Chapter 2
THE KEY TO THE MIRACLE BOOK -- HOW TO STUDY IT
First, The Reason
In approaching the study of the Miracle Book, the following should
be kept in mind:
1. The Miracle Book is God's inspired Word. Out of the silence of eternity
God spoke by the Word of His mouth (Genesis, the first chapter. He then spoke
by the Word of His Son (John, first chapter); then by the Word of Scripture
(I Peter 1:1).
2. The Miracle Book is God's gift. What a gift from God is this precious
Book! The fact that it is here and we have a copy is a miracle in itself.
We are told that the Geneva press that sent Voltaire literature over Europe
is now printing the Word of God. It is said that the home of Bob Ingersoll
is used for a Methodist parsonage, and Tom Paine's house is used for a Bible
house. Good!
3. The Miracle Book is a Revelation of the very heart of God. Think,
if you can, of the greatest ideal in the realm of parenthood; then realize
that you have but a vague illustration of the heart of God, the Father. Our
Lord Jesus Christ is in Person and in word a revelation of the Father: "He
that hath seen me hath seen the Father."
4. The Miracle Book is God's gift in English. John Ruskin said: "All
that I have taught of Art, everything that I have written, whatever greatness
there has been in any thought of mine, whatever I have done in my life, has
simply been due to the fact that when I was a child my mother daily read with
me a part of the Bible and daily made me learn a part of it by heart."
5. The Miracle Book is God's medium of expression. The blessed Triune
God speaks to us through His Word. It is, then, the great medium of contact
with God. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." It is
a Divine light. Without it we can neither see the way nor know the way.
* * *
Secondly, The Requirements
1. Pardon: a change of heart is a necessity. "The natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither
can he know them, for they are spiritually
discerned" (I Cor. 2:14, 15). "Except a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). It is clear from these two passages
that the natural man, the unsaved man, can neither understand spiritual things
nor see them. He is dead and he is blind.
2. Passionate Love. The new birth brings with it a Divine love for
the Miracle Book: "O how I love Thy law!" (Ps. 119:97).
3. Prayer and Meditation. "Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous
things out of Thy law" (Ps. 119:18). "This book of the law shall not depart
out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou
mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous, and thou shalt have good success" (Joshua
1:8).
4. Performance of God's Will. "If any man will do His will, he shall
know of the doctrine, whether it be of God." (John 7:17).
5. Personal. The Miracle Book should be studied with the personal application:
that is, it means me. One should apply it to one's self.
* * *
Thirdly, The Research
"Search the Scriptures," said the Master. "Study to show thyself approved
unto God," said Paul, "rightly dividing the word of truth."
An understanding of symbolism is necessary. There is the symbol of
seed, the sowing (Matt. 13:19; I Peter 1:23); the rain, refreshing (Isa.
55:10); the lamp, light, illuminating (Ps. 119:105); the mirror, revealing
(James 1:25); milk and meat, nourishing and developing (Heb. 5:12, 13); honey,
delighting (Ps. 10:10); water, cleansing (Eph. 5:26; 6:17); the critic, discerning
(Heb. 4:12).
An understanding of types is necessary. There are typical persons,
because of some relationship they might sustain in the history of human redemption.
Adam, the first man and federal head of the race is a type of Christ (Romans
5:14-19); Elijah, in his translation, a type of the ascending Lord; Moses,
a type of Christ in his prophetic office; Aaron, as high priest, a type of
Christ in his Priestly office; Melchizedek, a type of Christ the King of
peace. There are typical institutions such as the Passover and Pentecost.
There are typical events such as the crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan.
An understanding of figures is helpful. There is the metaphor, "A whelp
is Judah," "Broad is the way," and other passages. The simile is a formal
comparison, suggested by such words as "like," "as," "such as"; "As the rain
cometh down and the snow from heaven." Metonymy, "Moses and the prophets,"
"Kill the passover," The idea is the writings of Moses and the prophets, and
lamb for the passover. Synecdoche, a whole for a part or a part for a whole:
"All the world" for the Roman Empire (Luke 2:1), "Three days and three nights"
for a part of that time. The soul for the
whole man. Personification is giving a personal form or character to
an object! (See Matt. 6:34; Heb. 3:10). Apostrophe is addressing an absent
and imaginary person or thing (Ps. 114). Hyperbole is an exaggeration, "Stronger
than lions!" Irony is saying the very opposite to what is meant: "Ye are the
people and wisdom will die with you." Riddle is a dark saying. Allegory is
an extended metaphor (John 15: Eccl. 12:3-7, the wise and unwise master builder
(I Cor. 3:10-15), the Christian armour (Eph. 6:11-17), the Good Shepherd (John
10:1-16); these are allegories. Proverb is a short, pithy saying in which
there is wise counsel, a moral lesson.
There are certain typical actions often suggestive of great truths;
such as the following:
The brazen serpent is a type of lifting up Christ; the prophet walking
naked, a type of the captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia (Isa. 20:2-4); Jeremiah
putting a linen girdle upon his loins, then hiding it in a hole of a rock,
a type of how God would mar the pride of Judah (Jer. 13:1-11); the potter's
work, a type of God's sovereignty over the nations (Jer. 18:1-6); the breaking
of the potter's vessel, a type of the utter desolation of Judah and Jerusalem
(Jer. 19); bonds and yokes upon the prophet's neck, a type of the subjugation
of nations by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 27); Hananiah taking the yoke from Jeremiah's
neck and breaking it, a type of how God would break Nebuchadnezzar's yoke
(Jer. 28:10-17); the prophet lying upon his left side three hundred and ninety
days for Israel, and on his right side forty days for Judah, a type of the
siege of Jerusalem (Ezek. 4:1-8); the preparing of bread with cow's dung,
a type of the severity of the famine (Ezek. 4 :916); the cutting of the hair,
weighing and scattering of it, a type of God's judgments upon Jerusalem (Ezek.
5); the prophet removing, a type of the flight and captivity of Zedekiah (Ezek.
12:3-20); the prophet mourning not for his wife, a type of the awful calamity
of the Jews (Ezek. 24:15-27); the prophet, Hosea, taking an adulterous wife,
a type of the departing of the people from the Lord (Hosea 1:3); the crowning
of Joshua the high priest, a type of Messiah the Branch and of his Kingdom
(Zech. 6:9-15).
* * *
Fourthly, Review Of Methods
It is scarcely necessary to remind one that there could be no study
of any book without much reading of that book and that systematically. This
is true with respect to the Miracle Book. We should read it through at least
once a year, independently of the much reading and re-reading of the subject
in hand.
1. The Topical Method. This is a very simple method. It simply means
that a subject is selected. It may be a person, place, custom, doctrine, name.
It may be the subject of faith, prayer, grace, and such like. The results
will be satisfactory.
2. The Periodic Method. This is a study by periods. One may commence
with the first period of history, from the beginning of the world to Abraham;
the period of Patriarchal history, from Abraham to the bondage of Israel in
Egypt; the period of Israelitish history; then the period of the Theocracy,
then the Monarchy, then the Captivity, and then the Restoration. In the New
Testament there are four periods: the History of our Lord upon earth, as
revealed in the fourfold record -- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the History
of the church, as revealed in the Acts of the
Apostles; the period of the training of the Church, as revealed in the
epistles; and the period of the Consummation, as revealed in Revelation.
3. The Analytical Method. This is a splendid method. It is a study
of the Miracle Book by books. Take the book of Genesis and after some readings,
analyze it, and so on through air the books.
* * *
Genesis
I. The Beginning of the World. (1:1-2:6)
II. The Beginning of Man. (2:7-11).
III. The Beginning of History of Israel (Gen. 12 -- to the end of the
book).
Take Exodus: a good yet simple analysis may be built on the letter
E. Enslavement of Israel, Emancipator of Israel, Emancipation of Israel,
and the Education of Israel. Acrostic analysis of Ruth may serve the purpose:
R -- Removing to Moab. U -- Universal Bereavement. T -- Turning Back to Bethlehem.
H -- Happiness and Honor in Bethlehem. The Book of Nehemiah may be analyzed
by the letter C. 1. City Reform (1-4). II. Civic Reform (5-12). III. Church
Reform (13). Let us look at one book in the New Testament, Matthew -- I. Introduction,
(1-4:16). II. "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, Repent (4:17-16:20).
III. "From that time Jesus began to show unto His disciples how He must suffer"
(16:21-28:20). Thus we have the Birth of the King, the Propaganda of the
King, and the Passion of the King.
4. The Group Method. In such a wonderful library as the Miracle Book,
and with such continuity throughout the books one might well expect the group
method to be profitable. The Book of Law -- Genesis to Deuteronomy; the Book
of History -- Joshua to Esther; the Book of Poetry and Philosophy -- Job to
the Songs of Solomon the Book of Prophecy -- Isaiah to Malachi. The New Testament:
the Book of Redemption -- Matthew to John; the Book of History -- Acts;
the Book of Training -- the Epistles; the Book of Prophecy -- Revelation.
The Group Method may, however, take the following form:
Creation -- Genesis, The Beginnings.
Redemption -- Exodus, God Delivers His People.
Legislation -- Leviticus To Deuteronomy, The Law Is Given.
Possession -- Joshua, The Land Promised.
Preparation -- Judges To Chronicles, The King And The Kingdom.
Restoration -- Ezra To Esther, Restoration And Reformation.
Aspiration -- Job To Solomon. The Soul's Cry And God's Sufficiency.
Expectation -- Isaiah To Malachi, He Will Come.
Manifestation -- Matthew To John. He Is Come.
Realization -- Acts, The Ascended Lord And His Gift (Experience).
Education -- Romans To Jude, The Church In Training.
Consummation -- Revelation, The Church In Battle And Final Victory.
5. The Expository Method. From a devotional standpoint this method
is most beneficial. The idea is to take a cluster of passages and dig out
their meaning. One may take a chapter of the Book, such as the Suffering
Messiah (Isa. 53), the Shepherd Psalm, (23), Psalm of Deliverance (141),
the Love Chapter (I Cor. 13), the Spiritual Gift Section (I Cor. 12:1-14:40),
the Resurrection Chapter (I Cor. 15), or one may follow the cluster idea,
such as, Spiritual Blessings (Eph. 1:3-14), and you have the blessings of
being "chosen," "predestinated," "redemption," "forgiveness," "an inheritance,"
and "sealed." Take Paul's prayer for the church at Ephesus: study each expression
using the word "that" as a starting place for each division (Eph. 3:14:21)
* * *
Fifthly, The Results
1. Pleasure. One of the first effects of the study of this Miracle
Book is the pleasure that it will give. When once the Book presents itself
as a matter of great interest, the study of it becomes a real pleasure. As
to its interest, well, ask some great question and let the Book answer. Whence
came the world? Whence came man? Whence came sin? What of man and his destiny?
The stories of the Miracle Book are wonderful. The Book is quite human yet
Divine.
2. Protection. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his ways? By
taking heed thereto according to thy word." It is a protection from error:
"Ye do err not knowing the Scripture and the power of God." It will protect
from sin: "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against
thee" (Ps. 119:1). Not only will it protect the youth but the home, the institutions
of learning, and the nation. "I am afraid," said Martin Luther, "that universities
will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining
the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the hearts of youth. Every institution
in which men are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must become
corrupt."
3. Provision. It is milk for the new born babe, and meat for the older
Christian. It is the bread of God to the soul. There can be no growth without
food; indeed, there can be no life without it, for "my words are spirit, and
they are life" (Christ).
4. Power. There is the power of knowledge: "Thou through Thy commandments
has made me wiser than mine enemies (Ps. 119:89). It was "written for our
learning." (Romans 15:4-7).
5. Presence. On the margin of an aged saint's Bible, opposite certain
promises of God, were found the letters T. P. -- meaning, tested and proved.
Well does the writer remember a busy week in the wheat fields in Western Canada
during which time he had not the privilege of studying the wonderful Word
of God. At the close of the week, when this blessed privilege came to him,
alone with His Book he pressed it to his heart and then to his lips, and
with tears thanked God anew for the Miracle Book.
One has remarked concerning our daily portion from the Word of God
that we should (1) Study it through, (2) Pray it through, (3) Put it down,
(4) Work it out, and (5) Pass it on.
O Lord God, we thank Thee for the Miracle Book, Thy revelation to us.
Give us, we pray Thee, a great love for it, and a great thirst to know what
Thou hast said: for Thou hast said all that was necessary to be said and all
that is necessary for our spiritual and eternal welfare. It is a complete
revelation of Thy will concerning us, our need, and of Thy wonderful provision
through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son, our Redeemer and Saviour. Thou didst
give this Thy Revelation by Thy Spirit through holy men of old, who spake
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. May that same Spirit aid us and move
us in our search of the Scriptures. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
THE END
