How do you approach reading the bible? As a pastor, I often find myself reading the Scriptures in my devotion time with the Lord and considering teaching points and sermon illustrations. In those moments I stop myself, sometimes write a note for later, and then do my best to concentrate on something much more important. What is God saying directly to me in this text? What does this Scripture say about me? How does this truth impact my relationship with Christ? I start asking very personal questions that provoke me to meditate on the Lord and to respond prayerfully. Even in the passages that seem the most intimately personal in Scripture, we can so easily miss our opportunity to commune with the Lord as we consider theological truths or look for information to increase our knowledge. This is not just a plague on pastors.
I am not saying that doctrine is unimportant. There is definitely a great need for us to think deeply about theological truths in Scripture and to consider appropriate methodology to ensure we are not importing ideas into the bible that were not originally intended by the biblical author. What I am saying is that in the doing of this, we can make a correct interpretation the end of the pursuit. Let’s consider an example.
In Psalm 51, David is pouring his heart out to the Lord as he considers his sin of sexual immorality and murder exposed by God through the prophet Nathan. David makes his remorse explicit and as we read this psalm we get an indication of what true repentance sounds like. We can start to piece together a doctrine of repentance. We might even see these clear truths and write down some helpful notes. Repentance in this psalm shows a hate for and renouncing of sin. It acknowledges that all sin is primarily against God. It focuses on the truth that only God can truly forgive by an act of grace. It understands that our sin is bred from a sinful world including our own parents. It looks for a new heart and restoration in God for a new walk of life. We could make many more points from Psalm 51 and be very clear about the nature of repentance. We might read this psalm considering this important doctrine and finally say, “Now I know.”
Each one of the above points should provoke response in our life as we hear this truth and then apply it to our own life before the Lord. As I recently read through this psalm I saw something that helped me to grab on to what seemed to me to be a new aspect of the nature of repentance in my life. In verse 6 David doesn’t pray about himself, but what he knows to be true about God. Psalm 51:6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. When I was asking God to show me something about him in this psalm, this verse pierced my heart. When I come to God in true remorse and repentance over my sin, it is because I have recognized that I am not walking in the truth. The overwhelming point is that even when I have disregarded God’s truth in my sinful action, God delights in bringing me back to his truth and teaching me wisdom in my inner being. How intimately glorious is God’s merciful love? My mouth dropped and with tears I thanked my Lord that he actually desires to forgive and redirect our hearts toward righteousness that we might live for and in his glory. God actually wants to turn me around even though I have sinned against him.
These cannot just be theological truths in and of themselves. When we read the Scriptures, we commune with God in the realities of life. We thank him for his promises. We pray according to them. We meditate on his goodness. We weep and mourn over our sin. We revel in his mercy. We go with joy and peace into our day. We know that we are never alone. We stand in the victory of our Savior. None of these thoughts has anything to do with arguing a point of dogma or outlining a sermon. This is me and God. This is how I know and love Jesus more.
How are you approaching the bible?