Trust God’s Word

 

 

There are some who believe

The Bible doesn’t say what it means

And so, they reserve the God-given right

To interpret it how they deem.

 

Interpretation before reading

And the implicit before the explicit,

The denomination before the Holy Word

And tradition before God’s edict.

 

Horribly mistaken is anyone

That speaks for the Holy Scriptures,

God is not dependent on man’s traditions

To paint His divine picture.

 

This He did from the origin:

His Word says in the beginning God,

To my mind this is self-explanatory;

All others I must appall.

 

In six days, says the Word,

God created the entire universe,

And when Adam and Eve first sinned

All creation was cursed.

 

It was a curse because of sin

That fell on man and the earth,

But God provided a way to end it all

Through His Son’s earthly birth.

 

 

 

In a Bethlehem stable he was born

With a manger for his crib,

Artists showed straw for his bed linen

For in paintings this is vivid.

 

“Wrapped in swaddling bands”

Was the message to the shepherds

Who back in those Old Covenant days

Were little better than lepers

 

Frowned upon by most

They were not the best of guests

But being invited to see the new born King,

Oh, this was surely the best.

 

 

So, two beginnings I see,

The first was definitely physical,

The second, and this one is clear to me,

Was to deal with the spiritual.

 

 

 

For as in Adam all die,

In Christ shall all be made alive,

The more abundant life is given to a believer

That in all things he may thrive.

 

Read first then interpret

If interpretation is necessary

And use the strict confines of the Word

To interpret properly.

 

Hermeneutics is the method

That is used to exegete the Word,

Precept upon precept, line upon line

As Prophet Isaiah inferred.

 

Scripture validates scripture;

That’s how God set it up,

He will never conflict with Himself;

No such atheistic luck.

 

Any conflict is perceived

And definitively not real,

Every instance any choose to advance

Will undoubtedly fail.

 

In the Word there is life

And that life is in the Holy Spirit

Who brings to our recall all Jesus said

Just as Jesus did predict.

 

Stewart Russell © December 22, 2024

 

Prophesying in Part

 

Let’s not get mixed up here

As some are wont to do,

This is not about false prophecy

Which never comes true.

 

The study of God’s Word

Ought to be a life-long endeavour,

It is God’s love letter to us

Of inestimable treasure.

 

Not even the most brilliant

Has a full grasp of God’s Word,

Even among the earliest apostles

This was unheard.

 

There is fore-telling

And there is telling forth

But it is prophesying future events

Of which many boast.

 

 

Some boast of 60% accuracy

Some boast a little bit more,

For some even 30% is allowable-

Though extraordinarily poor.

 

The Law was very harsh

On so-called fore-tellers,

If their prophecies did not come true

They were seen as liars.

 

Death was their reward

According Deuteronomy 18,

However, modern day prophets

Don’t fear such a scene.

 

“We know in part

And we prophesy in part”

Is now used by so-called prophets

With impure hearts.

 

An excuse for lying

That they had heard from God

When they themselves truly know

They hadn’t heard at all.

 

That which comes true

Is the prophesying in part

And these prophets must be forgiven

From the very start.

 

 

For they only know in part

And they prophesy in part

And the fact they are not perfect

Must be taken to heart.

 

So, while they quote the Word,

Their motive is wrong

And they make matters even worse

By being wrong and strong.

 

As you tell forth, my friend,

Rightly divide the word of truth,

Precept upon precept, line upon line

Must be the abiding proof.

 

 

We do prophesy in part

And this is relative to one’s light

But speaking when God did not speak

Is definitely not right.

 

Beware of false prophets

Is the caution to all,

Such seek to glorify themselves

Rather than God.

 

Stewart Russell © May 12, 2024