The Crook in the Lot: Or the Sovereignty and Wisdom of God Displayed in the Afflictions of Men (Puritan Writings) [Hardcover]

Thomas Boston (Author), Don Kistler (Editor), Maureen L. Bradley (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1573581372 | ISBN-13: 978-1573581370 | Publication Date: June 2003

When calamity and disaster strike as it did on September 11th, many people begin to ask, "Where is God?" and "Why did God allow this to happen?" These are the very questions Thomas Boston addresses in this timeless book. This book includes an introduction and a study guide to maximize the impact of this classic work.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In this book, Thomas Boston explains how the sovereignty and wisdom of God is displayed in the afflictions of men. In his approach to this difficult subject, he is both theologically precise and pastorally tender. Boston does not commit the error of needlessly trying to protect God’s reputation, nor does he go to the opposite extreme of making God a compassionate but helpless bystander. Rather, Boston brings God right into the mix of even the most disastrous events, and shows how He is actively involved in both the events and their resolution. Let the wisdom of the ages be a salve during this time of crisis and bewilderment. May the God of all comfort be your comfort in troubled times.

About the Author

Thomas Boston (1676-1732) was a Scottish Presbyterian minister. He studied at the University of Edinburgh and was a recognized Hebrew scholar. His main pastorate was at Ettrick, Selkirkshire, where he was installed in 1707. His most noted works are The Crook in the Lot and Human Nature in its Fourfold State.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 195 pages
• Publisher: Soli Deo Gloria Ministries (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573581372
• ISBN-13: 978-1573581370
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,862,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book on How to Suffer Well, May 15, 2010

By 

Brandon Lucas "Peculiar Pilgrim" (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Crook in the Lot: Or the Sovereignty and Wisdom of God Displayed in the Afflictions of Men (Puritan Writings) (Hardcover)

Synopsis:
Thomas Boston sets out to demonstrate that all the pain and suffering experienced by Christians in life is ultimately ordained for our good by an absolutely sovereign and loving God. The term 'crook in the lot' is a biblical reference Boston uses as the main text for his work. The scripture is taken from the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 17, verse 13: 'Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked'.

Our lot, that is, our portion in life, is assigned by divine providence. It can have many crooks, or twists and turns, that pulls us out of normalcy, routine and comfort. The crooks in our lot may lead into periods of trials, sufferings, afflictions and persecutions.

The author spends the bulk of the text expounding upon three main propositions:

1. Whatsoever crook there is in one's lot, it is of God's making.
2. What God sees meet to mar, no one shall be able to mend in his lot.
3. The considering of the crook in the lot as the work of God, or of his making, is a proper means to bring us to a Christian deportment (demeanor) under it.

Kudos:
Thomas Boston is a thorough expositor of the Holy Scriptures. He takes a relatively obscure verse and builds a powerful case for God's sovereignty and the wisdom he displays in the affliction of men. This little treatise is much needed in today's Christian culture. Suffering and affliction in the the life of a believer is considered a failure of faith: a demonstration of a deeply sinful disposition and a carnal life devoid of personal holiness. It is antithetical to every teaching of the ever-popular Word-Faith doctrine. It also contrasts the doctrine of a vast majority of modern Evangelicals with their Seeker-Sensitive agendas designed to help members achieve their best life now or a freer, lighter, less stressful lifestyle.

Boston emphasizes believers' utter dependence upon God's graciousness through life's afflictions. He calls Christians to openly admit their weakness and to call on God's strength to endure and persevere. We cannot make our paths straight, only God can. Boston exhorts us to cease from striving against circumstances that lie beyond our control. We need to put our trust in God's hand who alone can make our paths straight according to his majestic sovereignty and eternal wisdom.

Here is a quote from the book concerning God's grace as it relates to the crooks in our lot:

The truth is, the crook in the lot is the great engine of Providence for making men appear in their true colours, discovering both their ill and their good; and if the grace of God be in them, it will bring it out, and cause it to display itself. It so puts the Christian to his shifts, that however it makes him stagger for awhile, yet it will at length evidence both the reality and the strength of grace in him.

Knocks:
Thomas Boston was a Scottish Puritan who lived in the late 17th to early 18th century. Consequently, his prose can be rather archaic at times. Strangely, even though he is a much easier read than many of the Puritan writers, I still trudged through this little book. It's not a difficult read by any means but is so full of rich, theological and practical content that it should be savored slowly.

Recommendations:
This is an essential book for every Christian believer. More than a theological treatise, Crook in the Lot gets to the heart of the Christian life. It is practical for our walk in holiness and prepares us for the storms that will inevitably rage against us. It should be read and committed to heart. Crook in the Lot is one of the most comforting reminders of God's loving providence for all of his beloved children that you will ever read.

5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic resource, October 12, 2011

By 

J. Nevarr "jennevarr" (Manassas, Va USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Crook in the Lot: Or the Sovereignty and Wisdom of God Displayed in the Afflictions of Men (Puritan Writings) (Hardcover)

I love this book. It's one that every Christian should own and read, at least once a year. Everyone who follows Christ will have adversity and trials. This book is a gold mine of practical truth and help with regards to the hows and whys of suffering. I could go on and on with quotes from this book, but here is one of my favorites: "If you would approve yourself of God, walking by faith and not by sight, you must submit yourself to the will and purpose of God without insisting that things go according to your mind." The basic premise of this book is that God is completely, utterly and in all ways in control of every aspect of our lives. Everyone has a difficulty or trial at some point -what Boston refers to as a Crook in the Lot. God gives us these crooked places in our lives as a way to refine, mold and make us into the person He wants us to be. A vessel fit for the Master's use. He sets the time and place, the type and severity, the length of the crook in our lots. Boston discusses different types of crooks, different reasons for them, and different responses to them. He reminds us over and over again that they are crooked places only from our vantage points, because we suffer loss or pain or adversity which is never pleasant, but from God's vantage point everything is exactly how He wants it to be. If we are able to grasp the sovereignty of God, it's so much easier to accept God's will and wait for Him to work everything out. Read Psalm 37 for one of many biblical descriptions of how to handle adversity. I like this edition because it has a very helpful study guide in the back that is wonderful. Have I said that I absolutely love this book? Read it alongside "When People are Big and God is Small" by Edward T. Welch.