My fanaticism on precise biblical interpretation is never to
imply that I have arrived. My passion
for this topic is two-fold: One, I have not arrived, and I need to always
strive to be better; and Two, I am exercised too often by the sloppy and
dangerous preaching of very popular teachers.
Last night I was doing a review of some Beth Moore material. I came across a YouTube clip of one of her
presentations. She is teaching about Isaac’s wells in Genesis 26. Beth Moore
teaches that the text is about us. She takes the names of the wells and teaches
that they relate to unresolved arguments and accusations in our lives. Her call is to really step into the destiny
that God has for you – to dig up the dirt in your well. That is ridiculous. The passage is about God’s provision and
faithfulness. This is called by critics:
narcissistic exegesis –
making the Bible all about me. Moore's exhortation from Genesis 26 is to live with thick
skin and ignore the accusations that come your way! I promise you that Genesis 26 is NOT about how
we handle criticism and accusation. “This chapter also confirms that the divine
promises to Abraham are passed on to Isaac.”[1]
This morning I read this comment by David Jackman:
“We only interpret it properly when we begin by asking what it
means to the original readers and taking the text at its original face value. If
we do not get right what it meant to them, we are unlikely to get right what it
means to us. Hard work at the exegesis of the text is indispensable to good
expository preaching. Otherwise, it will lack real biblical authority . . . as
Christian preachers, we are not to give Jewish sermons. So, must we also always
read the Old Testament Scriptures through our New Testament spectacles, so that
we interpret the particular in the light of the whole revelation off God, in
all the Scriptures, finding their focus and fulfillment in our Lord Jesus
Christ.”[2]
Let us not mistake passion, captivating teaching, that is supposedly out of the Bible, with authoritative, inerrant Spirit-filled truth
properly drawn out of the text of Scripture, in harmony with the text of Scripture
and consistent with Holy Spirit’s intent within Scripture. Listen to Jackman: Do the hard work of exegesis!
[1] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible
(p. 94). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2] Jackman, David, Mastering the Old Testament, Volume 7,
Judges, Ruth, Lloyd J. Ogilvie, General Editor, Word Publishing, 1991, Page 335
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