# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_August 1860_S226
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

226 Instruction Against Doubt of the Divine Word and Its Truth.

I hear the word, but if I could believe that it is God Himself who has spoken it to me and speaks with me; tell me, where then would I stand, for great humility and pride? For humility, that I would be terrified that with such a little worm — indeed (as Abraham says) with dust and ashes — the Majesty in heaven Himself speaks. For pride, that such high Majesty does not disdain to look upon me, poor filth and stench; indeed, does not disdain to speak with me, and to speak so sweetly and comfortingly. O accursed be thou, Unbelief, before all creatures, Amen. We have also in this the examples of the dear Apostles, who indeed had the essential Word of God, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself, with them, and heard His gracious Gospel from His own holy mouth, as it had been brought from the bosom of the heavenly Father; yet how little did they hold it to be a true Word of God — now they did not believe that He would suffer and die, now they did not believe that He had risen from the dead, not to mention what else occurred among them in the Gospel history, so that the Lord Christ, on that account, on various occasions sharply rebuked them for it, as may be seen, Matt. 16:23; John 20:20; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:38, etc. What was it with the excellent prophet Moses — did he not doubt God's Word, which he himself had heard from God's own divine mouth, when he expressly contradicted it and said, Num. 11:21-22: Six hundred thousand men on foot are here, among whom I am, and yet you say, I will give you flesh, that you may eat a whole month. Shall sheep and cattle be slaughtered for them, that it may be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, that it may be enough for them?

Those who are caught in such great want and do not know it are indeed rightly to be pitied and heartily mourned over; but those who bear the yoke and feel the burden are blessed above many thousands of the others, and one may rightly rejoice over them, because God has thus opened their eyes, so that they can see what they lack, and may enjoy good counsel for their comfort and salvation. One of these was also the holy king and prophet David, upon whom this temptation, this doubt of the divine Word, must often have pressed most violently and struck powerfully against his soul, since he himself openly declares it and for that reason prays to God the Lord for gracious help, when he says, Ps. 119:38: Let your servant hold your commandment firmly as your word. Thereby he gives us to understand how hard it had often been for him indeed to hold God's Word firmly for that.

But how is one to act nowadays in such a conflict over these matters? How is one to be advised? Answer: First of all, such a one, who is occupied with these thoughts, should and must be encouraged to diligent prayer, just as we see that David did in the psalm cited and elsewhere. But if in such a time and distress he should feel too weak to pray, then the others who are around him — and likewise the Christian congregation in public assembly — should pray for him, and call upon the gracious God, that He