Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 1; Psalm 81 & 82; Isaiah 29; 3 John 1
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (Isaiah 29:13)
The days in which Isaiah prophesied are not unlike today. It seems that many have a form of godliness, and say that they honor God, but their heart is far from him. When their life does not line up with God's Word and they are not concerned, there is something wrong! In Isaiah's day the problem was that the fear of God was taught by the precept of men instead of taught by God himself.
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. (Isaiah 29:11-12)
The scholar says the book is sealed. This is what the learned of our day are told. They are told that the original autographs are inspired, but we just have to make do with the various translations that we have. So scholars use textual criticism to determine what they think the Bible says. As a result we now have hundreds of translations based on the men who made them.
The unlearned man has bought the lie of the scholar that only the 'clergy' can rightly understand the book so they let the preachers tell them what it says. As a result, we have the precepts of men.
However, God has promised to preserve his Word.
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (Psalms 12:6-7)
God promised that every generation would have the pure words of God. Since this is true, the King James Version is the only one that is based on the actual text that the church has used since the time of the apostles. With it, we may hear the Word of God. Any person regardless of the learning they have at a college or seminary can take it up and read.
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (John 6:45)
Do you read the Bible? Do you believe what God says to you through it? Are you taught by the precepts of men or are you taught of God?
Jesus wants you to come to him!
In Christ,
Rody
