Get Serious about Interpretation

The discovery of truth and the proper interpretation of God’s Word are paramount in knowing God, responding to Him in obedience, and for the mission of reaching and teaching others for His glory.  The understanding of interpreting the Scriptures grows more complex from the simple embrace of gospel into a shared unity with the transcendent God. There should be an ever growing approach to be approved by God as a student of Scripture (2 Tim 2:15).  We should never settle for anything less. 

As we handle the Word of God and grow in our ability to shoulder the responsibility of its proper interpretation, I hope that our work would claim the highest security clearance in view of the holy presence of the Lord.  Our delivery of His great treasure should stand alongside the priority of prayer.  No other gift should find level comparison with the preacher or teacher.   

The measure of correctness and clarity in understanding and proclaiming the word of God in our times should cause today’s interpreters of Scripture to be more vigilant than ever.  In our day, it is more en vogue to be subjectively creative in miscommunicating the meaning of Scripture than to inductively study the Bible, using an exegetical process that seeks to understand the author of the text or what God means by what is said.  It is amazing to hear more and more individuals articulate ‘their story’ as the vehicle of relevant communication of God’s Word above the biblical text itself.  Hearing this kind of religious communication or sermonizing seems to allow the right interpretation of the text to fall flat.

If only the seriousness of getting the right interpretation of what God is communicating would light upon ministers today in similar fashion as in the demand of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2, “Give me the interpretation!”  There is no room for creative oration.  Only an accurate account of what God is communicating will save not only our souls, but the souls of those associated with us.

So, I am back to the drawing board, so to speak.  I love ink covered pages that unfold the truth of God’s Word.  More than ever before, a passion for a faithful pursuit and communication of His Word is demanded.  God’s people need the proper interpretation of God’s Word and the world we live in demands that we cut it straight when it comes to the truth.

Spiritual Facility

The beauty of creation magnifies the extraordinary design of the Creator in the capsule of the universe.  God manifests his glory in this fashion (Rev. 4:11).  It is the time of the year when such beauty in the South is ushered in by spring time.  The unfolding of flowers, grasses, trees, and the like capture our eyes in the wonderful sight of a rising sun.  Every morning this scene facilitates God’s glory and beauty in creation.  On the other hand, sometimes that which has a desirable quality in a lower sense, has drawn the eye of the passion of men (men often find beauty in that which falls short of God’s glory), but our God creates that which is representative of His character and that which is molded into His likeness.

The Spirit’s presence in creation (Gen 1:2) is magnified in God’s care and design for the place where His presence dwelt in the tabernacle. To facilitate His presence, God filled Bezalel and Oholiab in order to build a place where the beauty of the Almighty may be seen by men (Exod 31:1-6).  There appears to be, without question, a place where the Spirit and the facility go hand-in-hand with the display of God’s glory. And that would be a noble pursuit even today.

I would caution would-be builders, in the process of facilitating God’s presence, that there would not be a false mimicking (mocking may be a better word) of Bezalel and Olohiab.  For where God desires the beauty of His glory to dwell is not primarily upon brick and mortar, but upon the souls of men and women, boys and girls, who love Him.

The spirituality of a facility is often an easy substitute for the more divine spiritual work of leading people into transformation and growth which can only be accomplished by the Spirit of God.  The publication bias that often leaves the reality of what is really going on in spiritual growth in our churches needs to be jettisoned for the priority of preaching God’s Word (not about it in a secondary sense), seeing truly transformed lives (not just modified ethical living conducive to our culture), and a passionate care for others by sharing our lives and our Lord.  May God’s people never settle for the wood, hay, and stubble that leaves empty edifices strewn across the land and empty souls never encountering truth in the life of those calling themselves Christian.

The spiritual facility where God’s glory ought to dwell is not just an administrative accomplishment, it is only done through the Spirit of God in divine measure.