Pastor’s Corner: A Tricky Book

September 20, 2017

The Bible can be a tricky book to use.

Going out on a limb here, I’ll guess that most of us usually read the Scriptures for a couple of reasons: First, to find some spiritual insight, or a window into the heart of God. We might hope for comfort, or wisdom, or inspiration from the Biblical words. Second, to find guidance for our own actions as individuals, that we might live a life that’s closer to the one God intends for us. We might hope for direction, or clarity, or confidence in our decisions.

I search for this kind of thing every week as I prepare sermons, most of which are intended to teach you something true, convince you of something important, or persuade you to do something vital.

The problem is that much of the Bible was written by people with different agendas.

The writers of the first five books of the Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy – wanted to describe the nation’s long relationship with God and establish its legal and moral code. The prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and so on – typically sought to persuade the national leaders, the kings and nobility, to take on different policies. The psalm writers wanted to preserve the worship songs of Israel. The Apostle Paul wanted to correct both the beliefs and practices of churches he had worked with. The Gospel writers wanted to demonstrate the power of Jesus in his life, as well as his death and resurrection.

We can still find insight and guidance in these books, for certain! It’s useful sometimes, though, to listen for what those ancient writers were trying to do: establish a righteous nation, or recover a tradition of justice; preserve songs of praise, or argue with old friends; celebrate a Savior in his words and teachings as well as his resurrection power.

By the grace of God, we may find new insights and guidance there!

Blessings,

Pastor Eric