Understandest Thou What Thou Readest?

By Tosin Lawal

Devotional Reading: And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? Acts 8:30KJV

Our opening text speaks of how the spirit of the Lord, through an angel, instructed Philip the evangelist to get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza (the desert road) to meet a particular man who needs help in understanding the scriptures. The man was an Ethiopian Eunuch and a high profile in Ethiopia then. After getting to Gaza, the spirit of God told Philip to join himself with the Ethiopian Eunuch’s chariot. Philip soon realized the reason behind the Holy Spirit instructing him to go down to Gaza. When he got to the man’s chariot, he heard him reading a portion of the scriptures written by Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 53. Then Philip asked the man, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” In other words, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

To Philip’s question, the man responded in verse 31, “How can I,” “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” The man was confused reading Isaiah 53 about whether the prophet was writing and speaking about himself or another person. God’s word made us understand that Philip proceeded to explain and preach the good news about Jesus, beginning from that same scripture. In other words, the portion of the scriptures the Ethiopian couldn’t understand was a prophecy speaking about Jesus Christ our Lord and his redemptive plan for humanity.

It takes the Holy Spirit to make a man understand God’s written word, the Holy Bible. Even though the Bible is a book that needs to be engaged with reasoning, the truth is that without the Holy Spirit’s help, one cannot get the best of the word of God revealed in the Holy Bible.

The Ethiopian Eunuch engaged the scriptures with his mind; he could tell what he had read, but not until God sent him help through a man he couldn’t just understand what it was all about. He couldn’t rightly interpret what he had read. The implication of this is that whenever you read the Bible, you need to be intentional about it, deliberately seeking the help of the Holy Spirit in understanding whatever part of the Bible you are reading for your edification.

The Holy Spirit is the one that helps a person to understand the Bible. If you allow him to help you, you will get the proper knowledge and thus become blessed. God’s word says in Psalms 119:105 that “God’s word is a lamp for the feet and a light for one’s path.”

The word of God brings clarity unto a man. It shines a light on one’s mind, thus causing a man to walk in freedom. It brings an understanding of God and his ways. More so, in 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 HCSB, God’s word reveals that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” You cannot profit from the reading and studying of the Bible if you don’t deliberately seek the help of the Holy Spirit.

The fact that a man can quote many portions of the Bible does not mean that he understands the mind of God as revealed in the Bible. And once you don’t have the correct understanding that comes with the help of the Holy Spirit, your life will remain stagnant.

Dearly beloved, it took the Holy Spirit coming to the aid of the Ethiopian eunuch by sending Philip to explain God’s mind to him as revealed in the scriptures before the eunuch could understand the scriptures. His understanding eventually led to his being saved.

If it takes the Holy Spirit to help the eunuch, don’t ever assume that you can approach the Bible casually and have the correct understanding or even profit from it. You need the help of the Holy Spirit too. When he helps you, your life can never escape being transformed.

Prayer and Confession
Open the eyes of my heart Lord and help me contemplate the wonderful truth in your word. Please help me to be diligent in my study of your word.

Further readings: Acts 8:26-40
Reading Proverbs: Proverbs 11-15