Why read the Bible?

Posted on September 19, 2010 by markherzer

Basics in Christian Faith and Living

Why read the Bible?

Introduction
Most Christians believe it is a good thing to read the Bible. Many feel guilty because they don’t read enough. Some feel dissatisfied with their on and off schedule. Others have no real method or plan but tend to read something in the Bible just to have read something.

Scriptural Exhortations

One cannot find an “explicit” verse that states, “You must read the Bible everyday.” But much in Scripture assumes its practice and benefit. Psalm 1 illustrates this perfectly. The godly or righteous are those who meditates on God’s law “day and night” (Ps. 1:2). How can one meditate on something he does not read or how can he do it day and night if he does not read it every day? On the other hand, if we memorized the entire word of God, then we can meditate on it day and night without reading it every day.

Our Lord Jesus establishes the simple but profound truth of our absolute need for God’s Word. He rebuffed the devil by quoting Deut. 8:3, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” He knew Scripture and He quoted it. But more importantly, from this verse we learn that we desperately need God’s word just to live. The analogy is simple. We need food (bread) every day to live but that is not the only thing we need every day, we need God’s word. Sad to say, too often, we think we can get along without His Word while we never dare forego a meal. The other way around would be better for all of us. In fact, we are no better than animals if we think we can get along with mere physical food. We are capable of and create for higher and better things, to be nourished by God’s Word.

Ps. 119 focuses entirely on God’s Word. Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is used to extol the greatness and benefits of God’s Holy Word. We are told to store up God’s word in our hearts so as not to sin against God (v. 11). The psalmist will never forget God’s word (v. 16) and begs God to open his eyes to “behold wondrous things out of your law” (v. 18; cf. 27). God’s testimonies are his “counselors” (v. 24) and God strengthens with His Word (v. 28). Christians too can say with the Psalmist, “your rules are good” (v. 39; Paul says in Rom. 7:12, “So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”). The psalmist delights in and loves God’s word (vv. 47, 92, 113, 119, 127, 163, etc.); he hopes in it (v. 49) and it gives him life (v. 50). God’s laws are sweet to him, “sweeter than honey to my mouth” (v. 103) and are the joy of his heart (v. 111). He longs for God’s commandment (v. 131) and “great peace have those who love your law” (v. 165). How can these things become a part of us if we do not read, memorize, and meditate on God’s word on a daily basis? This is not the heart of a legalist; it is the heart of a saint who is sanctified and mature.

Joshua was to keep God’s word and to meditate on it “day and night.” Why? “So that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.” (Josh. 1:8) If God wants us to keep His Word (and He does), then are we exempt because we don’t read it and know it? We should be as Ezra (7:10), “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.”

We read the Bible everyday because it is God’s word. I know of a man who reads and reads great works of literature and memorizes great poetry. It is impressive. Yet, those wonderful pieces of literature are not the Word of God. Should we not read God’s Word every day because it is his? Many read newspapers, magazines, email, etc. everyday; they will rarely miss a day. But God’s Word alone is fully and always true and it alone is absolutely authoritative. All the other writings are the mere writings of men.

We should read the Bible everyday because God still speaks and gives life through it. Because it is “God breathed” we can cite Scripture and say “God says” or the “Holy Spirit says” (cf. Acts 13:47; 28:25; 2 Cor. 6:2, 16; Heb. 1:5; 3:7; 8:5; 10:15; etc.). God spoke and speaks; as Scripture speaks, God speaks. His Word is life indeed.

For these reasons, we should read God’s Word daily and meditate on it day and night. It is not just another book but the book of books. It is absolutely unique and absolutely authoritative.

Benefits

In addition to the Scriptural examples and exhortations, there are immense benefits to reading Scripture. First of all, it will make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 3:14, 15). Those who diligently search the Scriptures will understand how God saves and by the power of His mercy, will be converted. Once that has happened, the child of God will begin to know God through His Word. God makes Himself known. Eternal life and knowing God are the same (Jn. 17:3). Through reading and meditating on God’s Word, we begin to know Him better and all the blessings He has for us (1Cor. 2:9-13). No saint will ever grow in maturity without regularly and daily meditating on God’s Word.

Through God’s word we are given instruction (Rom. 15:4) on how to please God and are made wise through His Word (e.g. Ps. 119; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17). God afflicts us in order to help us keep His Word and His Word keeps us from perishing in times of affliction (Ps. 119:67, 71, 92). Stories and different instructions were written as “examples for us” (1 Cor. 10:1-6). In addition, we receive encouragement from Scripture (Rom. 15:4).

We are too often aimless and spiritually malnourished. Yet saints have been sustained and mightily built up through God’s Word. Are we truly benefiting from God’s Word? Do we read it and meditate upon it?

Methods

I want to give some suggestions on how to read the Bible. First of all, have a plan. Have a plan to go through the entire Bible. Some do one chapter from each testament while others go from Genesis to Maps. Whatever the plan, have one that will enable you to complete the entire Bible consistently and regularly. Remember, you have the rest of your life so devise a plan that works. [Use McCheyne’s schedule for those interested in a rather disciplined approach.] Two, use variety. Sometimes read the Psalms for a time and then go back to your plan. Similarly, camp out on a certain book or epistle for deep study. Read M. Henry or other commentaries to help you through certain books of the Bible (but never as a replacement for the Bible itself). Three, keep a journal or a notebook to help you keep track. If that is not a problem, have a notebook to write down your favorite verses, make notations on passages, etc. This will help you to recall passages and specific things you’ve learned from God’s Word. Four, memorize verses and passages. Use your Bible times to memorize verses and recite the older ones. This will enable you to meditate on it day and night. Five, set aside time that works for you. Mornings are preferable since your mind is a sponge. Don’t give God the worst part of the day or when you are least attentive. Six, invest in commentaries and Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias. This will help you to read with better comprehension. Seven, use a private place where you can commune with God and His Word. It is not a “show” but private worship. Eight (though it is actually first on the list), pray to God to help you understand His Word.

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Receiving Counsel and Trusting in God

Posted on September 18, 2010 by markherzer

Appendix to CCPC’s Studies in Proverbs
Proverbs 15:22
Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

In our study of Proverbs, we have noted that many factors go into receiving counsel. We must consider the wisdom of the counselors. Are they wise? Do they tend to make wise decisions? Do they tend to offer wise counsel? Secondly, the one seeking counsel needs to consider his own motivations in seeking particular counselors. Why that one over the other? That is, are you seeking a particular person’s counsel because he or she tends to support your decisions and outlook? Thirdly, does the person who seeks counsel himself possess wisdom? A fool delights in folly (15:21) and he often cannot recognize good counsel when it is offered to him on account of his own foolishness.

There is still another important factor. It is one that forces us to reckon with our finitude and God’s sovereignty. We learn in Ps. 33:11, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” When seeking counsel, we must acknowledge the mysterious and secret sovereign plan of God. We read of several incidents where good counsels are thwarted on account of God’s sovereignty and His desire to inflict discipline.

One of the first ones we read about is Pharaoh’s heart. He hardened his heart (Ex. 8:15, 32; cf. 7:13) and we read that God also judicially hardened it (Ex. 9:12). When this happens, we will never heed good advice or counsel. In 2Chron. 10:15, we read that Rehoboam did not take the counsel of the elders (10:8, 13) but instead took the counsel from his friends (“took counsel from the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him”). All this was a way to fulfill God’s plan. 2Chron. 10:15 (cf. 1K. 12:15) states, “So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.” On this one it is not clear that the intent was to discipline Rehoboam per se (cf. 2Ch. 11:4). One thing we learn from this, we are not in control of the way we receive counsel!

Sometimes we deliberately refuse good counsel on account of our wickedness as in the case of Ahab (against Micaiah’s counsel) in 2 Chron. 18. Ahaziah made what seems to be good choices for self preservation but his decision was “ordained by God” for his downfall (2Chron. 22:7). Israel’s enemies were allowed to act unwisely against Israel because God had ordained their destruction (Josh. 11:20). Even the sinful desires of Samson were used by God to punish God’s enemies and his parents were unaware of all this as they witnessed their son’s sinful ways (Judges 14:4).

David prays for the good counsel of Ahithophel to fail (2Sam. 15:31) and sends Husahi for that purpose (2Sam. 15:33). In 2Sam. 17, we see how this unfolds. Ahithophel’s counsel was better but Absalom chose what would be to his own undoing: “For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring harm upon Absalom.” (v. 14)

In these passages, we see that wise counsel is needed but we also recognize without wisdom we will not perceive it and most importantly, if God has ordained to discipline us, we will heed foolish counsel or make foolish choices that will be to our harm. Proverbs notes this tentative nature of our decisions and plans.

We think our plans are well thought out but they may undo us. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (16:25) Our plans should be maintained with all humility and deference to the Lord. We learn, “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.” (16:1); “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (16:9); “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” (19:21) We should counsel, seek counsel, and plan, etc. but realize that the Lord’s purpose alone will be accomplished. “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.” (21:1) There is simply no resisting God. “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.” (21:30) We can use all our might to accomplish our purposes but still, it is in the Lord’s hand. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.” (21:31)

When we read, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” (16:33) — we are tempted to say “Why bother or plan?” The point of these verses is to teach humility and dependence and not inactivity and despair. We depend upon our heavenly Father to direct us through His Word. The future is not in our hands; we plan by praying. We seek counsel while trusting in the Lord. We act while depending on our Father’s grace. We seek out many counselors but even there, there is no safety. We must depend upon our God alone. We should seek counsel, receive counsel and with all humility, act on good counsel. Yet, we must trust in our God for the success of our plans and with all humility defer to our good heavenly Father should He interpose to accomplish something entirely different from what we purposed. Again, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” (19:21)

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