[This is one in a series of mid-week Reflections published by Horley Baptist Church during July 2020]
Does your Bible have holes in it? I don’t mean a well-worn volume where the binding has broken and pages are falling out, although that is better than one which has been on a shelf so long that the woodworm have made it all the way from Revelation to Genesis.
Rather, are there parts of it which might as well be missing? Maybe some sections seem irrelevant or are too difficult to understand. We all have passages with which we are comfortable, that we come back to frequently, but are there others that you prefer to ignore or avoid? What relevance is it to us that Jehu was a furious driver or that Paul left his winter cloak at Troas?
For me, one such ‘hole’ is the Song of Solomon. It has an historical context and I know about how some have interpreted it as representing the relationship between the Lamb and his Bride. However, it seems to me that the primary reason for its inclusion in the canon of Scripture is for the sanctified titillation of church elders and the puerile amusement of young boys. Perhaps it warrants another look, or maybe not!
Paul wrote to his protégé Timothy:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [2Tim 3 v16-17]
This rather suggests that these Biblical black holes might not be as irrelevant as we think.
So, when did you last read Deuteronomy chapter 13, let alone try to put it into practice? Nevertheless, it contains principles that we should endeavour to adopt, even if the detailed application is not within our remit. Similarly, those writings from the minor prophets which time-expired centuries ago are insights into God’s character when dealing with His people and are therefore still relevant today.
And Paul’s cloak? Like all those who were named in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, wherever the Bible is read the name of Carpus is known. He played a part in Paul’s mission to spread the gospel. Our names may not achieve the same perpetual status but our contribution will not go unnoticed by the One whose opinion really counts.
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
