Reading the Word with Profit
July 17, 2008
Every believer should know intrinsically the importance of reading the Bible. But many times Christians really struggle reading the Word with profit. Sadly, reading Scripture can become a fruitless exercise that leaves many believers actually feeling worse about themselves and their relationship with God rather than better. It is important to realize and to remember that the goal of reading Scripture is to encounter God. It is through Scripture that we are to come to know experientially and personally the living God of the universe. So the most pressing question that we should seek to answer when we open up Scripture is, What does this teach me about God? So how does this work? Let me explain:
This morning I read my daily Psalm, chapter 15:
“O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; 3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.”
Psalm 15 challenged me to holiness. I thought carefully about how I talked about others. I thought about promises that I made. I thought about how I viewed money. But as I viewed this text from the question, What does this teach me about God?, I was reminded that God is holy. That is why He requires that I be holy. And that is why I must listen to this text with attentive ears. It was a solemn time for me reflecting upon the holiness of God.
Then I went to another of my Psalms-of-the day, chapter 75:
“We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. 2 “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. 3 When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah 4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; 5 do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’” 6 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, 7 but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. 8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs. 9 But I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.”
Now my mind was already tuned to seek out the character of God. I was excited to explore more of what Scripture would reveal to me about God. And in Psalm 75 it was easy and plain to see what God was revealing: He is absolutely sovereign! Even though the pillars of the earth – economically, socially, politically – seem to be tottering, God alone is able to keep them steady! The pillars of our life often totter, but God’s omnipotent rule steadies the mind. As another Psalm says, “Therefore we will not fear; though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea…” (Psalm 46:2). Reminded of the sovereignty of God specifically over the wicked, I too was ready with the Psalmist to sing praises to the God of Jacob!
The pursuit of this question, What does this teach me about God?, should really frame and undergird our reading of Scripture. Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Ultimately, every promise in Scripture, every warning, every instruction, every hope, every truth, and every grace is rooted in the character of the Triune God!