From William Hazlett's Introduction to The Table Talk of Martin Luther, translated & edited by William Hazlett, with a Memoir by Alexander Chalmers (London: George Bell & Sons, 1902), xxvi. - xxvii.:
in 1501 he [Martin Luther] was sent to the university of Erfurt, where he went through the usual courses of logic and philosophy. But Luther did not find his account in these studies; did not feel that use and satisfaction arising from such verbose and thorny sciences as logic and philosophy then were, which he wanted and wished to feel. He therefore applied himself to read the best ancient writers, such as Cicero, Virgil, Livy, &c., and from them laid in such a fund of good sense as enabled him to see through the defects in the systems of the schools, as well as the superstitions and errors of the church. He took a master's degree in the university when he was twenty; and then read lectures upon Aristotle's physics, ethics, and other parts of philosophy. Afterwards, at the instigation of his parents, he studied the civil law, with a view of advancing himself to the bar; but was diverted from this pursuit by an event which he considered as admonitory, in which, by wonderful gradations, led to his future eminence. Walking out into the fields one day, he was struck by lightning, so as to fall to the ground, while a companion was killed by his side; and this affected him so sensibly, that, without communicating his purpose to any of his friends, he withdrew himself from the world, and retired into the order of the hermits of St. Augustine.
Here he employed himself in reading St. Augustine and the schoolmen; but, in turning over the books of the library, he found a copy of the Latin Bible, which he had never seen before.*
* "I was twenty years old," says Luther, "before I had ever seen the Bible. I had no notion that there existed any other gospels or epistles than those in the service. At last I came across a Bible in the library at Erfurt, and used often to read it to Dr. Staupitz, with still increasing wonder." "At that time (says Audin) every monastery in Germany had a library, partly composed of manuscripts, with beautiful illuminations heightened with gold and silver; laborious works, in which were reproduced the treasures of pagan antiquity, that but for the monks would have been for ever lost. Luther's most pleasant hours were spent in the library of the Augustinians of Erfurt. Thanks to Guttemberg, an humble mechanic, the industry of the conventual brethren was no longer necessary; printing had been discovered. At Mentz and Cologne, the sacred books were published in every form and size. The monastery had purchased at a large price some Latin bibles, which were reluctantly shown to visitors. Luther opened one, and his eyes rested with inexpressible ecstasy on the story of Hannah and her son Samuel. 'My God!' he said, 'I would seek no other wealth than a copy of this book.' A mighty change was then wrought in his mind. Human language attired in poetry seemed to him contemptible in comparison with the inspired word; he became disgusted with the study of the law, to which Hans, his father, had wished him to- 'devote himself. How small in his sight became Jodocus Truttvetter, his master, who enjoyed a deserved reputation as a canonist, when compared with Moses, or still more with St. Paul. He was then twenty years old, and study had exhausted his strength; he became ill. An aged priest came to confess him; the youth was pale, wasted, and given up to thoughts which aggravated his complaint. 'Courage, my friend,' said the good priest to him, 'you will not die of this malady; God preserves you for a great end; he will make you a distinguished man, and you in your turn will comfort others, for God loves you, since he chastises you.' Doubtless, this confessor was no soothsayer, and little suspected the designs of Providence in regard to his patient." —Audin.
How does your attitude toward the Bible compare with Luther's?
(and please keep in mind this was Luther before he entered into salvation by grace through faith alone!)
Have you ever looked upon the Bible's words with inexpressible ecstasy?Have you ever looked upon God with inexpressible ecstasy?Do you read the Bible's words with still increasing wonder?Do you look upon God with still increasing wonder?Do you consider God and His word wealth to be sought, wealth far above and beyond all other?
Psalm 119:162
I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
Psalms 119:127
Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
Psalms 19:10
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Notice here how the Psalmists aren't merely saying, "I rejoice and love and desire Your word!" Oh, don't get me wrong: that's a very commendable state to be in, and I regret to say that very few professing Christians or church members in our day and age could make such a genuine profession today.
And notice how the Psalmists aren't only saying there, "I rejoice and love and desire Your word more than gold! I rejoice and love and desire Your word more than spoil!" though, yes, that would be an even better position than the previous one.
But the Psalmists' attitudes are over and above both of these – for here we find these men making the ultimate delineation and giving the place of highest distinction and chief honor to God and His word: "I rejoice and love and desire Your word more than fine gold, more than great spoil!" – in other words: "I've found the ultimate and best and chief and highest rejoicing and love and desire of my heart – the Lord Jesus Christ and His word! O, the world can offer me the finest gold, the greatest spoil, or the sweetest honey, but I must turn it down each and every time in order that I might have Jesus!"
Like Luther, the Psalmists are overflowing with such a deep longing from their hearts, "I seek no other wealth than a copy of this book." They do so because they have had the one true God revealed to them through the words of the living God.
Do you seek after God's word because you know that is the blessed means He has provided to reveal Himself to men and women in conjunction with the work of His Holy Spirit? Do you understand that the Bible is the Creator's communication breathed out to the creature? Imagine it! Do you bless the LORD regularly for providing us with His word so we might know Him more and more intimately? Do you put all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength into seeking after Jesus Christ through His word, a book which is unlike any other for it is living and active – wholly unlike any other book you can read! Or instead, do you spend hours and hours on so many other activities, reading, watching and being engaged with all sorts of other things? Or perhaps you may read your Bible, but you have no expectation whatsoever to meet and commune and sup with the living God (Rev. 3) and to have your hearts burn – as what happened to the disciples on the Emmaus Road when Jesus expounded the Scriptures to them (Luke 24).
Having seen just a glimpse of God's glory in the face of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, along with the Psalmists, is this your profession: "I desire no other treasure but You, Jesus Christ! I seek no other sweetness but You! At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore! O, I have found You, the pearl of great price. I have found the Beloved! Ah, it is good for me to be here! I had heard of You with the ear, but now I see You! You are truly fairer than 10,000! My Beloved, You are greater than any other beloved! O, beautiful Savior! Altogether lovely! Glory! Your love is better than life! You are my portion and my exceeding reward! You are my all in all! All my springs are in You, and You have deemed to visit me through Your blessed word! O, You alone are my delight, and I delight in Your word. Your word is the rejoicing of my heart!"
And then it can't help but overflow to the world: "Come and see! O, all who are hungry and thirsty, come now, come and see and eat and drink and be satisfied with and in Christ alone as I have been!"
Do you rejoice at God and God's word, as one who finds greatest spoil?
Do you desire God and His word more than the greatest earthly treasure?
Have you tasted and known God and His word to be sweeter than the sweetest honey?
Please watch the response of these dear souls as they receive the word of God.
The Kimyal People Receive the New Testament from UFM Worldwide on Vimeo.
Shouldn't we have such childlike delight and profound appreciation each and every time we open our Bibles in anticipation of meeting with the living God there?
How many of us take it for granted that we have the Bible translated into our own languages?
How many of us forget the blood of the countless martyrs which was shed so we might read the Bible for ourselves?
How many of us forget the blood of the countless martyrs which is being shed today so souls from every tribe, language, people, and nation might read the Bible for themselves?
In Acts 13, we read of other souls who had such a compelling desire and overwhelming delight to hear the word of God:
Acts 13:7 ... the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence ... summoned Barnabas and Saul and SOUGHT to hear the word of God.
From Strong's Concordance, the word "sought" is the Greek word epizeteo (ep-eed-zay-teh'-o): to search (inquire) for; intensively, to demand, to crave:--desire, enquire, seek (after, for).
Acts 13:42 As they went out, the people BEGGED that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.
Again, from Strong's, the word "begged" is the Greek parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh'-o): to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):--beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.
That word parakaleo is the same word used by the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 when he called Philip up to his chariot to expound to him the word of God:
30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he INVITED Philip to come up and sit with him.
Have you ever found yourself in that blessed position – where you are seeking and begging to hear and understand the word of God, you are seeking and begging to know God more and more and to be filled with all His fullness?
Or, let's consider some of those other verbs... Can you honestly say that any of these accurately describe your attitude toward God and His word?
To search for
To inquire for
To search for intensively
To inquire for intensively
To demand
To crave
To desire
To enquire
To seek after
To seek for
To call near
To invite
To beg
To beseech
To call for
To desire
To intreat
To pray
Are you hungering and thirsting for God and for His word in such ways?
For what or whom do you seek with such zeal, passion and fervency?
If you are Christ's, shouldn't those words describe your pursuit of God through His word?
Psalm 27:4
One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.
Have you ever found yourself in David's position? What is the one thing you are asking of the LORD? What is the one thing you are seeking? Is it really to dwell with Jesus and to gaze upon His beauty and to inquire in His temple?
What do you find yourself regularly seeking?
What do you find yourself begging for?
When was the last time you sought out and begged for God and His word?
Have you ever done so?
Have you come to see that all the treasures and pleasures that this world has to offer you, even though they may glimmer, shine and give off a pleasing aroma, all of them without exception are dung, that each and every one of them is an empty and fleeting counterfeit, that they are all nothing at all in comparison to the brightness and sweetness and fragrance and glory and wonder and fullness of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ through His blessed word?
Matthew Henry writes this of Psalm 19:10:
1. See how highly he prized the commandments of God. It is the character of all good people that they prefer their religion and the word of God, (1.) Far before all the wealth of the world. It is more desirable than gold, than fine gold, than much fine gold. Gold is of the earth, earthly; but grace is the image of the heavenly. Gold is only for the body and the concerns of time; but grace is for the soul and the concerns of eternity. (2.) Far before all pleasures and delights of sense. The word of God, received by faith, is sweet to the soul, sweeter than honey and the honey comb. The pleasures of sense are the delight of brutes, and therefore debase the great soul of man; the pleasures of religion are the delight of angels, and exalt the soul. The pleasures of sense are deceitful, will soon surfeit, and yet never satisfy; but those of religion are substantial and satisfying, and there is no danger of exceeding in them.
When we are not prizing our God and His word as we ought, when we find ourselves lapsing, when we don't find ourselves in that blessed position of having an overarching desire to seek after Jesus Christ and His word, if we are not panting and thirsting and longing for the living God but after dead idols, we must ask God to give us the desire to pray to Him in earnest two complementary prayers:
First, we must pray for an increasing disgust and dismay and disenchantment over the world's wealth, treasures, pleasures and sweets.
Second, we must pray an
increasing desire and delight for Christ and Christ alone, so we might desire Christ and His word beyond all earthly wealth, treasures, pleasures and sweets - ALL!
One blessed privilege of our birthright as children of God is that we might increase in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ more and more. Now, keep in mind, that doesn't solely mean head knowledge, though it does certainly include and begin with a foundation of doctrine and goes beyond that to a deeper and more thorough grounding in doctrine. I love doctrine, and it is so vital, so I don't want you to misunderstand me here in the least...
However, we must take heed to Jesus' words to the religious folk in John 5:
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
Notice how Jesus made a marked distinction between our coming to the Scriptures and our coming to Him.
I have known people who come to the Scriptures, and they may even have a great zeal for the Scriptures (much like the religious authorities of Jesus' day), those who are quite learned – they can spout off catechisms and verses and they can give you all the "right answers" – and like these people they think they have eternal life – BUT they don't ever get to Jesus Himself and as a result, they aren't experiencing the life and life abundantly which Jesus promised to us.
I say this because that was the exact position I was in for over twenty years as a Christian. Oh, yes, I was involved in Bible reading and Bible studies, and I sat under some good preaching and teaching during that time, BUT – I had not come directly to Jesus Christ to begin to know Him intimately and the life that He offered. Likening myself to Israel's forty years of wilderness wanderings, I've often referred to myself a carcass walking in the wilderness for those twenty plus years.
If you are in that position of a walking carcass today, that's not living, and I don't want any of you to waste any more of your time doing that – not a second! I am praying for and seeking your joy in earnest!
Let's remember how Jesus Himself defined eternal life: that we might know His Father and Himself (John 17:3). Many Christians have no understanding of this. Do you? Do you understand the high privilege it is that you can stand in His presence cleansed and unashamed, that you might know Him and have fellowship with Him, that you are seated in the heavenly places and are able to enter into the Most Holy Place by the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ? Oh, I know it's very mystical sounding, and, well, it is mystical: after all, we are talking about a living union between men and the invisible God through Jesus Christ! How can that not be mystical?
And yet, this is not some baseless, feel-good, emotional experience, whatever-I-want-it-to-be, or whatever-feels-good-and-right-to-me mysticism – not at all! – but rather a sound, healthy, Biblical mysticism, for the experience of Christ is that which comes straight into the heart as the Holy Spirit chooses to work in His way and His time (remember that the Spirit blows where He wills; our God is a sovereign God!). His workings are always exalting the Lord Jesus – and never Himself. And because He is the Spirit of truth, His teaching is always in sync with the Scripture. And His functioning is always done decently and in order. He works to impress the sense of a Scriptural truth upon us in a way we've not know before. Jonathan Edwards spoke about our hearing that honey is sweet, and we can have that understanding in the head, but then it's a whole other matter when we actually taste honey – for at that point we can say we KNOW without a doubt that it IS sweet! (Please go and read Edwards' sermon "A Divine & Supernatural Light" here.)
Yes, we do place ourselves regularly in the word of God and let His word dwell in us, but this experience of God is nothing any of us can work up or make happen. There's no magic formula. The Spirit blows as He wills. He pours when He wills! But then, suddenly – there He is! And in a moment, a verse or a spiritual truth you may have heard 100 times before, in the blink of an eye, it's been written on the heart with such authority and power, in such a way that you have a deep and bold assurance of it. Yes, of course, you already knew it with your head and you already believed it because you had read it in the word of God, but now the Spirit is, in a sense, whispering that truth to you and making it come alive and fire in you! Truth on Fire! "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
Do you understand that God no longer calls you a servant, but calls you His son? Do you understand that you have not received a spirit of slavery to fear, but the spirit of adoption as sons (Romans 8)? Do you realize that you can go with a holy boldness to Mt. Zion? Do you understand that the friendship, or the secret, of the LORD is with them who fear Him? Jesus Christ died to bring us back to God, so we might enter into all the rights and privileges (and responsibilities) of sons – beginning at the very moment we believe. Yes, we look forward to heaven for the ultimate fulfillment of our inheritance, but we can begin to enjoy and appreciate our position in Christ today and each and every day from henceforth and forevermore! The Bible speaks of going from grace to grace (John 1) and from glory to glory (II Cor. 3, please see below). Have you really found the path of your Christian life shining brighter and brighter day by day (Prov. 4)? Are you going from strength to strength even in the Valley of Baca (Ps. 84)? These are privileges that belong to all of the children of God, even as we dwell here in a fallen world. God wants each of his children come to Him and drink and begin to enjoy the river of His pleasures while we are strangers and pilgrims here! All of His children! No exceptions!
So often we focus on Christianity as the way for us to escape hell's flames and to get into heaven. Now, don't get me wrong, as Christians, we do have freedom FROM the penalty for sin (justification), and we do have freedom FROM the power of sin (sanctification), and one day we will have ultimate freedom FROM the presence of sin (glorification) – and those are all wonderful blessings we do receive as children of God. But let us remember that Christ's work of atonement paved the way for an often overlooked blessed freedom: the freedom TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD! How often do we miss this? We are the children of God! And that IS what we are! We say, "Our Father," but we don't really think about what that means. O, if we would really consider it! How great the Father's love for us! We were fatherless, shown no mercy, we were not a people! But now! Who are we in Christ Jesus? WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD, who can cry out, "Abba! Father!" Objects of mercy which should have known wrath! Not a people, but now we are the people of God! Glory! As the children of God we have the freedom TO ENTER WITH A HOLY BOLDNESS INTO A REAL AND TRUE FELLOWSHIP with the LIVING God, our heavenly Father, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. As children of God, because we are filled with the Spirit of God, we have the freedom TO BEHOLD THE GLORY OF THE LORD in ever increasing measure.
II Corinthians 3:12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Psalms 65:4
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!
Related:
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Photo credits:
"Gutenberg Bible" found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gutenberg_Bible.jpg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) - Attribution - Raul654
Fritz von Uhde's (1848 – 1911) "Walking to Emmaus" found at http://www.artbible.info/art/large/27.html / {{PD-Art|PD-old-100}}
RSS feed
Recent Comments