Importance of Bible Study.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
NO ONE will question the statement that those who presume to teach the Scriptures should have a good knowledge of them. "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth." This fact is so well established that dishonest men often take advantage of it to lead people astray; professing to be Bible teachers, they gain the confidence of those not familiar with the Bible, and palm off upon them the theories of men's devising, in the place of sacred truth. There are, however, but few, even of those who profess to love the Bible and to be guided by its teachings, who recognize the necessity of a thorough study of the Bible for themselves. It is for this reason that they are so easily deceived by ignorant and unscrupulous men. If there were nothing in the Bible itself on this point, our own reason ought to teach us that if the Bible is to be our rule of life, we ought to know for ourselves what things it requires of us. If it is a guide-book to tell us whereabouts we are in the journey toward the celestial city, and to warn us of the dangers and difficulties of the way, certainly every one who is making the journey needs to be thoroughly acquainted with its contents. It was for this purpose that the Bible was written; the inspired penmen did not write for the benefit of a few, but for all. The way in which it was designed that the Bible should be studied, is thus given by Moses:— "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes." Deut. 6:6-8. This last part was not to be taken literally, as the Jews afterwards supposed; it is a figurative expression to denote that the sacred truths were to be studied until they would be constantly in the mind, before the eyes, and influence both the thoughts of the head and the actions of the hand. David had the correct idea of this injunction, for he said, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Ps. 119: 11. There are two points to be noted in this text: 1. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart." How did he do this? The following verses tell: "I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways." Verse 15. Also verses 23, 48, 78. "Mine eyes prevent the night-watches, that I might meditate in thy word." Verse 148. It was by constant study that David was enabled to hide the word in his heart. Any one who reads these verses thoughtfully, will be convinced that David was not content with having a copy of the law in his possession, but that he studied it until he had, as we say, "learned it by heart." How else could he meditate upon it in the night? 2. "That I might not sin against thee." This is why he studied the word so carefully. A blessing is pronounced on the man who meditates day and night in the law of the Lord (Ps. 1:1, 2); and this blessing consists primarily in the fact that by so doing he is kept from sin. "The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide." Ps. 37:30, 31. There is no other way than this brought to view in the Bible, whereby we may be kept from sin. We are to be sanctified through the truth, and it is by obeying it that our lives are purified. Now since none can enter heaven except those who are free from sin, it follows that it is as necessary for lay members to have the word of God in their hearts (not on their tables, nor simply in their hands), as it is for preachers of the gospel. Of course the latter will be, from constant exercise, more ready in handling the word than others, but this should be the only difference. We, as a general thing, have not realized the necessity of close, personal study of the Bible. It is our standard; we draw our faith, pure and simple, from its pages; it is that which is to be our "shield and buckler," i.e., our defense, in the time of trouble. How important, then, that we make it our constant study. The Bible is able not only to make us "wise unto salvation," but it furnishes the best possible discipline for the mental faculties. The psalmist says: "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Ps. 119: 130. When Moses was giving his final charge to the children of Israel, he548said: "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'" Deut. 4:5, 6. The book of the law was the only book that the Israelites had, yet there were no more shrewd and acute people among the ancients. Even to-day, the Jews, although they have sadly wandered from the ancient landmarks, are the leaders in literature and the arts; and we think that we are safe in saying that their aptness is due to the fact that their ancestors were men who made the law of God their constant study.