Monday: Deal With Difficulties Honestly and Carefully
Have you ever had the experience of coming across a text or set of texts that you didn’t understand, or found difficult to harmonize with other texts or reality in general? It’s hard to imagine that at some time or another you haven’t faced this problem. The question is, How did you respond? Or, even more important, How should you respond?
Read 1 Chronicles 29:17, Proverbs 2:7, 1 Timothy 4:16 . What are these texts saying that can apply to the question of how we deal with difficult passages?
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Only when we are honest can we face difficulties adequately. Honesty safeguards us so that we do not evade any difficulties or try to obscure them. Honesty will also restrain us from giving superficial answers that do not really bear the test of scrutiny. God is pleased with honesty and integrity. Therefore, we should emulate His character in all we do, even in our study of the Bible.
Honest people will deal with Bible difficulties in such a way that they are careful not to present information out of context, distort the truth with loaded language, or mislead others by means of manipulating evidence. It is far better to wait for a sustainable answer for a difficulty than to attempt to provide an evasive or unsatisfactory solution. A positive side-effect of being honest in our Bible study is that it builds trust, and trust is at the core of all healthy personal relationships. It convinces people much more than flimsy answers. It is better to say that you just don’t know how to answer the question or accurately explain the text, than to try to make it say what you want it to say when, perhaps, it really doesn’t.
Careful people earnestly want to know the truth of God’s Word and, therefore, consistently make sure that they do not rush to hasty conclusions that are based on limited knowledge or flimsy evidence. Careful people are determined not to overlook any aspect or detail that could be important. They are not hurried in their thinking but thorough and diligent in their study of the Word of God and all related information.
| What do you do, or what should you do, with texts that you don’t fully understand or that don’t seem to fit with your understanding of truth? |
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My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Ps 3:11-12
The bible is like no other book. Every other book compiled in this world, though it may be spiritual or secular the people have written from personal experience, hear say, or what some one told them. E.G White was called to be a prophet. Her books are very good books but cannot be place side by side with the bible. Her books were given to us so we can read them but the points us to the bible.
The bible is the word of God placed on paper. When we read the bible and we come to difficult texts, we have to pray for understanding to understand the context in which the text is written. Even the answer might be in another part of the bible. Why did Solomon spent so much time warning his son about a strange woman? Why didn't he spent the same time warning his daughter about the same?
It is our own understanding and education that helps us understand secular books when we read them, we probably dont need the Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spirit that helps us understand the bible when we are reading it. It is said, when we are reading the bible and studying it, it is one way of Jesus speaking to us. We, humans do not know what is right from wrong until we read the bible. Other good books will tell us, an eye for an eye and still practice it. Jesus said, that is what they said but I am telling you, that ye resist not evil, instead whosoever shall smite thee on thy right check, turn to him the other also. Someone sue you at the law for thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. Matt 5:38-40
What do you do, or what should you do, with texts that you don’t fully understand or that don’t seem to fit with your understanding of truth?
Study more, search more, reflect more, pray more! This disturbance/inquietation can make the reader sharper, can stimulate curiosity and desire for more knowledge! God has infinite knowledge, why wouldn't we be attracted by it? He has always more to those who are interested on the knowledge from above! Even when our lives seem to be upside down, perhaps, if we cling to Him, we may get the change of heart we truly need! God is the One Who turns IMPROBABLE into CAPABLE!
"I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you." Chronicles 29:17
"he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity," Proverbs 2:7
"Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16
"It is better to say that you just don’t know how to answer the question or accurately explain the text, than to try to make it say what you want it to say when, perhaps, it really doesn’t."
We cannot judge anyone, but by the amount of people who participate in the discussions about the Lesson everyday here, and from my own Class, we truly need to star praying more for the Holy Spirit! One of our members, at this virtual meeting that we are doing so every Sabbath, (M.J.L.) suggested this past virtual Sabbath School, that we stopped in the middle of the Lesson study to pray for the Holy Spirit. Can I suggest that we start doing the same here? Can we all (that read and participate here) pray for the Holy Spirit too? Whenever we may remember this throughout our day? We need more of the union of the Holy Spirit to help us finish the work and thus engage to the sooner Jesus' return!
It’s like a treasure. If you keep searching you may find it. The Holy Spirit guides our understanding. We can read the same passage and every time get more understanding.
The Bible is the Word of God. It is the primary and infallible revelation of God’s will and purpose for the salvation of humanity. All Scripture is inspired by God and, as we all know, came through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit enables us to correctly understand and apply Scripture. That being so, it is vital when we study the Word that we should first ask for the Spirit’s guidance and illumination.
I must confess though that I too have experienced difficulty in understanding certain passages of Scripture while reading/studying the Bible. I have encountered a verse or two that sounds bizarre and somewhat linguistically indigestible.In such instances I often ask myself the questions:what's happening here, who wrote the text, what was the purpose of it, what was the prevailing culture at that time, etc. So it's important to try to understand the context of the passage and relate it to the line of thought of the entire Bible.
In addition, I have found it helpful and illuminating to refer to Ellen G. White's inspired writings to provide the meaning of passage/s. I must also add that this platform has been extremely helpful in that comments posted here are often very thoughtful, well researched and inspired. Children of God spend much time digging so that they can share what they find with us.
Prayer is our first “line of defense”. Proverbs 3:5 & John 16:13 are just two of many texts that tell us how to learn and understand scripture.
There are just some passages that we will not fully understand PERIOD!
It is not for lack of Holy Spirit, It is not for lack of spiritual understanding, it is not for lack of spiritual wisdom.
We should never make anyone feel that if they do not understand something that they are lacking anything.
The bible was written by human beings.
At times bringing in their bias.
At times referring to their culture.
At times making references to other bible authors with proper citation.
At times being overwhelmed by their emotions.
The bible writers were not taking dictation from God, nor did God pen the bible.
No one in the old testament could look at Isaiah 7:14 and predict Jesus the messiah.
No one could ever look at Psalm 8:4-5 and predict Jesus.
And truth be told, many time is "appears" that the new testament writers applied scripture without context of old testament.