The term “wrest” is seldom used in our vocabulary today, but it was familiar to those who lived prior to and during the time of the early church. Moses first wrote about it when encouraging the people to not “wrest judgment” (Exodus 23:2, 6; Deuteronomy 16:19). The word means to “distort, pervert, stretch out, turn aside or away” (Young’s).
David’s use of it caught my attention. As a spokesman for God, David was frustrated because he was honoring God’s Word, but his people refused to do so. He lamented, “In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil” (Psalm 56:4-5).
Peter referenced Paul when he said, “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). It just so happens that Peter had been writing about the coming of the Lord and how everything was going to be burned. It appears they changed the threatening message.
We are in the throes of football playoffs this week, and I see some similarities, simplistically speaking, between the Word of God and a football. Everyone is concerned about the safety and comfort of the players, but the ball also is subjected to rain, snow and abuse. Everyone is after it, wanting to grab, throw, fall on or abuse it in some other way. Actually, it is not the ball they want, but personal gain that comes through having the ball. Without it in the player’s possession, they cannot advance, no first down can be attained, and certainly no touchdown can be made without it. After the touchdown is made, the player throws the ball down for it has served its purpose and permitted personal gain. The players are not particular about how it is used; they hide it, use it deceptively in a fake play or hold on to it selfishly.
There are those who use the Scriptures for personal gain. They are used to win arguments for arguments sake. Often, the Bible is used to justify an ungodly behavior by manipulating it (fake play) or “wresting” it to conform to individual needs and wants, to make personal gain or to advance one’s cause. When finished with it, many dispose of it. When not willing to defend it or have it in their possession because of it attracting attention, they “hand it off” to rid themselves of it. We must carry the Word with pride, forthrightness and objectivity!
