DAVID, with all his faults, was a man after God's heart; he rejoiced in God, and trusted God, even when God's rebuking hand was upon him. And how David loved the word of God Love to God and love to His word go together. “More to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb," he declares the words of God to be; better than wealth, sweeter than the sweetest things of earth.
A well-marked Bible, used in the time of trial, is a voice which speaks earnestly. Such an one lies before us. Almost the whole of the sacred book seems to have been read, but wherever some especially gracious or encouraging word occurs there is to be seen the pencil-mark. This Bible has been used as food, as strength, it is evident; it has been resorted to frequently for guidance, for help. Some specially loved texts are penciled out upon the fly-leaves, and a sweet testimony of love to God's word do they unfold. Yes, this Bible speaks, and, through the love its owner bore to it, the precious words of God come with a fresh power to our heart.
Whose was this little Bible? Was it the prized treasure of some preacher of God's word, or of some hoary-headed minister? Oh, no, it was the possession of a young schoolgirl, whose short course on earth is now ended. But that Bible, through grace, enabled that young girl to live a useful Christian life, and to die a noble Christian death.
Make much, very much, of your Bible. Live by its rules, live upon it as upon food. Read it for yourself, so that it shall become experimentally your very own. A text that has entered right into the heart will abide there forever. A young Christian was lamenting to us the other day she could understand so little of the Bible. Do not be disappointed at such a discovery—go on reading it, praying over it, and believing it, and by-and-by you will understand it, or so much as God pleases you shall understand.