Proverbs 30:5, 6 - God's Word Is Flawless. Changing It Makes You A Liar.
Proverbs 30:5, 6 (NIV) Every word of God is
flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in
him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke
you and prove you a liar.
Proverbs 30:5, 6 (NLT) Every word of God
proves true. He defends all who come to him for
protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke
you, and you will be found a liar.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Coming Through Loud And Clear
The teacher handed Emma a note. Emma read
it, turned to Bri, and whispered into her ear,
"Cantaloupes taste good as a snack or with ice cream for
dessert." Bri laughed and passed the message to Ethan.
Ethan whispered it to Noah and on down the line
the words were passed. At the end of the line,
Jack received the message.
"So what did I write on the note?" the
teacher asked.
"That's easy," Jack said with a smile.
"Antelopes race good at a track or scream in the
desert."
The class busted up with laughter.
"See," the teacher said. "The telephone
game shows us why we can't trust stories that are
passed down from person to person. We have to go to
the original source."
Maybe you've heard this same argument
against the Bible. Some people say the four Gospels
were written so many years after Jesus' death
(roughly 30 to 60 years later) that they can't be
accurate. Just like with the telephone game, the
message probably got garbled. That sounds possible,
right?
Biblical scholar Craig A. Evans
disagrees. "Unlike the telephone game, this is a
community effort," he says about the writing of the
Gospels. "It's not one guy who tells it to one other
guy, who weeks later tells it to one other
person, so that with the passage of time there would
be distortion." Instead, the stories of Jesus'
life were a living tradition that the community
discussed. People constantly talked about what Jesus
did because it was precious to them. They lived
by his actions and words.
Because the Christian community guarded
and cherished the stories that surrounded Jesus'
life, many scholars agree that the Gospels
accurately report the essential elements of Jesus'
teaching, life, death, and resurrection. The Gospel of
Mark, which was written around AD 60, circulated
among followers of Christ who witnessed his life
firsthand. If there were any errors, they would have
pointed them out. During the years that many New
Testament books were written, people were still alive
who heard Jesus speak and watched his miracles.
They knew the original material and made sure it
was recorded properly. The gospel message wasn't
distorted. It was reported accurately and with great
detail.
The book of Proverbs tells us, "Every
word of God is flawless. As you read the Bible,
that's a message that comes through loud and clear.
[Case For Christ For Kids by Les Strobel]
COMMENTARY
Here are affirmed the reliability and the
immutability of Gods word to his people. [Cambridge
Annotated SB]
Supplementing Gods Word with mans
speculations is foolish business. [Ryrie SB]
The declared wisdom of God, oral and
written, is pure. God is a Lord of no deception, and
what He reveals has no flaw. It can be counted on
to sustain the believer. The reader is
admonished not to add or subtract from what God has
made known and called His people to follow.
[Disciple SB]
Since the Word of God is purified by divine
care, we should not tamper with it. Our finite
minds can never fully understand the thoughts of
God (Prov. 30:3, 4; Isa. 55:7"9). Moses gave
a similar warning concerning the utterances of
God (Deut. 4:2). John closed the last book of
the Bible with an even more emphatic prohibition
(Rev. 22:18, 19). There is no intention here to
forbid the exposition of the Word of God as long as
that Word is left unadulterated to act as a check
upon the conclusions reached. It is the
alteration or abandonment of the objective standard of
truth that brings confusion and earns the reproof
of God. [SDA Bible Commentary]
We should reverence God's word. For the
printed volume we should show respect, never putting
it to common uses, or handling it carelessly.
And never should Scripture be quoted in a jest,
or paraphrased to point a witty saying. "Every
word of God is pure;" "as silver tried in a
furnace of earth, purified seven times." Proverbs
30:5; Psalm 12:6. Above all, let children be
taught that true reverence is shown by obedience.
God has commanded nothing that is unessential,
and there is no other way of manifesting
reverence so pleasing to Him as obedience to that
which He has spoken. {Ed 244}
"Every word of God is pure: He is a shield
unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou
not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and
thou be found a liar." Proverbs 30:5, 6. We are
not doing the will of God when we speculate upon
things that He has seen fit to withhold from us.
The question for us to study is: "What is truth,
the truth for this time, which is to be
cherished, loved, honored, and obeyed?" {8T 316, 317}
"The secret things belong unto the Lord our
God: but those things which are revealed belong
unto us and to our children forever." Deuteronomy
29:29. The revelation of Himself that God has given
in His word is for our study. This we may seek
to understand. But beyond this we are not to
penetrate. The highest intellect may tax itself until
it is wearied out in conjectures regarding the
nature of God, but the effort will be fruitless.
This problem has not been given us to solve. No
human mind can comprehend God. None are to indulge
in speculation regarding His nature. Here
silence is eloquence. The Omniscient One is above
discussion. Even the angels were not permitted to share
the counsels between the Father and the Son when
the plan of salvation was laid. And human beings
are not to intrude into the secrets of the Most
High. We are as ignorant of God as little
children; but, as little children, we may love and
obey Him. Instead of speculating in regard to His
nature or His prerogatives, let us give heed to the
words He has spoken: {MH 429}
Scientific research becomes misleading,
because its discoveries are misinterpreted and
perverted. The word of God is compared with the
supposed teachings of science, and is made to appear
uncertain and untrustworthy. Thus the seeds of doubt
are planted in the minds of the youth, and in
time of temptation they spring up. When faith in
God's word is lost, the soul has no guide, no
safeguard. The youth are drawn into paths which lead
away from God and from everlasting life. {COL
41.1}
In order to receive help from Christ, we
must realize our need. We must have a true
knowledge of ourselves. It is only he who knows
himself to be a sinner that Christ can save. Only as
we see our utter helplessness and renounce all
self-trust, shall we lay hold on divine power. It is
not only at the beginning of the Christian life
that this renunciation of self is to be made. At
every advance step heavenward it is to be renewed.
All our good works are dependent on a power
outside of ourselves; therefore there needs to be a
continual reaching out of the heart after God, a
constant, earnest confession of sin and humbling of
the soul before Him. Perils surround us; and we
are safe only as we feel our weakness and cling
with the grasp of faith to our mighty Deliverer.
{8T 316}
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
Proverbs 30:5,6 - God's Word Is Flawless.
Changing It Makes You A Liar.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20050225-1325.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
