The Bible is also a dictionary

One of the most important skills we will develop as we grow in our faith is rightly dividing the Word of God. So many of us, myself included, have spent years living less of a life than God intended because our understanding of His word was flawed. For instance, years ago, I heard a preacher discuss this frequently quoted phrase from scripture:

"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away."

I have heard that phrase my entire life and always right after something disappointing. This is what people say when they are trying to deal with a loss or a set back. They don't know why it happened and they salve their fears by saying this. This gives us the feeling that God had good reason for taking something precious away and ultimately we just need to trust Him because it's for our own good. Well, if the truth be told.....

It is true this phrase is in scripture. The Bible does say "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." You can find that phrase in the Bible but that doesn't mean it's the truth. In fact if you think about it, there are a lot of things said in scripture that are not truth. The Devil is quoted several times throughout scripture and nothing of what he said is true. Evil kings, sorcerers, and various others are quoted and what they have to say is not true. I've actually toyed with the idea of titling this post "The Bible is full of lies" just to see the reaction I'd get. Of course I won't do that, that Bible is not to be toyed with but you get my point. Not everything that everyone says in the Bible is truth. One of the things that falls into this category is this phrase from Job. It is true that Job said it, it is also true that Job was wrong when he said it. The Bible is very clear about who did the taking away.

So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

Job 1:18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
Job 1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

The Bible is very clear on this. Satan did the destroying and the killing and the taking away. Not God. Job had no understanding of Satan. Job wasn't even aware of him, so in his ignorance, he did what many of us do today, he blamed God for something Satan had done.

I said all that to say this. The Lord showed me another phrase that I've heard since my youth. Mercifully He also showed me where to find the explanation. Since my earliest days, I have heard the phrase "David was a man after God's own heart." I never knew where that phrase came from until this morning. It can be found at Acts13:22.

'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart;...

What I find most exciting about this is the second part of the phrase defines the first part. In the first part is the common phrase "David was a man after God's own heart" and throughout my life, people have felt free to interpret that however they saw fit. I have heard people say it was because David was such a devout worshipper. I have heard people say it meant that David was so zealous for the things of God. I have heard people tell me it means many other things that suited their particular sermon topic. BUT...the very next phrase tells us what it means. The next phrase says:

...he will do everything I want him to do.'

This is how the Bible defines being a man after God's own heart. According to God's own words, a man after His own heart is a man that will do everything He wants him to do! That's it. That's what it means. We would be distorting scripture to try to say it means something else. It would be an improper use of scripture to use the first part of the phrase without using the second part of the phrase. If we let someone tell us it means something else, we are allowing them to distort scripture. This is very dangerous and should be avoided at all times.

Here is another example of the Bible explaining its own terms:

24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).

25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?

This is an example of the Bible defining it's own terms. According to these verses, one of the ways in which we serve is to be constantly concerned about a thing. This is from the Amplified Bible so it puts in sharper focus but verse 25 commands us to stop being perpetually uneasy about our life. Therefore according to the Bible, being constantly preoccupied in our thoughts about something is a form of serving that master.

These are just two examples of the Bible acting as its own dictionary. Learning to see these definitions is vital to our growth in the faith. We must learn to let scripture tell us the meaning of its terms and phrases. If we leave it up to preachers and so-called scholars, then we are limiting ourselves and potentially being led to destruction. David Koresh was burned alive with dozens of people who allowed him to tell them what the Bible says. Jim Jones convinced hundreds to drink poisoned kool-aid in an African jungle because they allowed him to define scripture for them. This is one of our duties. This is one of privileges.

It is a great honor for us to have the Creator and Ruler of the Universe come and tutor us in His word. This is a major part of seeking first the Kingdom of God. This is how we will be led into the abundant life Jesus bought for us. This is a skill we must diligently strive to acquire. We must learn to see the Bible as its own dictionary.