How I read the Bible

In this clip Herschel hears God talking to mosses and because of his limited view of the situation he mistakingly applies everything God is saying to Moses to himself. Ridiculous, but not as uncommon as you might think. It happens to us when we read the bible.

You see, when you read the bible in many ways you are reading someone else's mail.

There is application for you, but because you were not the primary recipient, you cannot not always directly apply the message to yourself. A method of biblical interpretation which safe guards against this mistake is essential.

In an attempt to avoid mistakes such as this I try to apply the following four steps in biblical interpretation:

1) The Holy Spirit:

Because the Holy Spirit has been sent to lead us into all Truth, and it is the true meaning that we seek in scriptures, how can we hope to advance towards that truth without the aid of the Holy Spirit. It is not only good to be mindful of this when studying the scriptures, it is essential. Invite the Holy Spirit into your study, ask it to be your guide to the Truth. This is not the best starting place, it is the only starting place.

2) Exegesis:

Each book of the bible was a specific composition written in a specific time and language, by certain people to certain people. The context of its creation is inextricably tied to its meaning. It is imposable to divorce the particular elements of a biblical composition from its ultimate relevance and truthfulness. They are an essential part and as such must be discovered as we journey towards understanding.

3) Universal Generalization:

After the context of the passage has been examined the thematic elements can be lifted. What is the universal truth that is being illustrated by the particulars of the composition? These themes will not concern themselves with the specifics of the text, but will be the ideas which, along with the particular details of each situation, gave birth in the authors mind to the words which he wrote.

4) Existential Instantiation:

At this point, one can take these universal themes and ask how they would apply in the specifics of their own circumstance. Now the universal Truth takes on flesh once again, and lives in the moment. It might not look just as it did in that other time, but its soul is the same Truth or principle.

So using Herschel's example let's examine how this could have gone differently:

Firstly had he been listening to the Holy Spirit he might have avoided the whole embarrassing situation. Secondly, a little inquiry would have revealed to him that God was in fact talking to Moses, and not him. Some more universal truths that could have been derived from the things God said are: God speaks to us; God is a liberator; or His presence is holy. Some particular applications for Herschel would have been: God might also speak to me; if I am to model myself after the character of God, I am to have a heart for liberation; I should revere the presence of the Lord.

These examples are little odd, but the point bares out. It is important to be deliberate in our pursuit of the Truth in the bible, and not to haphazardly apply the things it says to our lives without an understanding of HOW those things should apply to our lives. relative to our specific situation.