Title
Kept the Word Intact
Scripture
Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
(Proverbs 30:6)
Devotional
Three times the Scriptures warn about adding to or deleting from God’s Word: here in Proverbs, in Deuteronomy 4:2, as well as Revelation 22:18. These are warnings to be wisely heeded. We are to be very careful in taking liberties with the book we call the Bible. Be careful of pulling verses out of context to make a point when the verse does not apply. Likewise, be very slow to invalidate a text by applying it to another culture or tradition. Cultures and traditions do change, but the nature of man has remained the same since man’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The Bible has a miraculous ability of interpreting itself. Always read it in context, understanding the Old Testament in light of the New, never the reverse. Apply the laws of God by the light of the grace of God. Interpret the judgment of God through the light of His mercy. One does not nullify the other, but grace and mercy clarify the other.