APR 2

Nehemiah 8:1-12
Memorise John 8:32
“…and the truth shall make you free…”

God’s Word is perfect, and it has been perfectly preserved through the ages in order that man can come to know of Him and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, we are saved by Jesus Christ the Living Word through the Gospel which is found in the written Word, the Bible.

But if God’s Word is perfect, then why do we need proper interpretation in order to get a right understanding of it? Why are there certain parts of the Bible that are so difficult to comprehend? The problem is not with God’s Word itself, but rather it is because God’s Word is given to a fallen race of sinners whose intellect and understanding of spiritual things is imperfect. Therefore, a system of interpretation is critical to help us to correctly grasp God’s Word. This is where hermeneutics comes in.

The principles of hermeneutics are the tools which one uses to correctly interpret the Bible. Without correct hermeneutics the Bible would be open to many different and erroneous interpretations. Obviously, this goes against the principle that the truth of God’s Word is absolute. There is no room for multiple views when it comes to the truth of God’s Word.

When the right principles are applied, and God’s truth is accurately conveyed and understood, then the power of God’s words upon His people would be readily evident. This was seen in Nehemiah’s time, for after he caused them to understand the Word, the response was that “all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law” (Nehemiah 8:9). They were pricked in the heart by their disobedience to God, and mournfully wept tears of repentance. These are the results that one can have when right hermeneutics are applied.

When the principles of hermeneutics are applied correctly, believers will be greatly blessed through the right understanding of God’s Word. There will not only be true repentance and mourning for sins, but also “great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them” (Nehemiah 8:12). The joy of the LORD will be our strength, for we have the full understanding of His Word!

Thought: Every truth proclaimed through God’s Word is so precious that I must avoid misinterpreting any part of it.
Prayer: O Lord, thank You for blessing us with sound minds and the illumination of the Holy Spirit so that we can know Your Word.