July 25, 2013
Isaiah 28:10 — For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little:
Can we talk? Between you and me, from time to time, I find some of the books of the Bible a long trek. March through Numbers, trudge through Chronicles. I always feel guilty when I have those feelings of course and remind myself firmly of 2 Timothy 3:16 (“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”)
Do you ever find that the Holy Spirit gently reminds you of what the journey through scripture is for? What I’ve discovered about long marches is that from time to time they provide great rewards along the way. Myra and I have been reading through the Bible every day for the last 10 or so years, and yet I still keep finding new nuggets of gold. Myra says it’s the Holy Spirit’s highlighter saying take note of this today!. Yesterday 2 Chronicles 13:10 jumped out at me — “But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him” — what a wonderful affirmation!
The verse at the head of this devotion is often misunderstood. It is not, as is sometimes taught, advice on how scripture is to be approached. It is, in fact, part of a priestly rebuke to the drunkard Israelites who have mockingly rejected his teaching. In effect the Israelites are saying, “We are grown-up’s. We don’t need teaching like children, repetitiously, precept upon precept, line upon line.”
How many people are there today who are unwilling to work through scripture chapter by chapter, verse by verse? How many of those nuggets (hidden by the Holy Spirit!) do they miss? I am reminded of how Martin Luther said we should read the Bible:
I study my Bible like I gather apples. First, I shake the whole tree that the ripest may fall. Then I shake each limb, and when I have shaken each limb, I shake each branch and every twig. Then I look under every leaf. I search the Bible as a whole like shaking the whole tree. Then I shake every limb–study book after book. Then I shake every branch, giving attention to the chapters. Then I shake every twig, or a careful study of the paragraphs and sentences and words and their meanings.
How do you treat your Bible reading? Is it a long, dull trudge? Or is it an exploration for hidden treasures? Or is it an exercise in fruit picking? Mine have become treasure hunts!