|
“O How I Love thy Law! One of the outstanding characteristics of the old-time reverential Israelite was his consistent and continuous study of his sacred books, those which we call the Old Testament. “To the Law and to the Prophets;” this was the cry. The whole emphasis was upon the principles of God’s plans for Israel and for all people; the history of what He had in the past; the promise of what He will do in the future. As the centuries passed much of the clear outline was overlaid with tradition, legend and Rabbinic misinterpretation, but the fundamental principle was never lost. The faith of the loyal Israelite remained established upon a firm base of Scripture knowledge. So should it be with the committed Christian. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” says Paul to Timothy. (2 Tim.2:15) Sincere conversion and dedication of life to the Lord Jesus Christ on the basis of justification by faith is the essential basis of Christian life, but upon that must be built the edifice of a sound knowledge of the ways and plans of God, if we are to be servants knowing what our Master doeth. The wise and faithful “scribe instructed in the things of the Kingdom of Heaven” is the one who is “able to bring forth out of his treasury things new and old.” (Matt.13:52) A simple profession of faith and an empty round of praise to God and devotional exercises may be beneficial to the mind and afford a sense of spiritual peace and well-being but it does little to advance the cause of the Kingdom of God in the world. Only the proclamation of the plans and calling of God can do that. And to engage in that work requires knowledge, accurate knowledge of the Scriptures, their content, their message, and their power. The rise of the great Bible Societies in the mid-19th century together with the concurrent up-surge of overseas missionary endeavour on the one hand, and imminent Second Advent expectation on the other, inspired the development in the late 19th and early 20th of the very considerable Bible Student movement over (mainly) the English-speaking and European worlds which lifted the level of Christian understanding to a higher level than ever before. The impetus of that movement has died away; its necessity and its importance remains. It is more than ever imperative that our personal devotion to the Lord Christ leads us to emulate our Israelite predecessors and give ourselves to earnest and assiduous investigation of the content of the whole Scriptures, Old as well as New Testaments, that we may be able to give an answer to those who enquire of us, or whom we can possibly interest, as to the purpose and future of the faith that is in us. AOH |
