In my previous post I suggested that reading the Bible is rather a good idea. In fact, I suggested that reading the Bible in a year is a great way to grow in 2017. And Joe wrote last week about the benefits of reading the Bible.
Today I want to be even more dogmatic about it and tell you that reading the Bible is indispensable for the Christian to grow and mature into the person that God intends. Here’s some indispensable reasons why the Bible is, well, indispensable … from the Bible itself (Psalm 19).
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
This is David’s Psalm, Psalm 19, which is one of the richest you’ll find in the whole Bible. In fact, the Psalm is about the Bible, God’s Word and has some really good insight for us as to why we should be be readers of the Bible. C.S. Lewis wrote about this Psalm:
‘I take this to be the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.’”
Here’s what David says about God’s Word:
The Bible gives you life.
This is one of the most fundamental promises of God about his Word, that it brings to life that which is dead, and brings into existence that which doesn’t exist. Think about the beginning of the Psalm where David is praising God for creation, a universe that came about by God’s Word. Here, David turns his attention to something greater than creation, His very Word, and says that it has the ability to bring about an internal revival of the heart.
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
Paul said a similar thing in Romans 10:17 –
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The foundation of faith comes from the Word of God giving us hears to hear.
The Bible gives you wisdom
Ever make a wrong turn? Me too. Usually when I’m relying on my own wisdom. In the Bible God reveals who He is and what He requires from you. This knowledge is sure and right, and as you discover and believe it, it starts to grow wisdom in you.
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
If you want to be wise, if you want to see the word from God’s perspective, if you want to see yourself as God sees you, then read the Bible.
The Bible gives you joy
Linked to “precepts” is “joy”:
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The word that David uses for precepts here could also be translated “rules”. The rules of the Lord are right. Following them causes your heart to rejoice. Why? walking in the way that you are made, created & designed to walk will give you a life of joy. (Note: this doesn’t mean you’ll alway be happy). Doing your own thing, being “free”, breaking rules, doesn’t make you joyful. The greatest freedom comes in following what God has designed for your life, and that means walking in obedience to his rules.
The Bible gives you vision
This follows from the last indispensable reason to read the Bible – it not only gives you joy but helps you see clearly.
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
Sometimes we get confused by our own desires. We can be divided but when we trust in God we are acknowledging that his ways are right, and by doing so we start to discern right from wrong.
The Bible gives you purity
Psalm 119:9 asks “How can a young man keep his way pure?’
then gives the answer:
By guarding it according to your word.
God’s Word is pure and free from any trace of error or imperfection and as you read it your life begins to reflect this.
the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The Bible gives you greater desire for Him
The more you seek, the more you will discover.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
The Bible gives you Godliness
By reading the Bible you can understand how and why God does the things that He does (or at least, to a greater degree). To be godly means that you are like God – to be God-like in your character.
the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
As God operates in the World through His Spirit, so we are promised that the more God-like we become, the more like His Spirit we will become
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law
Galatians 5:22-23
The Bible promises reward
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Here’s a testimony from a man who had discover that not one thing is more valuable or worth seeking after than God’s Word, because by keeping it, there is great reward.
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