Bible study in the Old Testament
Even within the scriptures of the Old Testament there is the teaching of an intimate study of the scriptures. I cannot think of a better place to begin than the writings of David: Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word (Psalms 199:148). During Old Testament times, the night was divided into watches – and these watches were the shifts for the military guards who guarded the king. [1] The concept of prevent[ing] the night watches simply means the palace guards wouldn’t enter David’s chambers; there was no need to. He was awake, seeking God’s wisdom through quiet and thoughtful meditation on God’s word.
Personal Bible study warns us of sin
There is wisdom in setting aside time for personal Bible study. David wrote, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalms 119:11). Within this verse, David is telling the Lord his desire is not to commit any sin against the Lord. But in his desire to live this kind of sanctified life, he is memorizing the scriptures! One of the things that every service member does in the American armed forces is to memorize some sort of General Order. As an Army veteran, I had to memorize the three general orders of the United States Army – and I can still quote them to you today! When I was a youth in the Boy Scouts, we had to memorize the Scout Oath and Law. This is so they would become a part of who we are.
As Christians, I am not saying we have to memorize each verse in the Bible. I am saying is there are verses that minister to us during difficult times. These are the scriptures we need to hide in our hearts. There are other scriptures, too – ones we can use to bring others to Jesus. I’ve met some Christians who have the entire “Romans Road” memorized; to be completely honest, that is not necessary. [2] Even if the only scripture relating to salvation you can memorize is John 3:16, the Holy Spirit will give you the grace and opportunity to share it.
Personal Bible study enriches our faith
Again, turning to David’s writing in Psalms, he writes, This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me (Psalms 119:50). For personal reasons, I use the King James Bible. But the word, quicken, isn’t understood by many today and they miss the beauty of what David is trying to tell us. Quicken means to make alive; to vivify; to revive or resuscitate, as from death or an inanimate state. [3] No matter what David faced, he knew that God had things under control. He knew this because he had an intimate knowledge of the scriptures that were available. He also had a personal relationship with the Lord – fed by his knowledge of the scriptures.
The more David loved the Lord, the more he sought to understand the scriptures. And the more he studied the scriptures, the more he loved the Lord. David was not a perfect man, but his relationship with the Lord was a fulfilling one. This reminds me of the song, Sweeter as the Days Go By as performed by the Gaithers. The more time I’ve invested in studying the Bible, the richer and fuller my faith has become.
The scriptures as a window
During the spring semester, I was asked by a student during my office hours about how she could know what God’s advice would be. Like many people, she wondered if it were based on some emotional feeling that would stir the heart, soul, and mind. I began to explain how our emotions can deceive us; if we really want answers we must turn to the Bible.
It contains the mind of Christ
Paul took the scriptures available seriously enough that he wrote, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).
Yes, I believe if I truly want to know what the Lord thinks about anything in particular, I need to turn to the Bible. It literally contains the teachings of our Lord and King – and covers every topic from family planning, child rearing, and even how we handle our family finances. As a college/university instructor, I can tell you that many of the societal issues we face today are really no different than the issues faced by those who lived a thousand years ago. And with that in mind, the Bible is God’s wisdom for all generations who place their trust in Him.
