Good Morning Brothers and Sisters,

During our study on quite times, we have been looking at some basic ideas that guide a quiet time.  One in particular is that we must read the Bible in a systematic, organized way.  This will enable us to get an overall view of the Bible which will avoid error. The bird's eye view of rather overview of the Bible places in our hands the ability to see scripture as one scripture applies to another scripture. 

Let me tell you a funny story.  When I was a young man, my brother Kenny, Cousin David, and a few more guys decided to go rabbit hunting.  We walked for several hours in the cold and were unable to find even one single rabbit to shoot at. It was not a problem for us.  We often enjoyed hanging out together even if we were not successful in our hunt.  Our time was that of a comrade, guy time, hanging out for the fun of it.  Each of us held twelve gauge shotguns with my cousin David packing a pistol to boot.  After the hunting experience, we were standing in the barnyard cracking jokes and basically delaying declaring that the hunting expedition for the poor rabbit was a failure. 

Wouldn't you know, when we least expected it, a rabbit pops up right from the center of our circle and bolts for freedom.  As seasoned fierce hunters, each of us draw a bead on the rabbit and let loose with what must have sounded like world war three.  Enough lead went downrange to kill a dozen rabbits, and that one bounded off for the safety of the ditch and briar bushes at the bottom of the hill.  I am not certain, but could almost bet that that poor rabbit is still running.  We searched for him for a considerable time before giving up hope. 

The point of this is simple.  Sometimes when you are reading the Bible you will not see the rabbit that you are expecting.  It may seem cold and unsuccessful as you labor through the quiet time process.  Yet, as you bask in the fellowship with the Lord, simply enjoying His word, sometimes a rabbit will jump up for you to follow.  Sometimes we are shocked when the idea hits us, and we rapidly will attempt to get the evasive critter.  So we search through well known scriptures to see if our rabbit is true. 

In our study of how to have a quiet time, we learned a very simple outline of to follow:

·        Pray that God will open your eyes to what you are reading, after all, it is a spiritual book.

·        Pray for others as God puts them on your heart, keep a list.

·        Read the scriptures according to a plan.  This broadens your understanding of the Bible.

·        Write down a few sentences that describe what you have read.  This imprints the learning on your mind.

·        Thank God for the reading and pray back the concept that He has shown you.

·        Put what you read into practice if you are able during that day.

In our study today, the plan simply failed to give us the satisfaction of drawing the bit of meat from the Word that we hoped for.  One thing might bother us about the passage.  Suppose in our scenario that we are having a quiet time and are focused on Matthew 21:33-46.  The parable about the landowner who owned a vineyard and hired others to take care of it.  Let’s read it.

During our reading we may remember that we had just read another parable about a vineyard which dealt with an owner who paid the same wages to the workers who worked for one hour as he did for those who labored all day (Matthew 20:1-16).  This peaks our interest because even though we may not see the point behind an owner who is foolish enough to send his son to collect wages from the thieves who run his vineyard. 

Most Bibles have a concordance in the back.  So we take a look in the concordance under “vineyard” and come up with a reference to Isaiah 5:1-7.  The New American Standard gives a cross-reference to this passage in the text.  Let’s go there.  God built a vineyard in Israel and due to the poor quality of the produce that came from the choice vines, He broke it down.  The passage goes on to address wickedness that grew out of Israel.  We can relate to this wickedness because it permeates our churches and society today.

A cross reference off of Isaiah points us to Psalm 80:8-13.  Let’s go there.  It may be ascertained from this passage that God delivered Israel from Egypt during the exodus and planted them as a vine in the Promised Land.  All was not good in the land because the vine did not produce as expected.  Looking at the last few verses of the Psalm, the psalmist cries out to God to send His son to turn the people back to Him (80:14-19). 

Another cross reference points us to Jeremiah 12:10-17, Let’s go there.  Many shepherds have ruined the vineyard.  The ones in care of the vineyard will be uprooted and destroyed as God puts new people in place to take care of the vineyard.  Verses 14-15 make it very clear that this uprooting is a temporary situation because eventually His original caretakers will be restored to the land.  This is important because some today think that Christians have replaced the Jews in their rightful place as God’s chosen people.  They are wrong in this. 

One last cross reference points to Jeremiah 2:21, Let’s look at it.  Scanning the passage causes us to notice that a few verses prior to that God speaks of breaking the bondage of Israel (20).  This is looking at the captivity that Israel had been in.  God released them to freedom, and they , the choice vine refused to serve God in order to go their own way… Is this starting to sound like the parable?  Even though they appeared to be good and clean on the outside, God said they were full of sin (Jeremiah 2:22). 

Now we return to the original passage and put our rabbit chase to work for us.  When Jesus spoke to the Jews about vineyards, it was more than a simple story that related a truth.  My story above is one drawn from my experience that has absolutely nothing to do with spiritual things.  It is a simple story that makes a point.  Jesus’ story was much more than that.  The people of New Testament times were very familiar with vineyards and with how to run them.  They were also very familiar with the Old Testament passages that spoke about vineyards.  They were familiar with the concept that God had built His vineyard in Israel and that God said they were not doing a very good job of keeping it up.  Jesus told them that the prophecy from Jeremiah was going to take place.  He was going to take the blessings away from them for a time and give it to another people.  If you think they missed his point look at Matthew 21:45-46.  They were very angry at Jesus’ simple parable.  They had foot in the mouth disease because they agreed that those in charge of the vineyard should be thrown out.  And yet, they were seeking to kill the Son that God had sent to them…  Now the passage makes sense.

In your quiet time, this scenario might take place.  It may not.  You might just want to stick to the reading and refuse to deviate from it.  What is important is that you read the passage that you determined to read in the first place. This is something good to be legalistic about! Then if you feel the need to chase a rabbit, go for a little run through the scriptures.  Follow the cross references that are provided in the text or look in the concordance to see what other information is supplied on the topic.  Quiet times are times to wander through God’s word looking at what is written there. 

I am going to close here, any thoughts?

Father, open our eyes to the secrets that we miss during our busy lives.  Allow us to slow down to listen.

In Him,

Joe.