我們家的書架上排了滿滿的書。我特別偏愛設計精美的書，尤其是精裝書籍。多年來，我收藏的書越來越多，可惜當中有很多的書我都沒有時間和精力去閱讀。至今，這些藏書依然完美如初，但很遺憾我都沒有讀過。

我們的聖經也可能落入這樣的光景。美國作家約翰．厄普代克（John Updike）曾評論一本經典著作《瓦爾登湖》，他認為這本書可能會像聖經一樣，受到尊崇卻無人閱讀。聖經這本不同於我們的文化所寫成的古代經卷，要理解並不容易，可能因此被我們束之高閣，完美如初，但沒有讀過。

其實閱讀聖經並非那樣困難！在詩篇119篇，詩人告訴我們，可以祈求上帝開我們的眼睛，使我們看見聖經中的奇妙（18節）。我們也可以找可靠的聖經教師，幫助我們明白所讀的經文（使徒行傳8章30節）。不但如此，基督徒有聖靈指引我們的心，讓我們明白所有的經文都是指向耶穌（路加福音24章27節；約翰福音14章26節）。

上帝會透過聖經，在我們愁苦時賜下力量（詩篇119篇28節）；使我們遠離奸詐與虛謊（29節）；讓我們理解何謂喜樂的生活（32、35節）。聖經是無價之寶，但願這本書不僅受人尊崇，且人人都會閱讀。

Our home has a well-stocked, overflowing bookshelf. I have a weakness for beautiful books, especially nice hardcovers, and over the years more and more have been added to the collection. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the time and energy to actually read nearly as many of the volumes as I’ve collected. They remain pristine, beautiful, and—sadly—unread.  

There’s a danger that our Bibles can become a bit like that. Essayist John Updike, speaking of the American classic Walden, commented that it risked being as “revered and unread as the Bible.” The difficulty of understanding ancient Scriptures written in different cultures than our own can tempt us to leave our Bibles on the shelf—beautiful, beloved, but unread.

It doesn’t have to be that way. As the psalmist does in Psalm 119, we can turn to God, asking Him to “open [our] eyes” to see Scripture’s riches (v. 18). We can find trustworthy teachers to help us “understand what [we’re] reading” (Acts 8:30). And believers have Christ’s Spirit to guide our hearts to see how it all points to Him (Luke 24:27; John 14:26).

Through Scripture, God can give us strength in times of sorrow (Psalm 119:28), protect us from deception (v. 29), and broaden our understanding of how to joyfully live (vv. 32, 35). The Bible is a priceless gift. May it be both revered and read.