A Source of Instruction

KEY VERSE: “Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.” —Ezekiel 3:1

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 2:1-10; 3:1-3

THE Bible manifests itself throughout as the inspired Word of God. In its opening pages it records an account of the planet Earth’s creation that has been amply verified in all its details by present-day geologists. It presents a rational account of man’s beginning, his fall into sin and death, and the great Creator’s plan for man’s redemption from that condition through the payment of a corresponding price and his ultimate restitution to that original condition of health, happiness, and perfection of life which he originally enjoyed in the Garden of Eden before the fall.

Although it was but little understood until the due time, the prevailing theme of the Bible from cover to cover points forward to the promised Messiah, the one who would redeem fallen mankind from the curse of sin and death by the sacrifice of his own perfect life. (Gen. 3:15; 12:3; 22:1-18; Exod. 12:1-17; Lev. 16; Deut. 18:15; Isa. 53; Hos. 13:14) But even more obscurely recorded in the pages of the Bible was God’s design from the very beginning that associated with the Messiah in the restoration to life of the resurrected human race, there would be a little flock composed of those who would walk in Jesus’ steps. These, like their Master, would faithfully lay down their lives in sacrifice, that they might live and reign with him in his kingdom for the blessing of all the families of the earth.—Obad. 21

It is for these that the Bible was written. To these the Bible is a daily source of instruction and encouragement. It is their guide in perplexity, their comfort in sorrow, their buckler and shield in temptation, their hope of salvation. The Bible was not written for the world, to most of whom it is a mystery. It was written for those who are called out of the world during this Gospel Age, to follow in Jesus’ steps.

After Jesus had related the parable of the sower to the multitide and was finally alone with his twelve disciples, they asked him, “Why speakest thou to them in parables?” He answered, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” “Unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables; that seeing they see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand.”—Matt. 13:1-11; Mark 4:1-12

The beauty, grandeur, and harmony of the Bible are understood and appreciated only by the few, because its truths are revealed by God only to his spirit-begotten children. Addressing his remarks to “the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,” the Apostle Paul writes, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”—I Cor. 2:9-14

To these wholly consecrated, spirit-begotten children of God the Bible is a blessed source of daily instruction and encouragement in preparing them for service in the kingdom. To these the apostle says, “All scripture divinely inspired is indeed profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for that discipline which is in righteousness; so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly fitted for every good work.”—II Tim. 3:16,17, Diaglott

It is from the grateful lips of these faithful few that daily prayer and praise arises to the Heavenly Father: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”—Ps. 119:105

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