Balancing the Sword - A comprehensive study guide to life's manual
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A Word about the Word

The Holy Bible is a collection of sixty-six books penned in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic by some forty authors on three continents:  Europe, Asia, and Africa.  The authors came from differing backgrounds:  shepherds, fishermen, statesmen, scholars, a tax collector, harvester, physician, and others.  But the authors were not friends who gathered as a committee to hammer out this masterpiece, but rather, their lives were spread over roughly 1,600 years.

Now, after about 2,000 years of intellectual scrutiny and caustic assaults, the Scriptures have proven time and again their immeasurable value, "as silver tried in a furnace . . . seven times" (Ps. 12:6).  This endurance is expected in the light of Jesus’ affirmation that His words would outlast heaven and earth (Mt. 24:35).  It may have been for this reason that the powerful French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte confessed, "The Bible is no mere book, but a living power that conquers all that oppose it."

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Bible has been translated into more languages and distributed in larger volume than any other book on the face of the earth.  So, what creates this stunning demand?  The Sacred Text includes accounts as 

  • the conquests by Joshua, 

  • heart wrenching poetry as interlaced through Job, 

  • substantiating genealogies including those of our Lord Jesus, 

  • inspiring songs such as the Song of Solomon, and 

  • mysterious prophecies among which is Ezekiel’s flying wheels.

The Bible addresses the sages’ perplexing questions about eternal matters and illumines our dark paths when facing complicated affairs.  The brilliant General Robert E. Lee confessed, "In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength."  The Creator’s word truly "is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Ps. 119:105).  Why would we traverse this rugged life in darkness when we have a light at our disposal?  

Therein we read the utterances of "Thus saith the Lord" and the internal struggles of righteous men.  In juxtaposition, we also find quotes from the Devil himself and the evil ponderings of the wick.  In short, the Word of God is just that, a collection of God’s words to humanity about those things He thought best to reveal.  Which verses do we not need?  

Our dreadful situation is that most Christians cannot even name the books of the Bible, much less give a general overview of each.  Why do we sometimes fail to hunger for its every "jot and tittle?"  Have our schedules grown too busy, or are our priorities simply misaligned?  What excuses mollify our guilty consciences in our laziness?

Brothers and sisters, there is no prescription more fitting to the ailments of the human heart!  Can we serve God yet knowing so little of Him?  Do we truly love the Savior if we do not wish to store in our hearts His every word?  Veneration is empty if evidenced only by lip service. 

Beloved saints, let us show our interest in reading and our love through studying.  In reading, we learn of characters like Gideon and doctrines like substitutionary atonement.  And in learning, we better understand ourselves.

This Divine Discourse strikes through the hearts of all, and its purity and sweetness rejoice the heart to the highest strains of admiration and praise.  The Good Book awakens universal feelings of hope and comfort in those who love its Author.  According to the Apostle Paul, the Scriptures "were written for our learning, that we . . . might have hope" (Ro. 15:4).  We are abundantly blessed with unsearchable and inexhaustible truth with the Bible’s endless layers.  Greater depths of study only render more sublime pearls of knowledge.  Are you satisfied with a mere cursory understanding?

Dear friends, don’t wait to the end of the race to finally study the Map.  Why dare delay a good thing?  How much harder will life be for those who ignore this Guide!  Serious examination was not intended only for the pastors and teachers.  All the world is invited and even exhorted to make an acute reading.  The righteous will never be satisfied with bandwagon ignorance and mediocrity.  And, who would be so foolish as to disregard these heavenly concepts being left with only the wisdom and philosophies of ourselves.  The sum of all other books combined do not equate in value to this one instructive Oracle.  Our high tech age has not, nor ever will, outgrow our desperate need for the Bible’s ageless answers to humanities most strenuous questions.

  • What was before time?

  • What happens after we exhale our last breath?

  • As Pontius Pilate asked, "What is truth?" (Jn. 18:38). 

  • What behavior does the Judge of all the earth love and what does He hate?

  • What is God’s will for my life? When will the end come, and how will things unfold?

  • Which truths or commands are most important?

As the psalmist proclaimed, "his truth endureth to all generations" (Ps. 100:5).

Do you, like me, struggle with sin?  Ps. 119:9 says that taking heed to God’s word enables a young man to cleanse his way.  In this same vein of thought that great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote:  "Get the Word well into you, and you will overcome the wicked one."  By mining this Sacred Vein, snares of sin are broken.  Anxieties of the afterlife are rightfully confirmed or pacified.  The keen wisdom of the ages is imparted.  Salvation is explained.  Perfect judgment set forth and the holy path described.  Every necessary element of life and godliness is addressed saving us from a host of well-intended, but misguided speculations.

The Apostle Paul described the word of God as being "the sword of the Spirit."  May the Lord bless the eyes of your understanding in understanding how to properly divide the word of truth.

 

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Balancing the Sword is a structured study guide for every chapter of the Bible.