Do You Know What You're Talking About?

Today's Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1:9-12

By Dr. Jim Townsend

Today's Verses: 1 Peter 1:10-11-Concerning [the] salvation {I just referred to] prophets searched ... with reference to what sort of time ... the Spirit of Messiah inside them prophesied.

A British cab driver recalled asking the famous philosopher Bertrand Russell, "Well, Lord Russell, what's it all about?" (or, as you might say), "What's the meaning of life?" The cabbie asked, " Do you know that he [Russell] couldn't tell me"?

The Bible informs us about life's meaning, but it isn't always as straightforward as we'd like. For example, 1 Peter 1:9- 11 offers a most unusual take on the Old Testament prophets. The passage informs us that many prophets needed to learn precisely what they were talking about. They made many forecasts but only sometimes knew how or when their prophecies would be fulfilled.

Like the Old Testament prophets, we are sometimes forced to muddle over some prophetic biblical statements. Interpreting them is like trying to decode Shakespeare or another classic. We can take heart from the words of the apostle Peter, who said that some things the apostle Paul said were "hard to be understood" (2 Pet. 3:16).

When we run aground due to "hard to be understood" passages, we can always seek God's help in interpreting what we have just read. After all, we should expect the Book of all books to contain some things above our range.

Lord, help me understand that I won't comprehend everything about things that transcend me.