Bible Lens—August 19–25, 2019
Subject: Mind
Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.
Exploring Bible Verses
An exploration of Bible citations from the Christian Science Quarterly® Bible Lessons
“. . . a lesson on which the prosperity of Christian Science largely depends."—Mary Baker Eddy
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from Section 1
2 | Daniel 2:22
[God] revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness.
Daniel speaks these words in thanks to God for showing him the meaning of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream—a revelation that saves him and all the Babylonian wise men from the king’s decree to have them killed (see vv. 1–24). Mention of “the deep and secret things” echoes Job 12:22, “He discovereth deep things out of darkness.”
3 | Isaiah 45:18
Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.
Strong action words in this verse—create, form, establish—recall the record of creation in Genesis 1. “In vain,” translated from the Hebrew word tōhû, represents emptiness or confusion. It appears in the first creation account as “without form”—an allusion to the obscurity transformed at God’s Word (see Genesis 1:2, 3).
from Section 2
And the Lord said, ... I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee.
Elements of Moses’ commissioning occur in other biblical calls to service and prophecy. Gideon, Isaiah, and Jeremiah all question God’s direction. And as in His response to Moses, God reassures and strengthens each of them (see Judges 6:11–16; Isaiah 6:5–8; Jeremiah 1:4–10).
The divine promise “I will be with thee” is also given to Isaac, Jacob, and Joshua (see Genesis 26:3; 31:3; Deuteronomy 31:7, 8). In the New Testament, this guarantee is revealed as the very nature of the promised Messiah: “God with us” is the meaning of Emmanuel, the name of the Son of God (see Matthew 1:23).
10 | Exodus 4:10
Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
Eloquent is translated from the Hebrew phrase ’îš debārîm, literally signifying a man of words. “Slow of speech” and “of a slow tongue” describe heaviness or dullness, the meaning of the Hebrew word kābēd. Though some sources think Moses had a speech impediment, he is likely referring to a lack of fluency.
One scholar explains, “The underlying message of the exchange in vv. 10–12 is that prophetic speech originates with God, not humans.”
from Section 3
14 | John 6:45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.
“It is written” refers to Isaiah 54:13: “All thy children shall be taught of the Lord” (see Golden Text). Other prophets promised, “They shall teach no more every man…, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest” (Jeremiah 31:34) and “Many nations shall come … and he will teach us of his ways” (Micah 4:2).
16 | Matthew 10:1
When he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
The twelve disciples, according to a researcher, represent “a new Israel.” Later in this Gospel, Jesus declares, “Ye which have followed me … shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (19:28).
Another source notes, “Jesus chose these men not only for what they were but also for what they were capable of becoming under his influence and in his power.”
from Section 5
Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
• • •
Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need.
—Good News Translation
Resources quoted in this issue
Cit. 10: Harrelson, Walter J., ed. The New Interpreter’s Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon, 2003.
Cit. 16: Attridge, Harold W., ed. The HarperCollins Study Bible. Rev. ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2006; Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Matthew, Vol. 2. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew, 1955. Revised and updated by Saint Andrew, 2001. Reprinted as The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Matthew, Vol. 2. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2001–04.
Cit. 22: Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second
Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission
Related Healing Ideas
God is by my side
By Kerrie Gasteen
From the May 8, 2006, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel
Primary class instruction in Christian Science has been a very strong foundation for me, on which to build a new life. This was helpful after my marriage of 32 years ended.
Class instruction gave me such a feeling of worthiness. It opened the door to a larger life, and showed me how to pray and listen for God’s clear direction in every situation. I learned that God is at hand and that He has the answer. Before this, I just fumbled about, doing what I thought was right. I never thought of asking God to help me. What did God have to do with my life? I had thought that God had more to do with what happened after death. Now I know better. God is a living God, and He is All. Class came to my rescue with that beautiful enlightenment.
I’ve also learned how to listen to God more. I am still better at talking to God than listening to Him, but He is very patient and loving. I know that His tenderness is with me and that He guides my course throughout life. Not that doing God’s will has always been easy. Sometimes it hasn’t been what I’d wanted to do and hasn’t fitted with how I’d planned my future. Yet I’ve had many blessings from following this Bible instruction: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
As a result of the class, I now have direction and an ability to lean on God when I am in trouble. And because I am just beginning this spiritual journey, I also have the ongoing encouragement of my teacher, who is there to help me understand more clearly my relationship with God. I am enjoying every day with Him. To know that He loves me, that He considers me precious, clever, and kind, and that I have an important place, shows just how worthwhile it has been for me to take class.
I never thought that I would ever feel this good about myself again. Without class instruction, I know that I would not be the happy, healthy, and balanced person I am right now. Today I am free from the old feelings of anger, loneliness, and hopelessness that had tried to overwhelm me at the time of the breakup. It set me a standard, and I look to aim higher and higher every day. No, I am not walking on water, yet. And yes, I still fall down. But I now know that God is by my side, and it gives me goose bumps to just be so loved.
From the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
Thought imbued with purity, Truth, and Love, instructed in the Science of metaphysical healing, is the most potent and desirable remedial agent on the earth.
Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 4
The education of the future will be instruction, in spiritual Science, against the material symbolic counterfeit sciences. All the knowledge and vain strivings of mortal mind, that lead to death,—even when aping the wisdom and magnitude of immortal Mind,—will be swallowed up by the reality and omnipotence of Truth over error, and of Life over death.
Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 61
© 2019 The Christian Science Publishing Society. The design of the Cross and Crown is a trademark owned by the Christian Science Board of Directors and is used by permission. Bible Lens and Christian Science Quarterly are trademarks owned by The Christian Science Publishing Society. Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
