The Mystery of the Book of Life by MIKE SHREVE for Charisma News
David claimed that God keeps a record of every tear we shed in His “book” (see Ps. 56:8). Surely, that was a reference to the “Book of Life,” a concept found only in Judaism and Christianity.
Since God is omniscient—and He knows all things past, present and future—why would He need a book or a registry of all His people? Could this just be poetic and metaphorical, a symbol God uses to compare a heavenly truth to an earthly object to make it more understandable on a human level? Or is it literal? Only God knows for sure.
The “Book of Life” is mentioned 16 times in the Bible. It is first cited in Exodus 32. Moses had been on Mount Sinai, communing with God and receiving the tablets of stone bearing Yahweh’s handwriting. But while Moses was away from the camp, the children of Israel, just 40 days after hearing the audible voice of God declare the Ten Commandments from fiery Mount Sinai, brazenly broke the first two—creating an idol (a golden calf) and dancing around it in a demonic frenzy of false worship. God was minded toward destroying them all and raising up a new nation from Moses’ seed. But this great prophet of Israel interceded:
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“Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written” (Ex. 32:31-32).
After such a self-sacrificing plea, God changed His mind, pouring out mercy on Israel instead of judgment. However, God did add, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book” (Ex. 32:33).
Centuries later, David mentioned this book in his poetic masterpiece, Psalm 139, confessing to God:
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (v. 16).
So apparently, the Book of Life contains, not only names, but a detailed prophetic forecast of the potential, the purpose and the destiny of every person in covenant with God. The steps of good men and women are “ordered of the Lord” (Ps. 37:23). It is up to us to prayerfully become sensitive to His revealed will and then boldly walk in it.
