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Each month the Glen Park Gospel Church produce a one page newsletter called the Green Leaf. It's available from the chapel each Sunday. Anything that may be of mild interest will be published here.

Always . . . Read the Fine Print.

Many years ago my brother traded his reliable small English car for a large American job. Getting the new acquisition home, with a little difficulty, he had time to reflect on his actions. There were significant defects.

It was then he took the time to read the contract to see what remedy he had. In the section describing the merchandise he found a condition of the sale. It read, "This vehicle is sold with all faults and/or defects if any." There he had it, and it had him. The fine print made all the difference.

The Bible comes with fine print. Bible fine print is not an escape clause, put there to let the author out, but is a translators or publishers explanation of something that might otherwise cause an untrained reader to miss a significant point, or make an hasty interpretation of its wording and miss the intended meaning. It may only be quite simple.

Here are some examples at random from the ancient past that add colour to our understanding:

Genesis 43:14. For God almighty read one of His names, "El Shaddai." It is: 'The God who satisfies and pacifies.' 'Shad' is an ancient Hebrew word for the human breast. A baby is nourished and soothed*. A western reader would probably miss this deeper inference.

Genesis 43:24. 'Were merry' means 'were intoxicated.' Rather dangerous for foreigners to be drunk before the ruler of a foreign power.

Genesis 48:22. 'I have given to you rather than your brothers. One mountain slope.' In the Hebrew one portion of the land.

Genesis 49 10. 'Judah . . . until tribute comes to Him' could possibly read 'until He comes to whom it belongs.' Suggested by the Septuagint, Syriac and Targum. Take time to read the passage both ways. Could this passage be a Messianic prophecy? There is no need to close this question. Learn to wait on further revelation by the Holy Spirit in due time. But be aware!

Life comes with fine print. To read the fine print means to think things through properly. How do we know when we have thought enough to have considered a question from all angles?

Take the English proverb of 1693 Marry in haste: repent at leisure.*

Is praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit a substitute for thinking things through, or on the other hand is seeking His guidance a release from the discipline of analytical thought?

* Outline Studies in Christian Doctrine. G P Pardington p89.

* Stage play, “The Old Batchelor” - William Congreve 1693.

For a list of this month's readings, click on the above link for Quick Verse

The Three Year Bible readings will continue to cycle on this site as usual, click here.

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