"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." — 2 Timothy 3:16-17
You know, I had an experience a few days ago that's been weighing on my heart, and I think it's something we all need to wrestle with in our walk with the Lord. I came across a teaching online about Bathsheba, and it got me thinking about how we handle God's Word when it makes us uncomfortable.
Now, the person teaching was arguing that Bathsheba was completely innocent, just a victim of David's power and manipulation. And I understand where that's coming from, I really do. We live in a time when we're more aware than ever of how people, especially women, have been abused and silenced. That's a good thing. But here's where I got concerned, the argument wasn't based on what Scripture actually says. It was based on what we think should have happened, filtered through our modern understanding of power dynamics and victimhood.
When I pointed out that the Bible doesn't clearly tell us whether Bathsheba went willingly or was coerced, well, let's just say I stirred up a hornet's nest. About thirty or forty people jumped into the comments, some saying I was an idiot for even suggesting she might have had a choice, others agreeing with me. But that's not really my point here.
My concern isn't whether you think Bathsheba was innocent or guilty. My concern is that we're making theological decisions based on conjecture instead of what the text actually says. The Scripture tells us "David sent for her," and then adultery happened. That's what we know. Everything else is us filling in the blanks with our own assumptions, and those assumptions are heavily influenced by the culture we're swimming in right now.
You see, this isn't a new problem. Fifty years ago, the church had its own cultural lens it was looking through, maybe a legalistic one that was too quick to blame and too slow to show grace. Today we've got a different lens, one that's sometimes so concerned with identifying victims that we're unwilling to let Scripture speak uncomfortable truths. Both are wrong because both put culture above Scripture.
Here's what I've learned, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one, we have to be willing to interpret Scripture exactly as it says, even when it makes us squirm. Even when it doesn't fit our narrative about who the good guys and bad guys are. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." That includes everyone, regardless of their circumstances, regardless of whether they've been victimized or privileged.
Now, don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying we shouldn't have compassion for people who've been hurt. I'm not saying we shouldn't be aware of power imbalances and abuse. What I am saying is that our theology can't be built on what we wish the Bible said. It has to be built on what it actually says.
Think about it this way. When Scripture wants us to know something clearly, it tells us clearly. When Amnon raped Tamar, David's daughter, Scripture doesn't leave us guessing. It says exactly what happened. But with Bathsheba, we're given limited information, and we need to be honest about that. We can have opinions, we can discuss possibilities, but we can't build doctrine on conjecture.
The real danger here is that when we let culture interpret Scripture instead of letting Scripture interpret culture, we end up with a Bible that has no power to challenge us, no authority to correct us, no ability to transform us. We end up with a God who always agrees with whatever we already believed anyway. And friends, that's not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That's not the God who said through Isaiah, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).
So here's my challenge to you today, when you read Scripture or hear someone teaching from it, ask yourself this question: are they telling me what the text actually says, or are they telling me what our culture says the text should say? Are they using solid principles of biblical interpretation, taking the plain meaning of the text, comparing Scripture with Scripture, looking at context? Or are they reading into the text what they wish was there?
Because history is just HIS story, and if we're going to be part of that story in a way that honors Him, we've got to handle His Word with more care than we handle our own opinions. We've got to be willing to say, "I don't know" when the Scripture doesn't tell us. We've got to be willing to be uncomfortable when the Scripture challenges our assumptions. And we've got to be willing to submit to what God says even when it doesn't fit what our culture says.
Let's pray: Father, give us the courage to handle Your Word honestly, even when it's uncomfortable. Help us not to twist Scripture to fit our cultural moment, but to let Your Word transform our thinking. Give us wisdom to know the difference between what You've clearly said and what we're assuming. And Lord, keep us from the pride that thinks our generation is immune from the same errors that tripped up generations before us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
#Faith #BiblicalInterpretation #ScriptureTruth #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #Nightlight
Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.
https://linktr.ee/rttbros
