“…we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God…you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, THE WORD OF GOD, which also PERFORMS ITS WORK IN YOU who believe.” (1 Thess. 2:13)
[Because of the great reverence the Jewish scribes held toward the Scriptures, they exercised extreme care in making new copies of the Hebrew Bible. The entire scribal process was specified in meticulous detail to minimize the possibility of even the slightest error. The letters, words, and lines were counted, and the middle letters of the Pentateuch and the Old Testament were determined. If a single mistake was discovered, the entire manuscript was destroyed. As a result of this extreme care, the quality of the manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible surpasses all other ancient manuscripts. I read an account that certain men who wanted to disprove the accuracy of the scripture received the book of Isaiah the longest book in the Old Testament discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls and diligently compared to the King James Version and found 12 discrepancies out of 120,000 words that in no way affected its meaning.]
“ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD–BREATHED and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
[Not only is scripture God-Breathed but:] “…the WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE, AND POWERFUL, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and it judges the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12)
[I think this is what inspired David to say:]
“I have HIDDEN YOUR WORD IN MY HEART that I might not sin against you.” (Psa. 119:11)
[How precious is the word of God?] “…MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psa. 19:10-11)
[So, what should our daily task be?] “SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)
I HAVE HIDDEN YOUR WORD IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU
-Bill Stockham