Generally when I read Scripture it is the verses about the Lords will, predestination, and the elect that stand out to me just a little stronger than the rest but since doing this deep study on the teachings of men I have been seeing more and more of what the Lord says about us turning to others.
Scripture does not tell us that we cannot read the writings of men, nor does it ever tell us not to listen to what others have to say about Scripture. It does tell us things like:
Iron sharpeneth iron, so doth [a]man sharpen the face of his friend. Proverbs 27:17 Geneva
I know that I gain much when I am able to discuss Scripture with someone else, even if that someone does not hold to the same beliefs that I do.
We are also told:
My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Ecclesiastes 12:12 ESV
That follows Ecclesiastes 1 which says:
The words of the [a]Preacher, the son of David king in Jerusalem.
2 [b]Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher: vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 What remaineth unto man in all his [c]travail, which he suffereth under the sun?
4 One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth [d]forever.
5 The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and draweth to his place where he riseth.
6 The [e]wind goeth toward the South, and compasseth toward the North: the wind goeth round about, and returneth by his circuits.
7 All the rivers go into the sea, yet the sea is not full: for the rivers go unto the place [f]whence they return, and go.
8 All things are full of labor: man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 [g]What is it that hath been? that that shall be: and what is it that hath been done? that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Is there anything, whereof one may say, Behold this, it is new? it hath been already in the old time that was before us.
11 There is no memory of the former, neither shalt there be a remembrance of the latter that shall be, with them that shall come after.
12 ¶ [h]I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem:
13 And I have given mine heart to search and find out wisdom by all things that are done under the heaven: (this sore travail hath God given to the sons of men, [i]to humble them thereby.)
14 I have considered all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, and vexation of the spirit.
15 That which is [j]crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be numbered.
16 I thought in mine heart, and said, Behold, I am become great, and excel in wisdom all them that have been before me in Jerusalem: and mine heart hath seen much wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I gave mine heart to know wisdom and knowledge, [k]madness and foolishness: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.
18 For in the multitude of wisdom is much [l]grief: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. (Geneva)
There in the words of the Lord are warnings about studying and the writings or readings of books. There is a standard to set our lives too. '...in wisdom is much grief...he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.'
What knowledge is spoken of there? Would the Lord tell us not to increase in the knowledge of Him and His word? Or might those verses all apply to worldly knowledge and wisdom? Might they apply to the things written by men as opposed to Scripture?
And so my thoughts have turned to these things, delved deeply into them. I have always loved books. They are like the best of the best friend, embedded deeply into a part of who I am.
At least they used to be. Anymore I cannot seem to read a book for anything. It does not matter the author. It does not matter the topic. I recently set out to read a book written by A.W. Pink. Here I am many months later and I have not made it past the fourth chapter.
But I can read Scripture day in and day out with no trouble.
All I can assume is that the Lord does not want me reading much, if any, of the writings of men. He seems to prefer that I stay focused on Him through His Word.
And so I do.
But that brings me to what I was saying before. Scripture is such a deep, rich experience that we can glean new information, new understanding from it, even when we have read a passage hundreds or thousands of time.
Such is the case with me as I have studied deeper and deeper on the teachings of men. These days when I read books and verses that are as familiar to me as I am to myself I see new things in them. I see Paul's warnings against those that are 'greedy for gain'. I see the admonishments to work with ones hands. I see...much that shows us the standards we should have for others that might wish to teach Scripture in any capacity.
It is with my eyes now opened to these teachings that I move forward into what I have begun to call phase two of the teachings of men study...the study I never intended to do, the study I keep thinking the Lord will let us finish...the study that seems as though there is no end in sight.
With these new eyes...
I look to what Scripture says.
No comments:
Post a Comment