Many of us have been aware of an increasing effort to dismiss or reinterpret Scripture believed to be irrelevant in this day and age or simply out of a growing distrust for God’s truth. Some have reduced their understanding of Scripture to just the New Testament or to just the words Jesus spoke. 

At the same time, our sons and daughters and the following generations are being taught to question truth. In fact, they have been encouraged to decide for themselves what truth is. 

They don’t even have to remove definitions and wording in Scripture. They can simply say that a truth held for centuries by our fathers in the faith no longer applies. Or, a new application redefines the truth. Confusion is understandable in part. Scriptures are written in a foreign language. Every translation into a different language needs to be both accurate and translatable. Translations have errors and bias in some interpretations. 

But even if we were Biblical scholars trained in Hebrew and Greek, and in the context and culture of that era, we would still need God’s Spirit to breathe on His Word. We would still need His Spirit to open our eyes and ears to spiritual understanding. Otherwise, we simply read words on paper.

The New Testament confirms the Old. And the Old Testament constantly points to the New. Jesus freely quoted the Old Testament. He never spoke of discarding parts of it. He pointed to Genesis, begun under grace. He fulfilled all the requirements of the Law that were put into place for a short period in history and returned us to His original intent. His first disciples held the truths of the Old Testament close to their hearts and lived by them to stay on course. 

Judah’s history was like ours. God said that when we trust in something that can’t help us at all, it is like feeding on ashes. We are trusting in the gods of our own making, resulting in mental blindness. Unable to tell truth from error, we have lost our way. Our hearts are deluded, and we are unable to ask ourselves, “Is what I’m holding in my hand a lie? (see Isaiah 44:20).

In the power of your Name, Lord Jesus, we intercede for those who gave their hearts, hopes, and allegiance to the “truth” they created, and what now binds and controls them. We forbid, dismantle, and demolish the veil of deception. Father, give them clarity to see who has plainly guided their history. Not idols of their own creation! We bless them with dreams and visions of the One who created them and cared for them. There is no Rock of Shelter besides You, the One True God (see Isaiah 44:8).