Studying God's Word

5. ADONAI – “Lord” – Acknowledging Jesus as Lord means He is your master and you are submitting yourself to Him as a bond slave. Slavery was common in biblical times and the master-slave relationship was well-defined. A master was responsible for all the needs of his slave and, in return, the slave was to be obedient to the commands of his master. It was a two-way relationship that benefited both parties.

Romans 6:16 – Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness.

God has promised to meet all your needs abundantly if you are obedient to His will and commands. Many people in churches today give lip service to Jesus by calling him Lord yet they don’t obey His commands. Then they wonder why God hasn’t prospered them or changed their lives as they had hoped.

Luke 6:46 – Why do you call Me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?

Matthew 15:8 – (Jesus speaking) – These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

As Adonai, God has a right to expect us to kneel before Him and submit our lives to Him in obedience. If God is God, then He must be Adonai – He must be master. If Jesus is God, then He, too, must be Jehovah Adonai. Lord. You must first acknowledge God as Lord (Adonai) before you can benefit from any of the other attributes of a loving God.

Philippians 2:10-11 – That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

4. EL SHADDAI – “God Almighty” – When Abram was in Canaan and ninety nine years old the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

John 4:14 – Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.

God changed Abrams name to Abraham because he would be a father of many nations. God was letting Abraham know He was the “All-Sufficient One” who would supply all his needs. El, remember, actually stands for might or power. Shaddai is a Hebrew word meaning “breasted”, as in a nursing mother’s breast. A mother’s milk gives life-giving nourishment to her child or it would perish. El Shaddai, will pour forth Himself for His creatures so that they are nourished and will not perish. This is the God who, by the sacrifice of Himself, gives Himself and His very nature to those who will receive Him. God will nurture those who love Him. God is the All-Sufficient One who will meet all your needs. One thing is certain; God takes delight in comforting, succoring and protecting His own. Learn to lean on God’s strength in times of need.

Isaiah 49:15-16 – Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 – And He said to me (Paul), “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me.

3. EL ROI – “God Who sees” – God is omnipresent in His creation. God never sleeps and He sees everything that every person does in their life. both good and evil. The first time we see the Lord referred to as the “God Who Sees” is in Genesis 16:13:

Genesis 16:13 – Then she (Hagar) called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who Sees; for she said, “Have I also seen Him who sees me?”

The slave girl Hagar had run into the desert and away from her mistress Sarai and the household of Abram. The Lord Himself appeared to Hagar in the form of an angel. The Lord blessed the child in Hagar’s womb and sent her back to Sarai and was told she must submit to Sarai’s authority. Abram disobeyed God and fathered a child by Hagar because he didn’t trust in the Lord’s promise of a child by his wife Sarai. Abram sinned against God but the Lord turned it into a blessing.

Proverbs 5:21 – For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.

Not only does God see all, God will one day vindicate those against whom evil has been committed. A righteous God will pass judgement on those who do not repent of their sins. In His sovereignty God permits evil to happen but God will use it for good for those who love Him. The Lord does not forsake His own. Our God is trustworthy and He is a strong tower where we can take refuge and rest.

Psalm 9:9-10 – The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

2 Thessalonians 6-8 – Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s one thing to know God created the earth. But then what? Is God an impartial observer of His creation? Can God sustain and protect His creation? Is God involved at all in His creation? Can God fulfill His plans for us? Is God strong enough, wise enough, and involved enough to help each one of us deal with our lives right now? There can be no doubt that the answer is “yes”.

Isaiah 46:9-10 – Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ” My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”

2. EL ELYON – “God Most High” – This is the name that designates God as the sovereign Ruler of all the universe. Genesis 14:17-20 relates how this mighty name of God was first revealed to Abraham (then Abram) by the priest-king Melchizedek after Abrams return from defeating four powerful armies. Abraham responded in kind to Melchizedek:

Genesis 14:22-23 – But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich – .”

The unshakable fact of God’s sovereign control over all the earth is the foundation of our faith in eternal life and our hope for this crazy world we live in. If God is not sovereign, if He is not in control, if all things are not under His dominion, then He is not the Most High and we all remain in our sin and are lost. We are either in the hands of fate, men, or the devil. Thankfully, Scripture leaves no doubt God is sovereign. Nothing can touch us without God’s permission and nothing can alter God’s plans. Therefore, praise God continually, in any circumstance you find yourself.

Isaiah 14:24,27 – The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand.” For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

It seems like every other persons name in the Bible has a specific meaning. In biblical times parents named their children based on their dreams, hopes and expectations for them. A person’s name was important. It represented the person’s character and purpose in life. In His Word God refers to Himself by many names so obviously His name is important to Him and should be to us. God has many attributes and is called by many names. Each name is a statement and revelation of who God is. It’s also important that we know the names of God so we can address Him properly and in the right context when we call on Him. Although God is our Father, we must be careful to always approach the throne of grace humbly and with the awe, respect and reverence God deserves. When dealing with God never forget who He is.

Revelation 4:11 – You are worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.

1. ELOHIM – “The Creator” – In the fourth word of Genesis this is the Hebrew name for God as penned by Moses, “In the beginning God” —. EL means “mighty” or “strong” and in Hebrew is always used in a divine context.

The “HIM” in Hebrew is a plural reference meaning “more than one”. There is only one God so this is a reference to the Trinity. Each of the three persons in the Godhead had a part in creation as revealed by the following Scriptures:

Genesis 1:2-3 – The Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the SPIRIT of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

Genesis 1:26 – Then God said, “Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Colossians 1:16 – For by Him (JESUS) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Hebrews 11: 3 – By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of GOD, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Bible study is so much more than just learning about God’s Word. It’s a life transforming process as we apply it to our lives. Application of what you’ve learned is the critical part of the inductive process. Once you know what a passage of Scripture says you are then responsible for living it. God will hold you to a higher bar than those who do not know the spiritual truths you have learned.

James 1:22-25 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Application flows out through observation and correct interpretation. Application begins with belief, which then results in doing. Application takes place as you are confronted with God’s truth and respond to it in obedience. The glorious end result of application is transformation. Transformation is sanctification by the Holy Spirit as you are made more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Application answers the following questions:

How does the meaning of this passage apply to me?

What truths am I to embrace, believe, or order my life by?

What changes should I make in my belief, in my life?

As verified in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we must apply Scripture in the light of its teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. God could not be clearer about this. These are key to the application of Scripture as instructions for our life. Scripture will never benefit your life if you don’t apply what you’ve learned.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

NOTE – My blog series on Bible study, Bible interpretation and Bible application relied heavily on the book “How to Study Your Bible” by Kay Arthur.

The Bible is a timeless book – it’s for all people for all time. The Bible is good literature because God employed good laws of composition when He wrote it. The intent was to make the Bible easily understood by the reader. Be aware of the following:

1. Preparation or introduction – The presentation of background information to prepare the reader for what follows.
2. Comparison – Comparing of things in order to show similarities. A comparison is the association of like things.
3. Contrast – Comparing things in order to show differences. Contrast is the association of opposites.
4. Repetition – Using the same word or phrase a number of times.
5. Progression – An extension of a specific theme throughout a portion of Scripture, sometimes with addition or amplification.
6. Climax – The high point built by a progression from the lesser to the greater (i.e. peak of intensity).
7. Pivotal Point – A changing or a turning in which the elements on each side of the point differ in some way.
8. Radiation – The central or single point from which or to which other truths point.
9. Interchange – The alternating, in sequence, of at least two main thoughts, subjects, or characteristics.
10. General to Particular – A move from the extensive or general to the specific. It could also be vice versa.
11. Cause and Effect – A move from the source to the consequence. It could also be vice versa.
12. Explanation or Analysis – The presentation of an idea or event followed by its explanation.
13. Interrogation – The presentation of a question, usually followed by its answer.
14. Summarization – Restating the main points, to sum up or to briefly restate particular truths.

In Bible study my first love has always been prophecy. It’s what drew me to the Bible in the first place. From Genesis to Revelation the Bible is filled with prophecy. The Bible is one third prophecy. The word prophecy is from the Greek and means to speak forth the mind and counsel of God. Predictive prophecy points to a future fulfillment and is of divine origin. God had two purposes for predictive prophecy. The main purpose is to affect the conduct of those who hear the prophecy. God wants us to know what will happen so we’ll be ready. The second purpose of prophecy is to prove God is who He says He is. As the author of history only Almighty God knows the end from the beginning.

Principle #1 – The prophets did not always indicate intervals of time between events, nor did they always write their prophecies in chronological order.

Principle #2 – Always approach a prophecy as literal unless it’s clearly figurative language or a literal interpretation violates common sense or is contrary to the Scriptures.

Principle #3 – When a prophetic passage cannot be taken literally, look for what the author is trying to convey through his figurative or symbolic language.

Principle #4 – Remember that often when a prophet refers to future events, he does not use the future tense.

Principle #5 – When you interpret Scripture, consider the historical context of that writing, remembering that God was delivering His prophecy to a particular people at a particular time.

Principle #6 – Remember that the meaning of a specific prophecy could not always be understood by the prophet or by the people who heard the message.

Principle #7 – Remember that many New Testament prophecies include Old Testament quotations and allusions (use cross-references).

Principle #8 – When you study prophecy, watch for phrases that indicate periods of time (i.e. “in the last days” or “at the end of the age.”).

ALLEGORIES: The Word of God contains allegories. An allegory is a story with an underlying meaning that differs from the surface facts of the story itself. It describes one thing by using the image of another. An allegory is a realistic or nonrealistic story created to teach one or more truths which may or may not be related. Two examples of allegories in Scripture; when Jesus refers to the vine and the branches; and the bond woman and the free woman (Hagar and Sarah). Follow these guidelines when interpreting an allegory:

1. List the features of the allegory.

2. Note any interpretation given within the text of the allegory.

3. Do not interpret an unexplained detail in an allegory in a way that would contradict the clear teaching of the Word of God.

4. Do not try to identify all the features of an allegory.

TYPES: A type is a prophetic symbol designated by God. A mark, impression or image that prefigures something to come. That which it prefigures is called an antitype, of which there is only one. For example, Adam was a type of Christ as indicated in Romans 5:14. In 1 Corinthians 15:45, Christ is referred to as “the last Adam.” In both examples Christ is the antitype. If something is a type you don’t have to guess because the Word will clearly designate it as such.

SYMBOLS: A symbol is a picture or an object that stands for or represents another thing. For example, the seven candlesticks mentioned in Revelation 1:20 represent the seven churches described in Revelation 2 and 3.

1. A symbol can symbolize different things in different passages. Water symbolizes the Word of God in Ephesians 5:26 and the Holy Spirit in John 7:37-39.

2. In a given passage a symbol is intended to have a single parallel.

3. Interpret symbols in light of the biblical setting and culture and not our own.

4. Symbols are timeless and can symbolize something past, present, or future.

A parable is a story designed to make one central point by teaching a moral lesson or truth. Parables amplify or affirm doctrine rather than establishing it, because parables are more obscure than clear doctrinal passages. Bible prophecy said the coming Messiah would teach in parables and Jesus was the fulfillment of that prophecy because Jesus often used parables in His teaching. Jesus used parable for two reasons, to reveal truth to believers and to hide truth from unbelievers.

Parable interpretation:

1. Determine why the parable was told.

2. Look for the explanation of the meaning of the parable by the speaker.

3. Identify the central or focal idea of the parable.

4. Identify the relevant and irrelevant details. A detail is relevant only if it reinforces the central point of the parable.

5. Interpret parables in the context of the culture of Bible times rather than the culture of today.

6. Parable should never be the primary or only source for establishing doctrine.

Studying the parables in the Bible will give you a much better understanding of God’s Word. There are 58 parables in the Old Testament and the New Testament contains 54 parables. No, I didn’t count them. I found a listing of all Bible parables in my Willmington’s Guide to the Bible. A good Bible guide is invaluable for studying God’s Word. I stumbled upon mine at Goodwill and paid a dollar for it but you can find one on on-line for $20-$30.