Wisdom’s Ways presented by the late Rev. A Linford
June 9, 2008 at 7:50 pm (Linford)
Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.
LEAN ON GOD; NOT ON SELF
“Trust in the Lord with all thy heart” Proverbs 3: 5, 6
Solomon here touches on the dichotomy of human nature - heart and mind; the moral and the rational elements of our being. Man it tripartite, “spirit and soul and body” - 1Thessalonians 5: 23. Within the physical framework of our bodies dwells “spirit” - the hidden man of the heart -1 Peter 3: 4 - that embraces our spiritual susceptibilities, and “soul” that repository of thought and emotion. Together they form our inner man - the real me, here represented by “thy heart” and “thine own understanding.” They here stand in contrast; but they need not, for when we make God’s will our own, soul and spirit are one, thus making peace.
Wholehearted trust. To trust means to lean on somebody for support. To trust in the Lord is to cling to Him like a limpet to a rock. But it must be wholehearted trust, and undivided loyalty, a complete reliance on Him at all times, in all things, with all confidence. This trust is seen in the parallel phrase - “In all thy ways acknowledge Him”. To acknowledge God is to recognise His greatness and rejoice in His goodness. It is to know Him and to respond to Him. We acknowledge His wisdom by accepting it; we acknowledge His will be adopting it; we acknowledge His way by following it. “In all thy ways” means all the vicissitudes and variables of everyday living, the decisions and the deeds, the vocation and the avocation, “the goings out and comings in” that form our earthly existence. All things should come under His sway.
If we thus let God dominate our lives He will “direct our paths”, that is, “Make them straight” by pointing us in the right direction, by removing obstacles in the way and by strengthening our steps to reach the desired goal.
Wholesome self-distrust. Man’s understanding is fallible, wholly to lean on it can be disastrous. It is true that we must exercise our rational propensities, use discretion and employ good sense. But we need the under girding of the wisdom of God. The teaching of the Word of God establishes in us moral sense, an instinct for the right way, an inspiration to do good and shun evil. Self-interest, self-confidence, and self-conceit can lead us astray, but with God’s word to guide us, His strength to support us and His approval to encourage us, we can tread life’s path victoriously.
PRAYER:
I do not know the way to go; be Thou my guide today, 0 Lord.
THE APOCRYPHA
The publishing of the Apocrypha with the Old Testament Section of the New English Bible may have raised questions in the minds of some concerning the value, and perhaps the inspiration of these documents. The very term “Apocrypha” has been a puzzle to some. It means “hidden” though in what sense this is to be understood is not clear. The word should not be confused with “Apocalypse”, which means “unveiled”, and is often used of The Revelation.
The Apocrypha comprises 15 separate books that have come down to us from ancient Hebrew sources. They are comprised of ‘popular narrative, religious history and philosophy, morality stories, poetic and didactic lyrics, wisdom literature, and apocalyptic” (Baker’s Dictionary of Theology, en BC). They were not regarded as canonical by the Jews, and so do not appear in the Hebrew Bible, although they are included in the Septuagint, the Greek version of Hebrew Scriptures, The earliest Latin Bibles (2nd century) were translated from the Greek and so included the Apocrypha, but Jerome’s Vulgate distinguished between the libri canonici and the libri ecciesiastici, according the Apocrypha a secondary status. In 1548 the Council of Trent recognised the Apocrypha (except 1 and 2 Esdras and The Prayer of Manasses) as having unqualified canonical status, but the Reformers repudiated the whole Apocrypha, acknowledging as divinely inspired only those books that were in the canon of the Jews. Among Protestants the Apocrypha is little used, apart from the Anglican Church.
Is it of any use? Yes. Even Luther admitted that these books are “profitable and good to read”. They help to fill the gap between Old and New Testaments, both historically. in the thrilling story of the Maccabees, and ideologically in showing the trends of Hebrew thought. There are many beautiful literary passages in The Wisdom of Solomon and Ecclesiasticus. Much wisdom lies in these pages.
But the Apocrypha is not inspired as the Bible is inspired, and cannot thus claim to be “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness“. It contains obviously fictional elements, it reflects the influence of Greek philosophy, and sometimes contradicts the canonical Scriptures. Roman Catholics appeal to it to bolster their false teaching on salvation by works, prayers for the dead, and so on. Pagan ideas of the evil of matter and transmigration of souls also appear. No one should appeal to the Apocrypha to settle doctrinal issues. Though ancient, the Apocrypha is secular; though informative, it is not inspired; though interesting, it should be read with caution. It is not part of the Bible, nor ever was. It is Jewish literature that may, with discrimination, be read to profit.
