The Holy Spirit Explains the Scriptures to Us

The Holy Spirit explains the Scriptures to us. “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) The Holy Spirit authored the Scriptures to be read and understood. He delights in making himself known to us through his Word.

There are a variety of ways in which the Holy Spirit explains the Bible to us. Sometimes he gives us the ability to suddenly grasp the meaning of a passage, which had confused us before. Such an experience seems primarily cognitive in nature, but may have far reaching relational impact as well. I say that because we’re not merely seeking an intellectual thrill in understanding a new thing from the Bible. The Bible is very intellectually stimulating, but that’s a by-product not the goal. Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Ephesians 1:17)

Let me describe an incident that demonstrates the Spirit’s work in our lives like this. I had been teaching others about the pitfalls of compartmentalizing our lives—that is living and behaving in one compartment (or facet) of our lives differently than another. In so doing, we rationalize a different code of dress, ethics and language in one compartment than we would in another. (E.g., contrast one’s “God compartment or church compartment” with one’s “work or recreation compartment.”) Such living promotes a double standard, hypocrisy and a sinful lifestyle.

I was thinking about all this while out on a hike in the mountains. The Holy Spirit brought to mind and clarified to me a very obscure passage that had confused me for years as to its application. In Haggai 2:11-14 we read:

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: If a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’ The priests answered, ‘No.’ Then Haggai said, ‘If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?’ ‘Yes,’ the priests replied, ‘it becomes defiled.’ Then Haggai said, ‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the LORD. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.’”

It occurred to me that Haggai used the analogy of consecrated foods, etc. to reveal to the Israelites that they were living a compartmentalized lifestyle. Haggai explained that maintaining one compartment of our life as “holy” does not render our whole life as holy. And if one compartment of our life is “unholy” then the whole of our life is unholy before God. This passage nails the hypocrisy of trying to live a compartmentalized life.

Another way in which the Holy Spirit explains the Scriptures to us is to impress on us the personal application of God’s Word in our lives. This usually happens in a way that reveals more clearly and personally some aspect of God’s character as it relates to our life. Understanding his character better results in knowing and experiencing him more deeply.

At one point during Bible school I found myself letting negative circumstances get the best of me. I was feeling depressed and full of self-pity. On one particularly cold, rainy day I was driving somewhere and feeling sorry for myself, when my car suddenly struck and killed a sparrow. Although the incident transpired in a fraction of a second, I vividly took it all in. Instantly the Holy Spirit reminded me, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29 & 31) Immediately I was overwhelmed with a sense of God’s kindness, love and care for me. I was also convicted of my preoccupation with self and lack of trust in my heavenly Father.

This was a case in which I had understood the meaning of the passage in Matthew for years, but I had never personalized it the way the Holy Spirit did for me that day. I have never forgotten that incident, nor the impact of Jesus’ words in Matthew.

© Rob Fischer 2008