Directions for Profitable Study of the Word of God
R. P. Buddicom. Acts 8:30-39 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understand you what you read?… I. DOST THOU READ THE SCRIPTURES AT ALL? Is such an inquiry necessary in a community professedly Christian? Yes, there are multitudes whom God continually solicits by the Bible in vain. Books that corrupt, or dissipate, or at best amuse, are read, to its exclusion. "I have written unto them the great things of My law, but they were counted as a strange thing." The humble inquirer who asks, "What must I do to be saved?" needs the voice of the book of God to say, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ." The Christian pilgrim needs its guidance to direct him to rest; and he who has grown in grace equally requires its help. It is like the line of the architect, as needful to lay the top stone as to lay the foundation. And yet how many professing Christians suffer the truth to solicit them in vain! Your own reason and human advisers can no more renew a lost soul than they can create a living man. And yet the voice of God in the Bible is too often unheard. Neither the terrors of the law compel, nor the love of the gospel allures. The unwise mariner may not feel the want of his chart or his compass while the sea is calm and his way apparently clear; but as he would feel his deadly error in leaving them behind him when the winds lash the waves into fury, and he knew not whither to turn for help, so the time of sorrow, darkness, sickness, death will come; and then what will ye do, when the redeeming God of the Bible is to you an unknown God? II. "UNDERSTANDEST THOU WHAT THOU READEST?" "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God," etc. He wants the sight, the hearing, the touch of faith. Many understand not because — 1. They read it with cold indifference. They may take it up occasionally, but it discloses nothing that meets their case, because they are ignorant of their want. Is it wonderful that they should see no beauty in Christ, and no merit in His atonement, who have never realised their sin? 2. It aims a death-blow at the pride of self-righteousness. The Abana and Pharpar of our own Damascus seem more efficient, as they are always more grateful to the natural man. The gospel will be understood as a remedial revelation, only when Divine grace shall make us willing to come, naked and empty handed, to Him who justifieth the ungodly. 3. It opposes the prejudices of unrenewed men. We approach it, too frequently, rather that we may find materials there on which to build up our own system than to find Christ and salvation. But God's immutable truth will never adapt itself to the miserable shibboleth of our device. 4. It utterly condemns sin, and men love sin. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." III. IN WHAT MANNER THE SCRIPTURES MAY BE SAVINGLY READ. The conduct of the Ethiopian will furnish us with a directory, by teaching us to study them — 1. With constancy and diligence. He beguiled his journey by reading the prophet Isaiah, who testified so wondrously of Christ. And Christ says, "Search the Scriptures," etc. Be not contented with cold, formal, occasional reading; but look into them, as he who is in search of a mine digs deeply, follows each vein, and minutely examines every appearance of the gold which his heart covets. 2. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Thus Philip began with the passage in Isaiah, and preached unto the eunuch Jesus. Read your Bibles with their references; see how the law shadows forth the gospel, how the mind of God in one place corresponds to the same mind in another. Such an examination will assist you more surely than all the commentators; for the Holy Ghost will always be found the best Expounder of His own Word. 3. With prayer. As the dial bears all the hours of the day marked upon its surface, but will not show the time unless the sun shine upon it, so doth the Word of God disclose all His mind, but not to saving apprehension, unless by the light of the Eternal Spirit. To the worldly wise, the Bible is a letter written in cypher. The Holy Ghost interprets the writing by bringing His people to the secret of a sanctified experience, as a clue to those high and dear mysteries of grace which before were hid from their eyes. 4. Seeking the help of others, who have been taught of God. "And he desired Philip," etc. Thus Apollos availed himself of the help of Aquila and Priscilla. 5. With humility. Imitate the teachableness of the Ethiopian. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." "Learn of Christ, for He is meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (R. P. Buddicom.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? WEB: Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"