Holy Bible, Book Divine

“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.”

A wise person once told me that “We get our salvation from the Bible.  We get our theology from hymns.”  This particular hymn contains one of those fundamental truths of Christianity.  The Bible is not just a book of history (although it’s historical accuracy is unprecedented in ancient writings), or a book of practical wisdom written by men and women (although it contains truths for daily living written by both men and women).  As Christians, we believe that the Bible is the Word of God.  2 Timothy 3:16 says “All Scripture is God-breathed, and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”  When the world tries to tell us that the Bible is not accurate because it was written by men, we go back to this truth – The Bible was inspired by God.  When people tell you that the Bible was written for a different kind of people living in different societies, and doesn’t really apply to our lives or culture today.  We go back to this truth – The Bible was inspired by God.  The Bible is true, reliable, trustworthy, and that is fundamental to our Christian thinking.

This hymn was actually written for children to learn and recite.  I find it hard to believe children used to speak this kind of English, but there are some great truths in the verses to this hymn.  The Bible teaches us the following things:

• “whence we came” – We did not evolve from apes or monkeys.  We weren’t a result of a deposit of chemicals from aliens.  We are descendants of Adam and Noah.  Our world is too beautiful and too complex for humanity to evolve.  We were created by God.

• “what I am” –  Because of “whence we came” we are born into this world with a sinful nature.  Modern psychology will try to convince you that a child is born with a “blank slate” and through the environment around them, they will become good or evil.  Scripture teaches “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”   We aren’t born perfect or sinless, and get off track.  Because of Adam’s sin, we have a sinful nature.  However, we must recognize and accept that fact before we can realize our need for a Savior.

• “chide me when I rove” – Webster defines the word “chide” to mean “rebuke” or “reproach in a usually mild and constructive manner.”  Isn’t that what the Bible does?  You read a Scripture and you are convicted of certain behaviors or attitudes in your life.  By reading the Word and listening to the Holy Spirit, we are “chided” quietly and personnally.  Not for all the world to see, but in a “mild and constructive manner.”  I challenge you to read the Bible consistently.  You will find that the more you read it, the more you get out of it.  Sometimes encouragement, and sometimes chiding.  But you will definitely get something out of it.

• “mine to comfort in distress” – The Psalms can provide a great deal of comfort to someone that is hurting.  Many times the Psalms contain honest words about the difficulty of life and the desperation that can come.  But in those same Psalms, we are reminded of God’s greatness, God’s concern for His people , and we can take comfort in the words.

• “the rebel sinner’s doom” – In today’s Christian circles, it is rare to hear a preacher referred to as a “hell, fire and brimstone” preacher any longer.  There may have been an over-emphasis on this subject in the past, but the pendelum has probably swung too far the other way.  Scripture is clear about what the wages of sin is – death.  Real people will go to a real hell.  This ought to motivate us to tell others about the saving grace of God.  Not beat them over the head.  But to give us an urgency to share Christ’s love to others.

Oprah Winfrey has the “Book of the Month” club.  She has made many writers very wealthy with this part of her program.  Books that were popular 10 years ago, however, are no longer as popular or influential today.  The Bible, however, shouldn’t be the “flavor of the month.”  We shouldn’t be “hot and cold” in reading God’s Word.  God’s Word is too important for that.  It is the one Book that is both essential to daily living, and the one Book that is for true for all time.