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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 4, NUMBER 32, AUGUST 8, 2004 “OF THE MAKING OF MANY BOOKS” As a preacher I have a natural affinity for books. As a matter of fact, if I was not a preacher, I would love to own a bookstore with a huge religious section. In the preparation of bible classes, sermons, and articles, I have spent an awful lot of time with lexicons, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and commentaries. I have learned so much by reading the works of great scholars and bible students who have shed light on passages of scripture that I had not seen for myself. It reminds me of the comment made by the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. In response to Philip’s question, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” he replied, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” While I may be taking this out of context, and I probably am, even the Apostle Paul made the following request of Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:13, “The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.” We are not certain what these books were, they may have been some of Paul’s own writings or other valuable manuscripts, but it does help us to see the importance placed upon the written word. I highly recommend that Christians have a basic library of certain reference works. Lexicons and bible dictionaries help in so many ways to increase our knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. I am not a “Greek scholar”, but I can benefit from the work of those who are. Hebrew is a language that I know very little about, but I am thankful that I have at my disposal a number of reference books about it by those who do know. Bible encyclopedias, such as The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia can bring much needed clarity to places, people, customs and practices mentioned in scripture. Commentaries by conservative Bible scholars can lend insight into passages hard to understand. A carpenter probably just needs a rule, a hammer, and a saw to do his work, but he has a number of other tools to help him. We really only need the Bible to know what God wants of us, but we can make use of many other tools to help us. Having said all of this, another passage comes to mind. In Eccl. 12:12, Solomon wrote, “And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” When we are engaged in the study of God’s Word and are using other books to assist us in that study, it is vitally important to remember that there is only one book that is inspired and infallible. Other books can help us in our study, but we must remember that there is only one book that “thoroughly furnishes unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:17 ). There is only one book in which we will find, “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). I believe that there is a tendency to think that whatever we read in a commentary is true. That is not necessarily the case. Even in “word studies” we must be very careful and discerning for the theological bias of the author can often show up. Make good use of the resources available to us but always remember that there is just one “perfect law of liberty.” Greg Litmer FROM FLAT ON YOUR BACK The view from the floor is the same in spite of what may have knocked you down. You may be floored by the news that you have cancer, or that your father or mother died, or that you have lost your job. In spite of how you got there, from flat on your back, everything looks the same. We see how weak we are… Wealth, success, nor good health can completely insulate us from the pitfalls of life. “For man also does not know his time: like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time when it falls suddenly upon them” (Eccl. 9:12). There is no such thing as true insurance. What I purchase each year from my insurance company does not prevent car accidents or house fires. It merely guarantees that there will be financial compensation if they occur. Not only are we helpless at preventing tragedy, from flat on our back we also see how inadequate we are in dealing with it. Tears and cries are often our only resource. From flat on our back we see how foolish we were before the crisis. Perhaps our priorities were out of place and our worries were actually insignificant. We See How Great God Is… Suffering was never part of God’s original plan for mankind. Pain, loss, and disappointment all crept in after man let sin through the door. When man chose sin, God didn’t stop him nor the consequences to follow. Though God hates death, disease, war, famine and all the other catastrophes that bruise and cripple us in body and soul, He still works in them. He creates windows in them so that we can better see His might and mercy. After losing his herds, his servants, his children, and his health, and after seven days debate with his friends about the cause of his suffering, Job heard God speak. Afterwards he said, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5). Our pride and self-sufficiency are our greatest obstacles to seeing God. When we are walking tall and stepping high, He is hard to see. However, when we are knocked flat on our back, every thing looks different. To the honest person, God can be clearly seen. He is still there, even though we are hurting, He is still strong, and he still cares. Philip Mullins |