39 Search the
scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which
testify of me.. (John
5:39)
I cannot imagine a more simple and unambiguous statement as this uttered by our
Lord in reference to Holy Scripture, yet men (even Bible scholars) are
constantly contriving to add, or detract, from the Word of God based upon a
presumed knowledge, sophistication, and interpretation that goes well beyond
the limits and simplicity of God's Word. If we resolve to accept that God is
God, and we are His creatures, the picture of our understanding in contrast to
His becomes of sharper focus.
Read the assessment of a great Christian general regarding the Holy Bible:
The
Bible is the Book of Books - a book which supplies the place of all others and
cannot be replaced by any other. I prefer the Bible to any other book. There is
enough in that to satisfy the most ardent thirst for knowledge; to open the way
to TRUE wisdom; and to teach the only road to salvation and eternal happiness.
It is not above human comprehension, and is sufficient to satisfy all its
desires.
General Robert E. Lee, perhaps the greatest military commander ever produced on
our native soil, and former Superintendent of the US Military Academy at West
Point.
The Bible itself is a sufficient tool, and is incomparably superior to all
writings of men, to teach true faith, religion, doctrine, and wisdom. God's Word
is our lamp on a dark road. All other writings of mere men are simply of merit
based upon their echoing the wisdom of God's Book. Solomon best summarizes the
case: 11 The words of the wise are as
goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from
one shepherd. 12 And further, by these, my son,
be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a
weariness of the flesh. 13 Let us hear the conclusion of
the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole
duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work
into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be
evil. (Eccl
12:11-14) I love
and learn from the writings of the great Reformers and from men such as Bishop
JC Ryle and Charles Spurgeon; but these are only beneficial to me by pointing
back to the original source from which they, too, drew their wisdom - the
Bible.
The lyrics to this simple hymn were written by John Burton, Sr., in 1803. The
most popular accompanying tune was the work of William B. Bradbury entitled, Aletta,
composed in 1858. It was the most commonly heard tune around my house for many
years as it was sung in the daily morning assembly at my son, Michael's,
Christian Elementary Academy (this hymn was written for children, but adults of
our time need to know it):
Holy Bible, Book
Divine
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Holy Bible, Book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine;
Mine to tell me whence I came;
Mine to teach me what I am.
Mine to chide me when I rove;
Mine to show a Savior’s love;
Mine thou art to guide and guard;
Mine to punish or reward.
Mine to comfort in distress;
Suffering in this wilderness;
Mine to show, by living faith,
Man can triumph over death.
Mine to tell of joys to come,
And the rebel sinner’s doom;
O thou holy Book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine.
Holy Bible, Book divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine; Mine to tell
me whence I came; Mine to teach me what I am. The very first four words
of this hymn set forth the stellar nature of the Holy Bible. It is BOTH Holy
and Divine. Its premises are Heavenly and Holy Ground, and its Author is God
Almighty! It is the most precious treasure given to man representing the authorship
of the Triune God. These words are breathed by God the Father, transmitted by
the Holy Ghost, and lived out in the Life and Works of the Word Incarnate -
Jesus Christ. It belongs to us insofar as we receive its teachings into the
privileged chambers of our hearts. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I
might not sin against thee. (Psalm
119:11) If we have
hidden God's Word in our hearts, it will have the efficacious effect of
changing who we are, and changing our behavior from one of habitual sin, to one
of habitual righteousness. We are continually reminded in God's Word that we
are not our own, but belong to the Father who is our Maker. Know ye that the
LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his
people, and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3) We know, from Holy Writ, that
we are made by the very hands of God. We are not products of evolutionary
accident, or descended from apes (except for some college professors). We have
often discussed how the Bible is a mirror to the soul to reveal to us our total
depravity apart from Christ. We
see our shameful natures in Adam, in Cain, in those who remain without the Ark
of Noah, in Saul, David, the Woman taken in Adultery, the Woman at the Well,
the tragic failure of Peter at the tribunal of Christ, and in countless others
pictured for us in Scripture; yet those mentioned who turned to Christ were
forgiven, restored, and admitted to the sanctuary of grace. So, the picture we
see in Scripture of our depravity stands in stark relief to the salvation made
available by the grace and shed blood of our Lord and Savior.
Mine to chide me when I rove; Mine to show a Savior’s love; Mine thou art
to guide and guard; Mine to punish or reward. There are churches
today who believe that the Holy Ghost speaks to the individual believer in
words that are extraneous to Scripture. This is a fatal error. It is a
man-centered religion of wealth and health that teaches so. Does the Holy Ghost
speak to us? Yes, He does; but what vocabulary and phraseology does He use in
speaking? It is those words and truths revealed already in Holy Scripture. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things
to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26) We are forgetful souls. We may not
always remember those basic truths that are vital to our understanding. Yet, we
are told that the Holy Ghost will teach us by bringing truths to our remembrance
concerning the Words of Christ. How can we be reminded of something in
Scripture that we have never taken the trouble to even read?
The purpose of the Holy Ghost is never to boast of Himself, but always to point
to the glorious Christ. Howbeit when he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not
speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he
will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of
mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:13-14) The Holy Spirit is
God's Comforter to encourage and direct our steps on the WAY. He also protects
us from falling for the deceitful preaching of the false churches if we have
hidden God's Word in our hearts! Finally, the Holy Bible and its Living Word,
offers a choice of reward for faithfulness, or punishment for disobedience.
This punishment is not a mortal punishment, but one designed to open our eyes
and remind us that I am with thee alway, even
unto the end of the world.
Mine to comfort in distress; Suffering in this wilderness; Mine to show, by
living faith, Man can triumph over death. The world is a wilderness of sin and depravity; but it is a
wilderness through which the Children of God must pass just as Israel wandered
through the Wilderness of Sinai before approaching the Land of Promise. But
along the way in this wilderness, have we not seen the lovely Rose of Sharon
and the Lily of the Valleys (not valley) blooming beautifully along the way.
Have we not looked up in the dark sky of that wilderness and seen the Bright
and Morning Star gleaming brilliantly from the beginning of darkness until the
morning dawn of the Sun of Righteousness arising and scattering the darkness?
No, man cannot triumph over death, but Christ has done so FOR us. Though we are
in no wise worthy, we can triumph over death in our Ark of Salvation which is
Christ! We appear before God as righteous because we have - not our own - but
the IMPUTED righteousness of Christ by which we gain Heaven.
Mine to tell of joys to come, And the rebel sinner’s doom; O thou holy
Book divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine. God, like the loving
Father that He is, presents us with challenges and hardships that cause us to
grow stronger and able to face the vicissitudes of sinful man about us; but He
also points to that City set upon a Hill that emits the glorious beams of truth
and salvation to all who seek it. The rebel sinner is one who rebels against
God's authority and includes all who claim to be 'atheists' - there is no such
thing - and those who commit lascivious acts of the flesh. They are reprobates
whose sinful rebellion has seared their consciences and hindered their ability
to hear the soft whispers of the Holy Ghost - not that the Holy Ghost has
stopped speaking, but they have stopped their ears to His Voice.
The Holy Bible was not written for the benefit of God or His angels, but for
US! He sent His Word into the world that we might understand His voice and know
God in intimate ways that we could not have done without a redeeming Savior. And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John
1:14)
I will end this hymn devotion with a statement and a question from the Lord: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in
me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John
11:25-26)
