Not a Trifle

“They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.” I read these words in Deuteronomy 32:47 this morning, and they reaffirmed my love of reading, studying, and memorizing God’s word. Some translations say that as Moses spoke about the importance of God’s word, he said, “it is no trifle for you” or “is it not futile, empty, or meaningless” but rather your life. A trifle is a little thing, something of minuscule importance.

We often approach reading the Bible like it’s a trifle. We can take it or leave it. We hardly have time for it in our busy days. But here in Deuteronomy, we know God’s word is our very life. It’s as important as food from Matthew 4:4 where Jesus says “man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Or consider Jeremiah’s prayer where he tells God “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became a joy to me and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name” (Jeremiah 15:15).

I often sit and read Psalm 119 in its entirety (it takes a while). But in this psalm, you’ll fall in love with God’s word. Read it, and note how God’s word is described. Then read Psalm 1. Let these words become true about us: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

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