Book Divine

 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.  
2 Timothy 3: 16-17

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Holy Bible, Book Divine
John Burton (1773 - 1822)

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 are to guide and guard;

mine to punish or reward.

Mine to comfort in distress, 

suff'ring 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 are mine.

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Can you imagine a time when there was no Sunday School?  Sunday Schools were introduced to England in 1780 by Robert Raikes.   There was also no public school system, and most children could not read, and many had never seen a Bible.  So when the founders were deciding "what should we teach?" some thought they should have the children memorized catechisms, but Raikes and a young Sunday school teacher names John Burton taught the Bible.  And if the children needed to learn how to read, they taught that, too.

When Barton was thirty, in 1803, he published the above hymn for children in a little book called Youth's Monitor in Verse, a Series of Tales, Emblems, Poems and Songs.  He published it again in another book three years later.  

Can you imagine a small child proudly carrying a Bible close to his chest and singing these words?  Such an image should keep us from taking God's word for granted.  

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RHC 257: Holy Bible, Book Divine (singing) - YouTube

Robert Raikes - Christian Hall of Fame (christianhof.org)

Holy Bible, Book Divine | Hymnary.org

A Life in Focus

Oh the dreams I had as a child: ice skater, librarian, mommy! I read many books, listened raptly to the Sunday school teachers and the preacher in the pulpit as they made Bible stories come alive.  I watched old movies with my mom—and she told me I could be anything I wanted to be.  My young mind was awash in the glory of the future!

As I grew older, my dreams did not stop.  But I never wrote the next epic saga atop the bestseller list, never pursued creative speaking with witty one-liners, never crafted beautiful, fashionable jewelry with my own hands, never dreamed up the next sassy scrapbooking supplies that everyone had to have, nor have I sold any other home-created endeavor which would help out the thirsty bank account.  Never travelled the world bringing home trinkets and stories to share.

Now that I am older and this extrovert is more in touch with her introvert side, I pause often for reflection, considering all that my life has been and what, if anything, may be in the future.  And I invite myself to remember my faith-based upbringing.  My mom and dad took me to church and showed me what it means to not only live a life of joyful service in our church, but what a blessed life it is in pursuit of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  How deeply honorable and noble it is to be a hearer and doer of the Word.  

I remember hearing of how deep and wide the love of God is for me through the hymns I learned by holding a precious hymnal in my hands; the smell and feel of the paper within still invoke wistful memories.  The perfectly perforated pieces of Flannelboard cutouts that I helped my mom punch out that were the early visual representation of the people and stories within that precious Book.  I learned to see those pictures in my mind’s eye to help me remember those stories and set my learning on a path from which I have never wanted to stray.

So when I find myself daydreaming of the future, I make a conscious effort not to dream about worldly aspirations that could bring me recognition or help me pay bills.  I think God has not called me to that.  Oh, I’ll do the actions I need to do while in this earthly shell to keep my house clean, teach the children, love and respect my husband, maybe add to the household income.  But I’ll also find ways to glorify God in my thought life and in the working of my hands, knowing that God sees me.  I’ll also be considering my future Home in Heaven in the presence and light of God, singing in the choir with all that is within me.  It is becoming my earnest focus and purpose to see Him glorified now and for always.

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Genesis 16:13

Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?”

Luke 1: 46-47

And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave, for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

James 1:22

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Word of God

 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes and I shall observe it to the end.  

Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it will all my heart.  

Make me walk in the path of Your commandments for I delight in it.  

Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain.

Turn my eyes from looking at vanity and revive me in Your ways.

Psalm 119: 33-37

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O Word of God Incarnate
William Walsham How (1823-1897)

O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky:
we praise Thee for the radiance that from the hallowed page,

a lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.

The Church from Thee, her Master, received the gift divine,
and still that light she lifteth o'er all the earth to shine,
it is the sacred casket where gems of truth are stored;

it is the heaven-drawn picture of Thee, the living Word.

It floateth like a banner before God's host unfurled;

it shineth like a beacon above the darkling world.

It is the chart and compass that o'er life's surging sea,

mid mists and rocks and quicksands, still guides, O Christ, to Thee.

O make Thy Church, dear Savior, a lamp of purest gold,

to bear before the nations Thy true light as of old.

O teach Thy wandering pilgrims by this their path to trace,

till, clouds and darkness ended, they see Thee face to face.

O Word of God Incarnate - YouTube

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William W. How served a rural congregation on the Welsh border for twenty-eight years and then ministered in London's East End.  He loved the Bible.  On his symbolic pastoral staff, he engraved the words of St. Bernard: "Pasce verbo, Pasce vita," which means, "Feed with the Word, feed with the Life."  These words he penned are full of meaning and truth.

God's Word IS full of life!  It is full of the words that give us joy to our hearts, peace that passes understanding, and a hope for our future.  No other written book can compare.  It took me a long time to really enjoy Bible reading; I encourage you to be in His Word daily so that it may revive you in His Ways.

Grace and Peace to you....

The Meal

 And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all.  
They all ate and were satisfied, 
and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces and also of the fish.
Mark 6:41-43

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Break Thou the Bread of Life

Mary Artemisia Lathbury (1841-1913)

Break Thou the bread of life, Dear Lord, to me,

as Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;

beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;

My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word!

Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,

as Thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;

then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;

and I shall find my peace, my all-in-all.

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Surely you have sung this song before the communion service in church.  But it was really intended by the author to prepare the heart for Bible study.  Mary Lathbury was sitting by Lake Chautauqua with her Bible and remembered the disciples at the Sea of Galilee and thought of these words. The great London preacher G. Campbell Morgan customarily read the words of the hymn before his midweek service.

Do you meet the living Word of God as you study the Bible and discover the character of God?  Do you find yourself marveling at His miracles, awestruck at the mighty displays of His glory, and humbled by the never-ending, reckless love of God?  He is as real as ever, my friends, and in control of this world as He ever was.  From the story of creating the earth, to showing His power, might, and mercy to those who believed long ago, to the simple story of His desire for everyone to be saved from the penalty of their sins, to the soon and coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords in clouds of triumph...He Loves You.  Learn to drink deeply from the well of refreshment that He offers you that is His Story in the Bible.  Go beyond the sacred page and meet the Living Word.  There is enough for everyone.  He is Our Peace.

And read verse 42 again.

How I Do A Word Study

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  2 Timothy 2:15

 Have you ever done a Bible word study?  Here's how I do one:

1.  Pick a word to study.  There are lots of lists out there or maybe you're keeping a list of Bible words you want to explore.  Maybe start a notebook so you can write down all this study information or add pages to your current Bible planner or binder.

2.  Look up the word in your dictionary.  That way you are sure of the word's definition.  This may sound silly but as I have studied words (#WordNerd), I have found that every now and then I am a little off in my definition.  Sometimes there can be so many nuances.  

2a. Is your word derived from another language?  Are there different connotations to your word based on its usage?  Was there a different connotation one hundred years ago or has the word been used the same way since Day One?

3.  Look up your word in the Hebrew and Greek.  Sometimes words in English can have a different meaning in the Bible (see: hope).  Some resources are listed below; let me know if you find a good one I can add to this list.  Are there subtle differences in the different languages?  You can use a basic lookup like Google Translate but explore the word a little further with a more in-depth study site or app to find the meaning and usage and not just the definition. There are many online sites to find words.  It's fun to use sites that have a sound file where you can hear the word pronounced in Hebrew or Greek.  Careful, you may find this a fun activity! 

4.  Use a concordance (like the one at the back of your Bible) to see how many verses in the Bible use this word.  Write them down on your study paper.  Also check with a really comprehensive concordance (like Strong's Concordance) to find every verse that contain the word.  (Some Bible concordances use just the major Scriptural references or don't list every single one because of space issues.)  And you'll find that different translations may use different words.  I read and use the NASB but when I read or hear of a different word used in another translation, it helps to give me a different shade of meaning and helps deepen my understanding of the word and idea in the verse.  Maybe keep track of those different words in your study for future reference; I often will write down a synonym used in a different translation in my everyday Bible next to the verse where the word is found.  My mom taught me to do that.

What do you think of this list?  I hope that it will get you started on the wonderful #WordNerd journey!  Is there another step or resource you like, as well?  Let me know in the comments!  Let's learn and study together!  

Resources:

Recommended: Get the app for the Strong's Concordance and learn to use it. (Apple and Mac)

Dictionary.com | Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com

Ancient Hebrew Dictionary - Aleph (ancient-hebrew.org)

Hebrew Dictionary | HebrewPod101.com

Old & New Testament Greek Lexical Dictionary - Bible Lexicons - StudyLight.org

Do you know how the Strong's Concordance came to be in existence?  Seems to me he was a major #WordNerd!

Lamp of our Feet

Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path ... Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them.  The unfolding of Thy words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.  

Psalm 119: 105, 129-130 

Lamp of Our Feet

Bernard Barton (1784 - 1849)

Lamp of our feet, whereby we trace
our path when wont to stray,

stream from the fount of heavenly grace, 

brook by the traveler's way

Bread of our souls, whereon we feed,

true manna from on high.

Our guide and chart, wherein we read

of realms beyond the sky.

Word of the everliving God,

will of His glorious Son:

without Thee how could earth be trod, 

or heaven itself be won?

Lord grant us all aright to learn

the wisdom it imparts,

and to its heavenly teaching turn,

with simple childlike hearts.

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The amazing poem that is Psalm 119 praised God for His Word in verse after verse.  In the Hebrew language, it is a cleverly constructed acrostic poem, going through the entire Hebrew alphabet in eight-verse stanzas: each line in the first stanza begins with aleph, the second begins with beth, and so on.  Does your Bible divide it up like this?

Bernard Barton incorporated several biblical images in his poem above to describe God's Word: a lamp, a stream, bread, and a chart or map.  Throughout the psalm, God's Word is described in many ways but the verse that stands out (for me and for many others) is verse 105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

How have you seen God light the way for you as you follow Him and hide His word in your heart?  Have you found rest and peace by His streams of water or nourishment at His table?  Have you turned your life over to His direction and seek His ways and Who He Is?  His Word describes itself as a vital source of life.  I pray you have found this to be true.

Grace and peace to you.