Good Morning!

Psalm 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

I listened to a sermon by John MacArthur yesterday that really hit home. In it he extolled the bible. I’ve heard other sermons of his like it before. He’s not the only one. Alistair Begg, Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah, R.C. Sproul, and many others deeply praise the bible. I’ve heard critics say that this actually is making the bible an idol and taking the focus off God. I say that shows how little those people understand their bibles.

Certainly, the bible is not a god, but it is the direct words OF God. Yes, God has revealed himself to us through nature, but the bible is God speaking directly to his people. It is a comprehensive record of history, prophecy, instruction, promise of reward, and warning regarding disobedience. It was written by many, many people in many countries over thousands of years yet is interwoven so intricately that one is simply speechless once this is understood. Furthermore, the depths of its riches seem never to have an ending. Indeed, the more one studies the bible, the more amazing it is. Mortal man will never exhaust everything there is to be revealed. It is my belief we will be enjoying many, many bible studies in heaven under the master teacher, Jesus Christ himself.

However, this isn’t apparent to everyone. In fact, it is a treasure only to those who hear the shepherd’s voice.

John 10:24-31 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and , and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.

The Jews in this passage are generally considered to be the Jewish religious rulers. Their rocks are their ballot against Jesus. But, it’s not just those Jews who didn’t believe. The people of Israel don’t hear either.

Romans 10:13-21 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hand to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Not only does Israel not hear, neither does anyone else who hears of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 18-25 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For that matter, even those who have never heard about Jesus do not listen.

Romans 1:18-23 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

My friends, if you enjoy your bible, consider it a privilege beyond understanding. You have been plucked out of a world of defiance and rebellion and been granted access to the holy, living God, the creator of the universe. The Alpha and the Omega. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Romans 9:15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.

Tell somebody about this.

Father, what can I say? Amen.

Copyright © 2019 Scott Powers