'Greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues,

except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying ... For if

the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the

battle? ... Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray

that he may interpret ... but if there be no interpreter, let him keep

silence in the church' (1 Cor. 14:5,8,13,28).

We have given the above quotation, not because our readers belong to

assemblies that have the gift of tongues, but just to show how great a value

was placed upon the gift of interpretation in the days when supernatural

gifts were possessed by the church.  We do not speak in this study of the

necessary qualifications for the interpreting of Scripture.  This has been

done in the article entitled Interpretation2.  There is also a ministry of

interpretation that may be entered by us all that is no less important than

that of interpreting the Scriptures.  It is the wonderful privilege of

interpreting God to man.  This office was filled to the full by the Lord

Himself.  As the Word, and as the Image, He set forth God to men:

'No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in

the bosom of the Father, He hath declared (interpreted) Him' (John

'He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father' (John 14:9).

Job was told of this great Interpreter Who would show to poor, sinful man

what his uprightness amounted to and point to the Ransom (Job 33:23,24).  We

remember, too, that Joseph and Daniel stand out prominently in the Scriptures

as interpreters.  Both were captives in a foreign land; both were used to

reveal the will of the living God to heathen kings (Gen. 40 and 41; Dan. 2

and 5).  What sort of God do we reveal to those among whom we minister?  Let

us come down to the simpler issues.  What of our high -sounding words

concerning the purpose of the ages, and the fact that God is over all, and

that habit of saying, 'O bother it!' when we are vexed or disappointed?  What

sort of interpreters are we when we fail in longsuffering, patience,

forgiveness and love?  Interpretation has less to do with nouns and verbs

than with thoughts and deeds.  In the Sermon on the Mount we read:

'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven ... Love your enemies, bless

them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them

which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the

children of your Father which is in heaven' (Matt. 5:16,44,45).

'Pray for them'.  This is the link between the interpreter of God to man and

the intercessor for man with God.

The most unspiritual person would realize the incongruity of three

believers kneeling in prayer and beseeching the Lord to give the victory at a

political election to three different and opposing parties.  What the

believer is to do and how he is to intercede is plainly revealed in 1 Timothy

2:

'I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,

intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings,

and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and