Treasure Hunt
"Search from the Book of the Lord and read" (Isa 34:16a)
The Bible is God's Word. The message we receive from it is God's voice. In Greek the former is called "logos" and the latter is "rhema." Under normal circumstances we don't receive "rhema" instantly. We must dwell on a passage of the Scripture long enough until the message comes out. We must read that passage several times. Miles Coverdale (1488-1569) was a Bible translator. His was the first printed English Bible. His version became the basis for King James Version. He has written his own Bible study technique in the preface to his translation — It shall greatly help you to understand the Scripture, if you mark not only what is spoken or written, but of whom, and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goes before and what follows. If the Bible is to get into us, we must get into it.
Pebbles can be picked up from the banks of rivers. But if we look for pearls we must go for deep sea diving. God has compared His Word to "hidden treasures" (Prov 2:4,5) What is hidden is not readily available on the table to be picked up. One must extensively and patiently search for it. Bible study is like a treasure hunt. We are called to "search from the Book of the Lord and read" (Isa 34:16). Blessed are those who make the searching of the Scriptures a daily practice. This is what made the believers of Berea stand out! (Acts 17:11).
When we are stingy with the time to be spent with the Bible, we tend to be choosy with the passages. We read certain portions of the Bible again and again and leave out the rest. The result is that we don't get "wholesome food." We miss the "whole" counsel of God (Acts 20:27). We cannot become "complete" and be "thoroughly" equipped if we neglect portions of the Bible (2 Tim 3:16,17). On the face of it certain books and passages may appear disinteresting. But when we discipline our minds and force ourselves to read and meditate them, we will be amazed at what we get out of them. God unrolled a scroll before prophet Ezekiel. Its both sides were writings of "lamentations, mourning and doom." God asked him to eat it ! When he overcame his hesitation and ate it, it tasted "as sweet as honey" (Ezek 2:8-3:3). Following a Bible Reading Calendar, like the one on pages 13-16 of this book, is an antidote for neglecting any portion of the Scripture.
Cling to the Bible! — this jewel and treasure
Brings life eternal, and saves fallen man;
Surely its value no mortal can measure:
Seek for its blessing, O soul, while you can!
(M.J. Smith)
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