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This past week I had jury duty, or at least I was placed in a jury selection pool for Franklin County. It was a lesson in the process and dismay of our judicial system. I had never sat in a jury pool before, and how the final jury was selected was enlightening. Of course, both attorneys want to choose the best jury for their case, and even during this activity, they try to “win” their case. You’ll be happy to know that my following few blogs will center around these eye-opening days in the courtroom.
One of the more intriguing aspects was the role of the stenographer. They have the difficult job of transcribing all the conversations within the courtroom. These discussions can be between jurors, attorneys, judges, plaintiffs, defendants, and even the bailiffs. These exchanges can be heated, and words can begin to fly. It is paramount that the stenographer records each phrase perfectly, and so courts have developed a unique process to capture all of these words. You have a highly trained person utilizing specialized equipment to annotate and catch each purposeful or wayward phrase. Our bailiffs informed us that our stenographer could record 470 words per minute, ensuring that every detail is secured permanently in the court’s official records.
More important than the words themselves was who said the words.
Of course, this is true for the lawyers, the judge, and those on trial. Furthermore, every prospective juror must identify who they are, using their juror number, ensuring they are credited with their thoughts. You would want the right phrase attributed to the correct person. It could spell doom for either side of the case, and so not only the recorded words matter but also who said what.
We all see that the Bible contains truth. It includes things that are wise and beyond human intuition. Yet, we also know that many philosophers, throughout time, have stumbled on occasional truths. However, what sets the wisdom contained in the Bible apart is that it has another claim that transcends earthly understanding. The Bible asserts that it contains the Mind of God.
2 Peter 1:16-21 – “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
And Paul writes:
1 Corinthians 2:9-11 “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”– 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”
What we have contained in Scripture is more than just cleverly devised words or philosophical ideas; it is God revealing truths to humanity in order to grant them more than our present reality. Sadly, many see the Bible as one version of the truth, leaving the possibility for other truths to exist, as if there can be two contradicting truths.
However, from these two passages, we can declare two statements.
- There is only One God, then that one God has only one mind.
- That mind is revealed throughout His Word, through His Spirit.
If you want to know the mind of God, how He thinks, what He wants us to do, and how we are to live. The lesson is simple, read His Word. We can all agree that the words in the Bible are valuable and more precious than gold (Psalm 19:10). Yet, what is often unstated is that these words come from the very mind of God, and that is why they are invaluable. Knowing that God revealed this most intimate part of His character to us is incomprehensible and fills me with an adoration that is BEYOND WORDS.
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