Hebrews 1:1 English Standard Version (ESV) Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

Long ago, we were not there.

Moses had the enviable task of writing the first five books of the bible. Until the Pentateuch mankind had no authorized written documentation of the history of the world from God’s point of view. Moses had a special relationship with God and during his forty year journey through the wilderness experience penned that great work.

What do we make of that?

It is open for discussion and has been written about by an inexhaustible line of bible scholars over the years. We could not read all that has been said by every scholar that has spent a lifetime documenting their findings.

Who do we rely on for help in  our private studies of God’s Word?

The more accessible works are from authors that have been commended to us by our pastors and teachers who have found comfort in their commentaries. Who among us has not heard of Matthew Henry? Born in 1662 Pastor Henry began preaching at the age of twenty-four and sustained pastoral duties until his death in 1714. His widely used commentaries are just part of his library of works.

While not widely known Author Wellington Pink has a long history of work that only the strong hearted seem to be able to study for any length of time. He was declared a heretic by the Catholic church for his disdain for the papacy. While his words are very hard on the conscience his exposition on Exodus contains amazing insights into the wilderness tabernacle.

In the modern era it would seem that every doctoral candidate had a published bible study of some reputation. The list of bible study authors is too long to list here and many Christian readers avail themselves of their help.

I personally do not recommend any of them. That is not what I am called to do.

Matthew 18:20 English Standard Version (ESV) “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”