From I Samuel 17, about one year ago, I made some notes that I thought might be very encouraging for any brother or sister who believes God may be calling them into an area of ministry that is totally new to them. Often we feel so inadequate and have so many questions as we sense God stirring us to a new work. The question can often be, "Is this really You, God?" or, perhaps, we feel certain it is the Lord, but just as Moses, we think of so many reasons why responding positively and moving ahead in God's calling is just not a good idea. I hope this might be especially helpful for anyone about to go into cross-cultural ministry.
Here are the rough notes, a working draft, which I hope to elaborate more on later.
17:8-16 - For 40 days, twice each day, the giant Goliath came out and taunted the army of Israel. The Philistines were gathered on land that belonged to Judah. We as children of God, as warriors in His kingdom, will experience the accusations of the enemy, the distortion of His truth. This is intimidating. This is the same kind of intimidation that Nehemiah and the re-builders of the wall experienced from their enemies. Expect ridicule, taunts from the enemy when you are about to obey the calling of God into a new work... sometimes the opposition may even come from those close to you, whom you consider friends/brothers.
17:17-18 - David was about his routine, everyday tasks when God spoke and he was called into this great encounter. Was David out of God's will in his shepherding? On the contrary, David was doing God's will. Be faithful in the "little" things...and let your hope and expectation only be that you may glorify Him in whatever He tells you to do. We may feel "under-used" or bored or frustrated or weary of doing menial work that doesn't appear to have any eternal significance, but these feelings are not from God. Taking care of children or aging parents, going faithfully to your job each day, doing the household chores, whatever it may be... be faithful and thankful.
17:28-30 - At the same time, David's ongoing call would turn out to be a calling away from his responsibilities as a shepherd boy. It is right and good to be able to leave behind work that you've been involved in, whatever it may be. And this goes along directly with this next section ---
17:34-37 - God uses our previous "faith-obedience-experience" in Him as training for that next work that He is calling us into. Whatever we do to honor Jesus will not be wasted. Even if such obedience should come at the end of one's life-time, shouldn't we remember from Revelation that His Word says we will one day "reign with Him"? Even in eternity, I believe, we will have a work to do, and much of the quality/quantity of that work will depend upon how faithful we've been to serve Him in this life. Whatever you do, do for His glory!
17:45-47 - We obey in child-like trust in Him; He takes care of the results. In this case, David took the stones and slung his sling. He did have to step out and act. There is a place in the calling of God that comes to raw, one-foot-in-front-of-the-other, abandonment and action. Remember it really has nothing to do with your understanding or emotional state. Often it is NOT comfortable being obedient, and yet there is a peace in the act that cannot be explained. And it definitely does not make sense (what do you think the Philistine AND Israelite soldiers were thinking when David approached this beast with some rocks?). It has nothing to do with your own natural abilities, either... yet, God delivered here. He gave the results; in this case, to see that Goliath was killed.
17:48-49 - note the CONFIDENCE that David put in His Lord. David "RAN QUICKLY TOWARD THE BATTLE LINE". When you are filled with and walking in His Spirit, go forward in complete confidence in Him, with your mind not focused on results or outcome (He is responsible for this), but upon seeing that Yahweh is magnified, glorified, that He gets all the credit for what He is doing.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
The belt and the sword -- hermeneutics 101
In Ephesians 6, we are told to put on the belt of truth and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. In keeping with what I had to share with you in the post, "A matter of life and death", I just wanted to offer a tool that I pray will be helpful for you as you move forward in your faith-walk with Christ.
On our last term overseas, I ran across a book by a man named RC Sproul. It's called Knowing God's Word (formerly called "Knowing Scripture"). The following is taken from his work in regard to the basics of Biblical hermeneutics, or the "science" of interpreting the Bible:
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p.46 - "If a given verse is capable of two renditions or variant interpretations and tone of those interpretations goes against the rest of Scripture while the other is in harmony with it, then the latter interpretation must be used." God's Word, the Bible, is consistent and coherent.
p.48. "The Bible should be interpreted according to its literal sense ie., as literature: the natural meaning is to be interpreted according to the normal rules of of grammar, speech, syntax, and context"
p.49 - Literary analysis/genre analysis: figures of speech, style, hyperbole (exaggeration, "overshooting", etc.) Is this section of Scripture poetry? Fable? Or historical narrative? Personification?
Metaphor: Jesus said, "I am the door"
p. 51 - "If the Bible claims something actually happened, we have no right to 'explain it away' by calling it personification"
p. 53 - "We must be careful to note the difference between discerning what the Bible is actually saying and the question of whether what it is saying is true or not"
Think about: What is the plain sense of the Scripture?
Scripture has a unified meaning (one, clear meaning) but can have multiple, rich, varied applications.
MAJOR PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION (TOP 3 ARE MARKED***)
I. **The ANALOGY OF FAITH - The primary rule of hermeneutics is that Scripture is to interpret Scripture..."no part of Scripture can be interpreted in such a way as to render it in conflict with what is clearly taught elsewhere in Scripture"... THIS PRINCIPLE KEEPS THE WHOLE BIBLE IN VIEW.
II. **THE LITERAL SENSE OF SCRIPTURE - What is the natural meaning? The clear, literal sense? THIS PRINCIPLE OFFERS RESTRAINT FROM LETTING OUR IMAGINATION RUN AWAY WITH US.
III. **THE GRAMMATICO-HISTORICAL METHOD -- Attention is gocused on "grammatical constructions and historical contexts out of which the Scriptures were written. THIS FOCUSES OUR ATTENTION ON ORIGINAL MEANING OF THE TEXT, KEEPING US ON EXEGESIS (drawing truth/meaning from the Scripture), NOT EISEGESIS (bringing meaning from the outside and putting it into the Scripture).
IV. SOURCE CRITICISM - By these methods you can isolate materials common to particular writers (Ex: Mark was the first Gospel writer... Matthew and Luke have Mark as they wrote.... knowing why an author writes what he writes helps us to understand what he writes.)
V. AUTHORSHIP AND DATING
HOW DO WE APPLY THESE PRINCIPLES?
1. Rule 1: The Bible is to be read like any other book (it is not "magical")
2. Rule 2: Read the Bible existentially (ie., get passionately and personally involved in what we read... NOTE: John Piper said regarding sermon message preparation that you should ask two questions: "Is is TRUE?" and "Do I have a passion about this?"
3. Rule 3: Historical narratives are to be interpreted by the didactic (teaching)passages of Scripture
4. Rule 4: The implicit is to be interpreted by the explicit
5. Rule 5: Determine carefully the meaning of words (etymology, origins of words and word usage)
6. Rule 6: Note the presence of parallelisms in the Bible -- Note Proverbs.
7. Rule 7: Note the difference between proverb and law
8. Rule 8: Observe the difference between the spirit and the letter of the law.
9. Rule 9: Be careful with parables (best: look for one, basic central point in each parable, not as "allegory")
10. Rule 10: Be careful with predictive prophecy (as opposed to prophecy which is simply the forth-telling of Biblical truth).
CULTURE AND THE BIBLE: (1) Examine the Bible itself for apparent areas of custom. (2) Allow for Christian distinctives in the 1st century (3) The Creation ordinances are indicators of the trans-cultural principle: "If any Biblical principles transcend local customary limits, they are appeals drawn from creation" pg.110 - ie., they reflect stipulations a covenant God makes with man qua man (ex. Matthew 19:4-6 references to Genesis regarding marriage) (4) In areas of uncertainty, use the principle of humility - Ex" Biblical mandate whose nature remains uncertain (is it "custom", or "principle"?).
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Okay, I have to say on point 3 of "Culture and the Bible" that I would have to look again at what Sproul was saying. I think his book did not further elaborate.
I am thinking especially of my children now as I write. I pray you will seek the truth of God's Word. Whatever I or anyone else may teach you, always examine what you hear in the light of Scripture. God's Word is your final authority.
On our last term overseas, I ran across a book by a man named RC Sproul. It's called Knowing God's Word (formerly called "Knowing Scripture"). The following is taken from his work in regard to the basics of Biblical hermeneutics, or the "science" of interpreting the Bible:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
p.46 - "If a given verse is capable of two renditions or variant interpretations and tone of those interpretations goes against the rest of Scripture while the other is in harmony with it, then the latter interpretation must be used." God's Word, the Bible, is consistent and coherent.
p.48. "The Bible should be interpreted according to its literal sense ie., as literature: the natural meaning is to be interpreted according to the normal rules of of grammar, speech, syntax, and context"
p.49 - Literary analysis/genre analysis: figures of speech, style, hyperbole (exaggeration, "overshooting", etc.) Is this section of Scripture poetry? Fable? Or historical narrative? Personification?
Metaphor: Jesus said, "I am the door"
p. 51 - "If the Bible claims something actually happened, we have no right to 'explain it away' by calling it personification"
p. 53 - "We must be careful to note the difference between discerning what the Bible is actually saying and the question of whether what it is saying is true or not"
Think about: What is the plain sense of the Scripture?
Scripture has a unified meaning (one, clear meaning) but can have multiple, rich, varied applications.
MAJOR PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION (TOP 3 ARE MARKED***)
I. **The ANALOGY OF FAITH - The primary rule of hermeneutics is that Scripture is to interpret Scripture..."no part of Scripture can be interpreted in such a way as to render it in conflict with what is clearly taught elsewhere in Scripture"... THIS PRINCIPLE KEEPS THE WHOLE BIBLE IN VIEW.
II. **THE LITERAL SENSE OF SCRIPTURE - What is the natural meaning? The clear, literal sense? THIS PRINCIPLE OFFERS RESTRAINT FROM LETTING OUR IMAGINATION RUN AWAY WITH US.
III. **THE GRAMMATICO-HISTORICAL METHOD -- Attention is gocused on "grammatical constructions and historical contexts out of which the Scriptures were written. THIS FOCUSES OUR ATTENTION ON ORIGINAL MEANING OF THE TEXT, KEEPING US ON EXEGESIS (drawing truth/meaning from the Scripture), NOT EISEGESIS (bringing meaning from the outside and putting it into the Scripture).
IV. SOURCE CRITICISM - By these methods you can isolate materials common to particular writers (Ex: Mark was the first Gospel writer... Matthew and Luke have Mark as they wrote.... knowing why an author writes what he writes helps us to understand what he writes.)
V. AUTHORSHIP AND DATING
HOW DO WE APPLY THESE PRINCIPLES?
1. Rule 1: The Bible is to be read like any other book (it is not "magical")
2. Rule 2: Read the Bible existentially (ie., get passionately and personally involved in what we read... NOTE: John Piper said regarding sermon message preparation that you should ask two questions: "Is is TRUE?" and "Do I have a passion about this?"
3. Rule 3: Historical narratives are to be interpreted by the didactic (teaching)passages of Scripture
4. Rule 4: The implicit is to be interpreted by the explicit
5. Rule 5: Determine carefully the meaning of words (etymology, origins of words and word usage)
6. Rule 6: Note the presence of parallelisms in the Bible -- Note Proverbs.
7. Rule 7: Note the difference between proverb and law
8. Rule 8: Observe the difference between the spirit and the letter of the law.
9. Rule 9: Be careful with parables (best: look for one, basic central point in each parable, not as "allegory")
10. Rule 10: Be careful with predictive prophecy (as opposed to prophecy which is simply the forth-telling of Biblical truth).
CULTURE AND THE BIBLE: (1) Examine the Bible itself for apparent areas of custom. (2) Allow for Christian distinctives in the 1st century (3) The Creation ordinances are indicators of the trans-cultural principle: "If any Biblical principles transcend local customary limits, they are appeals drawn from creation" pg.110 - ie., they reflect stipulations a covenant God makes with man qua man (ex. Matthew 19:4-6 references to Genesis regarding marriage) (4) In areas of uncertainty, use the principle of humility - Ex" Biblical mandate whose nature remains uncertain (is it "custom", or "principle"?).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, I have to say on point 3 of "Culture and the Bible" that I would have to look again at what Sproul was saying. I think his book did not further elaborate.
I am thinking especially of my children now as I write. I pray you will seek the truth of God's Word. Whatever I or anyone else may teach you, always examine what you hear in the light of Scripture. God's Word is your final authority.
A Matter of Life and Death
Moses is addressing a new generation of Israelites as they are about to go in and take possession of the Promised Land:
Deut.29:29 - "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
Deut.30:19-20 - "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days..."
Our family has lived overseas since the late '90s, and are currently in the middle of a one-year furlough. Each time we've returned to the US, we notice big changes in technology, culture, religion, etc.
The Christian bookstores are still full of books - an overabundance of materials for helping people grow spiritually, of music CDs, biographies and fictional works. So many books about the Book. And there continue to be an overabundance of conferences, seminars and workshops.
We've had the opportunity to be in numerous churches across the section of the country we live in, and we've observed this time that pastors/preachers in local churches seem to fall in to one of two categories: They are excellent at teaching facts about the Scripture, but poor in being able to clearly communicate the application of Truth in a practical way for the equipping of the saints for ministry. Or, they have culturally relative points of application that are actually flawed and not according to Biblical truth because the points are not backed by sound doctrine (the most obvious and widespread of this type of teaching, for example, would be the "prosperity gospel" teaching so rampant in many US churches, and being vigorously exported overseas, as well).
More rare, it seems now, also, is the disciple who knows how to and seeks to study the Book for himself, for the purpose of life application, trust and obedience. Who has a hunger for His Word? (a question I must ask myself, continually). Who has been trained/taught to search and study God's Word and be changed by His truth daily?
Why is this a "matter of life and death"?
Teach and train up your children in the Word of God. No other tool is needed. We are definitely not against extra-Biblical resources/materials, but His Word is sufficient, and the Holy Spirit lives in you to teach you His truth. Your and your children will stray and be distracted from the Truth if you are not well-grounded in His Truth. This is spiritual death.
Secondly, suffering will come to those who follow Christ. The days are coming, if not here already in the US, when those who follow Jesus will be more severely persecuted than in times past. This is to be expected. This is what comes from following Christ and His Word. Christians who are not equipped to trust God's Word and apply it in daily life are in danger of losing the opportunity and the joy to share with Christ in His sufferings, thus Glorifying Him. Physical suffering and death which come as a result of following Jesus brings spiritual life ("unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies..." see John 12:24. Also note that wherever there has been a movement of God resulting in doctrinally sound churches being multiplied, there has been significant persecution happening simultaneously.)
We also now observe in the US more teachers/preachers who are tickling the ears of their listeners. This is to happen increasingly in the last days.
Around 80% of US churches are "plateaued" or declining, and the lack of equipping of believers in application of the Word is at least partially to blame, I believe. More will stray from the churches. More will be deceived. But the encouraging news is that His church will be persecuted, refined and purified, glorifying Him and enjoying more and more sweet fellowship with Him. Let's persevere, by His grace, and find ourselves enjoying this closeness with Him.
Deut.29:29 - "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
Deut.30:19-20 - "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days..."
Our family has lived overseas since the late '90s, and are currently in the middle of a one-year furlough. Each time we've returned to the US, we notice big changes in technology, culture, religion, etc.
The Christian bookstores are still full of books - an overabundance of materials for helping people grow spiritually, of music CDs, biographies and fictional works. So many books about the Book. And there continue to be an overabundance of conferences, seminars and workshops.
We've had the opportunity to be in numerous churches across the section of the country we live in, and we've observed this time that pastors/preachers in local churches seem to fall in to one of two categories: They are excellent at teaching facts about the Scripture, but poor in being able to clearly communicate the application of Truth in a practical way for the equipping of the saints for ministry. Or, they have culturally relative points of application that are actually flawed and not according to Biblical truth because the points are not backed by sound doctrine (the most obvious and widespread of this type of teaching, for example, would be the "prosperity gospel" teaching so rampant in many US churches, and being vigorously exported overseas, as well).
More rare, it seems now, also, is the disciple who knows how to and seeks to study the Book for himself, for the purpose of life application, trust and obedience. Who has a hunger for His Word? (a question I must ask myself, continually). Who has been trained/taught to search and study God's Word and be changed by His truth daily?
Why is this a "matter of life and death"?
Teach and train up your children in the Word of God. No other tool is needed. We are definitely not against extra-Biblical resources/materials, but His Word is sufficient, and the Holy Spirit lives in you to teach you His truth. Your and your children will stray and be distracted from the Truth if you are not well-grounded in His Truth. This is spiritual death.
Secondly, suffering will come to those who follow Christ. The days are coming, if not here already in the US, when those who follow Jesus will be more severely persecuted than in times past. This is to be expected. This is what comes from following Christ and His Word. Christians who are not equipped to trust God's Word and apply it in daily life are in danger of losing the opportunity and the joy to share with Christ in His sufferings, thus Glorifying Him. Physical suffering and death which come as a result of following Jesus brings spiritual life ("unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies..." see John 12:24. Also note that wherever there has been a movement of God resulting in doctrinally sound churches being multiplied, there has been significant persecution happening simultaneously.)
We also now observe in the US more teachers/preachers who are tickling the ears of their listeners. This is to happen increasingly in the last days.
Around 80% of US churches are "plateaued" or declining, and the lack of equipping of believers in application of the Word is at least partially to blame, I believe. More will stray from the churches. More will be deceived. But the encouraging news is that His church will be persecuted, refined and purified, glorifying Him and enjoying more and more sweet fellowship with Him. Let's persevere, by His grace, and find ourselves enjoying this closeness with Him.
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