Daily Word of Grace # 256 (June 4, 2021)

The three books that have influenced the development of the English language more than any others are The Book of Common Prayer, the Works of William Shakespeare, and the King James Version of the Bible (aka the Authorized Version).  The KJV was published in 1611 during the reign of King James I and VI and has a rather lengthy title: “The Holy Bible, Containing the Old Testament and the New: Newly Translated out of the Original Tongues and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised by His Majesty’s Special Commandment.”  The “Epistle Dedicatory” of the KJV contains this beautiful description of what a treasure the written scriptures are: “But among all our joys, there was no one that more filled our hearts, than the blessed continuance of the preaching of God’s sacred Word among us; which is that is inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth; because the fruit thereof extendeth itself, not only to the time spent in this transitory world, but directeth and disposeth men unto that eternal happiness which is above in heaven.”  And how do the scriptures do this?  By pointing us to salvation in Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Paul wrote to his protégé Timothy, “From childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 3:15).  Indeed the scriptures “excelleth all the riches of the earth”—what a priceless gift from God!

Love and Prayers,

Dave