Worship Workshop: Session 4 - How to Worship Deeper by Reading, Studying and Correctly Interpreting God’s Word
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Deepen your worship of God by …
knowing Him more, this can only be done by turning to His word and learning what He has revealed of Himself to us. As you do this, keep these guidelines in mind so that your knowledge and your worship will be true.
Prepare your heart.
Pray for an open mind
Pray for a spirit of discovery and anticipation.
Pray for God to speak to you through His word.
Gather your resources
Source: The Bible (KJV, word for word translation, audio Bibles)
Navigation Tools: Concordance, Cross References, Biblical Theme
Commentaries
Word Studies
Reference Works: Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, or Bible Handbooks.
A personal Bible reading and prayer journal to map and record your journey with God in His word.
Remember the Rules of Hermeneutics (Bible Interpretation)
Rule of Definition: Follow the customary usage of language.
Know and use the plain meaning of the words as they were understood at the time of the writing.
Example: the Greek words "allos" and "heteros." Both are translated as "another" in English but "allos" means "another of the same type" while "heteros" means "another of a different type."
Rule of Historical Background: Commit no historical-cultural blunders. Interpret the Bible according to the time period and people it was originally written to. Do not impose a modern viewpoint on the people or culture. The Bible was first written over 6 thousand years ago to nomadic people who herded cattle. Before it was finished there were 40 authors, writing over 1500 year time span in three different languages, none of them English and the last book was written over 2000 years ago. You must know history, people and cultures or the meaning of the Bible will be lost to you.
Example: A wedding today is nothing like a wedding during the Old or New Testament times. When the Bible talks about a wedding or uses it as the setting for a parable, we must have an idea what a wedding in that time and culture was like.
Rule of Context: Always be conscious of the context of the passage. This includes more than just the preceding verses. It also must consider the setting of the writing, the purpose of the letter or prophecy, who the writer was , and the readers they were writing to.
Example: Paul writing to the Galatians (churches in the region of Gaul) had a completely different purpose and tone than his writings to the church at Ephesus. Galatians was a written as a reprimand to Christians who were letting legalism influence their Christianity, while Ephesians was a letter filled with praise and encouragement for a church that was fully following and devoted to Jesus and correct doctrine.
Rule of Focus: Make Christ central in all interpretations. The Bible is the story, the revelation of the Godhead to us for the main purpose of revealing Jesus and salvation through Him. It contains other things like history, science, philosophy. Whatever it states is true when interpreted correctly, but it’s focus is Jesus. Do not lose sight of Him.
Example: There is no such thing as a Bible Code, hidden or otherwise. The Bible prophecies are about Jesus, His coming and return. It has never, will never and was never intended to predict WWI, II, presidential assassinations or Trump’s election.
“The Bible shows the way to go to heaven, not the way the heavens go.” - Galileo Galilei
Rule of Unity: Interpret by the analogy of faith. Scripture should interpret scripture. Since the Bible is God’s word and God does not contradict Himself then neither will his word. The Bible cannot say two totally different things. Let the plain passages interpret those passages which are not clear.
Example: John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Hebrews 10:26-31 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Rule of One: Grant only one interpretation to each passage. The same writing cannot have two different interpretations, two different messages. There is no such thing as relative truth in God’s truth. There is only one interpretation from which we can draw many applications, but never begin with application before understanding what the passage originally meant.
Rule of Progressive of Revelation: God has revealed more of His message and purpose to those people that were written to later than He revealed to the early audience. More revelation can be understand as it is built up the foundation of earlier revelation.
Example: The church is not found in the Old Testament. Though prophecy does speak of reaching the Gentiles and making them worship God, it gives no details on God’s second house of witness after the nation of Israel. Only during the Gospels was the church founded and it purpose given.
The rule of Logic: Hermeneutics is a set of rules that applies logic to the written word. It applies in all writings from the Bible to ancient history. Though the Bible is a spiritual book, it is not an illogical book. It deals with miracles and supernatural events but it does not divorce itself from the natural and logical settings of the writers. The interpretation must make sense.
Rule of Simplest Alternative. When two passages seem to have equal weight in differing interpretations, always go with the simplest. The Bible was written to common people, not to theologians or philosophers. Complexity muddles the message, simplicity gives clarity.
Distinguish The Genre
The Bible is comprised of many different literary types or genres. There are historical narrative, poetry, prophecy, wisdom literature, parables and more. Each genre must be understood by the way language, symbolism and purpose is used in that type. In other words there are certain rules that apply to each genre. Each makes use of the tools of language and imagery in a way that you can’t ignore or you will miss what the Lord is trying to say to you by way of application.
The Psalms is poetry, it is not the Gospels which is history or narrative. Prophecy is not poetry, or history though it may contain both of those elements. You must recognize the genre in order to best find God’s message.
Interpret Parables Correctly
Parables contain some of the richest lessons of Jesus ministry but if you don’t interpret them in the way parable were meant to be understood you will make major doctrinal errors.
Purpose of Parables
Matthew 13:10-17 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Christ used parables for two reasons. To instruct the believers, disciples and apostles and to separate those who were hypocrites seeking to use Christ or the truth to their own advantage.
The parables hid the truth from the false professors (this people’s heart is waxed gross, ears are dull) but showed the truth to the sincere seekers who came to Christ to learn. (“it is given to you to know. Blessed are your eyes.”)
Definition of A Parable
The word parable means to place alongside for measurement or comparison (like a yardstick) it is an objective illustration for spiritual or moral truth.
A good working definition of a parable is an earthly story that tells heavenly truth.
Rules For Interpreting A Parable:
Never make a parable walk on all fours. (Parables are meant to make one one major point, they illustrate one truth, not many.)
Interpret according to context. (Why did Jesus give this parable? Who did he tell it to? Who was his audience?)
Interpret according to proper time frame. (There are Kingdom parables, 2nd Coming parables, and Church age parables. You must know time frame it is set in.)
Never use a parable to interpret doctrine. (Parables are windows, illustrations, that show the truth they are not the truth itself.)
Always find the main point of the parable and stick with it.
Bible Interpretation Problems
Using the rules of Biblical Interpretation answer the following.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Why would Paul tell the Corinthians to quit?
From the Greek word andrizomai (an-drid'-zom-ahee) it means to act like a man.
Job 1:1 Was Job without sin since he was perfect?
The word perfect means complete, mature, lacking nothing
Ruth 4:7-9 Was Ruth being immoral?
This was the custom when a widowed woman was asking a man to be her kinsman redeemer.
Joshua 5:13-15 Who is this captain?
Jesus Christ. Joshua bows down and worships and the captain receives the worship.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 Explain paths directed by God?
The context is dealing with God’s blessings due to following Him. The word direct actually means to “make straight.”
1) Ps 90:2, Rev 1:8, 17; Heb 9:14 2) Ps 102:25; Col 1:16; Gen 1:2
What do these two groups of passages have in common within the group and what doctrine do they teach.
Matthew 5:38-39 Does this mean a Christian cannot defend his family or country?
No, the proper interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount is for the nation of Israel after Christ’s return.
Exodus 20:13 Surely this means there should be no capital punishment?
The word kill in Hebrew means “to murder.” The rest of the Old Testament gives several instances of capital punishment.
Gen 3:15; Ps 22:16; Lk 22:33; Jhn 20:27 Why is Genesis 3:15 considered the first prophecy of Jesus Christ?
The seed of woman who is bruised in the heal is revealed to be Jesus Christ who was crucified.
Compare Leviticus 11:10 and 18:22. Doesn’t this mean that homosexuality is no worse than eating shrimp?
The word abomination in English is actually two different words in Hebrew, the first means disgusting, the second means wicked. Notice the context of both.
The first deals with food unacceptable to God, the second with behavior so reprehensible that God says it should be punished by death.
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