There are many negative views regarding the word of God that swirl around, searching for minds and hearts that are vulnerable and ripe to be turned against it. Some samplings of such views might go as follows: It’s outdated. How could a book this old possibly provide for the complexity and nuances of our modern world? Or some might complain that it’s dry, rote and boring. There are those who would say that it depicts a cruel God that is not the same as their version of what God should be like. Some even claim that it is bigoted book that teaches people to discriminate and do immoral things according to a woke code of morality. 

Mens’ Standards Or God’s?

The last allegation may be true, by a woke person’s standards, but that is of course a clear indictment of their own movement and not of the Bible. Same with those who view the God of the Bible as cruel for the doctrine of hell and the violence of the Old Testament. Movements come and movements go. Ideas come and they go. But the word of God has stood firm for millennia. 

And it is living and active according to Hebrews 4:12. Many of us who have been immersed in scripture for years can attest to that—as it brings life and change to us as we feed on it. It is alive—it is not dry, rote or boring. And human nature hasn’t changed one bit since any part of the Bible was written, and neither has God or His plans. So the word of God is not outdated and it never will be—it will stand forever. 

A Beautiful Tribute

David in the Psalms gives a beautiful tribute to the word and precepts of God in Psalm 19:7-11:

⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, 
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward. – ESV   

Wow, what a comprehensive list of the benefits of God’s law, word and ways! Revival, wisdom, joy, enlightenment, endurance, a treasure greater than gold and sweeter than honey, warning of danger, and great reward. That makes you want to pick up your Bible doesn’t it? 

Another Attestation

Of course there is also the well-known verse: 2 Timothy 3:16, that tells us that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” – ESV 

This was speaking of the Old Testament Scriptures, but of course the New Testament is also recognized as Scripture, now. 

Finally, let’s look at Isaiah 55:10-11:

¹⁰ “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. – ESV 

Finding Rest In The Word

This testifies to the tremendous authority and power of God’s word. Not our power or will, but His. If God said it, it is so. If He predicted it, it will happen. No word of His will return void. His words are on a mission and we can rest assured they will accomplish all they were sent forth to do. 

Let’s find rest and hope in this. We can be still and know that He is God. He has plans and they will be fulfilled—let’s just get on board with them.