How Do We Examine the Tapestry of God’s Word
Stringing thoughts, or concepts, together through the Scriptures helps us to understand the subject at hand more accurately. When we search the Scriptures, we find little treasures, little pearls, throughout the Bible here and there. Then, we only need to string these pearls together to better comprehend the matter being studied.
Jesus uses the idiom of a pearl as signifying something that is holy, when he says in Matthew 7:6,
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”
The word of God is holy and powerful. Therefore, to heed the adage that Jesus gave us, we ought to take great care in how we handle the word of God! Since all Scripture is God-breathed, it is profitable for us to study; we should digest each word, each phrase with careful thoughtfulness to the details. Following the concepts in detail through the Bible, we gain a richer appreciation for God’s word. In our study of Revelation we will follow each concept from there, searching the Scriptures to find similar descriptions, circumstances, situations, or discussions relevant to the topic. Then, we can return to our concept in Revelation with new insights, new connotations, and possibly with some subtlety of perspective that we had not previously considered.
Jesus said not to cast our ‘pearls before swine’; so, we should treasure them, and keep His word close to our heart. As we study Revelation, we will string the pearls we find together into clear lines of thought. By this process, we will grow in our knowledge and assurance of God’s word. As is written in Isaiah 28:9-10,
“Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? 10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.”
Indeed, we find here a little pearl, and there a little pearl. Stringing them together makes the connections that are crucial for our edification, our understanding of God’s plan from the beginning.
