We can see, feel and even hear the Bible (read to us or recorded). We can’t do that with God. At least not often. Because of that we can at times revere the Bible, the book. As this verse shows us, it is an amazing book. There is no other like it. None. The word in Hebrew that is translated flawless literally means pure, but it goes beyond simple purity. It is the purest of pure. Over 40 years ago when I searched for a diamond ring to ask Jennifer to be my wife there was a kind of diamond called a Keepsake. The name and accompanying paperwork guaranteed that it was flawless. I paid extra and got a somewhat smaller stone because of the guaranteed flawless nature of the gem. That is the word Solomon uses here. It is the only place in the book where that particular word for flawless or pure is used. Here enters the danger. The perfection of the book coupled with the powerful teaching is meant as a reflection of the author: God. The term Bibliolatry means worship of the Bible. Sounds good? It’s not. Idolatry is the worship of a physical object as god. You can see the problem. The Bible which is the flawless, proven, word of the eternal perfect God is a pretty amazing supernatural gift. However it is the gift giver we worship not His gift. We study it, we learn it, we memorize it, we call it to mind in a crisis, we share it, essentially as committed followers of God we embrace it with our entire being as the only flawless source of truth in existence. It’s easy to see how our focus can easily slip from the author to the book. I’m often asked what book I’m reading and I occasionally struggle to remember the title and I very often can’t call to mind the author. It is a tiny slide to move our eyes and affection from the author of the Bible to His book. Today value, embrace, study, learn and commit to heart the word of God but remember the Word became flesh. Set all your heart on Him. #BeTheEdge
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 NIV
