We call our approach to the Bible a Spirit-illumined, God-centered, grammatical, historical, and theological interpretation. We began this topic in the previous column. Grammatical interpretation involves the study of the words of Scripture, their meanings, their uses as various parts of speech and in various grammatical constructions, and their use to form clauses, sentences, and paragraphs that express the thoughts of the writers and the God who inspired them.

We begin with a word about words. Words have meaning. In fact, most words have a range of meaning. For example, Webster’s New World Dictionary offers 21 separate meanings for the word way, from “a means of passing from one place to another” to “a timber framework on which a ship is built.” The same dictionary lists 8 meanings for thought, from “the act or process of thinking” to “a little; trifle.” These examples show that the meanings of words are tied up with how they are used. Context rules; context is king.

Isaiah 55:8 uses the two terms, thoughts and ways. “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord.” This text is often used to teach God’s incomprehensibility and transcendence. For example, although we may know God, we cannot fully comprehend Him. God is too great. In addition, God knows all. As His creatures, we cannot possibly grasp the full field of all knowledge. Matthew Henry begins his exposition of this text, “If we look up to heaven, we find God’s counsels there high and transcendent, his thoughts and ways infinitely above ours.” With this perspective in mind, we quote Isaiah 55:9, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” This interpretation is the result of taking the text and the words thoughts and ways out of context.

The note in the New Geneva Study Bible offers a similar interpretation of Isaiah 55:8. The note reads as follows: “Specifically, God’s thoughts concerning grace exceed human imagination.” One of the references to which this note refers is Romans 11:33. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” In other words, God’s thoughts and ways are unsearchable and unfathomable.

The immediate context of Isaiah 55:8-9 tells a different story. Consider verses 6-7: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Sinners follow wicked ways and have unrighteous thoughts. God’s thoughts and ways are decidedly different; His ways and thoughts are righteous. The thrust of the text is ethical. Isaiah 55:8 does not teach God’s transcendence.

The distance between heaven and earth (Isa. 55:9) illustrates the separation between the evil thoughts and ways of wicked men and the righteous ways and thoughts of the holy God. At the same time, the holy God forgives the evil thoughts and wicked ways of sinners (v. 7) who repent of their wicked ways and thoughts and call upon Him (v. 6). Praise God this is the case!

There is an important lesson here. When interpreting the words of Scripture, always be mindful of how the Bible uses them. Interpret the meanings of words as they are used in context. Remember, context rules; context is king.

—Dennis J. Prutow