THANKFUL FOR THE BIBLE---Proverbs 6:20-23

B-Blessed Old Book

I-Indestructible Book

B-Believed Book

L-Living Book

E-Exalted Book

The Poetic Books of the Bible tell of the Believer’s Relationship to the Lord

1-Job—The Believer Under Trial by the Divine Hand of God

2-Psalms—The Believer in Triumph by the Delivering Hand of God—Almost Every Psalm begins with Depression and Ends with Deliverance.

3-Proverbs---The Believer in Training by the Disciplining Hand of God. If you want wisdom the world can’t overcome, learn the Proverbs. Every solution to man’s problems: Financial, Marital, or Physical.

            a-Sometimes I’m so broke, I can’t pay attention.

            b-How do you know when you’re having Financial Problems? When

you have too much month left at the end of the Money.

4-Ecclesiastes—The trickiest book of the Bible—The Believer Toiling without the Directing Hand of God.

5-Song of Solomon—The Believer in Touch with her Divine Lover who is Holding Her Hand.

6-Lamentations---The Believer in Tears as he sees the Destructive Hand of God. There has never been a generation that can safely ignore the Word of God. There are many aids but no substitute for reading God’s Word.

Though all my heart feels condemned

For want of some good token

There is one greater than my heart

Whose word cannot be broken

I’ll trust in God’s unchanging words

‘Til soul and body sever

For though all things shall pass away

His words shall last forever.

Pres.Ulysses Grant once said, “If I had my way, I would remove the torch from the hand of the Statue of Liberty and in its place, I would put an open Bible.

I AM THANKFUL FOR THE BIBLE:

I.                   BECAUSE IT GIVES DIRECTON—vs. 22—“When thou goest, it shall lead thee.” This Book Orders Our Lives—Two ways of finding your way through the Wilderness of life.

A-MAN’S DEVISED WAY—THE WAY OF THE FLESH

      Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a

man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

B-GOD’S DIRECTED WAY—THE WAY OF FAITH

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a

light unto my path.

C-HOW DO YOU FIND GOD’S DIRECTED WAY?

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

John 8:47—“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

Illustrate: Good men are always reasonable. A man wrote to Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. and asked him if he had read every word of the RSV, and told him if he hadn’t that he wasn’t qualified to criticize it. His answer was very diplomatic…He replied, “SHUT UP”….”Do you mean I have to examine every hair of a skunk to recognize it is a pole cat?”

II.                BECAUSE IT GIVES PROTECTION—vs. 22—“…it shall keep thee.”

Safety does not consist in the absence of danger but in the presence of the Lord.

A-Storm on the Sea of Galilee—“Master, carest thou not that we perish?” He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace, be still.”

Rebuked the cause of their disturbance and then rebuked them for becoming disturbed.

B-It is better to be in the midst of a storm ravaged sea with Him, than to be in the calmest spot of the earth without Him.

III.             BECAUSE IT GIVES REFLECTION---vs. 22—“…and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.”

A-Of the Sinner (His Sinful State, His Salvation)

B-Of the Saviour

C-Of the Saint

CONCLUSION—ALL THREE: DIRECTION, PROTECTION, AND REFLECTION ARE A RESULT OF VERSES 20, AND 21.