Sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone
Oh, how I love all you’ve revealed;
I reverently ponder it all the day long.
Your commands give me an edge on my enemies;
they never become obsolete.
I’ve even become smarter than my teachers
since I’ve pondered and absorbed your counsel.
I’ve become wiser than the wise old sages
simply by doing what you tell me.
I watch my step, avoiding the ditches and ruts of evil
so I can spend all my time keeping your Word.
I never make detours from the route you laid out;
you gave me such good directions.
Your words are so choice, so tasty;
I prefer them to the best home cooking.
With your instruction, I understand life;
that’s why I hate false propaganda.
(Psalm 119: 97 -104, The Message)
The Psalmist continues to say that not only is the above true but that scripture is “a lamp for my feet.” Having just lived through a hurricane when we were without power for several days, thinking of scripture as a lamp for my feet is poignant. We were warned about fallen power lines tangled in the debree of fallen trees and branches. We were going to the main building with a generator to charge our cell phones and get that morning cup of coffee. Without power we were without internet, communication. We had to wait for trees to be cut off power lines that felled transmitters of electricity to restore internet and to let our loved ones know we were ok — or not. Airports closed for a day. Our traffic lights hung at a 45 degree angle. Life was discombobulated until power returned. Teams are still working.
Scripture is a lamp to our feet. The psalmist says that scripture gives us an edge on our enemies, gives us wisdom beyond teachers, and helps us avoid ditches and ruts. God’s word is better than home cooking!
At the time of the reformation, the scriptures were in Latin. There were few scrolls and few had ever seen them. Martin Luther translated the Bible into the German language. Wycliffe translated it into English. Many of us cannot imagine having to go through a second language to hear God’s word. We turn on the radio, the pod cast, or the TV and can choose what flavor of truth we want. Not so at the time of the reformation. Priests and popes and saints taught the common person. Luther believed we should each be able to go to Scripture and discern for ourselves truth. We may not all agree but we have a book we can all study. What a blessing.
God. I love the poetic literature like Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon for comfort. And the great stories of the Old Testament of heroes and heroins like Ruth, Esther, Abraham, Joseph and Isaiah are inspirational when I am discouraged. They were ordinary people empowered to do extraordinary things by a God who walks with us and works through us. Let’s thank God for Scripture … in our language.
On the Way to Wonder 