When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 NIV
This passage is a part of the instruction given to Israel about any future king they might have. When he took the throne, he was to make a copy of the Torah and keep it with him always. And, not only keep it with him, but read it every day. And by doing this, he would learn to revere God and live in obedience to God’s direction. If he did this, his reign over Israel would be good.
Daily Bible Reading
While this instruction was given to a nation’s political leaders, it is appropriate for all of us who call on the name of the Lord. Today, most believers have a Bible. And some of us have many of them. But how many are committed to reading it every day? And not just reading the words, but seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in knowing how to apply those words to our daily lives?
The importance of daily Bible reading is hard to over-emphasize (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We will prosper spiritually if we invest regular time in reading God’s word and seeking to understand and obey what it teaches us. Living in obedience to God’s word can be costly. But in the end, the reward is great. Choose to read and obey God’s word, and experience the blessing of a life lived in faithful submission to God.
