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The Potter’s Right Over the Clay

January 28, 2022 By Peter Krol

Earlier this week, I completed my 2022 Bible readthrough, which was nothing short of a delightful romp through the Scriptures. I always appreciate seeing what new connections the Lord may bring to my attention as I read rapidly.

And one thing that especially struck me this year was the potter metaphor used of the Lord throughout the prophets. This may have been on my mind because my church small group recently studied Romans 9 and discussed the potter metaphor in Rom 9:20-21. I had not fully considered before how Paul draws this imagery from the Old Testament.

When Paul says “Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?'” (Rom 9:20), he appears to be drawing directly on Isaiah 29:16: “You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, ‘He did not make me’; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’?” The context of Isaiah 29 is that of God’s people drawing near to him in their rituals while their hearts remain far from him, attempting to hide from their maker their dark deeds. Paul uses it to support his larger point that not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. Just because God made some people ethnically Jewish, but still exerts his wrath on their unbelief, does not make him unjust.

The connection I found even more interesting is that with Jeremiah 18:1-12, which I will quote in full:

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.
Then the word of the LORD came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’
“But they say, ‘That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’
Jeremiah 18:1-12, ESV

Jeremiah uses the authority-of-the-potter-over-the-clay metaphor to explain that God himself may change course and treat his people differently than he had predicted if they either repent from, or turn toward, evil. This point is especially striking in the background of Romans 9, where, even after calling unbelieving Israelites “not my people” and “vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,” Paul goes on to express his heart’s desire and his prayer to God that they might still be saved (Rom 10:1). In other words, though the Lord has promised to uproot Israel and remove its branch from his tree (Rom 11:11-24), as soon as they repent and set their hope in Jesus the Messiah, he stands more than ready to smush their clay and begin again with them as a clean and holy vessel.

So I’m glad that Romans was on my brain when my rapid reading took me through the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah. With such broad Bible reading, such connections and allusions are more likely to stand out and stick.

For those of you willing to try such rapid reading for yourself, don’t forget we’ve currently got a reading challenge underway with a pretty terrific grand prize.

You Don’t Have to Read the Whole Bible This Year

January 3, 2022 By Ryan Higginbottom

Priscilla Du Preez (2016), public domain

We’re at the beginning of another year, a prosperous season for the gym, diet supplement, and daily planner industries. Something about the beginning of January makes many of us reconsider the rhythms of our lives.

Along these lines, many churches and Christian organizations will suggest you consider a read-through-the-Bible plan at this time of year. This is a worthy goal and can be a fruitful practice. (We have our own Bible reading challenge underway!) But Christians have a tendency to turn this nourishing habit into something sour. Completing such a plan becomes a trophy for those who succeed and a source of shame for those who don’t.

Let’s state it plainly. Reading through the entire Bible in a calendar year is not a Scriptural command.

No Special Status

We must not lay extra-Biblical commands on one another. Reading the Bible is a glorious privilege; it is entirely worthwhile; it is revealing and convicting and strengthening and encouraging in ways we can barely imagine beforehand. But in the Bible itself we do not find any prescription for the amount we must read each day or year.

When I hear some Christians talk about annual Bible reading, I think there is a deeper issue here than mere Bible reading. To think there is a privileged status among the people of God for those who meet some arbitrary goal (or a second-class status for those who don’t) is a fundamental misunderstanding of the gospel.

Those who belong to Christ are his fully and forever. Period. There is no inner circle. There are no merit badges. Your Bible reading record will not make God love you any more or any less. His love for his children is perfect.

The Role of Discipline

I am not advocating that, with respect to Bible intake, we should do whatever we want. Reading the Bible is a healthy practice and discipline is necessary part of Christian growth (1 Timothy 4:7).

Every redeemed person has an internal struggle—old man versus new, flesh versus spirit (Ephesians 4:17–24). As we grow in discipline we are increasingly able to nurture the spirit and put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13).

As we consider Bible reading for the upcoming year, we should be mindful that growth will likely require discipline. But the motivation for pursuing any goal is often more important than the goal itself.

Why Read the Bible?

Why do we read the Bible? Ten Christians might give ten different answers, and some of our motivations might lie far enough beneath the surface that we don’t see them.

Some read the Bible because they fear God’s displeasure. Others maintain their Scriptural practices to impress fellow Christians, to feel good about a regular habit, or to impress God. None of these are Biblical reasons for Christians to read God’s word.

When we consult the Bible about Bible reading, we find more carrot than stick. Instead of finding commands and regulations, in his word God describes the benefits of drawing near to him through the Scriptures. He entices us—he does not scold or scare us.

God’s word revives the soul, rejoices the heart, and enlightens the eyes. His rules are to be desired more than gold, sweeter than honey, and in keeping them there is great reward (Psalm 19:7–11).
Consider the “blessed” man of Psalm 1. He delights in God’s law and meditates upon it day and night. He is fruitful, rooted, and prosperous (Psalm 1:1–6).
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2–3)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

This is just a sample. God wants us to read and study his word because it is good for us and for others to do so!

A Rich Opportunity

In our Bible intake this year, let’s reframe the enterprise. Instead of trying not to disappoint God, or trying to impress him or others, let’s consider the opportunity we have.

With every additional day God gives us, we have the chance to know him better, to learn about his character and his acts in history. We can study and delight in the glorious truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can learn to respond to God’s love for us with love for him and neighbor.

If that takes you all the way through the Bible this year, that’s wonderful! But if it doesn’t—well, that’s far from a failure.

How I Read the Bible When I’m Sleepy

November 22, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

I work on a college campus, and my responsibilities rise and fall with the predictable patterns of the academic calendar. Energy is high and eyes are bright in August and September, but by the time late November hits, malaise is in the air.

This change is most visible in students, but faculty and staff also have tasks that cluster around the end of the semester. At this time of year, we all need rest.

One doesn’t need to be involved with education to feel weary, though. Chances are, if you’re reading this article, you don’t have as much energy as you’d like. Family responsibilities, work, health, financial worries—these all combine to add to our fatigue.

How should a Christian approach their devotional life in a season like this?

God Understands

In my early years as a Christian, I felt guilty for missing devotional times. I didn’t have a good understanding of God’s grace, so even though I wouldn’t have said this out loud, I believed that God loved me just a little bit less on those days when I didn’t pray or read the Bible.

I hope that I have a more biblical view now, that Jesus’s work has demonstrated God’s perfect, fatherly love for me. I am forgiven and adopted by the High King of Heaven. Nothing I do can increase or decrease his affection for me.

So, if you’re struggling to meet with God these days because you’re exhausted, please know that God understands. The Lord is compassionate; he knows our frame (including our weaknesses and tiredness); his steadfast love is great toward those who fear him (Ps 103:11–14).

Combine Two Methods

When I am tired, the primary way I read the Bible is by using my eyes and ears together. I’m far from the first person to discover or suggest this, but let me explain why it is a particular help in this season.

Despite good intentions, if I’m sleepy I tend to nod off when reading my physical Bible. I wish it weren’t so, but those are the facts. To stay awake, I’ve tried pacing around my house when reading, but I’ve had limited success. (I usually end up doubly tired.)

An audio Bible by itself is sometimes helpful when I’m lacking energy. But in this diminished state my mind wanders easily. And closing my eyes to focus is not an option!

So, I’ve found that combining these two methods helps. I keep my Bible open in front of me and my audio Bible playing in my ears. Because I have two senses engaged in the same task, I’m able to stay awake a bit better. The word in my ears helps to propel my eyes across the page. I’m sure that my retention isn’t as high as when I’m feeling tip-top, but I think pressing ahead at times like this can be helpful.

This isn’t a magic pill. I still nod off sometimes. And this adjustment might not work for everyone.

But it often helps me when I’m tired. Bible intake is my goal, even if that intake is with a slow, foggy mind.

Advice About Hard Bible Passages from the Bible

November 8, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Anyone who has spent time in the pages of the Bible knows that there are tricky passages between the covers. This can be discouraging, especially for those who are new to Bible study. Some have walked away from the Bible for this very reason.

One of the marvelous things about the Bible is that in it, God speaks to many of the challenges we face—including difficult passages in the Bible itself. We will look at one such section of Scripture in this article.

Hard Passages Exist

It’s nice to have Scripture confirm our suspicions—there are passages in the Bible that are hard to understand! Take it from the pen of the apostle Peter.

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:15–16)

It seems Peter had trouble understanding some of Paul’s writings. He wanted his friends to know that if they felt stumped by Paul, they were not alone.

Some portions of the Bible are gloriously clear (if not easy to obey), and other parts are not. This doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the Bible or its readers, just that the communication of divine truth is sometimes a challenge. We should not be frustrated when we run across difficulties in our Bible study. Saints have had similar challenges stretching all the way back to the apostles.

Twisting Hard Passages

Peter writes plainly about what some people do with these difficult passages. The “ignorant and unstable twist [them] to their own destruction.”

Those who are unstable will twist these difficult passages, and their interpretations and conclusions will be damaging. Think about how serious that is: Twisted interpretations can destroy. Before taking up positions of defense and warning, we should pause and pray for those who use the Bible this way. They deserve our compassion, as they are headed down a chilling road to a horrible end.

Not everyone who comes to the Bible does so with pure motives. Peter warns us especially of those who are ignorant (those who lack familiarity or experience in the faith) or unstable (lacking a foundation, easily jostled or disturbed). Christians should be watchful regarding confusing or challenging passages that they are not led astray by efforts to turn people away from the truth.

Take Care

Peter warns his readers, as “beloved” brothers and sisters, to “take care.”

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. (2 Peter 3:17)

Peter’s caution is valuable information. When we know a road contains potholes, we can drive slowly and carefully or take an alternate route.

This error of twisting Scripture to evil ends can sweep people along like a racing river. These lawless people have a contagious instability—those who are settled and secure can find themselves unsteady and off balance. Peter’s alert here follows earlier warnings in the same chapter about “scoffers” who doubt the promises of God and “overlook” plain facts about creation and the flood (2 Peter 3:3–6).

It’s natural to ask how Christians should “take care” to avoid this disaster. Peter anticipates and answers that question.

Growth in Christ

Peter gives broad instruction to avoid being carried away in controversy, speculation, and error.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

To combat twisted Scriptures, grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Understand his promises and his work for you; bathe in the good news of the gospel of his kingdom. Pursue him as Lord and Savior and Christ, and know that you are not alone—he is “our” Lord.

Jesus deserves glory now and to the day of eternity. The final chapter of Peter’s letter overflows with references to the “day of the Lord” and the “heavenly bodies” being “burned up and dissolved” (2 Peter 3:10). The great upheaval that is coming is a problem for those who are unstable, but those who know the promise-maker are “waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

Remember the Patience of the Lord

The context of this brief word about hard-to-understand passages is a larger section about the patience of the Lord. Peter tells his readers to “count the patience of our Lord as salvation” (2 Peter 3:15). God is not slow to keep his promises, but rather he is “patient toward you” (2 Peter 3:9).

Doesn’t this make all the difference? The God of the universe is patient. Not only patient in general, but patient toward you! We should labor mightily to understand his word, but when we come across something confusing, we need not rush or panic. He knows our frame (Psalm 103:14); he is patient toward his children.

Observation is a Means, Not an End

October 22, 2021 By Peter Krol

When it comes to OIA Bible study, observation is the method’s beginning, not the method’s end. I find people can often get distracted from this point in one of two ways.

Distraction #1: Ending with Observation

When you develop the skills of mature observation, you can start to feel like a superhero. You’ll start seeing things the people around you don’t take time to see. You learn to identify parts of speech, sentence structure, and train of thought. Skilled observation can be quite thrilling, and it tends to receive praise. This is a good thing, because careful observation of God’s word ought to be something people find praiseworthy.

But the danger is that the thrill and the praise become your food and drink. When you train your senses to observe the Scriptures closely, you will probably start finding things that nobody in your immediate circle has found before. And you can quickly form an addiction to the dopamine released in the process.

This may result in doing even more observation, getting better and better at it. People start looking to you for insight, and they ask you for the final word on any questions they have. Sometimes this delight in observation can provide an escape from the painful labor of interpretation, or the uncomfortable humility required for application. You can also avoid having to draw conclusions about anything the text might mean, or any ways it may be speaking into your culture or community, by keeping your sights trained simply on what it says.

Perhaps this distraction resonates with your own proclivity. Or maybe your struggle goes in a different direction.

Distraction #2: Failing to Make Use of Observation as a Means

Maybe you are more tempted to skip observation to get to the good stuff faster. Your understanding of “the good stuff” could be focused on either interpretation (we have to get our doctrine in order, after all) or application (what good are we if we are not practical, right?). Either way, you try not to get bogged down by grammatical minutiae or pesky questions about big picture and train of thought.

Maybe you come to the Bible under the expectation that it must move you to some specific and inspiring action steps right here and now. Or maybe you teach others, and you feel you have failed if they don’t deliver something mind-blowing and practical quickly enough. Maybe you’ve trained yourself to spend more time looking up cross-references than discovering the structure and climax or chief conclusion of the text at hand. Maybe you’ve presumed that good teachers should aspire to preach or teach 300 sermons/sessions on Romans, and so you’re constantly bouncing away from your abbreviated text in order to fill the air space with fully fleshed-out theological or ethical reflections.

Conclusion

The answer to the second distraction is to realize (and believe in your bones) that without observation, you cannot interpret or apply. At least, not in alignment with the will of God recorded in Scripture. Observation lays the foundation for all else. If your observation is poor, your interpretation won’t be any better, and your application will fall to the ground. Any power your conclusions or instructions might have comes more from your personal persuasiveness or charisma than from the Spirit of God.

The answer to the first distraction is to realize (and believe in your bones) that your purpose in Bible study is not to impress people or thrill yourself. Your purpose is to help people—beginning with yourself—know God through his Son Jesus Christ and be transformed into the image of Christ by the Spirit who inspired this text. Observation lays the foundation for all else. If observation is your end game, it’s like living your spiritual life on a cement slab in a half-acre plot, without erecting the rest of the house. You’re ready for a tempest to rise against you, but the wifi doesn’t really work.

With trained and habitual observation, we plug into the power of God found in Scripture. We’re thereby locked and loaded for productive interpretation and application to help lead people to their Creator and King.

How to Help Others Apply the Bible

October 11, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

The church is a body, linked together in union to Jesus Christ. We need one another.

At Knowable Word, though we aim to help ordinary Christians learn to study the Bible for themselves, we do not expect or desire any believer to cut themselves off from from the body. As we need one another in general, we also need one another in Bible study.

We encourage Christians, as they are able and have opportunity, to study the Bible with other believers. Fellow disciples can offer great help in the observation and interpretation phases of examining the Scriptures. But, frankly, there are books, videos, and other resources that can offer significant help with these phases. Christian community fills an irreplaceable role when it comes to application.

I’ve previously written about how to apply the Bible in community, and in that article I focused on peer relationships. Therefore, most of this post will focus on helping others to apply the Bible as a teacher or leader.

Helping as a Friend

Application is the most personal stage of Bible study. The way a person takes a Scriptural truth and works it out has much to do with the specifics of their life—their relationships, their history, their fears, their pressures. This is where friends are essential; when others know the details of our lives, they can show us the shaded corners of our garden that are overrun with weeds. This mostly happens through longer conversations and patient questions.

A one-on-one friendship in which each person wants the best for the other is pure gold for a follower of Jesus. This is love. This is a rare opportunity to help another person believe, trust, and obey the Lord.

If you are blessed with such a friendship, thank God! And be willing to both offer and accept suggestions about Bible application in this context. If you do not have such a friendship in your life, pray earnestly that God would provide.

Helping as a Leader

Those who teach or lead others in the church have the blessing (and responsibility) to help with Bible application. While this is a natural and expected part of Bible study, it can be difficult for leaders to find their groove.

Most teachers are comfortable talking about observation and interpretation—that’s their bread and jam. But application is tough. It’s personal, as we’ve mentioned, and it’s often last, meaning it frequently gets cut in favor of earlier material. My sense is that teachers are much less practiced when it comes to bringing application in for a landing.

I see at least three ways for a leader to help others apply the Bible. The order below is not necessarily my suggested order during a class or study, merely the most natural way to discuss the options in this article. Additionally, any one attempt at encouraging application need not involve all three of these suggestions. (I’d propose a thorough mixture over time, however.)

Ask Application Questions

When it is time to turn to application in a Bible study, questions are natural. The intention here is to provoke others to consider areas where the main point of your Bible passage might have some corrective use.

When a leader knows their group well, targeted questions provide traction. There may be common situations for the group (a transition or event at church) or known experiences within the group (illnesses, difficult relationships, loss of work) that are ripe for questions to spark prayerful contemplation.

For an article-length example of application questions, see 40 Application Questions From Isaiah 40.

Give Personal Examples

When a teacher gives application examples from their own life, it serves at least two purposes. It moves the idea of application from vague to specific, and it shows that the leader has been affected by the very Scriptures they are urging their group to consider.

My friend’s application will likely not be mine. But when that friend tells me about the way God is helping them to obey the Scriptures, it gives me hope that I will find that same help in my life.

Give Application Suggestions

This strategy is like scattering seed on the ground. A teacher throws out suggestions for applications and sees where they may take root.

If a leader has applied the Bible themselves, they likely have considered a lot of applications before the class or meeting. The more specific a suggestion, the better. One of these suggestions may inspire a similar (or wildly different) application in a group member.

Conclusion

There are as many ways to faithfully apply the Bible as there are Christians reading the text. Having conversations with other believers about this application is like adding Miracle-Gro to the soil of a Christian’s life.

Once we realize just how much we need each other, we can joyfully and humbly embrace the privilege of bringing God’s Word to bear in one another’s lives.

Clean Out the Application Cobwebs

September 13, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Heiko Stein (2016), public domain

There are two types of extra-dirty places in my house: those I actively resist cleaning and those I don’t think about at all.

My shower is dirty because I dislike cleaning it. Though it takes only ten minutes—and it isn’t even that difficult—I build the task up in my head to be impossibly long and tedious. I’d rather clean any other part of the bathroom.

The area behind the washing machine, on the other hand, is dirty because I never consider cleaning it. Unless there’s a problem, I don’t look back there at all.

I suspect these types of neglect are present in our Bible studies too, mostly when it comes to application. Whether we actively resist or regularly overlook an area of application, we need to identify and fix the problem.

Applying the Bible

After observing the text of the Bible, we interpret what we find. We try to identify the author’s main point in the passage.

Then we turn to application. This is where we ask the question, so what? What implications does this truth have for God’s people?

While there may be a handful of accurate, biblical interpretations to a text, applications run in the millions. But there are some ways to organize our efforts.

Application can take shape in two directions: inward and outward. Inward application is pointed toward ourselves, and outward application involves influencing others.

Application can also happen in three spheres: head, heart, and hands. Head application involves what we think and believe, heart application involves our character, and hands application involves what we do.

This makes six combinations to consider every time you study the Bible. (I’m not suggesting you must hit all six areas with every study!)

Diagnosing and Treating the Problem

Different passages lend themselves to different types of application. Not every main point is easily applied in every sphere or each direction. And different people are drawn toward different application emphases.

But over time, it’s possible to get into a rut. Or to consistently neglect one or more areas of application. We need to find these dusty corners and sweep out the cobwebs.

For some people, applying the Bible outward is easy, but making specific changes to their own life is a challenge. Other people may think of head and hands applications quickly, but they struggle to make heart changes.

The best way to diagnose an area of application neglect is to pay attention. Take notes after personal and small group Bible studies. What types of application do you hit most frequently? Which ones are harder for you? Which ones don’t show up at all? Using the two-by-three grid on this worksheet may be helpful.

Like individuals, small groups tend to have areas of application inattention. Have an honest talk with your group and work to identify those application topics you consistently overlook.

Once you’ve identified your weak areas of application, the treatment becomes obvious if not easy: Work on those areas! Pick a neglected box on the application worksheet and don’t let go.

Two Tools for the Task

A common vocabulary with your friends can be useful as you tackle your application weaknesses. There’s nothing sacred about the words we use here at Knowable Word (inward, outward, head, heart, hands), so if you find something else more helpful, go with it! The general ideas will likely be similar.

And finally, as you target this individual or group deficiency, don’t forget to pray! Our neglect is often the fruit of our spiritual blindness or apathy, and we need power from God for spiritual growth. Application always involves a battle of the Spirit and the flesh, and the fighting is more intense when we don’t consistently train for the conflict. But nothing is impossible with God, and he leads us into repentance, joy, and obedience with his strength.

5 Reasons to Read Your Bible Beyond Practical Application

September 10, 2021 By Peter Krol

I believe in practical application. Here are more than ten biblical reasons why you should do it. But the dangers are legion if you come to your Bible reading with nothing but practical application on your mind. You might rush—or even worse, skip!—your observation or interpretation for the sake of that practical nugget. Your application might come unmoored from the text and take you in exactly the wrong direction. You might fall into the well-worn path of failing to identify any applications beyond the Big Three.

And there is a major opportunity cost involved. Treat personal application as the only consistent outcome for your Bible reading, and you may simply miss out on these other benefits the Lord wishes for you.

1. Storing up now for the coming winter

A regular habit of Bible reading is worth maintaining, even when no urgent or timely application comes readily to mind, because you are depositing divine truth in the storehouses of your soul from which you can later make withdrawals. “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps 119:11). “My son, keep your father’s commandments … bind them on your heart always … When you walk, they will lead you … For the commandment is a lamp … to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress” (Prov 6:20-24).

We ought to consider the ant and be wise (Prov 6:6-11, 30:24-25), not only with respect to our work ethic but also with respect to our truth ethic. It is foolish to abstain from Bible reading because it’s not practical enough for today. When the time of temptation arrives, you will have an empty storehouse—an empty heart—with no stockpile of resources available to supply your resistance.

2. Receiving comfort amid sorrow

It is true that suffering people need time and space to process. Yet may it never be that our “time and space” isolate us from the Lord, when they ought to bind us more tightly to him. The laments of the Bible are wonderful for giving us words when we don’t know what to say, and feelings when we don’t know what to feel. The Spirit who intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Rom 8:26) is the same Spirit who inspired the words of the prophets and apostles to give expression to such groanings (1 Pet 1:10-12).

“My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!” (Ps 119:28). Such strengthening does not typically result in an item for the to-do list or a practical application to go on the calendar. These words are shaping us to know where and when to find true solace.

3. Motivating future obedience

Reading your Bible saturates your mind and heart in the love of God for you, which will motivate you to even greater obedience in the future. Though you may not get a nugget of practical application right now, the good news will inflame your desire for such obedience in perpetuity.

“Let your steadfast love come to me, O Yahweh, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me … And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth … I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts” (Ps 119:41-45).

4. Learning to both love and hate the right things

Sometimes Bible reading does not produce immediate behavioral change, but instead trains our senses to distinguish good from evil, to discern right from wrong. And it trains not only our mind’s acuity but also our very affections, that we might love what is good and hate that which is evil. “Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that Yahweh, the God of armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph” (Amos 5:15).

Our Bible reading shapes our hearts in immeasurable and incremental ways, with respect not only to ourselves but also to those around us. “Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning” (Ps 119:53-54).

5. Spending time with the Beloved

A marriage relationship is not merely a socioeconomic contract wherein two parties engage in mutually beneficial transactions and improve their financial benefits. Yes, it is at least that, but more often than not, a relationship characterized by love involves simply spending time together. There is a delight to be had from communing together, living life together, sharing experiences, and growing old together as lovers and companions. So, too, in this marriage between the Lord Jesus and his Bride. We meet together corporately to worship the father through him. And we read the Bible that we might simply know him and enjoy his sweet companionship.

To ensure we don’t wander off with a “Jesus” of our own invention, our communion with Christ must involve a communion in his word. God is revealed most clearly in his word, so knowing God must involve knowing his word. “Yahweh is my portion; I promise to keep your words … The earth, O Yahweh, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!” (Ps 119:57, 64). “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

Conclusion

Whoever desires practical application to result from Bible reading desires a noble thing. But it’s not the only thing. Please keep reading your Bible, even when you can’t see immediate, outward life change by the end of the day. I assure you: Though you may not see quick and immediate change in yourself, others will certainly perceive the gradual and lasting change that transpires in you as the seasons come and go. As you spend time with your Beloved, you can’t help but become more like him.

What We Miss When We Skip the Book of Lamentations

August 30, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

As a book, Lamentations is overlooked and ignored. Bible readers often don’t know what to do with it. It’s short and poetic, but it is found among the major prophets instead of within the wisdom literature. It is full of lament, so inspiration-seeking Christians cannot easily hop between uplifting verses. The book is heavy and sad, filled with the sorrows of the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem.

But this book is a gem. God has given it to us as his inspired word, and if we’re willing, we have much to learn from this volume.

An Extended Lament

The main thing we miss if we bypass Lamentations is an extended look at lament.

Many books of the Bible contain lament—including as many as one third of the Psalms. But Lamentations is the only book which is only lament. When we read this book, we face sorrow and grief from beginning to end.

Most Western Christians are not familiar with lament; it makes us uncomfortable. With Lamentations we are forced to wrestle with lament as a legitimate, biblical form of prayer.

The laments in Lamentations differ from those in many of the Psalms in important ways. The author of Lamentations confesses guilt on behalf of the Israelites (Lam 1:5; 1:8–9; 1:18; 1:22; 4:13–16) and recognizes God’s hand in the destruction of the city and the holy temple (Lam 2:1–10). Even though God’s anger is justified against his people, their sorrowful cry in the midst of a terrible situation is still legitimate.

This book of laments also makes Bible readers grapple with the issue of complaint. Complaining to God cannot be inherently wrong because most of Lamentations is a detailed list of all the ways the people are suffering. Therefore, we must learn to distinguish between godly complaint and ungodly complaint. (It may be helpful to use the term “grumbling” instead of “complaining” to make this distinction.)

Repeated readings of this book also force the reader to learn to live with the tension inherent in lament. Each of the five chapters of Lamentations is a separate prayer of lament, and none of these prayers resolve in a way that is satisfying to the modern ear. Far from being a problem, this feature of lament naturally turns the sorrowful Christian back to God, again and again seeking his face.

Trust in the Midst of Destruction

Lamentations helps us to acquire a taste for biblical lament, but it also gives us a brief glimpse into the moment in history after the fall of Jerusalem. The walls are down, the temple is demolished, and most of the population has been captured; how will the people who remain react?

We read the people confess their sins and the sins of their leaders (Lam 4:13–16). We see them cry out to the Lord in pain, wanting to be seen in their affliction (Lam 1:9,11,20; 2:20; 5:1). And we also witness these believers cling to the promises of God (Lam 3:31–33; 4:22).

A Lesson in Waiting

The most famous verses in Lamentations (Lam 3:22–23) have been quoted and misquoted at length, and they have inspired a wonderful hymn. But the middle section of the middle chapter of Lamentations is worthy of extended reflection.

In this passage we learn the importance of looking to God’s character—not our circumstances—for hope. We see that waiting on the Lord is not something we may need to do occasionally, but rather it is a baked-in part of following Yahweh (Lam 3:25–33).

Pointing to Christ

Reading Lamentations is a healthy challenge for those who believe that all the Scriptures speak of Jesus (Luke 24:44). How could a book so sad and filled with devastation speak of the Savior?

The judgments described in Lamentations are devastating and, in some cases, graphic. The people have been justly visited by God’s wrath, through the vehicle of the Babylonians, because they turned away from him.

In Lamentations we have a detailed picture of the wages of sin. We have a faint sense of what we deserve when we stand before holy God. And, therefore, we also glimpse a shadow of the judgment Jesus suffered for his people when he took their sins upon himself (1 Peter 2:24).

Lamentations is worthy of our attention. If, as the Church, we soaked in this book more regularly, we would develop greater sympathy for others, firmer trust in God’s promises, and a deeper understanding of God’s character and what it means to seek him.

Stretching Application Beyond the Big Three

July 5, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Read the Bible more. Pray more. Share the gospel more.

Christians know what’s likely coming at the end of a sermon or Bible study. If there’s any application discussed, it will be one of the big three: read, pray, share.

It’s easy to make Christians feel guilty in any of these areas. None would boast of having a check mark next to these boxes.

Even so, why do we land in the same places every week, regardless of the Scripture we study? One effect is that we become callous to these exhortations, ignoring actions that are good for us and for God’s kingdom.

The Good Kind of Repetition

When I go to my annual physical, I know my doctor will touch on diet and exercise. This isn’t because he lacks creativity or because he’s a bore. He returns to these topics because they are essential to my body’s health. Other patterns and activities are also important, but if I’m not paying close attention to what I eat and how much I’m moving, most other things won’t matter.

Similarly, Bible reading, prayer, and evangelism are central parts of our Christian lives. We cannot obey the first great commandment (love God) without hearing from him and speaking to him. And we cannot obey the second great commandment (love your neighbor) without considering ways we might point our friends to Jesus.

These application topics are repeated because they are of vital importance. We need the repetition both because we forget them and because we resist them. Let us not despise the good repetition that our souls need.

Go Beyond the Basics

It is good to be reminded to read the Bible, pray, and talk to our friends about Jesus, but that doesn’t mean these are the only applications we should draw from Scriptural truths. In some situations, these serve for a preacher or teacher as a too-easy fallback or blanket prescription.

This is precisely where I find the grid on our application worksheet so helpful. Thinking systematically can help spark ideas and push us in new directions.

Application has two directions—inward and outward. Inward application has to do with personal obedience, piety, and growth. Outward application refers to the influence we have on others—both other individuals and institutions of which we are a part.

It may also be helpful to think about Bible application in three spheres—head, heart, and hands. Head application is concerned with what we think or believe. Heart application refers to our affections—what we value, long for, or love. Finally, hands application is about our actions—what we will start or stop doing.

Overwhelmed by Application

When we put together the two directions and three spheres, we have six potential application categories. (See an example here.) For some readers, this may give you whiplash—from only three familiar application topics to an overwhelming number of possibilities.

Six may well be too many applications for any given sermon or study. A smaller number works better in most cases.

We should be drawing our application from the main point (or, occasionally, main points) of a passage. And most main points lead naturally to some of these six application categories more than others.

Finally, we must remember Jesus in our application. Feeling overwhelmed often means that we are not resting in God’s grace. The gospel reminds us that we obey and apply the Bible because we are God’s beloved children, not in order to be beloved. Jesus has bought us with a price, secured our salvation, and made our Bible application possible.

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