The Written Word

God said that Solomon would build His temple, but He had given “all the details” to David. He described the way in which the temple was to be built in very specific terms, and vivid detail. It was a plan with specific information about “the temple, its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms and the room for the mercy seat.” It was a plan for the design and composition of everything in the temple.

As the temple was being constructed, Solomon and the men who did the work could be confident because God had enabled David to “understand in writing by His hand upon me.” He had written down what God had said. The result was a plan that provided God’s precise words and a description of everything that was to take place.

This is an example of a truth found throughout the Bible, as God stressed the importance of the written word. For example, He had told Moses to write down how He had fought on behalf of Israel against Amalek (Exodus 17:14).

He wrote the Ten Commandments on two tablets (Exodus 31:18), and He said that Israel’s king was to write his own copy of the Law (Deuteronomy 17:18).

This is why it is important to know God’s written Word. For here we have a clear record of God’s standards and the principles by which we should live. It should be the foundation of every decision, every thought, every action. It provides us with a pattern to guide our thoughts, and gives us God’s expectations.

Dedicate yourself to living according to the written plans God has given in His Word. Read the Bible. Study it.

Meditate on it. Memorize it. But don’t stop there. Put it into practice. It will bring you success, and change your life.