Glen Berry

THE FOUNDATION and basis of Christianity is just one concise Book. It has 66 smaller books, authored by many different authors at different times and cultures, both Jewish and Christian. Yet the entire Book is harmonious throughout all 66 books that cover a time period of many centuries.  Yet no real confict? Amazing! Why? Because “the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21)  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect [mature], thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Inspiration speaks of BREATH. The Scriptures are “God-breathed.” Note this breath and movement of God also in Genesis  1, “And the Spirit of God MOVED upon the face of the waters.”  “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and BREATHED into his nostrils the BREATH of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)

So it is no surprise that God Himself later formed a unique and harmonious Book of Instruction for man by MOVING upon various holy men of old, and inspiring them, breathing upon them His Own Word. The Author of the Bible is God Himself, His Holy Spirit.

No other bible of any world religion shows the only way of redemption and salvation, teaching man that he is helpless and needs divine forgiveness if he is ever to obtain eternal life. Furthermore, that the ONLY WAY is for the Creator Himself to DIE and return to life on behalf of His people. And that very people cannot in any way come to love that Creator and Savior apart from that SAME Spirit moving upon them in the new birth and the implanting of Himself in those people. Until that happens, they are totally helpless, lost and without true knowledge of God in the world. A dead man cannot know the true God or love Him.  That is why the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again,” or “from above.”

Now, depending on the size of the Bible, and the size of print, the number of pages in it varies. But the copy I have has very readable type, and the total number of pages is 1356 from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. Of all that is in that Book, you would think it would take multiple volumes like an encyclopedia to get it all said.

Talk about BREATH, is it absolutely amazing and breath-taking to realize the life-time instruction and food for the soul for its full-time meditation, that is even one page of the Bible.

This small booklet can only give a hint to perhaps “whet your appetite” to read more and to enhance your deep, rejoicing appreciation.

Just this morning in reading Psalm 107, I came upon such a page. It can well be said even of this and all the Bible, that is “God-breathed”!

I want now for you  to read with me just a portion of this one Psalm. There are 149 OTHER Psalms just in the  book of Psalms. So read now, and be instructed and taught.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. . . .

Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron.

Because they rebelled against  the words of God, and contemned [despised] the counsel of the most High:

Therefore He brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them our of their distresses. . . .

Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

Their soul abhoreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saveth them out of their distresses.

He sent His  word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.

For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He bringeth them unto their desired haven. 

Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men. . . . 

He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground. A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. And there He maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; and sow the filed fields, and plant vineyards, which yield fruits of increase. 

He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not the cattle to decrease.

Again, they are minished [diminished] and brought low through oppression, affiction, and sorrow.

He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.  Yet setteth He the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.”  (End of Psalm 107.)