Christians have learned over the centuries to use the Bible as their guide. When the preacher’s car broke down on a country road, he walked to a nearby tavern to use the phone. After calling for a tow truck, he spotted his old friend, Frank, drunk and shabbily dressed at the bar. "What happened to you, Frank?" asked the minister. "You used to be rich." Frank told a sad tale of bad investments that were threatening him financially. "Go home," the preacher said. "Open your Bible at random, stick your finger on the page and there will be God’s answer." Some time later, the preacher bumped into Frank, who was wearing a Gucci suit, sporting a Rolex watch and had just stepped our of a Mercedes. "Frank." said the preacher, "I am glad to see things really turned around for you." "Yes, preacher, and I owe it all to you," said Frank. "I opened my Bible, put my finger down on the page and there was the answer - Chapter 11."

The Bible may never help you get rich, but it can help in many areas of your life. Those that read and study the Bible regularly have discovered that God’s word has power. It gives us comfort, it fills us with peace, it teaches us forgiveness, it reveals to us God’s love and mercy. In this section of scripture we will see how the rulers of Israel were instructed to learn God’s word, and so should we.

The leaders of Israel were to have a copy of God’s word with them. We are no longer ruled by kings. From Revelation 1:6 we learn that Jesus, "has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." So since we are also kings, we need to have a copy of God’s word with us.

God’s word was so important that he wanted his rulers to write for themselves a copy of the law. There were no printing presses or computers in those days. Copying all of the words of the law would be time consuming and tedious. But it was what God required. With all of our modern conveniences, we can’t even seem to find five minutes a day for Bible reading. God wants us to make his word an important part of our life. Let us be willing to set aside time each day for this important task.

The Interpreter’s Bible points out, "This ideal of kingship is almost unique in canonical literature. It offers a good pattern for anyone holding an office of public trust. Owing his duty to the people he governs, a ruler’s first obligation is to God whose authority in the last analysis he represents. When human authority rests in the divine, it can the more readily elicit response from the people."

Notice that the scroll was to be with the king. If he would go on a journey or travel through his kingdom, he was to take God’s word with him. God wants us to take his word with us. He wants us to read it, study it, meditate on it, and put it into practice.

The leader is encouraged to practice daily Bible reading. He was to read it every day of his life. The more we read the Bible, the more we understand God. From this reading the ruler would "learn to fear the Lord his God." By reading the Bible we will learn to reverence and honor God in our life.

It did not stop with just reading the law. The leader was also to keep God’s words and do them. We may know the Bible, but do we live the Bible? Do we practice what God has instructed us? When we learn to obey God’s word, we will be amazed how it affects every area of our life. We will have more happiness and less conflict in our soul. We will have greater faith and fewer doubts. We will receive spiritual strengthening and our mind will be at ease.

Just One Book

"There’s just one Book!" cried the dying sage;
"Read me the old, old story."
And the winged words that can never age
Wafted him home to glory.
There’s just one Book.

There’s just one Book for the tender years -
One Book alone for guiding
The little feet through the joys and fears
That unknown days are hiding.
There’s just one Book.

There’s just one Book for life’s gladness,
One book for the toilsome days;
One book that can cure life’s madness;
One book that can voice life’s praise.
There’s just one Book.

There’s just one Book for the dying,
One Book for the starting years,
And one for the soul that’s flying
Home for the measureless years.
There’s just one Book.

There are three benefits from Bible reading mentioned in this verse - we will gain humility, we will be steadfast in our walk, and we will be blessed. When we truly understand our condition before God and how we are so dependent on his mercy and forgiveness, it gives us a different perspective toward others. We understand how futile pride, arrogance, and feelings of superiority really are. We realize that we are all sinners together saved by grace. So we learn to overlook the shortcomings in others because we know our own frailties, weaknesses, and sins. The more we understand God, the more humble we feel.

Wilson comments, "It is here intimated that the Scriptures diligently read are a powerful means to keep a person humble, because they show that, though a king, he is subject to a higher Monarch, to whom he must give an account of all his administrations, and receive from Him his sentence agreeably to their quality, which is sufficient to abate the haughtiest person in the world."

This verse tells us that Bible reading helps us to keep to the straight path - "he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left." The more we learn about God, the more we love him and want to please him. This causes us to resist temptations and to exhibit self-control. As we turn our life over to God, the path seems clearer and the snares and traps are easier to see and to avoid.

Finally, this verse tells us that we will be blessed. God will bless our endeavors and will bless our family. When we live our life according to Biblical principles, we will avoid many dangers that others face to their physical health, mental health, and especially spiritual health. We will have a peace and confidence because we know who holds our future.

If you want God’s blessings on your life, be like the rulers of Israel were to be - read the Bible and allow it to guide and instruct you everyday of your life.

This study on Leviticus 17:18-20 © 1999 by David Humpal, all rights reserved.
All scriptures unless otherwise noted are from the Revised Standard Version © 1971, A. J. Holman Company

Story of the preacher from the Reader’s Digest pg. 71, March, 1993

Revelation 1:6 from the New King James Version © 1982, Thomas Nelson Publishers

The Interpreter’s Bible, vol. 1, pg. 442 © 1953, Abingdon Press

Just One Book from The Best Loved Religious Poems pg. 13-14 © 1933, Fleming H. Revell