Becoming Profitable
Into the Ancient Texts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
We have been studying that the goal of bible studying and reading is the worship of God.
We saw that the careful reading of the bible text would always lead man to worship.
Let us examine one of such texts;
14 “When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ 17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. 18 “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.
Now this is quite interesting and some things to note;
This is what ought to happen when they have come to the land which the Lord God is giving them.
The king ought to focus on the law of God, writing a copy of it for himself.
He ought to read it all the days of his life.
The goal of that reading of the law by the king, is “that he may learn to fear the Lord his God” and observe all the words of the law and these statutes.
This is what the reading of the law of God ought to be for. It has an end goal, which is the “fear of his Lord” and we will see this in the observing of all the words of law & statutes.
HOW DO WE SEE THE FEAR OF GOD?
We see it in that his heart is not lifted above his brethren.
You see, when there is a consistent reading of the text, knowing and understanding it, there is the reverance for God it births and we see it in heart not lifted (the service of men).
Worship (True worship involves putting God first in one's life and valuing Him above all else) flows from the studying of the scriptures. The careful reading of it, and it is also the goal of bible reading.
So, while as Christians, we might think we could pray away everything (not talking down on prayer, we will see that is holds a high importance), the reality is, the knowledge of God’s word, is what starts our effectiveness in living a life that is pleasing to God.
Examining HOW to read the Scriptures
Examining HOW to read the Scriptures
8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
Distinctly — פרשׁ paraš (parash)
to be made free from confusion or ambiguity
Sense — שֵׂכֶל (śēkel)
the idea that is intended
So two things;
I must seek to make the text free from confusion or ambiguity.
I must seek to get to the idea that is intended. i.e. what was the writers intent and what did his audience understand?
So, I must seek to make it free of ambiguity or confusion. How do I do that?
We can see from the text that one of the nice thing about it is, they had help.
7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place.
“Helped the people to understand the law”. We saw that Ezra and the Levites had the understanding of the law passed down to them also, and they faithfully taught the people the law of God.
Those whom are given to us to help in the study of scriptures.
Usage of every neccessary tool in our disposal.
While those who came before us may have made little attempt to understand the text in such a context, our responsibility is to use every tool at our disposal to do the most careful exgesis that we can, which is what the earlier Christians also sought to accomplish. Ethical interpretation is dependent on the full and informed use of the tools we have; it is not dependent on the identity of the tools. - John Walton
We have to seek to use all the tools in our disposal. (we will talk about this more in this series).
Why? Cos times have changed, we will examine this shortly,
So; the starting point is, I must make it free of ambiguity, I must seek to get to the idea that is intended, and to do this, I have to use all the tools in our disposal.
So Our Framework;
Does it inspire worship?
What was the writer’s intent?
What did his first hearers understand?
If you notice the framework well enough, Only the first point separates you and I from a theologian or bible historian. This people could probably understand the text, but it won’t inspire worship, the text won’t be profitable to them, the bible is profitable to you and I because in it, we yet seek to answer the questions of our day, in the worship of our God.
Becoming Profitable
Becoming Profitable
How do we become profitable? Considering the text is far removed from us today;
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Notice, How did they become equipped in the ancient world? The law of God, so while it was profitable for them, it is yet profitable for Paul’s day, and it is profitable in my day and yours.
We become “complete” — Another translation says “COMPETENT”.
Equipped — exartizō
to be or become furnished or equipped with every necessary component for a task.
So, the position of the scriptures is that, it is able to equip us with every necessary component for good works.
What we are trying to say is simply, the scriptures has a value that transcends time, space or place. It is profitable for all time. WHY? It has it’s source in God.
So, while the human author didn’t think about you and I, when they wrote, God first of all communicated so that the audience then, could understand clearly, he envisaged that you and I would find same words to our advantage today, he had us in mind when he inspired the documentation of the text.
Then we must ask, How does it profit me today?
If, first of all, I have to start with the writers intent and not just pick anything and apply to myself, how does it become profitable to me today?
Let us begin by saying;
We have thesame goal as the ancient people the words were spoken to, which is worship.
Let us consider an example;
1 Therefore, holy brothers, sharers in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses also was in his household. 3 For this one is considered worthy of greater glory than Moses, inasmuch as the one who builds it has greater honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but the one who built all things is God. 5 And Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony to the things that would be spoken, 6 but Christ was faithful as a son over his house, whose house we are, if we hold fast to our confidence and the hope we can be proud of. 7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers tested me by trial and saw my works 10 for forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, and I said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they do not know my ways.’ 11 As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter into my rest.’ ”
Just as the Holy Spirit says …
Notice here, the author of Hebrews didn’t say as David said, he said “JUST AS THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS”…
Before we examine this text fully, let us see where he was quoting from;
7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: 8 “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work. 10 For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”
In the context here, it is not an admonition that they should worship and obey God, not that they were even departing from the living God. It is that his invitation to come sing to the Lord, he draws a similarity from an event that happened in the past, and that event is from Numbers.
We find David himself, finding the law of God or the scriptures to be profitable for him in his day, to teach and admonish his own audience.
Let us read where he was quoting from;
Numbers 14:1-25;
Context;
The context has to do with when they spied out the land of Israel, what was clear was that the people became afraid and they rebelled against God. So it has to do with when they were about to enter into the land of the Canannites, etc.
1 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” 10 And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.
Notice the words of Joshua and Caleb; LET US NOT REBEL AGAINST THE LORD…
What is important is from verse 20-25
20 Then the Lord said: “I have pardoned, according to your word; 21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord—22 because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, 23 they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. 25 Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.”
So, original voice or the original words that the Lord spoke to them, was to go in and possess the land, and they didn’t heed the voice of God.
Now, David quoted and was referring to this text, and he used it in admonision of his own audience that they should heed the “voice of God” which is his (David’s) call to worship, to sing to the Lord.
Now in Hebrews;
Context in Hebrews;
The people were all willing to depart from the Christian faith, and seeking to return to Judaism, cos of persecution.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ” 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
The writer was therefore saying that THE HOLY SPIRIT is yet still speaking to them in his Day, that is, “They should not harden their hearts as in the rebellion”.
Notice, He didn’t say that David said, or Moses said, he said to his audience, that THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD SPEAKING TO YOU, Howbeit, you wonder HOW?
The spirit of God was speaking to them through the very event that happened in Numbers, and through the words of David, “saying to them, don’t have an evil heart of unbelief, departing from the living God”
So what happened in Numbers, has become their lesson, their ADMONISION.
Meaning, if for example, in 2025, we have a believer who is tempted to depart from the faith due to his own pursuit or hard times, they become unyielding to God’s call, or absent themselves from the faith, we can say to such;
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SAYING TO YOU, “YOU ARE HEARING HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART, DON’T BE LIKE THOSE IN NUMBERS”.
Notice, the writer said, This is the Holy Spirit speaking;
It means that, the writer of Hebrews is saying that the words of the scriptures are yet the words of God’s spirit to us today.
THE BIBLE IS GOD SPEAKING TO ME TODAY
Yet, his words won’t betray what those who first heard it heard, but it will answer the questions in my day today.
THIS IS YET GOD’S VOICE TO ME TODAY! I have to see it.
Updating Our Framework then;
4. Hear the voice of God’s spirit within the text.
That is, as the writer was writing to his own audience, the Spirit of God was speaking to his own audience and in 2025, as I am reading, the Spirit of God is speaking to me today.
Remember, carefully, what I hear won’t betray WHAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD SAID TO THEM, It will teach me, but won’t betray WHAT THEY HEARD. You have to keep that in mind.
So, before I get to number 4, I have to have the first three in mind, which is,
Does it inspire worship? — Ultimate goal in all of our reading so not much of part of the framework, but I am leaving it there.
What was the writer’s intent?
What did his audience understand?
Hear the voice of God’s Spirit within the text.
HOW DO I HEAR IT?
HOW DO I HEAR IT?
To hear really what the voice of the Spirit is today, I must first hear what he said to them i.e. the first hearers. THIS IS FOUNDATIONAL, cos Same Spirit of God that spoke to them, is speaking to us today, he is not changing the meaning of his words, but teaching us from those events and stories hence;
One of the core ways to hear his voice, is the meditation on the texts of scriptures. (Next week, we will start seeing insight by God’s spirit more)
97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.
Notice something, the wisdom comes from the commandments… But how it comes is what he does with the law of God, HE MEDITATES ON IT ALL DAY. The law of God is ever with him.
Meaning that the wisdom for living today, comes via the meditation upon the text over and over again.
Meditation — שִׂיחָה śî·ḥā(h)
thoughtful contemplation
Notice, also, he said that he has more understanding than all of his teachers, why?
Testimonies — עֵדוּת ʿē·ḏûṯ
Lexham Theological Wordbook עֵדוּת
The content of God’s truth recorded in the law.
The content of God’s truth recorded in the law, are his meditation, those are his thoughtful contemplations.
He now said, he has more understanding than the ancient, because he keeps God’s precepts.
While the teachers could help in the understanding of the culture, writers intent, etc. The voice of God’s Spirit that comes via meditation on the text, is what leads to DOING of GOD’S PRECEPTS.
Hence, the understanding than his teachers, comes via God’s Spirit, giving him wisdom for living. This part, No man can teach you, it is God himself that does, and that is in the contemplation of the text.
So, the difference between a man that would DO God’s law and the man that will Not do it, the difference is, are they hearing the words of God’s spirit today? If they are not, they won’t be doing it.
He has more understanding than the ancient, WE SEE IT IN THAT HE KEEPS THE LAW OF GOD.
The voice of God’s Spirit is what eventually leads to worship. Notice, David wasn’t trying to get to the land like in Numbers 14, yet, he was a doer of God’s word in that he heeded the call of God to worship, and that comes via a man that is hearing the voice of God’s spirit from the text.
WHAT IS THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT?
It will not be teaching us something strange, it will not be trying to give us new realms and portals etc. It is the voice of God’s spirit, and it will eventually point us back to worship, to walk in the precepts of God.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
You see, through your precepts (meditating on those precepts), he gets understanding; Therefore HE HATES EVERY FALSE WAY.
In Conclusion;
In Conclusion;
The wisdom for living today comes from the scriputures which is yet speaking to us today, that is the voice of God’s spirit
The voice of the spirit is not betraying the text, it is speaking to you and I today, teaching us, and will give us an understanding, that No one can teach. It is that which God gives.
That voice, what it will say, will lead you and I back to the end goal, which is worship (a life which is devoted to God).
The difference between the doer of the word and the one who only hears the word, and doesn’t do it, is in the voice of God’s spirit, which comes in the meditation of the text.
