In this episode, I will start sharing with you the method I use to study the Bible.
The first step is to read the Bible books as books whole and separate them from the rest of the books in the Bible. This process is to learn the author’s intent and achieve the correct interpretation of God’s Word.
I am reading The Methodist Hymn Book with Tunes that I had purchased before I came to Honduras. The book was published in 1933 by the Methodist Publishing House of England. The hymnal has 984 hymns and then additional music to sing the Psalms. I started reading it as part of my devotional life on the recommendation of Dr. Matt Friedeman, who teaches at Wesley Biblical Seminary.
In this hymn, which I read as a poem, the writer is aware of his sinfulness, and the guilt weighs so heavy on him that he is in agony. Most people do not know the feeling of the anguish of Rev. Elven; they look at their lives and conclude, they are not so bad. Rev. Elven was a Baptist Pastor for fifty years in Suffolk, England, and I imagine his church, his neighbors, and his family thought that he was a good man. Why all this need for mercy from God? Rev Elven knew we are not to compare ourselves to other humans but the holiness of God, the purity of God, the goodness of God. When our lives are compared to God, we are all in need of mercy. The great joy is mercy is always given.
I feel in need of God’s mercy and these words while painful was so enriching for my soul.
Read what Rev Elven wrote.
1 With broken heart and contrite sigh A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry: Thy pardoning grace is rich and free O God, be merciful to me.
2 I smite upon my troubled breast, With deep and conscience guilt oppressed; Christ and His cross my only plea: O God, be merciful to me.
3 Far off I stand with tearful eyes, Nor dare uplift them to the skies; But Thou dost all my anguish see: O God, be merciful to me.
4 Nor alms, nor deeds that I have done, Can for a single sin atone; To Calvary alone I flee: O God, be merciful to me.
5 And when, redeemed from sin and hell, With all the ransomed throng I dwell, My raptured song shall ever be, God has been merciful to me.
And can it be that I should gain An int’rest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries To sound the depths of love Divine! ’Tis mercy all! let earth adore, Let angel minds inquire no more. ’Tis mercy all! let earth adore, Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father’s throne above, So free, so infinite His grace; Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam’s helpless race: ’Tis mercy all, immense and free; For, O my God, it found out me. ’Tis mercy all, immense and free; For, O my God, it found out me.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness Divine, Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
This episode introduces the series of podcasts coming in the next twelve weeks exploring all the areas of Christian Discipleship.
The verse for the day in Matthew 28:19 19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
If you would like to ask Bob questions, you can reach him by email at revbobwood@icloud.com or the website’s contact page, where you can send a text message or love a voicemail message.
Genesis 2:4-25 has the Bible’s second creation story with Yahweh God placing man and women in the garden. The first couple is in a beautiful ideal situation humans are in the court of God.