I am so glad that I did not start reading my Bible at the
Gospel passage we have today. I think I
would have been put off reading it as, in applying the scripture to, I have no
brother-in-laws and then I would have read that the men speaking out did not know
what they were talking about. I would have had some doubts and some questions
so I can understand that when people read the bible; it can be difficult to
comprehend and unless you have someone around to explain it to you or you are
blessed with a commentary. It can be daunting and off putting to the extent
that we give up. This was not God’s plan
and wasn’t intended to be read through from beginning to end like a story book.
As we know the bible is a collection of books, put together at various points in
the history of the people whose story it tells, and edited several times in the
process. So discovering the context of what we are reading should be one of
first things we do. It is helpful, too, to think about the nature of the story
and how does fit with my life.
The Psalmist in our first reading hints at why we should
read it. We should read it because it is life giving, it tells of a love so
precious and also that it is worth more than gold. That as we read it and begin
to understand its meaning, and engage with the writers and the people referred
in the Bible, we will over time begin to enjoy reading the Bible.
Think about what you enjoy doing. It that worth rejoicing, celebrating
(cross-stitch). The psalmist begins by celebrating the wonder of creation and
there is every reason for us to enjoy all the kind of things we’ve just thought
about because they are ways of celebrating. But it is more than that; it is
actually joining God in his celebration of the wonderful world He had provided
for us. The psalmist speaks of God speaking to us and sharing His heart through
His words to us. For the psalmist tells us that God’s words are more than to be
desired, they are gold, no they are worth more than gold. No doubt over your
life time you will have received a gift of gold, like an engagement ring with
its promise of love and fidelity, which is treasured and valued – gold will
last a life time. The psalmist tells us the God’s word is like gold and as such
is a privilege of knowing something of God’s mind. It is sweeter that pure
honey.
So do we read the bible because it is made of Gold and
tastes like honey? No. We ought to read
it because it is of great value and tells us of the love that God has for us. A
love that speaks of a relationship that God wants with us, it is full of
promises, power, guidance, forgiveness of peace and joy. God’s word speaks of
Revival (verse7). A bit like, ‘I need a cup of coffee’! God’s word revives the
soul. That does not mean just the Spiritual part of us but the whole of us. It
gives new strength. In Isaiah 55: 1-3 invites those you are thirsty for the
word to delight ourselves in rich food so that we may live. In John’s gospel we
are told that we can have ‘living water’ – water that is life sustaining but
also spring up within us. God given; joyful vitality that overflows from us
that we can’t help but give it to others. Reading the bible on its own it not
enough. If we are serious about reading the bible we will want to put it into
action. God wants us to be a local blessing to others.
God word enlightens the eyes. We can get into a lot of
trouble if we can’t see clearly. That’s why we have opticians but even with the
best glasses, most people don’t actually see clearly. They may marvel at
creation but often don’t see what is really good and worth celebrating and
worth holding onto to the things are meaningful and fulfilling.
There is much to confuse around us. What values should we
live by? What will really give us a fulfilled and flourished life? Is
fulfilment to be found in all that the TV adverts tells us? Is the best answer
necessarily the most appealing one? What scripture does is nourish us with a
Godly and real world view. This helps us see the deceptions in all those people
and things that seek us the ‘this’ and ‘that’ as answers to our problems. Even
more vitality, scripture helps us recognise that our worth is not in
possessions but in being loved by God. When the cataracts are removed there is
sheer joy at being able to see things, people surroundings more clearly. This
is what God’s word does, helps us to see more clearly in the world, and situations
we live in.
God’s word leads to forgiveness. ‘Clear me from my hidden
faults’. Being forgiven is liberating and restorative. It is a bit like feeling unwell, it’s sapping
your energy and you don’t know why. So you go to the doctors and discover what
is wrong. Medication prescribed and after a short while you feel better, you
have much more energy and enjoying life more. This is also true about Gods
forgiving heart. It is a wonderful relief to know that all we despise about
ourselves and all that damages us, and all that blocks off our relationship
with God can be dealt with. What joyful freedom being forgiven brings.
The psalmist knew all this about God for he was able to know
God as his personal refuge (rock) and redeemer. He had a relationship with God
and had first-hand experience of God’s workings in his life. For only those who
obey God are happy!
The psalmist engaged his imagination and that helped him to
explore God and also things about his own personality. This is what we ought to
do too as all the stories in the Bible are written out of experience; all alike
give us a framework, a vocabulary for dealing with the ideas that are perhaps
too painful, too difficult, misunderstood to deal with directly. Stories don’t
necessarily illustrate, make things easy. They involve us, provoke us into
response. They all contribute to one big
story, the story of God’s love affair with His people. ‘You are precious in my
sight, and honoured, and I love you’. (Isaiah 43:4). The bible is not a book of
instructions, but an invitation to listen to God’s story, which is our story
too. God invites us to discover who we are as we follow the events describe in
the Old Testament and respond to the challenge of his prophets who, like Nathan
(David and Bathsheba), brought people face to face with the consequences of
their choices. And in the New Testament, we meet the word of God in a fresh way
in Jesus, and think about how we might have responded if we had been there with
him. What does it mean to be precious in God’s eyes? It means we are loved but
we won’t be spoilt. Jesus knew himself to be loved, but he was not spared the
cross or the feeling of being alone. However, he also knew that God is
faithful, and that nothing in the end will be able to separate us from God’s
love.
The wonderful thing of the story of God is that His love
continues as our personal story unfolds. The challenge for us is to discover
where God is in the particular circumstances of our lives, or in the world
around us. The Bible can help us not so much by giving us the right answers to
our questions, but by helping us to ask the right questions, and nudging us
into making appropriate responses. When we read the bible we need to ask ‘How
is this, the word of God for us today?’ Amen.
Questions
1.
What does it mean to you to be precious in God’s
eyes?
2.
What do you find difficult about the Bible? Is
there anything we can do to help you?
3.
Have you read anything in the Bible which has
corrected an aspect of your beliefs or behaviour?
4.
‘What the Scriptures said, God said.’ Do you
share that view>
No comments:
Post a Comment