Lights and Lamps: Learning to Love the Bible

It’s kind of hard to explain. Having grown up in a Christian home, I have always had great reverence for the Bible; what it is, what it means, and have always been encouraged to read it regularly. I received my first Bible for my eleventh birthday, a beautiful, black, zippered King James Version with lots of great pictures in it. It remains a beloved treasure from my childhood.

As the years have passed, I have found many passages or individual verses that have become favorites, places I have gone to for encouragement, bolstering of faith, curiosity, researching a detail of some kind, or just reading. Some of these passages have hit me right between the eyes, by pointing out weaknesses and sins that I needed to take directly to God. Some have taken a while to understand, but at the right time, the meaning and application was shown to me. (see my blog, Taking Time to Get It Right)

As far as reading the Bible regularly, I have not always been faithful with that. There were times when I would skim passages, and times when I would start, then stop, being too tired or not particularly interested in what I was reading. Now, however, I want to search out God’s word for the treasures in it.

I received a very special gift this past Father’s Day from my daughter, Brit Eaton, a parallel Bible with the NIV translation and The Message. I had only heard of The Message until I got this Bible and began to read it. When I got it I went through and marked many of my favorite places in both versions, particularly Psalm 119, and other Old Testament and New Testament passages.

I checked out The Message in various places, and liked it right away. However, I did not care for the treatment of the book of Psalms. While the passion was captured, I missed the poetry, the musical flow, the singing nature of a lot of it. C. S. Lewis described the Psalms as poetry, and should not be considered theology, as in the writings of Paul. However, the Message makes Paul’s letters clearer than ever.

As I have read more of the Bible lately, I have discovered something remarkable. I am currently reading Isaiah and Hebrews. Isaiah contains prophecies about the destruction of ancient civilizations because of their treatment of Israel, and their refusal to obey God’s command. It ultimately has many wonderful prophecies about the Messiah. Even when I am reading something about one of these civilizations, I still get the feeling that it is God’s word I am reading…because, I am! Something about hearing another word from God is encouraging and strengthening, no matter what the passage is, and whether I understand it or not.

I said in an earlier blog that I have spent more time in the Psalms than any other book in the Bible. I guess being a musician makes that pretty much expected. I also love the Gospels, Luke and John in particular, Romans for its clear spelling out of what the faith is all about, and Philippians, which contains my life verse. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (NIV). I first learned this verse in the King James Version. It directs my mind to that which is higher than all things, the completeness of God. We are to put those things at the front of our minds.

I am anticipating my interest in the Bible to continue, and grow. I have not adopted a specific program where you read so many passages a day, or read it through in a year, or anything like that. There are some great resources for those needing structure in reading the Bible, but I am taking the Word as the Holy Spirit directs me. I will occasionally just jump around, or focus on a specific place in a couple of other translations. My heart has been warmed to God’s Word, and I look forward to learning more about my Lord by reading the book he prepared for us.

From my favorite Psalm: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105, NIV)

Thanks be to God.

Taking Time to Get It Right

Taking Time to Get It Right

Many times I have read a portion of scripture, or even a specific verse, and finally after time, I get what it is really saying. This also happens in our walk with Christ. The Holy Spirit makes the meaning known in His time, and when we are ready.

This happened recently while reading my favorite Psalm, 119. Verses 5-8 goes something like this. This is the NIV translation:
5. Oh that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees.
6. Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
7. I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous laws.
8. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.

What the Holy Spirit showed me were the words, “then, when, and will.”

Verse 5 is a lament over the Psalmist's inability to obey God’s decrees consistently as he should. The Psalmist says in verse 5 that he would love to be able to obey God’s law better and more consistently than he does. In verse 6 he says, “Then” he would not be shamed when confronted with God’s commands. The implication in verse 7 is that when he is more “steadfast” in obeying God’s decrees, he will be able to praise Him with an upright heart. Verse 8 says that he will obey His decrees. He then offers a prayer that God will help him and not punish him for failing. All of this centers on obeying God’s decrees in verse 5.

The reason this has hit me like it did was that I have read this section maybe dozens of times, and just recently got the connection. If we could obey God better than we do, we would not be put to shame when confronted with his commands or his word; we could praise him with a pure heart, a clear conscience, and obedient determination.

As it turns out, a lot of my walk with Christ has been the same way, and for a purpose.

The Holy Spirit gives us what we are ready for; what we need at a given moment. My 11 month old grandson is developing nicely, but there is a lot he is not ready for. In time, it will come. He will walk, run, talk, read, possibly play sports, and lots of other stuff growing kids do. Not yet, however. He is not ready.

We tend to fret a lot when something comes up that we do not understand right away. I have had many other passages that have finally “hit home” after having read them many times. I have also had a theological issue that I finally “got,” sometimes after several years of pondering it. Many times it has turned out to not be an essential. Sometimes it is vitally important. In either case, I can put it into proper perspective.

I have a friend who has said they have “millions of questions” about the Bible, the faith, etc. What I have learned is that it may take a while to get those answers, and some may not come at all. But the most important part is to not worry about them, but to treasure them as they are revealed by the Holy Spirit.

God will show us what we need to know, in His time, when we are ready. So, slow down, be patient and be prepared to wait on God, as stated in Isaiah 40:31. In the meantime He will keep you by His grace. So, keep reading and praying. He will bring things to your understanding when He feels you are ready. He might even surprise you with it.

He does that a lot.

Thanks be to God.