closing thoughts on the importance of scripture

There is a song by David Lee Murphy called “Dust on the Bottle.” For a while I thought the song was “Dust on the Bible.” Which, once I realized what the song was actually about, was really funny to consider how I could have substituted “Bible” for “bottle” in the song...

Creole Williams lived down a dirt road
Made homemade wine like nobody I know
Dropped by one Friday night and said can you help me Creole
Got a little girl waitin' on me and I wanna treat her right

I got what you need son, it's sittin down in the cellar
He reached through the cobwebs as he turned on the light and said

There might be a little dust on the Bible
But don't let it fool ya about what's inside
There might be a little dust on the Bible
It's one of those things that gets sweeter with time

She was sittin in the porch swing as I pulled up the driveway
My ole heart was racing as she climbed inside
She slid over real close and drove down to the lake road
Watched the sun fade in that big red sky

I reached under the front seat and said, now here's something special
It's just been waiting for a night like tonight

[chorus]

You're still with me, and we've made some memories
After all these years there’s one thing I've found
Some say good love, well it's like a fine wine
It keeps getting better as the days go by

[chorus]


But, let me say this; don’t let a little dust on the Bible fool you about what is inside. As people who have been redeemed by a bloodied Savior we would be fools to ignore His Word to us.

During my very first class at Southern last August, my professor, Dr. Russell D. Moore, made a statement that stuck with me. He was talking about all the academic challenges we would face in seminary. He stated that it would be difficult and there would be a lot of tedious work. Then he made the remark, “But if you leave here knowing your English Bible you are going to be just fine.” That statement has been a constant reminder to me to not lose the Word in theological studies. If I lose the Word then I have lost life and vitality.

I do not believe it is possible for me to have too much Scripture in my life. It is possible and likely that I might have too little love, passion, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. But I think it is an un-Christlike assumption that is would be possible to have too much of the Bible in my life.

Rather, I think the problem is more often that I have too little Scripture, coupled with love, passion, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, in my life. Certainly it is cause for repentance and a joining with David as he cried to the Father, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14, ESV).