Dig for Treasure

Some of you have heard about a recent project that involved removing landscape rock from around our family’s house and replacing it with dirt and woodchips. Several of our initial attempts to dig out all the rocks were met with extreme frustration. The rocks had been pressed down and almost cemented together by decades of traffic, dust, and debris. It was almost impossible to take a shovel and dig it out; it was so tightly packed down. 

This same type of frustration greets many who desire to dig into the Word of God, hoping to discover life-changing truths and treasure. The Bible seems so tightly packed that digging into it, understanding it, and even merely reading it can become a frustrating and challenging task. 

With our yard project, we decided to move beyond the pick axes and rock hammers to a small skidsteer (dirt-moving, diesel-powered compact loader) called a Dingo. We needed real tools with real power to get the job done. And in one day, we accomplished more than several weeks of manual labor.

When reading the Word, we also need some real tools, and Psalm 119:9-16 offers a set to us. This weekend we’ll explore these tools and provide some practical steps for digging into the treasure of God’s Word.

And be reassured—there is treasure in the Word of God. During our family trip through the Badlands of South Dakota last summer, we made a stop at one particular museum. They offered bags of sand and dirt that you could dig through for some “treasure.” Every bag was guaranteed to have at least ten different items of value (shark’s teeth, semi-precious stones, fossils, etc.) if you dug and sifted through its contents. We experienced a pretty good haul from that “digging.”

The Word of God is filled with God’s treasure; God himself guarantees this reality. But it does not mean that it just falls in our laps. The writer of Proverbs shares some insight with us:  

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings. // Proverbs 25:2 

God does conceal this treasure. It is present and available in his Word. It’s there so that those who dig for it will have the pleasure of discovery. The glory and renown of kings and rulers is found in their desire to search out a matter. God applauds this type of seeking, digging, and treasure-hunting. Dig into the Word of God and don’t let a little frustration or difficulty rattle your cage—there is treasure to be found; it is guaranteed!

Blessings on your week!
Pastor Al