The Bible is a wonderful book. The study of the Bible is an exceedingly rewarding experience. The Psalmist says,
O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than my enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. Ps 119:97-100 (KJV)
I wonder how many of us can say that the Law is our meditation (study) all the day. But this is not the point I wish to make. The question I want to pose as a challenge is this:
Do we think that the study of the Bible is important at all? A startling question, but consider the ‘evidence’ that might lead to such a question being asked in the first place:
- What ecclesia has not seen dwindling interest in midweek Bible classes? Isn’t the word ‘class’ itself often objected to as ‘off-putting’?
- What individual brother and sister has not felt that the study of the Scriptures (as presented in talks) has become blander, dumbed down, more peppered with familiar clichés, with less substance and more platitudes?
- Hasn’t there been an irreversible decline in Biblical conversations amongst us at fraternals and after meetings, and in our own homes?
- Isn’t there a complete lack of voices talking about the detail of the Prophets, the Psalms and the Law? When was the last time anyone actually discussed details as opposed to generalities?
The list of questions could go on. They are rhetorical questions, of course, each brother and sister will answer them in his or her own way. But even to pose these questions is not my point. My challenge is this: is there anybody who thinks that study is not important as part of what it is to be saved by God?
Paul says this:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim 3:16 (KJV)
This is a familiar verse; but it does say ‘all’ Scripture is profitable, and it does mention doctrine (teaching). Nobody doubts intellectually a first principle such as the inspiration of Scripture, but do they deny it in practice by neglecting the study of the Scriptures?
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Matt 15:8 (KJV)
Am I getting out of balance with this quotation? I don’t think so. With our lips we may affirm our belief in the inspiration of Scripture. But in practice our heart may deny this, for our heart does not meditate upon the Scriptures. When it does meditate, it selects only some parts, it ignores very large parts, it prefers the easy, and the accessible, the general and the devotional, but it neglects the deep, the difficult and the detail—and so the teaching we derive is limited.
Reflections on the Potter and the Clay