Begin with Prayer
As we begin this new series on reading the Bible, I want to thank you for the various questions and insights you have had as a result of your own personal Bible study. It is an encouragement to me as your pastor to hear that you are digging into the Word of God and studying it for yourself. That is one of the marks of discipleship—may we all continue to read, study, digest, and live out the truth of God in our daily lives.
There will be three specific tools to place in your Bible study toolbox after this series is finished: prayer, meditation, and mentoring. We have three weeks to address these tools, but in reality, every sermon is an opportunity for me to drop further insights and practical helps on reading the Bible. So how do we start?
Here is where my brain immediately goes: a clip from the, now ancient, movie Raiders of the Lost Ark. The Nazis have stolen the Ark of the Covenant because they believe it will grant them the power to rule the world with an iron fist. As they proceed, they ceremoniously take off the lid of the Ark and view its contents. The hero, Indiana Jones, cautions the heroine, Marion, not to look at what comes out of the Ark. First the Nazis are fascinated by what they see. Then they are terrorized as the specter shows itself to be pure, powerful justice for all who look into the Ark and its contents. In short, those who gazed into its contents were destroyed within 30 seconds by its power.
Indiana Jones knew the secret of the power of the Ark. He’s only casually aware of the biblical details of the Ark of the Covenant. Biblically speaking, God did vividly display his power through the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament. He did also strike terror in the minds and lives of Israel and Israel’s enemies through the Ark. Uzzah, an Israelite, was instantly struck dead for even touching the Ark as it began to tumble.
When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. // 2 Samuel 6:6-7
What does all of this have to do with reading the Bible? Several points: do we treat the word of God with such awe and wonder? Do we see the word of God as being supernatural or is it just another book? And do we seek to open it and read it with respect to its power as well as its display of God’s love and forgiveness?
Our first sermon for this series is about opening the word of God with prayer. So here is my prayer as we begin:
Lord, help us to learn beautiful and splendid things from your word. Help us to uncover a deeper understanding of our brokenness and our immoral, dark hearts. Lord, speak to us. Speak to us in ways that show the Bible to be more than mere words. Show us, as we read your word, that these are the very words of the Almighty God himself. Help us to approach your word with awe and respect. Let your word give us insight as well as reproach. Let your word challenge us and humble us. Let your word give us counsel and support. And let your word open up to us an understanding of our greatest need: to be wrapped in your loving and forgiving arms.
Bless this series, Lord Jesus! And bless us as we open the pages of your written word. May we offer you the respect and awe that it is due. May we not overlook or under-appreciate the power and insight of your word. Amen.
Our first sermon will be on Psalm 119:17-24. Please join us as we worship the Almighty and loving Master of our lives.
Pastor Al