important that we let them show us our sin and dislodge it.

The idea that Jesus died for all our sin and that God's grace removes all our guilt is one that has always been difficult for Christians to embrace and celebrate. We can't imagine all our sin is forgiven, and we don't understand how Christ's work is sufficient.

If we love God and trust Jesus Christ for our salvation, however, we've been set free and all our sin, from the pettiest to the most appalling, is forgiven. Whiter Than Snow is intended to help you understand your status before God, to rely on it alone, and to act accordingly. Once more, Paul Tripp has produced an excellent resource to help our Christian walk.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.