Why Read the Bible?
The Law of the LORD is perfect...(Psalm 19:7).
Several years ago, I wrote a book on the basics of the Bible for men who were just starting their journey with Christ. It is one of eight books I have written that went out of print last year and which I decided to revise and update and publish on Amazon. Since many of my women friends asked why the original was just for men (the publisher’s request), I decided to update the book but without any gender specificity. The book just released in both hard copy and ebook on Amazon and you can find it by simply putting my name in the Amazon search engine. It is simply called “The Word”.
Serendipitously (with my help) it released the same week that I was teaching on the second half of Psalm 19 at Highline Community Church. In this half of the psalm, King David moves from his comments on what theologians call “General Revelation” (how God has revealed something of himself in nature) to “Special Revelation”, how God has revealed his will in the scriptures. If I were asked why someone should read and master the Bible (other than the fact that it is the most important book in Western civilization and you are not truly educated without understanding it) I might point them to the second half of Psalm 19. David gives five benefits of reading (and applying) the Bible.
In these verses, David uses five synonyms that highlight certain nuances of the scriptures that were available in 1000 BC. We have the benefit of the further writings of the prophets and apostles that David did not possess. He begins by writing that the Law (torah) is “perfect” and “restores the soul”. It is my observation, certainly true in my own life, that our spiritual condition tends toward drift and atrophy. Much like our body needs physical exercise to keep it in shape, our soul/spirit needs spiritual “exercise” to keep it healthy. The Word (another name for the Bible) revives and restores our inner life. That should be reason enough to answer the question of “why read”, but David goes on.
He then writes that the Statutes (aydooth) are trustworthy, “Making wise the simple”. When David refers to someone as “simple” or “naive” he is speaking of a man or woman who does not know what God has told us in the Bible. As a result, the “simple” have no moral or spiritual “compass” (other than the one of their own making). Wisdom in the Bible speaks of the ability of a man or woman to be able to distinguish between the trivial and fundamental. They know what is really important in life. Reading the Bible can make you wise.
David goes on to tell us that the Precepts (yawshar) of the Lord are “right”. They point the right way to the right objective. The result is that they “rejoice the heart”. In other words, time in the Bible can give you joy. Joy is different from happiness. Happiness often requires the right set of external circumstances. True joy is a reality that happens at the level of our spirits. God uses the Word to bring us joy.
Next he writes the the Commands (mitzvaw) are “radiant” and they give light to the eyes. God’s Word enlightens us. Living according to his instructions makes our minds clear. I believe we live in an age of confusion where people desperately need spiritual clarity. Where can it be found? In the Word.
Finally, David writes that the Decrees (mishpawt) of the Lord are true or sure, and they bring us “great reward” when we keep them.
So why should you read (and apply) the Bible? It can revive you, make you wise, give you joy, enlighten you, warn you, and reward you greatly. If all this is true (and of course it is) neglecting this spiritual discipline seems to be plain stupid!
To hear all my thoughts on Psalm 19, check out the following website after Sunday: http://highlinecc.org/?page_id=196.