Reading 'Verbatim', the Books of the Old Testament - 'Song of Songs' - An Allegory; Bi-Monthly, Post C-PM, Introduction-Hermeneutics, July 17, 2020

Thank you my friends for returning this evening as we conclude our 'intensive', but hopefully 'informative' study in 'hermeneutics', the process of interpreting, understanding, and appropriation of biblical texts. 

​This is so very critically important for studying any of the 'biblical texts'.  And, this is so very important in such times as these! [Esther 4:14] that are 'perilous', indeed. [2 Timothy 3:1]audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

​Reading 'Verbatim', the Books of the Old Testament - 'Song of Songs' 'Review'; Bi-Monthly, Post-A/B, July 13/15, 2020 
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Now, in answer to the question that may have left you in a kind of 'cliff-hanger' on our mid-day post today:
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'How can we be certain that what we read is indeed truthful and beneficial to us, and interpret it appropriately, and will not lead us away into 'apostasy'!?'

This is, as it must be, the role of the Holy Spirit in interpreting Scripture.  Remember, He the Holy Spirit is God, and the inspiration of Scripture is an essential doctrine to understand. [2 Timothy 3:16]
 audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 
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The Holy Spirit plays an indispensable role in our reading and our interpretation of the bible.  As fallen sinners, we’re in spiritual darkness until the Holy Spirit brings the light of Christ into our minds.  As Christians, we depend on the Holy Spirit to illuminate our minds as we read the Scriptures.  He awakens us to its truth.  He alerts us to its promises, and challenges us with its commands.  In fact, the Holy Spirit is involved in every single aspect of our reading of the Scriptures.

[See for examples, Zechariah 7:12; John 14:26; 16:13-15; Acts 28:25-27; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 2 Corinthians 3:14-17; Ephesians 3:4-5; Hebrews 3:7-11; 10:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 John 2:20-27; Revelation 2:7-11; 3:6-13] 
audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html  
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'Inspiration', in short, is the motivation of a person’s heart and desires and is usually the catalyst for or the fuel behind the accomplishment of a goal, task, or other endeavor. 
[Psalm 37, especially such as verse 4; as well as Isaiah 58:8-9; Jeremiah 29:11]
 audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 

Carefully notice and remember - 'inspiration' can be for good, or, evil, however one 'thinks', even from 'childhood'. [Proverbs 22:6; John 14:17-20; Galatians 5:16-26; 2 Corinthians 4:4] Untrained and undisciplined 'souls' are easily the prey of 'the Evil One'. [1 Peter 5:8; James 4:7]  audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 

​We are told that 'all scripture is God breathed', meaning [“God Breathed” (θεόπνευστος theópneustos )]; that the Holy Scriptures 'as communicated are ordained by God’s authority' and are produced by the enabling of His Holy Spirit, through the 'writers'. Therefore, those who are taught of the Lord have Holy Spirit revelation and illumination that the Bible is from God the Father.

[Nehemiah 9:20; Matthew 10:19-20; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 2:27; the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.] audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

​The role of the Holy Spirit in the interpretation of Scripture is to 'guide' us to 'the truth contained within it'. The Spirit assists us in 'interpretation by guiding us to truth', 'convincing' us 'that it is true', and 'helping us understand and appropriate' truth to our own faith and way of life. [John 16:8]
audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

Most importantly. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, who inspired the writing of Scripture, interpretation of Scripture falls prey to our own bias and human understanding which may be, [generally is], flawed or unable to grasp spiritual wisdom of God. Thus a prayerful approach to reading and interpreting Scripture, open to the Spirit’s guidance, is always required. Ever be mindful of this, and my friends, you will not be deceived by 'flashy wolves in sheep's clothing, [Matthew 7:15], leading you down the 'cliff unto damnation'.
[John 10:5, 10:27-30. see post July 13, 2020] audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html Amen. Amen.

Holy Bible Scripture is the primary text on Christian faith; all other texts that have followed are based upon it. As such, it holds a central and foundational place in the faith community. Yet it was written many centuries ago in a time period quite different to our own especially in terms of culture and knowledge. And while the embedded message in Scripture is still applicable for us today, we need to interpret it in such a way that translates the original context of Scripture to our present context.

To this end, the Spirit speaking through the Bible orients our present both on the basis of the past and in accordance with a vision of the future. The past orientation transposes the contemporary hearer of the biblical narrative back to those primal events that originally constituted the community of God… But the goal of the narrative does not lie simply in recounting the story. Rather, through the retelling of the narrative, the Spirit recreates the past within the present life of the community. In so doing, the texts provide paradigms and categories – an interpretive framework – by means of which the community under the direction of the Spirit can come to understand and respond to the challenges of life in the present.

Remember, 1 Corinthians 10:11 audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
'Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.' and, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, to wit: audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
16 'All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.'  Amen. Amen.

[See also such as Matthew 7:7, 9:37; John 15:5, on fighting temptations; Matthew 9:13, 23:11, on fighting deceptions; and Matthew 5:14, 11:30, on dealing with fear of persecution.  We must allow these words to resonate in our own hearts.  If we allow ourselves to get out of the way, we can truly be the hands and feet of Jesus as we carry on the principles of his teachings.]audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

The Holy Spirit illuminates our minds by helping us to see how the events in the past recorded in Scripture carry over to today a vision for the future, shaping our view of the world, of God, and a path for our life of faith in the process. The Spirit orients our present, on the basis of the past, towards the future vision.

Now, with this understanding for the future, not just with respect to the Song of Song, but in all our Bible Studying, on our next post, and until finished, the posts shall consist of 'the allegorical interpretations' from the 'mind anointed by the Holy Spirit' of Matthew Henry. 

[Reading 'Verbatim', the Books of the Old Testament - 'Song of Songs' 'Review'; Bi-Monthly, Post-A/B, July 13/15, 2020]

Our next posts will not be before Tuesday/Thursday, July 21-23, 2020, when we will get into the 'verbatim' posts in 'allegorical' of 'the Song of Songs'.  So, please take your time when in the 'presence of the Lord', prayerfully studying His Love Letter to You, the Holy Bible.  Amen. Amen.  

Continued 'Blessings in the Name of Our Precious Lord and Savior'.  Amen. Amen.