The Bible, the voice of God
“Stablish Thy word unto Thy servant, who is devoted to Thy fear.” (Ps. 119: 38).
“Let, I pray thee, Thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Thy word unto Thy servant.” (Ps. 119: 76).
We spoke of the power of God to communicate with fallen humanity through His word, the Holy Scriptures. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord.” (Is. 1:18). The Bible is not unreasonable, because God is reasonable. Some things don’t sound unreasonable, such as the rest of that last verse, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” But He makes provision for it through His own propitiation, therefore His promise to forgive stands.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17). If the hearing or reading of the Bible doesn’t cause faith, there’s a problem.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12). If the Bible doesn’t lift us up in a flood of conviction and carry us to overcoming of sin and doubt, we’re in trouble. We aren’t approaching it right. We aren’t approaching God. To us it isn’t “Thy word unto Thy servant,” the voice of God to the soul. (Ps. 119: 76).
Here is where the Jews went wrong. They religiously read the scriptures. They even searched the scriptures. But they came to the search in the wrong relation. Not as a sinner in need of the voice of assurance from God or His voice of conviction, they came to the study of it as a way to prove to themselves and others (especially others) that they were in a right standing with God.
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life.” (Jn. 5:39). They missed the whole reason for digging and plying the holy writ. And they never came away impenetrably bonded to a Savior and a Father-Friend. As Jesus said, “They are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.” (vs. 39, 40) And thus they could have no abiding presence of God through His word. (vs. 38).
This is still being done today. Our fallen human natures have not improved one iota. Multitudes are following one Bible teacher after another, searching for answers that satisfy their curiosity. But the honest in heart, those humbled by life will have the need that brings them all the way to faith and to salvation.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3).
“Let, I pray thee, Thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Thy word unto Thy servant.” (Ps. 119: 76).
We spoke of the power of God to communicate with fallen humanity through His word, the Holy Scriptures. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord.” (Is. 1:18). The Bible is not unreasonable, because God is reasonable. Some things don’t sound unreasonable, such as the rest of that last verse, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” But He makes provision for it through His own propitiation, therefore His promise to forgive stands.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17). If the hearing or reading of the Bible doesn’t cause faith, there’s a problem.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12). If the Bible doesn’t lift us up in a flood of conviction and carry us to overcoming of sin and doubt, we’re in trouble. We aren’t approaching it right. We aren’t approaching God. To us it isn’t “Thy word unto Thy servant,” the voice of God to the soul. (Ps. 119: 76).
Here is where the Jews went wrong. They religiously read the scriptures. They even searched the scriptures. But they came to the search in the wrong relation. Not as a sinner in need of the voice of assurance from God or His voice of conviction, they came to the study of it as a way to prove to themselves and others (especially others) that they were in a right standing with God.
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life.” (Jn. 5:39). They missed the whole reason for digging and plying the holy writ. And they never came away impenetrably bonded to a Savior and a Father-Friend. As Jesus said, “They are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.” (vs. 39, 40) And thus they could have no abiding presence of God through His word. (vs. 38).
This is still being done today. Our fallen human natures have not improved one iota. Multitudes are following one Bible teacher after another, searching for answers that satisfy their curiosity. But the honest in heart, those humbled by life will have the need that brings them all the way to faith and to salvation.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3).
posted by David | 5:28 AM
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