I want to ascribe to the LORD as a scribe to the LORD. 

In my last entry, I explained what I meant by: I want to ascribe to the LORD. If that was all I said, if my statement ended there, that would be enough. Right? After all, isn't that the most important part?

In this entry I'm going to explain why successfully fulfilling: "I want to ascribe to the LORD..." is wholly dependent on what comes next: "...as a scribe to the LORD." If my first post was a love letter to God, this post is a love letter to His Word.

It's always helpful to start with definitions. What is a scribe?

Much could be written to define what a scribe is historically, culturally, and even etymologically (million-dollar word alert!). But instead, I'm going to define what a scribe is biblically, trusting God's Word to provide a reliable definition. Granted, this definition will still be limited as I'm only referencing a few verses in Ezra 7, but I'm satisfied with what can be drawn from them.

Have a Bible nearby? Turn to Ezra 7. Here, Ezra is introduced. He lived during the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem and was used by God to lead them back to the land and to the Lord. Ezra 7:6 shares more about him, saying, [Ezra] was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given... A scribe, that's what we're after.

As a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, Ezra was more than just a mere record keeper. He was a keeper of the Law of Moses, or the Torah, which is comprised of the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Law of Moses doesn't find its source in Moses, even though it carries his name. No, it finds its source in the Lord, the God of Israel, who gave it to Moses. It is the Word of God. Therefore, a scribe is one who is skilled in handling the Word of God.

What does it take to be skilled in the Word of God? For Ezra, this would have involved reading it copiously, meditating on it constantly, memorizing it carefully, copying it repeatedly, studying it deeply, and yet more training I'm surely missing. What this means is that a scribe does the work required to know the Word of God intimately, meticulously, and comprehensively.

Doing the work to become skilled in the Word of God needs a commitment of the heart. Ezra 7:10 states that, Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statues in Israel. Ezra set his heart to study, live, and teach the law of the LORD. This was his desire. He didn't just read, meditate, memorize, copy, and study God's Word—he treasured it. He set his heart on God's Word in a Matthew 6:21 way (For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.), and that overflowed into learning it, living it, and sharing it. A scribe treasures God's Word.

So, what is a scribe? With all of the above in view, here's my definition: A scribe is one who sets his heart to treasure, study, live, and teach God's Word with joy, excellence, faithfulness, and skill. That's what I'm aiming for at least. Of course, this definition is for the noun form of scribe. It's an added bonus that the verb form of scribe can simply be defined as: Write.

This is where the motivation for setting our hearts on God's Word needs to be addressed. Why set our hearts on treasuring God's Word and everything that entails?

Let's return to Psalm 29. God's Word has a lot to say about God's Word.

Psalm 29:3-9
    [3] The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
        the God of glory thunders,
        the LORD, over many waters. 
    [4] The voice of the LORD is powerful;
        the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

    [5] The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
        the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 
    [6] He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
        and Sirion like a young wild ox.

    [7] The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. 
    [8] The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
        the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

    [9] The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth
        and strips the forests bare,
        and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

This Psalm is filled with magnificent imagery to describe the voice of the LORD. His voice is powerful, majestic, active, awe-inspiring, life-giving, and even gentle. These descriptions show us that the LORD is to be praised!
 
It's clear that God's voice is not simply noise. His voice speaks words. Words that are beyond us (Job 33:14). Words that are mistaken for thunder (Jn. 12:28-29). Words that create worlds, establish order, and give life (Gen. 1). Words that do not return empty (Isa. 55:11). Words that prove true (Ps. 18:30; Jn. 17:17). 

God's Word is God's self-revelation to us. Through prophets, kings, and apostles, God has given us His Word in the form of a book: the Bible. Through Jesus Christ, God gave us His Word in the form of a Person (Jn. 1:1-2, Heb. 1:1-3a; Rev. 19:13). We need both, for they are one and the same. All of God's Word points to Jesus, and Jesus is the full and perfect manifestation of God's Word. Through His Word we grow in knowing Him and loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mk. 12:30).

There is nothing in all of the universe that is better for us than God. In His presence there is fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11)! I will set my heart on God's Word because He uses it to draw me closer to Him! After all, it's in response to the LORD's voice that we see Him for who He truly is and cry, "Glory!" (Ps. 29:9).

My aim is to ascribe to the Lord as a scribe to the Lord. One way this is manifested is in writing to the glory of God. But there's a reality I need to acknowledge: I am poorly suited for this task. My words are simple and shallow; I am woefully inadequate at glorifying the One whose glory is infinite. My words will surely whither like leaves and fall like flowers, but the Word of our God endures forever (Isa. 40:8). Jesus reiterates this when He says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Mt. 24:35).

This is why ascribing to the LORD is so dependent on being a scribe to the LORD. As I set my heart to treasure God's Word, the revelation of Himself He has given us, I learn to effectively attribute to God the glory due His name. 

The Psalms are a great example of this. One reason God inspired their writing is because our own efforts of glorifying Him are lackluster. He gave us the Psalms to show us how to sing and pray His Word back to Him in praise. I would make the case that this is true for all of God's Word. Doctrine leads to doxology!

Heart-soaring worship is found in God's Word, and worshipping Him is what we are created to do. That is why I cherish prayers, poems, hymns, songs, and stories that exalt God and are rich with Scripture. And if by God's grace I am able to write anything to His glory, may it be found to be saturated with His Word.

I'll end with the chorus of To God be the glory, great things He hath done:

In my next post, I will share how these truths have refreshed and invigorated my prayer life with zeal, vibrancy, depth, and confidence. My prayers will never be the same. The catalysts? God's Word and a small book called Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney.

1) God pressed upon Ezra's heart what David says in Psalm 19:7-11 so clearly:

    [7] The law of the LORD is perfect,
        reviving the soul;
    the testimony of the LORD is sure,
        making wise the simple;
    [8] the precepts of the LORD are right,
        rejoicing the heart;
    the commandment of the LORD is pure,
        enlightening the eyes;
    [9] the fear of the LORD is clean,
        enduring forever;
    the rules of the LORD are true,
        and righteous altogether.
    [10] More to be desired are they than gold,
        even much fine gold;
    sweeter also than honey
        and drippings of the honeycomb.
    [11] Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
        in keeping them there is great reward.

This is glorious! Take a moment to count all the ways God's Word is found to be more desired than gold and sweeter than honey.