Putting It All Together
Would you believe me if I told you that I am often surprised with the posts that God calls me to write? Take for example, the last four weeks. If you read the posts regarding Psalm 37, then you will remember that we discussed three separate topics. The first is that there are pledges from God in Psalm 37, as well as promises to the righteous and unrighteous, and the outcome of the righteous and unrighteous. When I first sat down to discuss Psalm 37, I believed that it was going to be a one and done post. However, I had to take a piece of my own advice and look at the section of scripture as a whole in order to see the full picture. Last week, we saw the importance of looking at the meaning of words. Evil and Wicked both seem to be the same word with the same meaning, however, if you look at the original Hebrew meaning of the words you find that their descriptions are regarding two types of people. What surprised me over the last four weeks, is that I did not realized that I was writing a mini series on how to go deeper into your Bible study.
Often when we listen to a pastor or do our personal Bible studies, we tend to look at a snippet of scripture and miss a deeper meaning then if we look at the whole. When we don’t look at the meaning behind the words the author chose, we miss another layer of study entirely. Today I hope to show you what happens when you take these two concepts and put them together through an example I recently had.
I am currently going through a study from a Biblical culturalist; and before we get into the topic today, I do want to make a note that this study does not replace my personal Bible study and I hope for you that you do not allow posts written here or other Bible studies to replace your time in the word of God. These books can be tools to help your study but should not and cannot replace spending time at the feet of God with the words that He has written.
With that point made, allow me to show you what I learned when it comes to placing the meaning of words and the context of the scripture together.
The Biblical culturalist that I am studying, is someone who has great depth of knowledge when it comes to Jewish customs and their language. In her study, she makes a point to bring up Malachi 4:2, “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall.” She then goes on to say that the Hebrew word for “wings” here is the word “kanaph” which means the wing of a bird or the edge of clothing. She likens this to the prayer shawls that are being worn even today that has knots along the edge to represent the commandments in the Torah. The corner of the prayer shawl is called “kanafayim” which is derived from “kanaph”.
If you are like me, you may be wondering where she was going with this dive into the meaning of the words in Malachi 4:2. In which case, the author of this study, brings us to Matthew 9:20-22. “Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.” The word “edge” in this passage also means fringe or tassel. The Biblical culturalist then makes the point that the description found in Malachi 4:2 allowed for the woman to know that Jesus was the Messiah, the woman in scripture states that she only needs to touch the edge of His robe, the “wing”, and she will be healed. Thus another way to prove that Jesus was and is the Son of God.
However, while this is interesting and I do believe that the Biblical culturalist is correct in this assumption, it does not take into account the study tool we learned from Psalm 37; and that is to study the context of the verse in its entirety. Please go back to Malachi, but this time look at the chapter in its entirety.
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches. 2 But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall. 3 And you will crush the wicked underfoot, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I am preparing,” says the Lord of armies. 4 “Remember the Law of Moses My servant, the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. 5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete destruction.”
Malachi 4:1-5
Right off, we see that this chapter of scripture is depicting a day in the future, a day when every evildoer will be no more. A simple look at the news will show that this has not come to pass and will not until the events described in Revelation 20:11-15 take place. Verse two acts as a sign to recognize the Messiah as already discussed, but verse three also describes events that have not taken place yet. Verse four serves as a reminder for the Law of Moses which is designed to point us to our need of a savior, Jesus Christ. Which is then the point that verses five and six make.
I hope this allowed you to see, dear reader, the importance of not just looking at a snippet of scripture. When this occurs, so much more will be missed! We need to remember to look at the concept of the passage, as well as the meanings behind the words. When we do this, our studies will go deeper and so will our knowledge of God!
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex