BIBLE STUDY by S. E. Pierce

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 22, 1877

BIBLE STUDY.

By S. E. Pierce

In every age of the world it has been the duty and the practice of God's true children to become familiar with the word of the Lord and with the doctrines of Christian faith, so far as the true light has shone in that particular age. Of this we have abundant evidence both in the Bible and in the biographies of devoted Christians. But in these last days, when the people have “heaped to themselves teachers” who cry, “Peace and safety,” and “teach for doctrines the commandments of men,” professed Christians have grown very lax in the study of the word of God. They have been content to let the blind guides lead them, while they also remain blind; and we are assured that both will fall into the ditch.

Considering, then, that there is so strong a tendency in the religious world to neglect the study of the Bible, and that we are so much the creatures of habit and influence, is it not possible that we are asleep to this important duty? I have felt truly ashamed for my superficial knowledge of the Bible, and for the little pains I have taken to serve the Lord, by the religious customs of those who have so much less light. For example, the Jews have, to this day, large portions of the Old Testament scriptures at their tongue's end, and, blind as they are, will pray to God for a half hour or more before presuming to enter upon the business of the day. The Roman Catholics, too, furnish a marked example of diligence in their religious forms and services, and in educating their children in their religion.

Anciently God's people were earnestly commanded to teach their children when they rose up and when they sat down, and when they walked by the way; and I believe that God would have us educate ourselves and our children in the truths of his word. It seems to me that children eight or nine years of age, and upwards, may know for themselves what the Bible teaches on such subjects as the Sabbath, the soon-coming of our Lord, the resurrection, the new earth, and the punishment of the wicked. They may also understand the close and practical yet beautiful examples of love, forbearance, and the duty of forgiveness, inculcated in the teachings of Christ.

And then the numerous histories of good and bad men, and of their success or failure in doing right, may be profitably read.

Mr. Moody, in his “Anecdotes,” thus speaks of his visit among the Scotch:— “There is no place I have ever been in where people so thoroughly understand their Bibles as in Scotland. Why, little boys could quote Scripture, and take me up on a text. The whole nation is just educated, as it were, with the word of God. Infidelity cannot come there. A man got up in Glasgow at a corner, and began to preach universal salvation. ‘O sir,’ said an old woman, ‘that will never save the like of me.’ If a man comes among them with any false doctrine, these Scotchmen instantly draw their Bibles on him. I had to keep my eyes open and be careful what I said there. They know their Bibles a great deal better than I did.”

And can it be pleasing to the Lord that we who are so especially and so highly favored with light and truth, should fall behind other worshipers in zeal for the Lord and in a knowledge of his word? We, dear brethren and sisters, who look for “such things”—things that this world never saw—the personal appearing of our Saviour upon the white cloud, the previous “time of trouble such as never was,” terminating in the seven last plagues in which is poured out the wrath of God without mixture of mercy—surely, we cannot afford to “sleep as do others,” but should be fortifying ourselves and our children against the delusions of Satan.

We are assured that the Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation; hence it is of the utmost consequence that we acquaint ourselves fully with them.

May the Lord help each of us to increase our diligence in studying his word, and in his service. S. E. PIERCE. Franklin Co., Vt.