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The word "interpretation" could remain in this passage, so long as the reader
understands that prophecy did not arise from the attempt of the individual prophet to
interpret or unfold the purpose of the ages. Such a thing was impossible. The matters
were all too vast. God alone could, and did, make them known. The position is
somewhat parallel with the teaching of Heb. 11: 3, where we read: "By faith we
understand the ages to have been fitted together by the declaration of God, to the end that,
not out of things appearing should that which is seen have come into existence."
Apart from revelation, the wisest men are baffled and but blind leaders of the blind.
"Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto
perfection?" (Job 11: 7). This is a question we do well to ponder, and to read with it the
statement of the wise men: "He hath set the age in their heart, so that no man can find
out the word that God maketh from the beginning to the end" (Eccles. 3: 11). No eye
can see far enough, no human foot climb high enough, no brain or mind has the capacity
to grasp or express the purpose of the ages and the way and will of God.
"Eye hath not seen, nor ears heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
things which God hath prepared for them that love Him: but God hath revealed them
unto us by His Spirit" (I Cor. 2: 9, 10).
Like all doctrines of Scripture, the blessed doctrine of the inspiration of the Word of
God humbles the pride of man and exalts the Most High. "And God spake all these
words."
#4.
"God hath spoken . . . . . by the prophets."
pp. 201 - 204
We have sat at the feet of Christ and heard His testimony to the truth of the Scriptures.
We have also heard the teaching of Paul and Peter upon the same theme, and from these
two servants of God we learn that:--
1.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
2.
That holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
There is no formal statement in Scripture as to the precise mode of inspiration. We
are assured that the Scriptures are inspired and that the writers were irresistibly move by
the Holy Spirit, but further than that we are not told. It does not follow that because all
Scripture is inspired that all the writers were led in the same way. Indeed the words of
Heb. 1: 1, "diverse manners", point to "a diversity of operations", while the remainder of
the verse, "God spake . . . . . by the prophets", assures us that, however diverse the mode
of inspiration, the result was in all cases the same. The chief consideration for us is the
fact that "God hath spoken", and that, in His sovereignty, He has ensured that all the truth
He intended should be recorded has been recorded, and that without human admixture.