Second, from divine approval.
Second, from divine approval.
§ 483. (II) From divine approval. It is right for people to be invited to whatever God not only commands but also approves and recommends. God Himself not only commands but also approves and recommends that all read the Holy Scriptures. Therefore. We prove the minor premise from: Ps. 1:2: “Blessed is the man whose delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night.” Ps. 119:2: “Blessed are those who search Your testimonies.” In Acts 17:11, the Bereans are praised because “they examined the Scriptures daily” to see if the teaching of the apostles was in harmony with them. In 2 Pet. 1:19, he praises those to whom he is writing because they paid careful attention to the prophetic word set forth in the Scriptures “as to a lamp shining in a dark place.” Rev. 1:3: “Blessed is he who hears and reads the words of this prophecy.”
On the other hand, those are rebuked who were charged with reading too little of Scripture. In 2 Kings 22, a case of idolatry is charged for looking at the Book of the Law so infrequently. In vv. 18 and 20 King Josiah is told: “Because you have heard the words of the Book and your heart was penitent, etc., your eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place.” 2 Chron. 24:19: “Yet He sent prophets among them. These testified against them, but they would not give heed.” Jer. 36:23: “As Jehudi read three or four leaves, he would cut them off (by order of the king) with a penknife and throw them into the fire.” Verses 29-30: “Thus says the Lord to King Jehoiakim: ‘You have burned that Book. You shall have none to sit upon the throne of David.’”