The hearing of the word of God seemed to be much more precious to those of the Old Testament than it is to us today. Bibles were not as readily available to them as they are to us. They would stand for hours listening intently to the reading of the Law. The value of God's word itself hasn't changed, but rather its value to the individual.
Many people can tell a few Bible stories or recite a few scriptures, but the Bible has become like many things; when it becomes common it loses its worth to people. The rarity of the word in the past made it precious but in its abundance today, there is yet famine. A famine not for a Bible, but for a revelation of that Bible.
I liken it to Samuel's day, "..the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision." It's as the Apostle Paul said it would be, men are, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." No school of theology can give you a revelation of a truth!
Jesus manifests himself to them that love him, not to those who can recite the Bible only. All of Paul's education wasn't able to give him a revelation of truth, only God can give you a revelation. "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 16:17)
Peter only understood who Jesus really was by revelation; no mortal man could teach it. The revelation of truth, not a knowledge of scriptures, was hidden from the religions of Jesus' day. We must have a sincere desire to know the truth and God, who knows the heart, will reveal it!
B.H.
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