God's Roses in the Bible

Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

The above passage is the first mention we see in scripture of the phrase  "walking with God".  Enoch was a pre-flood patriarch who had a unique relationship or "walk with God" for 300 years.  His walk with God was so profound that he became one of only two people in history to go directly to Heaven without physically dying (the other being Elijah). 

Today we want to explore the third law of Bible study: The Law of Progressive mention.  In this series on "The Laws of Bible Study", we have looked at the Laws of first mention and illustrative mention.  Our aim is to learn how to trace topics or themes through the Bible.  Walking with God is a cornerstone truth that the Bible uses in describing the believer's relationship with God, and His relationship with the believer.  Lets see how progressive mention helps unfold for us the significance of this truth.

Walking with God - progressively unfolded through the Bible
From that first mention of "walked with God" in Genesis 5:24, we see this phrase mentioned in at least 50 other places in the Bible.  Some of the more significant ones are mentioned below, with their key thoughts pertaining to the idea of "walking with God":

1-Gen 6:9 Walk with God in His righteousness
2-Genesis 17:1 Walking with God means relying upon His righteousness
3-Gen 24:40 Walking with God means trusting in His promises
4-Gen 48:15 God feeds me and sustains me in my walk
5-Exodus 16:4 God tests the metal of my commitment in my walk
6-Leviticus 26:12-God walks with me, and I walk with Him
7-Deuteronomy 5:33 Walking with God includes abundant life
8-Deuteronomy 13:4 walking with God is centered around the awe of God
9-Deuteronomy 28:9 when we walk with God, He establishes our steps

And thats the first five books of the Bible, or the section called "The Pentateuch".  As you continue to study this concept throughout the Bible, you'll see it illustrated by the following images:

1- two friends walking side by side Amos 3:3
2-A Priest in the temple walking Malachi 2:6
3-Husband and wife committed to one another 1 Cor 7:17

Think of progressive mention like the unfolding of a rose
When my mother raised roses at home, I always marveled at how they would bloom in the spring.  Each day would lead to the blooms being more robust and the scent being more potent.  I can recall our yard being suffused with the pleasant aroma of my mother's roses.  Biblical truth functions in much the same manner.  God in His infinite wisdom has chosen to reveal Himself in a progressive fashion.  By the light of His grace, the Christian can explore the rose garden of His word.  The blooms of such roses like "walking with God" yields both pleasure to the eyes of faith and the senses of the heart.  May today's study drive you and I to desire the Rose of Sharon - the Lord Jesus Christ. 

How the Bible illustrates itself

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

We looked yesterday at the law of principle of first mention.  Today we consider a second law or principle of Bible study that can aid us in tracing key thoughts through the Bible: The law of illustrative mention.

The Bible prizes the power of its own recording of history to tie together the lives and expeirences of God's people throughout the ages.  One of the traits of scripture is that for every New Testament doctrine or truth, there is at least One Old Testament event or person that embodies or illustrates that truth.  Scripture abounds with such illustrational references.  Let me show you what I mean.

1. The concept of "name" illustrated.  What is the significance of the term "name" in the Bible?  God reveals many names about Himself.  When we study scriptures that use the term or phrase name in conjunction with other people, it can shed light on how we connnect God to His names.  For example in 1 Samuel 18:30 we read - "Then the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed."

The "name" of David was tantamount to speaking about David Himself.  His reputation, his influence and authority as a leader are rooted in the "name" he made for himself.  God communicates His very being through His names.  His names are like stained glass windows through which we can admire and adore Him.  They too tell of us His reputation, influence and endless authority.

Over 300 Old Testament passages exist that speak of "the names of God".  Everything that is entailed in His name is trnasferred over to Jesus Christ in the New Testament.  Matthew 1:21 has the angel telling Joseph to "name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins".  Jesus in the Hebrew originally was "Yeshua", meaning "Jehovah saves".  Thus in the naming of Jesus in His humanity, we see reference to His Divine identity He has shared with the Father from all eternity.  Like the Father, He shares in the very nature that makes Him the "I am who I am" of Exodus 3.

2. The concept of Christ and His church illustrated by marriage.  Who knew that God would use the first institution he established - marriage, to illustrate the last institution he begun - the church.  Over 100 times do we find reference to marriage or issues related to it in the Bible.  It does not take long till one finds God Himself using marriage to illustrate His relationship with His people Israel. (Hosea 2; Ezekiel 16; Isaiah 50). 

However as the New Testament begins to unfold the revelation of the church, the Apostle Paul brings together the church and Christ with the husband and wife relationship in Ephesians 5.  A powerful image developed extensively throughout the Old Testament is carried over to include the new and distinct grouping of God's people - the church. 

Illustrative mention helps make the abstract concrete.  Jesus speaks over 60 parables centered around this particular principle.  Of the over 900 prophecies in the Bible, many use concrete illustration to drive home the urgency of the abstract truths they communicate.  When uses in conjunction with the first tool - "the law of first mention", one can begin to build the skills needed to explore the Word of God. 

Bible Study Law of first mention

Acts 11:25-26 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Yesterday we listed five laws or principles for tracing the Bible's main themes and ideas.  The aim was to give you a tool that would aid you in your study of the scripture.  Today we want to begin looking closer at this tool and using it to explore some of the Bible's major themes.  This first law or principle of Bible study is what we call: The law of First Mention.

Seeing the Bible's mention of first mention
As you can see in the above text, Luke makes the point that the Disciples of Jesus were "first called" Christians at Antioch. Whenever we see anything mentioned for the first time, that idea or topic is revealed in its "seed form", meaning most of the main traits of that teaching that will unfold thoughout scripture are latent in that first mention.  So when we see the term "Christian" first mentioned in Acts 11:26, the wider context of Acts 11 gives us the context out of which this term developed. 

We know that the early church was going from being primarily Jewish to Gentile.  We know that Peter's ministry was going into the background and the then new figure, Saul (who was converted and renamed Paul) was coming into the foreground.  So we see a huge missions emphasis - something of which is central to what it means to be a Christian.  We know these people were "called" Christians.  The idea of calling is so central to being a follower of Christ.  One must be "called" by Christ in order to come to Christ. (compare Luke 5:27; 9:23-24; John 1:12-13; 6:44)  Just noting traits like this enables you to mark down chief traits to look for as you trace the given theme throughout the scripture.

Seeing some significant first mentions in the Bible
Below are some significant first mentions that we find in the Bible. 

1. The word "love" is first mentioned in Genesis 22:2  Its not that we don't see God expressing His favor or love towards other people prior to Abraham.  Rather the actual word "love" first appears.  This tells us that what was implied by God in terms of His dealings with people is made more explicit, since He wants to reveal more of His Person, and not just His work.  Note the context of Genesis 22 - it is where Abraham is told to offer up his son Isaac.  This text gives a wonderful picture of what God would do in the giving of His Only Begotten Son, whom He loved, on the cross. (John 3:16)

2. God first speaks in Genesis 1:3    First words and last words of people make for an interesting study in the Bible.  God is introduced in the Bible as the God of Revelation.  He is speaking forth into being all things visible and invisible.  The Apostle John gives us the significance of Genesis 1:3 in John 1:1-18. 

3. The name "The Lord" is first mentioned in Genesis 4:26  Following the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden, as well as the first murder by Cain of His brother, the dark clouds of man's fallen condition hang over the sky of redemptive history.  But then Divine Grace intervenes in Adam and Eve's bloodline and Seth is born. Seth then has a son, named Enosh, and according to Genesis 4:26 - "men began to call upon the name of the Lord". 

Now note the "seeds" of thought present at this first mention:
1. The repetition of the word "call".  This "calling" was done by men who were made aware of their own sinful condition.  Adam "called" his son "Seth" in Genesis 5:26, meaning in the original language "appointed one".  Seth in turn "called" the name of his son "Enosh", whose name can be translated "incurable wound". The "calling" upon the Lord tells us that these people did not find the remedy for their sin in themselves, but in the Lord.  Later on in the Bible, we understand that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (Joel 2:32; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9).  Salvation truly is of the Lord alone. (Isaiah 43:10-11; Jonah 2:9-10; Acts 4:12) 

2. They called upon "the name". That term "name" refers to God's quality, character and authority.  Divine grace was initiating in the hearts of these early pre-flood patriarchs.  The name of God - the Lord (Yahweh) is His personal name.  Thus we see these men personally identifying by grace through faith with this God who alone can save.

3. The first move of God ever recorded.  In the history of God's people, whenever God has moved upon masses of people in a way to make plain His redemptive and Kingdom purposes, we have termed that "revival".  God moved in a mighty way here to set the stage for the next 1656 years of time in Genesis 5.  From Adam to Noah would be ten generations.  God was thus threading the scarlet thread of redemption through what took place in Genesis 4:25-26.  Through the bloodline running from Adam to Noah would be preserved the plan of salvation, the promise of salvation and ultimately the seed through which would come the Person of salvation - Jesus Christ. 

May you be blessed today as you dig deeper into His word. 

5 laws for Studying the Bible

1 Peter 2:1 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation

The Importance of the Bible in the Christian life
The reading and study of the scriptures is central to growth in the Christian's faith-life.  The Jews believed that when a baby was nursing, the love and content of God's law was transferred in some fashion through the mother's milk.  When Peter wrote what he wrote above, he wrote, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, about the nourishing, life-giving power of the scriptures. 

A tool you can use to study and trace the Bible's major themes
We know that the Bible is crucial to Christian life.  By it God the Holy Spirit works forth the convicting power of saving faith. (Romans 10:17; James 1:18)  By the scriptures you and I come to know not only truth about God through Jesus Christ, we also come to know God through Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:23)  With that said, how can we go about studying it?  How can we learn to actually take a theme or a topic mentioned in the Bible and trace it through the scriptures?  Today I want to introduce you to a tool that has been around for years and that I have used in my own study of God's Word. A tool that we can call: The 5 laws or principles of studying the Bible.

1. The law of first mention.  This is where God first mentions a word or an idea.  So for instance, lets consider the emphasis the scripture places upon "God's name".  Genesis 4:26 first mentions people calling upon "the name of the Lord".  

2. The law of illustrative mention.  Whenever you are trying to understand a concept or idea in God's word, it is helpful to find a concrete person or event elsewhere in the Bible that visibly illustrates that idea.  So for instance, the word "name" in the Bible refers to a person's character, as seen Nabal's name in 1 Samuel 25:25, whose name means "fool".  As you read the account of his life, you can see his opposition of David as being fraught with foolish decisions and actions.  What he did and thought was in line with his nature, or the way he was "internally wound or wired". 

I learn from other passages that when a person was concerned about someone's name, they identified with the authority and reputation of that person.  When you read about David for instance in 1 Samuel 18, you discover that His "name" was connecting you to his "authority" or "reputation".  (Compare 1 Samuel 18:30)  We can use examples such as these to understand things like "God's name", since His name stands for His character, reputation and authority.  

3. The law of progressive mention.  God's revelation in His word is a progressive revelation.  God doesn't reveal all the details of a given topic all at once.  God knows that we need things delivered in bits and pieces over time.  Tracing ideas like "The Name of God" through the Bible can be a study of discovery.  According to one resource, the phrase "the name" occurs some 385 times in the Old Testament and almost 200 times in the New Testament in reference to God or Jesus Christ.  Seeing how God progressively reveals Himself is like watching the unfolding of Eternity's most beautiful rose.

4.  The law of full mention. Its always great to find a chapter or major section in the Bible that summarizes a given subject, with all of its facets, in one place.  Revelation 19-22 gives us one section where we see most of the major themes of "God's name" which are revealed throughout the Bible.  At least 6 times do we find reference to "The Name", giving us the full treatment of all that is meant by that phrase.  With this particular law you can "check your interpretation" of that phrase that you gained through the other "laws of mention".

5. The law of final mention. This law, as its name implies, deals with the final place a given idea or thought is mentioned in the Bible.  So for example, the final mention of "the name" or God's name is in Revelation 22:4.  Often a word or idea in its final mention gives you the fullest and most mature form of that idea.  It is like comparing an acorn to an oak tree.  The acorn being the "first mention of an idea", and the oak tree being its "final mention". 

Over the course of the next few days, by God's grace,  I want us to not only see how these laws of Bible study function, but also show you how you can begin to raise your study of God's Word to a whole new level.  Christ and His word is worth everything. 

 

Christian Meditation

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

What Christian meditation is not
In the 1960's a movement, rooted in Eastern thought, swept through our country and became popularized in what was called the TM movement or "transcendental mediation".  Movements such as TM spawned the wide sweeping popularity of other practices rooted in Eastern religion and mysticism such as Yoga and the like.  Unfortunately, when people hear the word "meditate", they conjure up images of a person sitting cross legged with hands outstreteched, finger-tips touching and the hum of the word "um". 

As popular as this conception is, the Christian mediation spoken of here in Psalm 19 is of a completely different sort all together. It alone constitutes genuine mediation - the only type that is acceptable and beneficial to the Christian life. 



What Christian Mediation is
In the original language of this Psalm, the word "meditation" has to do with a "deeper pondering" over the meaning and significance of the words of scripture.  Ancient Christian writers often spoke of a fourfold process one went through when interracting with the Bible:

a. Reading the text
b. Meditating on the text
c. Disciplining yourself to live out the text
d. Knowing that you got the meaning of the text by praise and worshipping God



How do you meditate on God's Word?
When you "meditate on scripture", you may do the following:

1. Read the text
2. Read it again (outloud or silently)
3. Read it a third time, marking down your initial thoughts
4. Walk away and think on what you read
5. Come back to the text again and repeat steps 1 through 4

Why meditate on God's Word?
Every blog I write, sermon I preach, lesson I teach, quiet time I do or sharing of God's word that I communicate is rooted in meditation of God's Word.  When you and I meditate on scripture, we are aiming to get it from our before our eyes or in our ears into our hearts.  Meditation is what you do "in between" your times in the scriptures.  You can mediate while waiting in line at the grocery store, on break at work or at lunch room at school.  What mediation does is break down the artificial wall between "Christian spirituality" and "the rest of life".

Notice the benefits that comes as a result of mediating on God's Word here in Psalm 19:14:

1. Right Attitudes - The Psalmist desires to please God.  Only scripture can stir up the Christian to want to live more for the Lord. (1 Peter 2:1-2)

2. Right Thoughts - How many of you want a better thoughtlife?  Cleanse your mind with the scriptures.  Meditating on the scripture cleanses your heart and mind.  Jesus even talks about this particular quality of the word of God. (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26).

3. Right Words -  He wants the right words to flow from his mouth.  God's word makes your "have to's" into "want to's".  As Jesus teaches, out of the overflow of the hearts comes forth the words of the mouth. (Matthew 15:18)

4. Right Motivation - The Psalmist ends this Psalm by praising God, His "Rock" and His "Redeemer".  We know from the names of God in the Bible that the term "Rock" refers ulitmately to Jesus Christ.  Though the Psalmist lived 1,000 years before Jesus Christ came to this earth, He writing under Divine inspiration was referring to Him.  When you and I meditate on the scriptures, we will be motivated to live for Jesus Christ.   

The Mirror that keeps you from spiritual defeat

Psalm 19:12-13 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. 13Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.


The Mirror of God's Word
In the midst of definite statements about the Bible, the Psalmist suddenly changes the tone of the text with a question: Who can discern his errors? 

Have you ever had someone say to you: what's that on your face?  What is your response?  Try as you may, you can't look at yourself apart from going into a bathroom to look in the mirror.  A mirror shows you what's really going on.  People are funny - either they will primp in front of a mirror for hours, seeing what they want to see, or people will be the exact opposite and avoid a mirror so as not to see what must be seen.

The point of today's text is that apart from the mirror of God's Word, you cannot accurately evaluate the true condition of your soul.  The scriptures function as a mirror.  James 1:23-25 states - "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."

How the mirror of God's Word enables us to defeat the greatest hindrance to Christian growth
When the writer states: "Aquit me from my hidden faults", he is referring to those hidden areas, those "blind spots" that hinder us in our Christian growth. What is the greatest hinderance to Christian growth?  Pride. 

The idea of "presumptuous sins" refers to those sins that are done with an arrogant, prideful disregard for God and the things of God.  It is when you and I assume we have the "right" or "entitlement" to sin.  Only the mirror of God's Word can show us the true ugliness of the pride that can fuel ongoing or hidden sin patterns.  James 4:6-7 tells us - "But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." 

How the mirror of God's Word enables you to really live for God
The most practical way to submit yourself to God is by consistent "mirror time" in the scriptures.  At first, you may feel uncomfortable by what you see.  Yet what God will do is show you that He sees you as He sees His Son - Jesus Christ.  The scriptures are what drive me to conclude that in Christ and Christ alone is my confidence.  By the power of God's word, you and I don't have to be ruled by the "baggage" of our hang-ups.  Through the power of God and His word, we can push past those and really live for Jesus Christ!

In Christianity, to humble yourself leads to the greatest of blessings.  It is where you experience the Grace of God needed to resist the enemy and live forth the Christian life. As the Psalmist concludes in this short prayer recorded in Psalm 19:13 - "Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression."   As the old saying goes about the Bible: "Either the Bible will keep you from your sins or your sins will keep you from the Bible." Don't neglect getting in front of God's mirror - the Bible. 

How valuable is the Bible to you?

Psalm 19:10-11 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 11Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.


The Amplified Value of God's Word
The two verses in today's blog deal with the desireability of God's Word.  Let me ask you this question: How valuable is the Bible to you?  In the passage above we see the Psalmist using a feature in Jewish Hebrew Poetry where you take an idea, and continue to build and amplify that idea until you take that idea to its highest and greatest limit.

Like sticking a microphone up to a speaker, the value of God's word is amplified many times over.  If we were to take the above text and translate it from the original language in which it was written, this is what we would see with regards to the value of the scriptures:

"They are to be desire more than gold
even more than gold, how about the finest gold
even greater than that, the sweetest honey
even more than the sweetest honey, the fresh honey from the comb itself
indeed of even greater value to your servant (than anything else) is in how the (scriptures) give warning
with the greatest reward being achieved by obeying them."

O.k, maybe that translation may seem quite wordy to our English ears, but for the Psalmist who was writing under Divine inspiration, there was no question as to the value of the scriptures. 

Why the scriptures are of such great value
When you take the first phrase: "They are to be more desired than gold" and the last phrase "with the greatest reward being achieved by obeying them", you come to understand the point of the passage.  Nothing is greater in value than the scriptures and the Christ to whom they point.  As Jesus Himself demonstrated, the scriptures' chief focal point is Himself. (Luke 24:44)

You and I need the valuable scriptures to live a life that values Christ
2 Timothy 3:16-17 states: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."  Truly the scriptures that are more precious than gold and honey accomplish in you and me the thorough equipping needed to live the Godly life.  In this passage, like Psalm 19, we see the true value of the scriptures as stated by that word in 2 Timothy 3:16 - "profitable":

1. For teaching - which tells you what is right
2. For reproof - which tells you when your not right
3. For correction - which tells you how to get right
4. For training - which tells you how to stay right

It is by the golden Honey of God's Word (Psalm 19:10-11) I gain the amplified blessing of valuing and treasuring the scriptures.  According to 2 Timothy 3:17, when you apply yourself to the scriptures, you will be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  By valuing the scriptures, you end up valuing Jesus Christ.  When you value Jesus Christ, you value doing what He says - which is the chief mark of your love for Him. (John 14:15, 21-23)