My Biblical Three Step

 

 

Three steps, my friend,

In maximizing the Word,

All three are extremely critical

And not to be deferred.

 

The order is important

Hence, we must get it right

And not underestimate the Spirit

In bringing insight.

 

Commentaries are good

But only for step 2,

However, heed the Holy Spirit

All the way through.

 

For the life in the Word

Is the Holy Spirit

To bring to our elucidation

All that is in it.

 

Step number 1 is:

We must read the Word:

This is of critical importance,

Don’t be deterred!

 

Don’t rush it through

But make adequate time

To read it over and over again

To fill your mind.

 

Memorize it if you can

To aid in your reading

And practice reading chapters

From beginning to ending.

 

 

 

Observe the key words

And the context as well

And on the critical points there,

Be careful to dwell.

 

There is so much

In just reading the Word,

Don’t be too quick to interpret it

Or to commentators refer.

 

Trust the Holy Spirit

To open up your eyes

And reveal treasures of scripture

In surprise after surprise.

 

Meditate on the Word

And let it interpret itself,

This is especially important

For spiritual health.

 

Interpretation is critical

Arising from understanding:

Reading first then interpretation

To see what it’s demanding.

 

Reading is explicit

Interpretation is the implicit,

Interpretation is clearer and clearer

With each successive visit.

 

Sometimes it is needed

To visit another scripture

To clarify one that appears vague

And give a fuller picture.

 

Thus far, number 1 is read

And number 2 is to interpret

But there is still another to come

So, we’re not finished yet.

 

 

Number 3 is application:

It is necessary to apply

What we understand by the Word

And I will tell you why.

 

It’s our manual for life

Regarding our behaviour

And how best to walk in the steps

Of our beloved Saviour.

 

It is the mirror of liberty

In to which we look

To experience wonderful freedom

From this Holy Book.

 

 

And hear a voice say,

This is the way, walk ye in it

Knowing with the full assurance

It’s the Holy Spirit.

 

Yes, three steps, my friend,

In optimizing the Word:

Reading first; interpretation second

And application third.

 

Stewart Russell © March 17, 2025

 

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