read ye all of it

I made a private commitment last year to push Scripture-reading whenever I had the chance. From time to time I am reminded of this - there is the nagging reality of the Biblical illiteracy that exists today, even within the ‘Bible Belt’. We are a far, far cry from ye olde churched community. And then too I am shocked at the ‘take’ on theological positions by those studied in the field, with their doctorates and masterates, often asking myself ‘how on Earth do they go to Scripture and come away with that?’. (Not that I am any expert on the Scriptures by any means – what I have learned is from a 30-year ‘pastime’ of mostly private Biblical and theological study. I stand ready to be accused of heresy and misinterpretation, as I assume the experts are.)

On that note, there’s a thought I’d like to pass on. Maybe you can get something out of it.

About 2/3 of the Bible is ‘Old Testament’. I tend to run from the word ‘old’ for the very reason I write this: it leads to, at the very least, a subconscious relegation of that portion of the Scriptures to the proverbial shelf. We treat it as old, not currently relevant, no real use to me in my spiritual life, defunct.

However, the fact is … the very thing I just said: it makes up 2/3 of the Bible. How then can we push aside such a large portion of Scripture as if it means nothing to us? Chew on that a minute. Because of that mentality, we neglect it, and don’t read it. Maybe we read the early chapters of Genesis, run to the Psalms when we’re in trouble or depressed. Sometimes we go to other parts to bolster some theory, exposit on some theme.

Maybe we should start here: the person that gave us the Scriptures is God. That’s … God. The Creator. Master-of-the-Universes God. That person. If he gave them, and has preserved them for us all this time, how should we regard them … all of them? If we don’t go there, then 2/3 of his written communication to us is negated, relegated to the proverbial shelf to dust along with the knick-knacks.

The first Testament serves a historical purpose. That is, it provides context for human history (a context, by the way, ridiculed and considered to be mere lore, or myth, more and more often by theologians themselves). Where did we come from? How did we get here? How did we get where we are today? How did we get so screwed up?

It also serves a wisdom purpose. The first Testament puts in context who God is, and who we are, and provides the contrast necessary to humility and reality. It is the wisdom of God in human language.

It serves a teaching purpose. If we know something of who God is and grasp somewhat of who we are and how we got here and why we’re here, we can learn from that understanding. In addition, we are encouraged to use the experiences of Israel for our instruction on how we should live. Hebrews speaks to this, as does apostle Paul in the Corinthian letters.

It serves a kingdom purpose. God’s intention is to be ruler again, and he actively pursues that intention, in part through the submissive cooperation of his subjects, his people, beginning with Israel, and continuing in the Church. One day Jesus, Lord of lords, King of kings, will have reconciled all things, things in Earth (and under the Earth) as well as things in Heaven, and God will be all in all. The kingdom of God will then be the norm. We see in the first testament the progression of God’s movement in that direction, through Israel.

The first Testament serves a Messianic purpose. It locates the Messianic promise of that Testament in the person of Jesus. The kingdom has come. Israel’s Messiah has arrived on the scene and initiated the kingdom of God. He did it in a most unexpected way, ‘tis true, but he is clearly the ‘seed of the woman’, Isaiah’s Servant, and the one of whom he says,  a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.

In that regard, it also serves a locating or rooting purpose. The New (Second) Testament reveals to us today that the Church, Messiah’s Body, is rooted in Israel. It is a continuation of what God has been aiming at all along. Believers are grafted in to the vine, Israel (Romans 11). We are rooted in God’s original creation of the nation Israel.

It serves a warning purpose. God is still God. The beginning of wisdom is found in fearing him. He has gone to unfathomable lengths to accomplish his purposes in the Earth and in the Heavens, and it would do us well to take his warnings to heart. The communication to the Hebrews contains several warnings to Jesus’ friends ... and roots those warnings in the things that happened to Israel.

All in all, the first Testament serves a contextual purpose. It provides the context for all that now exists, and all that will follow from here on.

How then are we so glib with regards to that 2/3 of Scripture? We say, “Oh, that’s the OLD Testament”, as if to say it holds nothing worthy of my time. Really? Absolutely not so.

I encourage you, by this fumbling blog, to reconsider the significance of the ‘Old’ Testament, and then to take it up and read it. Skip the detailed lineage passages, the incredibly specific legal passages (as in the construction of the Tabernacle) if you must. Maybe you will get back to them at some point. But read what you can of it. And read with anticipation and excitement!

God wrote it for you.

… for you.

peace