Read It All The Days Of Your Life

It was never God’s will that the children of Israel would have a king to rule over them (1 Samuel 8). Knowing that the people would insist on having a king, God gave guidelines for how a king should be chosen and how he was to rule. One of the more important requirements for the king is found in Deuteronomy 17:18-20. “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.” The king was to take the official copy of God’s law, the one used by the priests and Levites, and he was to make a copy for his own use. Using the priests and Levites copy of the law and making his copy himself would assure him that no one had made unauthorized changes to God’s law and the king could read it and make reference to it with confidence. The king was to “read it all the days of his life” (vs 19). The king’s constant exposure to God’s law was so “...that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left…” (vs 19-20). We may not be kings, but a constant exposure to God’s word will be beneficial for us as well. While the apostle Paul was preaching in Berea, it is said that, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11). As a result of their searching the scriptures, verse 12 says, “Therefore many of them believed…” Many people today seem to have little time to spend reading God’s word, which is sad. God’s word is the only map we have to heaven. “Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.” (Psalms 119:33-35)