 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return to page 1 |
|
|
| There is no greater challenge for me then to create a closer relationship with God, and to achieve this relationship, one must strive to learn more about God's words as found in His Holy Writ, that which we call the Holy Bible. In doing this, we bring ourselves closer to the relationships others have, those saints who have proceeded us in history, and those who are present with us in our world today. The word of God is and will always be timeless, as immortal as God is himself. The saints that have come and gone, and those who live with us now, are testaments to God's everlasting words and how these words have governed their daily lives and the impact their lives have had in our world community. The journey alone is worthy of any man who desires to know and understand better his relationship with God, and the relationship God wants us to have with him. This can be achieved only by diligent study of the Word, and long meditation of that word. The journey this takes us on will be more rewarding then any earthly vista we may visit on this world or imagine anywhere else in the universe |
|
|
| I am humbled by the prospect that at the end of my journey, I shall know God more personally then I could ever accomplish on my own. To start the journey, one must prepare themselves with the basic's of necessities, the elementary preparations of a quiet setting free of distractions and interruptions. Second they must have the Holy Writ that is in its most readable version that's suited to their level of understanding and skills. It would do you no good if you struggle over a difficult translation or version that confuses you as to the meaning of words as related to today's vernacular and usage. Therefore, once we have found the right version and we are comfortable with its format, we can then start the first leg of our journey. Now for some they may want to start from the very beginning with Genesis, and proceed from there chapter & book by chapter & book as they would any good novel. |
|
|
|
But you must understand that the Bible isn't your ordinary novel. Where in fact it is a collection of many separate books, both in the Old & New Testaments. These books are grouped together under various topics as pertaining to the author and purpose of the author in completing each book together under one subject or keeping a book a separate compilation of stories, historical facts, and the order in which a main character arrives in the story. As in Genesis we have the beginning of time and the creation of all things by God, and the arrival of man & women, and the genealogy that follows from Adam and Eve. But the O.T. is a collection of stories with 10 basic time periods covering thousands of years of oral and written history. |
|
|
In the Old testament the first chapters of Genesis is the story of creation and primeval history of man. It is here were we find in the Genesis chapters 1-11 the story of Adam & Eve, the original Sin (The Fall), and the Flood (Noah). Chapters 12-50 are considered the patriarchal period, the family of God and the Covenant God has with his chosen. The Book of Job concludes the patriarchal period.
In Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy we have the Exodus, where the Law is given and the nations of God chosen are shaped and defined. Here we hear the story of Moses & Aaron and the deliverance of God's people from Egypt. The Exodus story covers the time of Moses, the 40 years in the desert, the priesthood, and Sacrificial system God sets with his people.
The conquest period starts with the book Joshua who occupies the promised land that God told Moses, his people would inherit. This book is filled with an image of God has a Warrior, leading his people to conquest of land He has promised them.
Judges and its very title speaks for itself, and the book of Ruth is the period known as the period of Judges, where the people experience an constant upheaval of defeat and restoration. We are told of the story of Gideon, Samson, and Ruth in these two books.
First Samuel , 1 Chronicles & 1 Kings, Proverbs, Psalms, Songs of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes. This period in the history of Gods people is known as the United Kingdom, where the nation of Israel is created, becomes a monarchy and grows to power and prosperity under its rulers. Notable are David and Solomon and the Jerusalem Temple.
The divided kingdom is made up of the books starting with chapter 12 of 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Jonah, Amos, Obadiah, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Joel. The story told here is of Solomon's death that divides the nation into two kingdoms, the Northern Israel, and the Southern Judah.
The surviving kingdom period books follow with the latter chapters of 2 kings, 2 Chronicles, with the books of Habakkuk, Nahum, Jeremiah, Zephaniah. Here we get the story of Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian conqueror of Judah.
Ezekiel, Daniel, and Lamentations books are the period of captivity, where the people of Judah are held in captivity in Babylon for 70 years.
The final period of the Old Testament is "The Return" period, were we have the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Esther, and last, Malachi. During this period the temple and Jerusalem is rebuilt |
|
|
|
All in all 39 books of history, poetry, and prophetic articulation by God's Chosen prophets. The books of the O.T. are not in chronological order, but rather grouped by the historical period described. The time frame is over thousands of years of oral history, with Genesis authored by Moses as a written record of that oral history thousands of years earlier, and many authors to follow in recording the 10 periods of the O.T. history. Contemporary written history dates back to around 2000 BC with Moses relating the oral history that started with Adam and Eve, and the events that Moses lived and witnessed. And as they say the rest is history. |
|
|
|
In your reading of the O.T., we must understand clearly the why, what, when, and who in each book. A serious study would take us not only on a journey of history, but background on the author of each O.T. book, political climate, and social structure of the people described in the O.T. The same can be said of the NT as well. This laborious kind of journey will reward you with a greater understanding of God's chosen and their motivation and the influence God had in their life. Most importantly in our study of the O.T. is the historical influence God played in the lives of his chosen & why? To learn this is to have a greater and thorough understanding of the New Testament and the covenants that God made with his chosen both in the O.T. and the NT. For the student who wishes only to start out with a light journey, it is recommended that they start with the NT, then reference back and forth to the O.T. to connect the dots so to speak. A good reference and student Bible will accomplish this for you. In time, as your journey takes root in the Word of God, you will find that there are many side trips you must take to understand his Word better. This journey isn't accomplished in a night, but will take a life time of revisiting and backtracking on your journey. |
|
|
|
It is my hope that I will be able to map out for you a journey that will bring you closer to God on a steady and paced walk. No race is won if we exhaust ourselves in the first leg of our run, and have no strength to finish. And a race that is run well is the race course we are familiar with so we may avoid unwanted detours or dead ends. Therefore, take time now to familiarize yourself with the components of the Bible your are using. Browse the O.T. & NT, get familiar with the concordance or dictionary provided, look at the maps, and with those bibles that offer commentaries, and discussion notes, study them before you start the more laborious journey of deep and intense study of the Bible. This concludes the warm up of your journey preparations, and introduction to the O.T. When we get to the stage of our journey where we take a break before getting into the NT, we will have introduction of the NT books, and time periods. Your homework is, oh yes, did I mention the homework. The assignment is to read Genesis 1-11 and introduce yourself to Adam & Eve, The Fall, and the Flood. Answer the questions that are prevalent in these stories and describe: |
|
|
|
Who is God?
What was Eve's sin?
What was Cain's sin?
Why did God pick Noah?
And what was the covenant God made with Noah? |
|
|
|
Discuss these questions with others and compare answers. At this time in your journey memorization of scripture shouldn't take up your time, but you should focus on the story being told. |
|
|
|
Until next time. |
|
|
|
Rev. Robert D. Vergeson D.D. |
|