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"Is There Any Word From The LORD?"

David E. Parks

Jeremiah was not a popular man. His message was unacceptably negative and dogmatic for the times. He had persistently cried out against the decay of public morality, culture, religion, and politics. His call to listen to the word of God had gone unheeded.

Jerusalem's political and religious advisors assured the people that everything would be fine. Jeremiah does not speak from God they told the people. He was persecuted, ridiculed, and imprisoned.

Then came the bad news; the Babylonians were camped at Jerusalem's gate. Famine and pestilence were wreaking havoc within the besieged city. Finally, — in desperation — king Zedekiah secretly called Jeremiah from confinement and asked the question, "Is there any word from the LORD" (Jeremiah 37:17)?

Isn't it strange how we only want to know if there is any word from the Lord when we realize there remains no other source for help? Zedekiah had listened to political advisors, religious counselors, and false prophets to salve his conscience and justify his conduct; but when all else failed he secretly sought the counsel of the Jailed prophet "Is there any word from the LORD" (Jeremiah 37:17)?

Yes, there is a word from the Lord and it is found in the pages of his book — the Bible. Today, it is popular to ask scholarly (?) questions challenging the veracity of the Bible. We are told it is narrow minded to claim the Bible is inspired and inerrant. We are informed that it is full of contradictions — but we are offered as proof nothing but the scholar's assertions. We are told truth is intermingled with cultural misconceptions, scientific inaccuracies, and other non-truths. In fact the learned scholars of the Interpreters Bible declare that it is a misnomer to call the Bible "the word of God."

Regardless of what men say, the Bible claims that there is a word from the Lord, and that the Bible does indeed contain that very word of God.

The apostle Paul stated that he had received the gospel "by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:2). He claimed that he spoke "not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches" (1 Cor. 2:12-13).

The Bible does not just contain the words of men about God. It is uniquely the word of God. It may have been recorded by men but it was delivered to them by the Spirit of God.

  • "For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).
  • "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:2)
  • "'And whatever I command you, you shall speak. . . . Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: 'Behold, I have put My words in your mouth'" (Jer. 1:7,9).
  • "preach to it the message that I tell you" (Jonah 3:2).
  • "If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord" (1 Cor. 14:37)
  • "When you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe" (1 Thess. 2:13).

I'm sure that this list of Scriptures is probably considered dry and boring to some. Reread the last two references. Those who are spiritual and believe will not be bored. They will not be looking for ways around the Bible by denying or redefining inspiration with new and ingenious terms. They will readily recognize its unsearchable riches.

Stick with the Bible. Study it every day (Acts 17:11; 1 Tim. 2:15). When the difficult times of testing come you will not have to ask in desperation as Zedekiah did, "Is there any word from the Lord?"

When we stand before God in the judgment, we will be glad there was a word from the Lord. For when we stand before him the scholar's arguments will all fall silent and the Bible — the word of God — will truly be the last word.

Cor. 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

© David E. Parks August 31, 1998

David E. Parks

dave@wcofc.org


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