Today's reading in Turretin was on the necessity of God's Word. It is such an un-sexy topic in a world of theology that spends time talking about all sorts of God things, but that often ignores essential things. These essential things are not being ignored because they have been taken for granted, but because they have been forgotten.
No real change in our lives is going to come without concentrated study of God's Word. No real change in education is going to come without significant, communal, and continual study of God's Word. No real and lasting political change is going to come to our country without consistent, believing study of God's Word. Without this the poor will go hungry. Without this our children will be raised in danger and darkness. We must renew a commitment to practice and enjoy the sacraments, but without the Word the sacraments quickly grow opaque, sentimental, and misguided.
Turretin also is immanently practical for classical and Christians study today. He again in this section (2.1) relates creation, providence, and the word. The first two are true, but the Word has to lead the others (not be led by them). Reversing this can lead to tragic and comic situations. Imagine that you come home one day and find the cupboards full of wonderful food. The scientist might view this fact of creation and proclaim that someone in the house is a farmer. Your wife's words, however, bring clarity: "I just got back from shopping and got a really good deal."
Also, Turretin points (over and over) to God's goodness. He points this out. When God makes us hungry (i.e., when He gives us an appetite), He also gives us food. He has made the heart of man to hunger for truth and for immortality. He has provided a pathway and a sacrifice. Give us this day our daily bread.
Finally, there is one point that might have improved Turretin's discussion. He does not say much about how God's Trinitarian nature plays into His communication with us. God talks, because He has been talking. Allah would never talk. He has been alone forever. God in the Holy Trinity has never been alone. Thus, He speaks because He has been speaking.
