SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES by F. D. Starr

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 30, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 13.

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

By F. D. Starr

BY F. D. STARR.

Introductory.

THE quotation given above comes from the highest source in the universe, and upon its obedience hangs the destiny of each individual who hears this instruction. To comply with this command involves the reading and careful study of the Word. Reading the Bible through by course is not as common a practise as it once was. And, indeed, how could we expect it to be when the practise is so much discounted? It is quite common, when allusion is made to the practise of reading the Bible through by course, to hear some one speak of it as a useless practise, or at least of but little benefit, that the right way is to study the Bible by subjects, or some other way.

While it is true that the Scriptures should be studied by topics, yet in what way would we treat any other book in which we were deeply interested and of whose contents we desired a correct understanding? Would we read a paragraph here, a sentence there, and a page somewhere else? Would we not rather commence at the beginning and read through carefully, page after page, being careful not to skip any part of it lest we should lose the connection? That is the proper and almost invariable way of reading human productions.

But is the Bible a book put together in correct consecutive order? Or is it, as some seem to suppose, a jumbled mass of literature, with each part disconnected from the other, so that there is no reason for perusing it in regular order from commencement to close?

Can we suppose the Infinite Mind, the God of order and not of confusion, would allow His representative Oracles to be thus compiled? It seems far more evident that there is correct order and system in the arrangement of the sixty-six books of which the Bible is composed. Does not the Book begin at the commencement of human history, and end with the introduction into the eternal state, thus spanning the six thousand years of earthly events from commencement to close?

In nearly every case one part seems to call for the one that follows, so that in order to get the proper connection, one needs to treat the Book in the way he would treat any other volume, by reading through by course from beginning to end. While study by subjects and comparison of one part of Scripture with another should be practised, yet this can not take the place of consecutive reading of the Word. In the language of our Lord, on another matter, we may say, “These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

Without question, there are portions that demand much more study and attention than some other portions, but none are to be overlooked. All are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Many say they read the New Testament, but do not read the Old, because that is, in their opinion, no longer authority on matters of duty. But, remember, the things that were written aforetime, the ancient Scriptures, were written for our benefit. See Rom. 15:4. One case will illustrate this point. A colporteur, who was employed in selling religious literature, said he did not read the Old Testament. Something was said about Balaam’s ass speaking with man’s voice. “What!” said the gentleman, “Is there any record of that?” The Book was opened to Numbers 22, and this representative of religious work read eagerly, for the first time, the wonderful occurrence. He could not, however, have been a very careful student of the New Testament, or he would have found allusion to the incident in 2 Peter 2:15, 16.

But neglect of the Old Testament naturally begets disrespect for the New, and those who do thus neglect to read that part which comprises three-fourths of the entire Word little realize what valuable information they are losing.

A clergyman of one of the largest denominations in the country remarked the other day: “People do not read the Bible any more, as they did when I was a boy. They read the daily papers instead, and that, too, on the sabbath.” Shall that be true of God’s remnant people also in these last days?

It is with gratitude, not with self-complacency, that I remember having read the Bible through for the third time when eighteen years of age, and of reading it through each year for more than twenty years since. Like no other book in existence, it seems newer every time it is read. It is well to read different versions. Besides reading the Bible through in the Revised Version, I have had the privilege of reading it through in Greek, German, French, and Spanish, and the New Testament also in Latin and Hollandish. Words can not express the delight and rapture experienced in seeing the divine thought, as expressed by different translators. The theme of redemption will be the science and the song of immortal beings in the kingdom of God. Is not the Book containing that science worthy of our study in this mortal state of existence? In fact, what else is worthy of our limited time but this Book and those helps that bring to us a better understanding of the Blessed Volume?