But what happens when this constant chatter infects our Bible study? What happens when we trip over something tricky and have no idea where to go with it? Do we talk, debate, reason it out or even explaining it away?
Again James Ussher provides some insight:5. Although there be some hard things in the Scripture (especially such as have proper relation to the times in which they were first uttered, and prophesies of things which were afterwards to be fulfilled), yet all things necessary to be known unto everlasting salvation are clearly delivered therein: and nothing of that kind is spoken under dark mysteries in one place, which is not in other places spoken more familiarly and plainly to the capacity of learned and unlearned.
Ussher doesn't shy away from the difficulties in the Bible, instead he meets them head on and helps us to see that what is muddy in one place is often clearer in another.
Therefore, where the temptation may be to debate a difficulty or an apparent inconsistency Ussher says... keep reading. Remembering the attitude of humility he describes in the earlier articles, coming to the Scriptures and gracious asking for God's help in untangling the messy bits so that we might see Him more clearly. John Piper in the second Tuesday Teaching on The Pleasures of God encourages us all to just shut up for a moment when we come to hard texts, and humble ourselves, recognising or finitude and our need for God's help.
Sometimes what is needed is not more talk but some serious quiet reflection on God as he reveals himself in the Bible, silently rejoicing in the complexities because it allows us more time to sit under the sound of his voice.
