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With a Prayerful Spirit, April 13
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy
law.
Psalm 119:18
.
Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mystery,
or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction to him who
has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why many theologians
have no clearer understanding of God’s Word is [that] they close their eyes to
truths which they do not wish to practice. An understanding of Bible truth
depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the
singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness.
The Bible should never be studied without prayer. The Holy Spirit alone
can cause us to feel the importance of those things easy to be understood, or
prevent us from wresting truths difficult of comprehension. It is the office of
heavenly angels to prepare the heart so to comprehend God’s Word that we
shall be charmed with its beauty, admonished by its warnings, or animated
and strengthened by its promises. We should make the psalmist’s petition our
own: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy
law”.
Temptations often appear irresistible because, through neglect of prayer
and the study of the Bible, the tempted one cannot readily remember God’s
promises and meet Satan with the Scripture weapons. But angels are round
about those who are willing to be taught in divine things; and in the time of
great necessity they will bring to their remembrance the very truths which are
needed. Thus “when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the
Lord shall lift up a standard against him” (
Isaiah 59:19
).
Jesus promised His disciples: “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and
bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”
(
John 14:26
). But the teachings of Christ must previously have been stored
in the mind in order for the Spirit of God to bring them to our remembrance
in the time of peril. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart,” said David, “that I
might not sin against thee” (
Psalm 119:11
).—
The Great Controversy, 599,
600
.
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