We can, for example, use AI to help us study the Bible. Here’s how to do so wisely, with guidance from Psalm 24.
By Rev Dirk de Bruyn
Whenever I think about something like AI, I always want to begin by asking: What does the Lord say about this in his Word? One passage that gives us valuable guidance is Psalm 24. When read alongside 2 Samuel 6, this psalm becomes surprisingly powerful. It refers to the time when David wanted to bring the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem.
As they transported the ark on a new cart, the oxen stumbled. Uzzah, who was helping, reached out to steady the ark. Because he touched the ark, which was against God’s law, God struck him down and he died.
Psalm 24 reminds us that the Lord reigns over all creation. If we want to serve him, we must live with clean hands and pure hearts. It calls us to honour God in everything we do—including how we use technology.
What does Psalm 24 teach us about AI?
Let’s look at three key principles from this psalm:
1. Verses 1–2: The Lord is King over everything.
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
Psalm 24:1–2
This includes artificial intelligence. Even though it was created by humans, God remains sovereign over all. We are called to use AI responsibly, in a way that honours his kingship and reflects our accountability to him.
2. Verses 4–6: Those who serve the Lord must have clean hands and pure hearts.
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart … That person will receive blessing from the Lord.
Psalm 24:4–5
Of course, we receive clean hands and pure hearts through Jesus Christ. But we are also called to live in love—to love God above all and our neighbour as ourselves. That principle should shape how we use AI: with honesty, integrity, and care, ensuring we avoid any harmful or misleading use of this tool.
3. Verses 8–10: The Lord is glorious and holy.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle… the Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.
Psalm 24:8,10
God is utterly different from us. And yet, we were created to reflect his glory. All our creativity and abilities come from him. So even in our inventions and discoveries, we should give credit to God and use our tools to serve him.
Can AI help Christians?
The short answer: yes! Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool for Christians in many ways.
But remember: the term “artificial intelligence” is misleading. This technology is not truly intelligent. It is a system of algorithms that identifies patterns in text and generates responses based on information it has been trained on. It does not create new truth.
A key risk is that AI pulls information from a wide range of sources—some of which may be unbiblical or even harmful. That’s why it’s important to use it carefully, especially when studying Scripture.
One way to do this is to be very specific in how you ask your questions. You can mention your faith tradition—for example, by saying you are a Reformed Christian. Another helpful option is to use a specialised tool designed for Bible study.
Use a tool like Bible Teacher
AI can help believers grow in their understanding of God’s Word—if it is calibrated well.
One tool that has been created with this in mind is Bible Teacher. It is specifically built to assist Christians with Bible study, using Scripture and the Heidelberg Catechism as its foundation.
You can ask it any question anonymously. No one sees what you ask. You can try the system at no cost for your first five questions, after which you can subscribe monthly or yearly.
Visit their Facebook page or email them for more information.
Bible Teacher (www.guidancebible.com) can support you in many ways—Bible study, spiritual research, evangelism, group prayer, ethical guidance, and discipleship. It is a tool worth using with wisdom, rooted in the truth that God is King over all.
