Ancient Words
by Michael W. Smith

Download Microsoft Word File

Isaiah 64:4  - “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.”

Excerpt from the Library of Congress Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit:
“In 1947, young Bedouin shepherds, searching for a stray goat in the Judean Desert, entered a long-untouched cave and found jars filled with ancient scrolls. That initial discovery by the Bedouins yielded seven scrolls and began a search that lasted nearly a decade and eventually produced thousands of scroll fragments from eleven caves. During those same years, archaeologists searching for a habitation close to the caves that might help identify the people who deposited the scrolls, excavated the Qumran ruin, a complex of structures located on a barren terrace between the cliffs where the caves are found and the Dead Sea. Within a fairly short time after their discovery, historical, paleographic, and linguistic evidence, as well as carbon-14 dating, established that the scrolls and the Qumran ruin dated from the third century B.C.E. to 68 C.E. They were indeed ancient! Coming from the late Second Temple Period, a time when Jesus of Nazareth lived, they are older than any other surviving biblical manuscripts by almost one thousand years.”

The Dead Sea Scrolls have contained excerpts from different books of the Bible, such as Leviticus, and Hosea.  And they are pieces of physical evidence that Christianity just might be correct in all its beliefs and assumptions.  You look around the world and fail to find any evidence as solid as what Christianity has with the Dead Sea Scrolls.  An interesting insight, is it not?

So next time you take a look at the Bible, remember to see it as not only a piece of doctrine, a piece of wisdom here and there, or a “moral” book.  Rather, look upon it as the magnificent handwriting of God bestowed upon mankind throughout centuries and millennia.  As the author of Hebrews puts it – “For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (4:12).  Read with care, and let the Ancient words impart hope, encouragement, comfort, wisdom, and many more of the blessings and gifts from God!

Song Lyrics:
Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God's own heart
Oh, let the Ancient words impart. 

Words of Life, words of Hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e'er we roam
Ancient words will guide us Home. 

CHORUS:
Ancient words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart. 

Holy words of our Faith
Handed down to this age.
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh heed the faithful words of Christ! 

Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world.
They resound with God's own heart
Oh let the ancient words impart. 

CHORUS x4

We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

© 2002 Reunion Records

Back to Worship Song Devotionals Home