13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life. Proverbs 4
Israel were given the written word (definition of Scripture) of the Law and Prophets, but we have the Living Word and the Holy Spirit within when we know Jesus.
Someone I know sent me a Bible verse this morning, which I’m still pondering. Sometimes we get a verse(s) and it can be for our encouragement and sometimes it’s a specific word for a situation that we’re going to face. God still speaks to us through His Word today, it’s still a Living Word.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4
The enemy hates God’s Word and tries to destroy it wherever he can. While Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on the mountain top, the enemy led the people of Israel astray in their camp. Moses came down the mountain to discover the people were running wild. He was so angry that he smashed the tablets to pieces.
16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. Exodus 32
Moses smashed the stone tablets God had written upon, but God replaced them. The people had to have God’s Words to know how they should live before Him and walk in His blessing.
In countries under communism, Christians used to smuggle Bibles across the borders and give them to secret believers in the underground Church. Penalties were severe for believers who spread God’s Word, either the written word or by preaching it.
Around the same time in Western countries the Bible often gathered dust on the shelf, because the people had freedom and all their needs were supplied. Testing can be by not having enough (not nearly enough) or by having a surplus, the easy life. But the opening scripture in Proverbs 4:13 has a warning attached;
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
We need to feed our souls on the Word each day, just as surely as we feed our bodies good food. A starvation diet, or a diet of news media, will leave us weak and ineffective. Feed your soul today and allow God to speak His words of encouragement and life to you – the total opposite of all the world’s bombarding you with.
24 ‘“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.’”
27 ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6