The Divine Library (1)

“Search from the book of the LORD, and read" 

(Isa. 34: 16 nkjv)

Many people are famous in part for having immense libraries. Thomas Jefferson was such. He donated his library to Congress which became "the library of Congress," the largest library in the world. Many great preachers have had large libraries. Of course, in this day and time we have electronic books, which means we all have a large library at our fingertips. The great library of ancient Alexandria in Egypt was also a famous library, and it is a shame that it was destroyed by fire. So many ancient scrolls and documents were lost in that fire that would have been of great benefit to succeeding generations. 

In this treatise we will speak of God's library and how it far exceeds in quality and quantity all other libraries combined. Solomon said "of the making of many books there is no end" (Eccl. 12: 12). This may also be true of the divine library. The apostle John also wrote:

"And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen." (John 21: 25 nkjv)

Of course, what John means is that all that Jesus did and said is not written in books for men to read now. However, that does not mean that all that Jesus said and did is not written in the books of heaven in the library of God. John also wrote:

"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20: 30-31 nkjv)

What we have in book form of what Jesus said and did is sufficient for us now and for salvation. But, that does not exclude the idea that all that Christ did and said are not recorded in heaven's books. I hope when I get to heaven that I can read all about the life of Christ, about what he taught and did while on earth during his incarnation and which have not been written in any books we have now on earth. Think about that for a few minutes. We know very little about the life of Jesus, especially from the time when he was taken to the Temple to be circumcised at eight days old until the time when he began to preach at about age thirty. We have one instance when he was about twelve years old where he journeyed to Jerusalem with his mother and father and spent time discussing scripture with the older Rabbis. 

In this short series we will see that God has more books in his library than even the library of Congress by a large amount, because, as we will see, each person he has created has a book that records all there is to know about him or her, that is, each person's whole life is a book written. When I get to heaven I will be glad to meet and get to know the myriads of redeemed men and women and the myriads of angels. Each of them has a story, a biography. Further, a person is the totality of his life's experiences. 

I think of the many questions that I might want to ask the great men and women of God mentioned in the scriptures. The same is true with many who are well known in the history of the church. Reading their biographies as part of getting to know them would be a delight, especially since I expect to be able to speed read, and to retain in memory all that I read. Of course, there may be things that we would rather that no one knew of our past life on earth, of the horrible things we did, of our past sins. I don't know how all that will work out. I do not believe however that all our former lives will be forgotten. So, if every redeemed man and every angel has a book that records everything about him, that alone represents a huge library; And, of course, we cannot exclude lost souls, fallen men and angels.

God is the greatest author, no other author is comparable to him. The Bible mentions several books that God has in his library. It is these that we want to mention and make some comments about. But, let me first mention the fact that God's library has sections, just as our modern libraries. I think of the many law libraries I have seen when doing business with many attorneys through the years in the real estate business. Each office has shelves galore of legal books, books which give the statutes and laws of state, local, and federal governments, books on legal and criminal procedure, etc. Lord God has a large section of his library that contains his legal books, his statutes, judgments, laws, commandments, decrees, etc.

There are other books in God's library that are unique to him, and books that he has authored and shared with his creatures. Just as life has been compared to a play with acts, life being a stage as Shakespeare said, so too is life like a book with chapters.

The Story of Our Lives

"Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!" (Job 19: 23-24 kjv)

Job got what he requested for we have the inspired Book of Job. But, God also has recorded every other thing in the life of Job. Job's life is a single book in God's library, just as every other man's life. Every thought, action, emotion, event, etc., is in a book. Every man's life is a book, with chapters and divisions, and is a story. I am in the closing chapter of my life on earth as an old man. So Moses wrote in his only Psalm, saying:

"For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: We spend our years as a tale that is told." (Psa. 90: 9 kjv)

The main idea of this verse is to say that our lives are soon lived and are fleeting, as James said "what is your life?" He said "it is a vapor or mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." (James 4: 14) Still, our lives are like a story or tale that is told. Job said: "Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high." (Job 16: 19 nkjv) The Psalmist also said to Lord God: "You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?" (Psa. 56: 8 nkjv) He also wrote:

"My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" (Psa. 139: 15 -17 nkjv)

It is a question as to what portions of the book of our lives were written before we were born and which portions are continuously being written. Predestinarians would have no problem believing that all the chapters of our biographies were written in eternity, before we were ever born. Others would resist believing such, thinking that it leaves no room for people being the authors of their own storied lives. Perhaps it is a case where both views mesh, some things in our lives being written in advance and other things being written as they occur in our lives. One thing for sure is that these books of our lives will be opened in the day of judgment and used to either condemn or justify us. So wrote the apostle John:

"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books." (Rev. 20: 11-12 nkjv)

It has been said by some "my life is an open book." By this they mean that they have nothing to hide, having no skeletons in the proverbial closet. Well, that certainly will be true when all stand before the great white throne. Every man's life will be an open book for all to read and what is recorded therein will be used to prove the guilt of those judged.

The books of the law of God also will be opened, showing the statutes that were disobeyed and of the punishment that each violation is to receive. 

In the next chapters we will look at other books that God has in his immense library.