“...when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from he one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel. “
Deut 17:18-20
Here is a word to everyone who exercises some form of authority – pastors, leaders, parents, fathers and bosses – anyone who is given some form of kingly authority. The Lord instructed the King to "make a copy of the law" in the presence of the Levitical priests. He was told to "keep it at his side at all times." Who knows? Maybe he even slept with it. And he was told to "read and study it everyday."
Interesting isn't it? Studying the law was the King's primary responsibility. I have no idea how long it took to copy the law. But here's my question: why copy it? You're a king. You're busy. You have servants. Why not let someone copy it for you. Why did God insist on him copying it? Because that way it was in his own handwriting. That way, he will internalize the word for himself.
So he had his own personal copy of the law. And he was told to keep it at his side at all times. If we interpret that literally, then we ate with it, rode with it, slept with it, fought with it, and ruled with it.
Finally, he was told to study it everyday. No other spiritual discipline is more vital to your spiritual growth than the reading and the study of the Bible. It has to be a daily routine. You got to open the Word daily.
If you are to lead like a king in your home and at the marketplace with authority and godly wisdom then you make it your primary responsibility to open the Word daily. You must memorize and meditate on the Word. The Word must be at your side all the time. It must become your reference point. You will have to shift the focus on your choices and decisions from your word to His Word and from yourself to Himself. It is then that you become successful and that success is described in generational terms in Deut 17 – “that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”
You might have seen Braveheart, the movie? Did you know that William Wallace never went any place without his boyhood friend and personal chaplain, John Blair. In addition, he always carried his personal copy of the Scriptures with him.
Winners always carry the Word in their souls.
