For some reason there is a growing disinterest in history which is sad for several reasons. The greatest reason for the sadness is that people who don’t care to know about the past are more likely to make the same mistakes that have been made in the past. One old preacher told me that he learns from everything when he studied history. Some things, he said, he learns what to avoid and from other things he learned what works. If we aren’t willing to look to the past, we are cutting ourselves off from valuable information from which we could gain great knowledge. Hence, we’ll be more likely to make the same mistakes.
Deuteronomy 4:32–35 (ESV) — 32 “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. 33 Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? 34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.
The scene of this scripture is the days when the children of Israel were approaching the promised land and God was reminding them through Moses of His faithfulness to His people along the way, lest they forget and drift away from trusting God. Notice how God begins by calling them to “ask now of the days that are past…” They needed to have in mind what God had done in the past along with the mistakes that the people had made, like the time the people refused to go into the promised land, or the multitude of times the people murmured and complained about conditions they face, as if God had done them wrong.
What the people needed was to regain an historical perspective on things which can only be done by studying history. In their case it was the need for refreshment from the book of Genesis that Moses had taught to the previous generation as they came out of Egypt. In the New Testament we are likewise reminded to look back into church history.
Hebrews 10:32–33 (ESV) — 32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.
It would be appropriate to investigate historical accounts of the many afflictions that Christians were willing to bear for the cause of Christ, including Hebrews chapter 11.
Hebrews 11:32–40 (ESV) — 32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
People avoid history because they think it to be boring, which may be caused by the one relating the history. I once had a professor who was marking time to retirement and basically made history boring. How sad because his attitude influenced his classes in such a negative way. On the other hand, it’s refreshing to hear people who love history and therefore make even less exciting moments into something to be studied for the impact on history.
The lesson from the old preacher is always a key to studying history and making it relevant. Is there something to avoid? Is there a prevailing attitude, a corruption of judgment, or an act of impatience? The blessing of looking at history is that you can see the outcome of mistakes and know that if you act in a similar fashion, you can expect similar results. Is there something to learn or to apply to your present situation? If you were on a trek to build an electric light bulb you would have many experiments to conduct. But if you were to study all of Thomas Edison’s results of all his laboratory tests then you would be that much farther along. That’s what a study of history will do.
Romans 15:4 (ESV) — 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
There’s a purpose for every book of the Bible, including the historical narratives. They are there for our instruction and are there to give us hope in our situations. Therefore, we must know that every book of the Bible is there for a purpose and is profitable for us.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) — 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Now, if the Israelites needed a true historical perspective, even more we need one today. In addition to what they had, we now also have the completed cannon of Scripture, a plethora of historical writings, as well as commentaries which give added insight into the books of the Bible that God has given to us. You would think that our understanding of God and His purposes would be far greater than theirs, but so many today are turning away from the knowledge of Scripture. May God help us to understand what we have because with the added blessing comes much greater responsibility.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
Checkout the PowerBreak podcast wherever you download podcasts or from www.bobbrubaker.com
