Reading the Bible Through by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 3, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 17.

Reading the Bible Through

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

WHEN we read the Bible through by course, and read so often as not to lose the connection, remembering what we read, we will find that the Spirit of God will soon open our understanding, so that we want to study here and there. We will remember that yesterday we read a text that will throw light on this; and this will throw light on something else; and so in that way we will go back and forth through the Bible. Therefore, I say, men can not read the Bible carefully and critically through by course and not study it by subjects as well. And

when you have done this, you will have something in your heart that you can give to others with whom you come in contact. But unless you do this, you will fail to see and partake of the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I want to read you the text that gave me an understanding of the doctrine of the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ, some four years ago. It is in the Old Testament. The text struck me with such force that I had to get down on my knees and cry; but God let that light into my soul. The text is the twentieth verse of the fiftieth chapter of Jeremiah.

It is God's promise to rebellious, sinful Israel because they sought Him. It reads: "In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found."

Somebody will go around and try to find Israel's iniquity; but "there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found." I praise God. When He forgives sins, He forgives sins; He does not hold them over our head everlastingly, but just forgives, and sets us free. . . . How did I find it? I found it by reading my Bible through, of course; by reading it carefully, verse by verse; and taking the connection as I read it, it struck me with such force as I never felt before in all my life. I have great faith in reading the Bible through by course.—S. N. Haskell.