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Seeking Theological Guidance from a Reformed Scholar

The Psalms repeatedly petition God for wisdom, understanding, and instruction in his ways. The psalmist prays, "Give me knowledge and good sense; for I have put my faith in your teachings" [1], and again, "Your hands have made me, and given me form: give me wisdom, so that I may have knowledge of your teaching" [3]. These prayers reflect a conviction that theological understanding is not merely an intellectual achievement but a gift from God, requiring both divine illumination and human receptivity.

The Priority of Scripture

Reformed theology locates the primary source of theological guidance in Scripture itself. Matthew Henry, commenting on Psalm 119:33, notes that David "had prophets, and wise men, and priests, about him, and was himself well instructed in the law of God, yet he begs to be taught of God, as knowing that none teaches like him" [8]. The prayer is not for abstract knowledge but for "the way of applying them to myself and governing myself by them; teach me the way of my duty which thy statutes prescribe" [8]. This emphasis on application distinguishes theological study from mere academic inquiry—the goal is conformity to God's revealed will.

The sufficiency of Scripture does not eliminate the role of human teachers. Torrey's Topical Textbook identifies ministers as instruments "through the instrumentality of The scriptures" in the work of conversion [5]. John Gill, interpreting Proverbs 19:20, urges believers to "hear counsel, and receive instruction" from "parents, masters, and ministers; especially the counsel and instruction of Wisdom, of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, the wonderful Counsellor; and of his Gospel and of the Scriptures" [10]. The human teacher mediates scriptural truth but does not replace it.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Access to theological understanding depends on the Holy Spirit's work. Torrey notes that conversion itself is "by the power of the Holy Spirit" and that "access to God" is "by the Holy Spirit" [5, 7]. The Geneva Bible renders Psalm 16:7 as "my reines also teach me in the nightes" [2], suggesting an inward instruction that complements external teaching. This inward work does not bypass the mind but illuminates it, enabling the believer to grasp what would otherwise remain opaque.

The Spirit's teaching does not guarantee infallibility in human interpreters. The Old Testament priesthood consulted God through the Urim and Thummim, yet "sometimes no answer by, in consequence of the sin of those consulting" [4]. Even divinely appointed means of guidance can be forfeited through disobedience. The second temple lacked the Urim and Thummim entirely [4], illustrating that institutional continuity does not guarantee divine presence.

The Necessity of Conversion and Repentance

Theological guidance presupposes a right relationship with God. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines reconciliation as "a change from enmity to friendship," noting that in 2 Corinthians 5:20 the apostle "beseeches the Corinthians to be 'reconciled to God', i.e., to lay aside their enmity" [6]. Torrey identifies conversion as the result of "repentance" and "faith," and notes that "access to God" follows "upon reconciliation to God" [5, 7]. One cannot rightly understand God's word while remaining at enmity with him.

John Gill, commenting on James 5:20, describes the restoration of "a backsliding professor" or "a poor bewildered believer, who is got out of the way of truth and holiness" [9]. The language assumes that even believers can stray and require correction. Gill elsewhere observes that God may smite his people "for the iniquity of his covetousness," resenting the sin of those who "mind their own things, and not the things of Christ" [11]. Theological error often has moral roots.

The Aim of Wisdom

The psalmist's prayer for wisdom is eschatological: "that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end; in the latter end of life, at death" [10]. Theological guidance is not merely for present clarity but for final vindication. Matthew Henry notes that David aimed "to perfect himself in his religion" and "to make himself (as we say) master of his business," pressing forward "as far as perfection is attainable in this life" [12]. The scholar remains a lifelong student, never outgrowing the need for divine instruction.

Sources

  1. Psalms “Psalms 119:66 (BBE) — Give me knowledge and good sense; for I have put my faith in your teachings.”
  2. Psalms “Psalms 16:7 (Geneva1599) — I wil prayse the Lord, who hath giuen me counsell: my reines also teach me in the nightes.”
  3. Psalms “Psalms 119:73 (BBE) — Your hands have made me, and given me form: give me wisdom, so that I may have knowledge of your teaching.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Urim and Thummin — Placed in the breastplate of the high priest -- Ex 28:30; Le 8:8. God to be consulted by -- Nu 27:21. Instances of consulting God by -- Jdj 1:1; 20:18,28; 1Sa 23:9-11; 30:7,8. Sometimes no answer by, in consequence of the sin of those consulting -- 1Sa 28:6. Were wanting in the second temple -- Ezr 2:63; Ne 7:65. Illustrative of the light and perfection of Christ, the true high priest -- De 33:8; Joh 1:4,9,17; Col 2:3.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conversion — By God -- 1Ki 18:37; Joh 6:44; Ac 21:19. By Christ -- Ac 3:26; Ro 15:18. By the power of the Holy Spirit -- Pr 1:23. Is of grace -- Ac 11:21,23. Follows repentance -- Ac 3:19; 26:20. Is the result of faith -- Ac 11:21. Through the instrumentality of The scriptures. -- Ps 19:7. Ministers. -- Ac 26:18; 1Th 1:9. Self-examination. -- Ps 119:59; La 3:40. Affliction. -- Ps 78:34. Of sinners, a cause of joy To God. -- Eze 18:23; Lu 15:32. To saints. -- Ac 15:3; Ga 1:23,24. Is necessary -- Mt 18:3. Commanded -- Job 36:10. Exhortations to -- Pr 1:23; Isa 31:6; 55”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Reconcilation — A change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. (1.) In Col. 1:21, 22, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the personal character of the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works, and yields up to him his full confidence and love. In 2 Cor. 5:20 the apostle beseeches the Corinthians to be "reconciled to God", i.e., to lay aside their enmity. (2.) Rom. 5:10 refers not to any change in our disposition toward God, but to God himself, as the party reconcile”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
  8. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:33: Here, I. David prays earnestly that God himself would be his teacher; he had prophets, and wise men, and priests, about him, and was himself well instructed in the law of God, yet he begs to be taught of God, as knowing that none teaches like him, Job 36:22. Observe here, 1. What he desires to be taught, not the notions or language of God's statutes, but the way of them - "the way of applying them to myself and governing myself by them; teach me the way of my duty which thy statutes prescribe, and in every doubtful case let me know what thou wouldst have me to d”
  9. James (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on James 5:20: Let him know,.... And observe it for his encouragement: that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way; who is the instrument of restoring a backsliding professor, for such an one is meant by a sinner, and not a profane person; or of turning a poor bewildered believer, who is got out of the way of truth and holiness, into the right way again; or of convincing him of the error of his way, whether it be in point of doctrine, or of duty; and so of bringing him to the fold of Christ again, from whence he has strayed: shall save a soul from death; not effic”
  10. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 19:20: Hear counsel, and receive instruction,.... Of parents, masters, and ministers; especially the counsel and instruction of Wisdom, of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, the wonderful Counsellor; and of his Gospel and of the Scriptures, which are able to make a man wise unto salvation; that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end; in the latter end of life, at death; that then it may appear a man has been so wise as to be concerned for a future state, for the good of his soul in another world; by listening to the counsel and instruction of Christ, in his word; by lookin”
  11. Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 57:17: For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him, .... Not the greedy watchmen of the church of Rome, Isa 56:10, but teachers and preachers in the reformed churches, who mind their own things, and not the things of Christ; seek after good benefices and livings, temporalities and pluralities, and to be lord bishops; taking the oversight of the flock for filthy lucre sake; which may easily be observed to be the predominant sin of the preachers and professors of the reformed churches; for which God has a controversy with them, and, resenting it, has smote”
  12. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:7: Here is, I. David's endeavour to perfect himself in his religion, and to make himself (as we say) master of his business. He hopes to learn God's righteous judgments. He knew much, but he was still pressing forward and desired to know more, as knowing this, that he had not yet attained; but as far as perfection is attainable in this life he reached towards it, and would not take up short of it. As long as we live we must be scholars in Christ's school, and sit at his feet; but we should aim to be head-scholars, and to get into the highest form. God's judgments ar”
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