In Psalm 119 David declares his love for the Word of God is greater than the love great riches. “The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” (Psalm 119:72)
“Therefore, I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.” (Psalm 119:127)
“I rejoice at Thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.” (Psalm 119:162)

In the introduction to J. Vernon McGee’s commentary on Genesis, Mr. McGee quotes Arthur Robinson to show the importance of studying the Bible itself and not just books about the Bible. In this day of immediate access to millions of words about any verse or subject in the Bible, we do well to heed the reminder to not allow reading good words about the Bible to replace reading and studying the Bible itself. The Bible is a rich treasure full of rich treasures. The wise Christian will not be satisfied with handfuls of treasure from someone else’s mining of the Word. The careful Christian will grab a pick and dig out heaps of treasure for himself.

“We live in the age of books. They pour out for us from the press in an ever increasing multitude. And we are always reading manuals, textbooks, articles, books of devotion, books of criticism, books about the Bible, books about the Gospels, all are devoured with avidity. But what amount of time and labor do we give to the consideration of the Gospels themselves? We’re constantly tempted to imagine that we get good more quickly by reading some modern statement of truth which we find comparatively easy to appropriate because it is presented to us in a shape, and from a standpoint, with which our education, or it may be partly association, has made us familiar. But the good we acquire readily is not that which enters most deeply into our being and becomes an abiding possession. It would be well if we could realize quite simply that nothing worth the having is to be gained without the winning. The treasures of grace must be sought with all the skill and energy which are characteristic of the man who is searching for goodly pearls.”
– Arthur Robinson