Bibliology - Lesson 7 by O. B. (Oscar Brian) Mink

Assignment:
    Study Chapter 4, The Bible and Spiritual Criticism by A. T. Pierson.
Scripture:
   Psalms 119:27 "Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts ..."
    We closed our last lesson while considering the "Law of first mention," as a guide, or help in correct interpretation of the Scriptures.
    It was noted that the first mention of God in the Bible has to do with the creation of the universe (Genesis 1:1). The inspired writer then tells us, "God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good," (Genesis 1:31). The first mention of God in Scripture reveals Him to be the author of the first perfect beginning and throughout Scripture wherever there is a right beginning, God is the initiator.

The Holy Spirit

In our first lesson we took note of the 'first mention' of the Holy Spirit. We saw Him brooding over a catastrophic earth. This brooding action of the Holy Spirit over the chaotic state of the earth is indicative of His ministry throughout the Scriptures.

Significant Sevens

    Now, let us note another thing related to the "law of first mention," namely, the number seven (7).
    Genesis 2:2, "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made."
    In this verse we meet for the first time the number seven in the Bible. In this text it has to do with the completed work of creation. This number seven (7) is used four hundred and sixty-three (463) times in Scripture. In nearly every place it is used in connection with completion, perfection, finished or cessation.
    Under the Mosaic law seven days was the time fixed for purification of a woman after she had given birth to a child (Leviticus 12:2). If a person had a sore or skin rash that might be contagious, that person was shut up for seven days. The priest would check on the person every seventh day to determine if he had a plague (Leviticus 13:4-5).
    Naaman the Syrian was cleansed from his leprosy after dipping seven times in the Jordan river (II Kings 5:14). In the three Scripture references cited (Leviticus 12:2, Leviticus 13:4-5, and II Kings 5:14) we see that the number seven is associated with cleansing and completeness.
    Believing the Bible to be absolutely consistent in all that it teaches, let us see if there is a connection between the use of the number seven as used in the plenary sense and the perfect and complete Bible.
    Proverbs 9:1 "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out seven pillars." Some theologians believe the words of this text is a reference to the Word of God. In our first lesson we used an analogy, and compared the Bible to a structure, or building. The Lord Himself compares His church to a building. Ephesians 2: 20-21, "... built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:"
    Let us again consider the Bible under the figure of a structure, an architectural figure. We know that the utility of a building calls for a designer, and a designer must, of necessity, have a plan.
    Perfection in building requires four main items:
    1. Beauty: The Bible is adorned with truth. Someone has said, "Truth is the fairest, of the fairest of ladies."
    2. Unity: Every part must fit the part it is connected to. The Bible has perfect unity, in transition from one theme to another there are no void spaces.
    3. Harmony: No two parts can conflict. Every single part must serve the designer's purpose and compliment every other part of the building. The Bible has perfect harmony, from the smallest part to the greatest there is mutual purpose.
    4. Growth: There must be growth or progress from the cornerstone to the capstone. The Bible from Genesis to Revelation is the perfect and progressive revelation of God to man.
    Now, let us take the words of the inspired writer, "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out seven pillars," (Proverbs 9:1), and use the seven pillars of this text as symbolic of the progress and perfection of the Scriptures; pillar erection order and sequence.
    1. Man's creation and fall: The world denies both of these great truths. Yet, this pillar stands unshakable and shining.
    2. Following the fall comes the gracious promise of a redeemer. Why should this be next? The very first thing a poor, helpless, depraved sinner needs to hear is that there is hope in Christ.
    3. Next, we are introduced to an elaborate system of sacrifices and offerings. The reason for this third pillar being raised up is to show man in type what redemption is, and what it accomplishes for man. Also, in these sacrificial offerings the cost and conditions of redemption are pictured. Just as the promise of a redeemer inspires hope, sacrifice and offering incite and educate faith.
    4. Then we are brought to the New Testament and the glorious pillar of the four Gospels is raised. These four gospels present the facts upon which redemption is built. Heretofore, redemption was bound up in promise, now it is God incarnate and the redemption procured. Now it is, Christ crucified, buried and risen again on the third day according to the Scriptures.
    5. Next we are brought to face the pillar of Pentecost. Why pentecost in this erection sequence? Because the fact of an accomplished redemption without the accompaniment of power to apply the benefits would profit no one.
    6. Next we have the pillar which gives us the infallible history of the first Baptist churches. In this history we are given the pattern by which all future churches were to build. We see from this history that the power vested in these churches was, adequate to the task assigned them. (Matthew 16:18).
    7. The next pillar confronting the student of the word of God is; the prophetical pillar. It provides us with a glimpse of the coming Kingdom of God and the final triumph of Sovereign redemption.
    It goes without saying, there is a purpose for the construction of every building.
    The word of God is a magnificent specimen of Divine architecture. The overriding purpose behind the erection of these seven spiritual pillars is; the salvation of God's people.
    There was nothing left out of this building that should have been in it, and there is nothing in it that should not be in it. There are no non-essentials in the word of God. Every piece of material is exactly where it is supposed to be and compliments every other piece of material in the building.
    Perfection supremely reigns throughout the entire building, for the design was the product of infinite wisdom, and the construction is the product of unquestionable and absolute sovereignty.

Items Left Out

    When God designed the Bible He left out everything that would not contribute to the development of the idea of redemption through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Hence, science is silently passed over. It is not the purpose of the Bible to reveal the mysteries of natural science.
    The Bible by-passes secular history. The great empires of Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, Greece and Rome are referred to in the Bible, but it is their infamous doom that is foretold and not their past history.
    Yet, while these great empires of history are passed over in the Biblical record there is a miserable little tribe of a few thousand people on a narrow strip of land on the Mediterranean no larger than the state of Ohio whose origin and history God uses to fill up most of Holy Writ.
    Voltaire, an atheist and mocker of God's Word thought that the passing by of the world's great empires and dedicating so much space to Israel was conclusive proof that the Bible could not be the book of God. He said, "Just think of these great empires, how gladly we could afford to be in ignorance of this little tribe for the sake of knowing more about the great civilization of Egypt, or Persia." But not so with God, one little town (Bethlehem) inside the borders of Israel is more important to God than beautiful Babylon or Athens or Rome. God said to Voltaire, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither your ways my ways ..." (Isaiah 55:8).

First Mention Of The Devil

    Genesis 3:1, "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field ..." While the serpent mentioned in this text may not be the literal devil the Scriptures allow such measure of synonymity (II Corinthians 11:3, Revelation 12:9, 14, 15 and Revelation 20:2), that in this study they may be referred to as one and the same.
    The first characteristic revealed in him is subtlety, meaning artful, cunning, shrewd, crafty. Thus it is, in God's word we are warned again and again concerning the scheming ability of Satan. In deceiving Eve, and leading her to sin, we see the suability he practiced. He uses the same method yet today.
    1. He leads Eve to doubt God's word, "Yea, hath God said, ..."
    2. Next he gets Eve to deny God's word, the serpent said unto her, "Ye shall not surely die."
    3. Adam had passed God's law on to his wife Eve, the serpent beguiles her, gets her to doubt the authenticity of her information received from Adam, then he leads her to DISOBEY God's law.
    The devil's subtlety in deceiving Eve and the methods he employed should serve to warn us and cause us to be forearmed for it is this exact procedure he uses today in deceiving God's people. He sows the seed of doubt, and from these seeds come denial of, and disobedience to God's word.
    Paul said to the Corinthian church, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
(II Corinthians 11:3). Plainly translated Paul says, "I fear you may fall for the same old trick of the devil which Eve fell for." "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7).

QUESTIONS
Lesson - 7

1. In what connection is the number seven (7) most often used in Scripture?

2. In viewing the Bible as an architectural structure, "a building fitly framed together", from whose mind and power was this building designed and built?

3. Perfection in building calls for four main items. What are these four items? Can we see all of these in the Bible?

    4. In this lesson we used the seven pillars of Proverbs 9:1 as an outline depicting the ages. The first three pillars are:
        a. the pillar of man's creation and fall
        b. the pillar of promise and
        c. the pillar of law.
    Name the four remaining pillars.

6. Do you agree with the statement, "There are NO non-essentials in the word of God?"

7. Copy and fill in the blank spaces. "When God designed the Bible He left out everything
that would not contribute to the development of the of the _ _ _ _ of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ through the shed _ _ _ _ _ of Jesus Christ." (For help in filling in the blanks, see first sentence under the heading ITEMS LEFT OUT.)