Morning and Evening

June 9, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Search the Scriptures." — John 5:39 · KJV

The Greek word translated "search" signifies a strict, close, diligent hunt, such as men make when they are seeking gold, or hunters when they are in earnest after game. We must not rest content with a superficial reading of a chapter or two; with the candle of the Spirit we must deliberately seek out the hidden meaning of the word. Holy Scripture requires searching—much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is milk for babes, but also meat for strong men. The old rabbis wisely said that a mountain of matter hangs on every word, even on every tiny mark of Scripture, and Tertullian exclaimed, "I adore the fulness of the Scriptures." No one who merely skims the book of God can profit by it; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hidden treasure. The door of the word opens only to the key of diligence. The Scriptures claim searching. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and seal—who shall dare treat them lightly? He who despises them despises the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us should leave our Bibles to become swift witnesses against us in the great day of account. The word of God will repay searching. God does not ask us to sift a mountain of chaff with here and there a grain of wheat in it; the Bible is winnowed grain—we have only to open the granary door and find it. Scripture grows on the student. It is full of surprises. Under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching eye it glows with the splendor of revelation, like a vast temple paved with wrought gold and roofed with rubies, emeralds, and all manner of gems. There is no merchandise like the merchandise of Scripture truth. Finally, the Scriptures reveal Jesus: "They are they which testify of Me." No stronger motive can be urged on Bible readers than this: he who finds Jesus finds life, heaven, all things. Happy is the one who, searching his Bible, discovers his Savior.

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