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“My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.” (ESV, Psalm 119:136)

At first glance, this verse may seem a bit over the top, yet for Christians, it embodies an important goal: to love God and His Word to the point of shedding tears when others reject it.

In his book Taking God At His Word, Kevin DeYoung introduces the doctrine of Scripture to foster a deep love and appreciation for God’s Word. Through the Bible, we can come to know God based on what He has revealed about Himself. Second Timothy 3:16 states that all Scripture is breathed out by God and is useful for doctrine, instruction, and guidance on how to live righteously, preparing us to fulfill His will. Every aspect of our lives should be impacted by Scripture.

About the Author

Kevin DeYoung is a reformed pastor and teaches at conferences around the world. He has authored several books on theology and Christian living. From what I’ve gathered about him and the books I’ve read, he faithfully teaches what the Bible says without imposing human “wisdom” onto the Scriptures. You can find more information about him and his work at clearlyreformed.com.

Summary

DeYoung begins Taking God At His Word in a unique way by emphasizing application. He refers to Psalm 119 as the benchmark for how believers should regard Scripture. The psalmist expresses profound love and desire for God’s Word, frequently commenting on how blessed he is because of it.

The author then lays out foundational elements that lead to viewing Scripture as the psalmist does. He introduces the SCAN acronym:

Sufficiency – The Bible is sufficient for salvation and living as God would have us live

Clarity – Anyone can understand the Bible

Authority – The Bible is God’s Word

Necessity – The Bible is necessary for salvation

DeYoung examines how Jesus viewed Scripture, noting that He never corrected the Old Testament but clarified the misunderstandings of religious leaders. He also discusses Timothy’s background, emphasizing how Paul highlighted Timothy’s upbringing by his mother and grandmother as evidence of Scripture’s reliability.

Analysis

Taking God At His Word is approachable for even the newest believers. It serves as a beginner’s introduction to the doctrine of God’s Word. The book is designed for accessibility, from its size to its layout, making it an easy read that took me only a few hours to finish. DeYoung follows the example of Scripture itself, ensuring that his writing is clear and understandable for all.

Due to the book’s length and purpose, DeYoung does not delve deeply into every topic, but he does address popular arguments against these concepts, supporting his points with Scripture. Nonetheless, defending the doctrine is not his ultimate goal; rather, he seeks to illustrate what Scripture claims, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16.

His arguments are compelling and easy to understand, with a logical progression that is easy to follow. He lays out his roadmap at the beginning and adheres to it throughout.

Personal Response

After reading this book, I gained a deeper understanding of God’s Word and a heightened desire to read, study, meditate on, and memorize it. One quote that resonated with me was:

“It is impossible to revere the Scriptures more deeply or affirm them more completely than Jesus did. Jesus submitted his will to the Scriptures, committed his brain to studying the Scriptures, and humbled his heart to obey the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus, God’s Son and our Savior, believed the Bible was the word of God down to the sentences, to the phrases, to the words, to the smallest letter, to the tiniest specks—and that nothing in all those specks and in all those books in his Holy Bible could ever be broken.”

Kevin DeYoung¹

This insight boosted my confidence not only in believing God’s Word but also in having the boldness to live it out. Throughout my Christian journey, I’ve found that progress in every role—be it as a man, father, husband, or church member—begins with a genuine commitment to spending time in Scripture. If we want to follow Christ, we need to devote time to the book that instructs us on how to do so, and this book has nurtured that earnestness in me.

One of my favorite features is the appendix, where DeYoung recommends 30 books for further study, categorizing each as beginner, intermediate, or advanced reads.

There isn’t a group of people who wouldn’t benefit from reading this book. However, I believe new believers would gain the most from it. I came away with a deeper love for the Bible, and my hope in sharing this book is that you will too.

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1. DeYoung, Kevin. 2016. Taking God At His Word: Why the Bible Is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me. Crossway. Page 110. ↩︎