2 Chronicles 34:30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests… I. THE BIBLE LOST. An unspeakable calamity. 1. To literature. Remark on the indebtedness of modern literature to the Bible. 2. To religion. Without the support and quickening derived from Scripture religion would speedily become languid. 3. To morality. Contrast in respect of morality countries possessing and countries lacking the Bible. II. THE BIBLE FOUND. A great mercy. More to be prized than the discovery of gold-mines, which can only contribute to man's material wealth, or even of rare manuscripts by human authors, which enrich chiefly the intellect, the finding of the Bible by an individual or a nation for the first time, or the recovery of it after it has been for some time lost, is: 1. An occasion of great joy, and is usually felt to be such. Witness the gladness of Luther at finding the Bible in the convent at Erfurth. And ought to be: 2. A reason for special thankfulness, as it generally is to all who know its value as a revelation of Divine wisdom and love, and can appreciate its power to influence the hearts and lives of men. III. THE BIBLE READ. A blessed privilege. 1. Many might read the Bible who do not have it. A sad deprivation. This the case of the heathen generally and of numbers at home. An argument for missions. 2. Many have the Bible, yet do not read it. A grievous sin. This the case with thousands in Christendom to whom God's Word is a strange book. An argument for preaching. 3. Many have the Bible, but cannot read it. A pitiful condition. This the case of those who through defective education or blindness are unable to read. An argument for Christian philanthropy. 4. Many have the Bible and read it. A happy experience. This the case of those who have learnt to recognize in the Bible God's Word, and to appreciate its suitability to their soul's needs. An argument for the inspiration of the Scriptures. IV. THE BIBLE OBEYED. An indispensable duty. 1. Obedience the end and aim of the Bible. The Bible not written for information merely, but for direction also. Designed not simply for the construction of creeds, but likewise for the regulation of conduct (Matthew 6:24; James 1:22). 2. Obedience the only homage acceptable to the Bible. To read it, admire its literary beauty, study its theology, extol its excellences, circulate it, are good if these acts are accompanied by obedience, but if not they are comparatively worthless. 3. Obedience the best witness to the Divinity of the Bible. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God" (John 7:17). Those who know the Bible best, by giving practical obedience to its precepts are most fully convinced of its heavenly and supernatural origin. 4. Obedience the necessary means for obtaining the blessing of the Bible. Not the hearers of the Word, but the doers thereof, are justified before God (Matthew 7:21; Luke 11:28; Romans 2:13). - W. Parallel Verses KJV: And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD. |
    |