I find it humorous when someone brings up a list of questions that they would like to ask God face-to-face when they get a chance. It is funny because the statement assumes that we would have a back-and-forth discussion, as we insert “Yeah, but what about …” between his responses to our questions.
If there is a heavenly Q&A opportunity, if indeed we could manage to pick ourselves off the floor after face-planting before the holy, almighty God, there will be far more listening than speaking on our part.
About eight hundred years ago, chapter numbers were added to the Bible text; and five hundred years ago, verse numbers were added. We’ve been interrupting God in mid-thought ever since.
A few years ago, I led a small-group study looking at the twenty-five most popular Bible verses based on internet searches. Over the course of the study, it became apparent, in every case, our understanding of the verse was incomplete at best.
For example, one of the most-searched verses is 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV): “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”
I think I have a framed needlepoint of it around here somewhere.
It’s a great verse, but the section from verses 3-14 is infinitely richer and more complex. A writer quoting this single verse would instead be wise to discuss the broader section. It would give a reader a deeper understanding of what the Scripture is communicating.
Bible verse numbers create nice quotes for wall hangings but, often, thin theology. That’s what we get for interrupting God.
One of my favorite sections of Scripture is found in the book of Job, starting in chapter 38. After 37 chapters of Job’s life and struggles, trying to understand God’s ways, chapter 38 begins: “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:”
What follows are four full chapters of God explaining who he is. It is rarely quoted because we cannot fit it on a T-shirt. But it is one of the clearest descriptions we have of the God we worship.
Job never interrupted, but waited until God was finished speaking in chapter 40 and then again in the first six verses of Job 42, when he responds each time, “I am a fool, and I am sorry for questioning you. Please forgive me” (DBT [Dan Balow Translation]).
When we sprinkle verses throughout our writing, we could be interrupting God in mid-thought. We might have communicated okay theology when we might have instead communicated deeper theology with a more expansive use of Scripture.
There are several indicators of deeper meaning in Scripture that we often miss. Whenever we see the words but, therefore, or so, almost always there is something following that takes the passage from okay to deeper, or at least indicates broader context and application.
I recall hearing the great Bible teacher R.C. Sproul teach an entire workshop on the “But God” statements in the Bible.
Christian writers desire to communicate the complete gospel, the totality of God’s love for his children, along with many other big thoughts. Almost always the way to do so is with longer passages of Scripture where we let God speak without interruption.
We look upon simplicity
as something that’s unflawed,
and thus comes our complicity
at interrupting God.
Why give Him many chapters
when a pungent verse will do?
Why let Him raise the rafters?
Instead, say, ‘Thanks, You’re through,’
and take the verse that clearly says
what you would have Him say,
enshrine it all in thanks and praise
for giving it your way
and dance as hallelujahs ring
for your self-made King of Burger King.
So many will quote Jer. 29:11 without apparently ever having read Jer. 29:10.
Odd, that.
David Jeremiah told the almost certainly apocryphal story of a young man who set the tone of a day by a randomly selected Bible verse.
One morning he picked Matt. 27:5, which seemed a bit ominous. So he made another stab at it, and drew
Luke 10:37.
That was really unsettling, so he had one more try, John 10:27.
Taken together, their jist was, ‘Judas went away and hanged himself. Go though and do likewise. Whatever you, do it quickly.’
That’s the problem with pulling verses out of context, right?
Similarly, Andrew, many cherish Psalm 23.
Behold, David – – King David willing to let his people know Psalm 22.
Behold, our God even more willing!
Consider David: on his face, weeping, and then … in time … he hears the Shepherd, and he knows His voice.
Great post. I fear taking a verse out of context when I include one in a story. I pray I don’t!
LOVE this one, Dan! I listened to that part of Job yesterday and couldn’t help cracking up. Job’s complaining, his friends are pontificating, and God’s like, “Really, are you out of your mind? Let’s have a reality check.” (Becky’s No-nonsense Paraphrase) 😁
Even as a child, hearing speakers cherry-pick verses bothered me. I figured out people could “prove” God said anything they wanted—with a little editing. Context is king. Thanks for this post.
Excellent points! Thank you.
I used to think I’d be able to interrogate God when I got to heaven. HA! Imagine. But I have comfort in the verse that says we will know as we are known. My feeling now is when I SEE Him, I’ll be on my face crying, “Holy, holy, holy!” And after years of learning Who my Father is, that’s enough for me.
But I do smile when I read His response to Job, “Where were you when I created the foundations of the earth?” And “Tell me if you know so much.”
Bahahahaha! Even God gets snarky. Which I love … except when it’s directed at me. 😉 Then, I’m like, “Yeah, I know.”
Great insight
Someone should write a book titled, “The Next Verse,” with 60 examples. Oh wait…I did.
Oh, this is so good. Thank you!
True or False: You first have to hear God before you can interrupt Him.
Dear Dan,
I love your respect and worship noticeable in this blog, delivered in a DBT presentation bringing forth truth through humor, visualization, and emotion.
Thanks.