Ask the average man on the street and you'll discover people tend to respect the Bible as

an interesting piece of literature. But to most, it's nothing more than an old book. And

you can make it say whatever you want. Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck's Wendall

reminds us that the Bible is God's message to mankind, and understanding what God says,

and what he doesn't say is critically important. Today's study comes from the series called

Growing Deep in the Christian Life, Chuck titled his message, Handling the Scriptures

Accurately.

The direct issue of concern to me these days is the misshandling of the Bible.

I want us to become not simply sincere students of the Scriptures. Sound in our theology.

I want us to become careful in our interpreting the Scriptures.

When you study the Bible, look at words, find significant words, pull out your dictionary,

trace the meaning of the words, talk the words through, think the words through, compare

that word with another word, and another place in Scripture where a similar word is used

so that you will begin to see the meaning of the passage.

Now I want to show you an illustration. So turn with me back to Nehemiah chapter 8.

This is one of the clearest illustrations I know of in all of the Scriptures where

the Bible is handled accurately, where it's correctly rendered for the people. Let me

offer four suggestions or observations from this passage as it relates to Ezra and

the scroll. But first let me set the stage. All the people gathered as one man at the

square which was in front of the water gate. And they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the

book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Ezra. So we have the Scriptures.

Bring the scrolls, bring the book of God. Then Ezra the priest brought the law before

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