"Scratching a Litter Deeper" Updated.

Looking Deeper

In order to move forward please take time to review the previous material as many times as is necessary in order to be comfortable with where the books of the Old Testament fit into the two cycles.

This is the diagram that will assist you in those studies.

Higher Ways Lead to Deeper Insights

Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.  NASU

The created always reflects the character of the creator and so in this case, God’s Word reflects the character of the Creator.  Thus the Word of God is inexhaustible in its depths.  Said another way, were we to travel through the pages of the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation and each time go a bit deeper, a thousand such trips would only begin to give to us the truths therein. 

One can never go deep enough into God’s Word to discover all that is there.  Some will take this principle and find the truths of Scripture on such a deep level that others will sit in wonder at the insights and discoveries found therein.

Pondering New Discoveries

There is set forth in the Scriptures a principle which is found in the original word for “pondering.”  It contains the notion of thinking one’s way through a newly discovered truth or word but in doing so comparing it to known truth.

In addition to meditating and musing the deeper discoveries, one does well to ponder. 

Note on Other Applications

One can always push it a little deeper--deeper in each section to subsections--deeper to the Books of the Bible--deeper into the layout of each book--deeper into the relationships between sections and books and the content of the books.  Such is not limited to the study of the Scriptures but is a strategy that may be used to study other subjects.  If this method is applied the value is enhanced by preparing and studying graphs.

Another Panorama, Scratching a Little Deeper

Having said that, take a minute and look deeper at what was given in the last blog.

As you consider the following, please have your Bible open to the Table of Contents. Though we will not look at individual books at this time, it still will be helpful to do so. Also and once again, you will become familiar with these sections as we look deeper into each of them.

A Warning and a Concern

There can be a danger in studying the Bible on an Academic level and it is this.  Sometimes a person can become so caught up in the study that they forget the devotional importance of the Bible.  Remember that the reason we study these things is not just to gain understanding but to see how God's master plan fits together and in that view His ways in the life of those who follow Him. 

The Children of Israel Panorama

Based upon the information discussed thus far, it might be well to consider what goes into a panorama.  There are several qualities of a good panorama.  Among them are the following.

1. A good panorama is not exhaustive.  In other words, one presenting a panorama must not fall into the trap of giving every single detail of a particular study.
2. A good panorama is time bracketed.  That is to say that one does well to layout the panorama with the beginning and the end in mind.
3. A good panorama is not technical.  While it may be of interest to delve into the details of a particular time period or subordinate subject, this for the most part is a general treatment of a theme.
4. A good panorama is fast moving.  There is some entertainment value but that is the vehicle by which the theme is developed.  
5. A good panorama is factual.  It may be fast moving and general but include a few facts along the way to develop and keep interest.
6. A good panorama avoids numbers.  Most people do not do well with dates and numbers so keep such to a minimum.
7. A good panorama is interesting.  While there is the truth of a theme, and while it must not be too technical, it must have some new or interesting information.

What follows is a brief panorama of Cycle One of the Old Testament which includes material having to do with the Inter-Testamental Period.  It would be well to have some acquaintance with Cycle One of the diagram below.

What follows is The Children of Israel Panorama.  It is based upon the five periods in the above diagram.  If it does not make sense please review it several times. 

Gaining A Feel For The Scriptures

(Lesson Four)

REVIEW

If you have not done the following please take time to do so.

First, notice the two cycles.

Second, notice what book likely fit into which period in each cycle.

Third, notice which cycles are not represented.

It is not so much a matter of whether you can do it or not but that you are gaining some familiarity with the layout.  Do not worry nor feel overwhelmed, by taking “baby steps” you will get there.  

ANOTHER PURPOSE FOR THIS STUDY

Story

In a Biblical Languages class a student asked the professor a rather complex question about a certain rule of grammar.  The professor thought a moment and said then gave something of his history and study of the language under study.  He then went on to say that his study and his experience with the language did not allow for the question. 

That story set me to thinking about the notion of “gaining a feeling for….” Thus there is an attendant purpose for this project and that is to gain a sense or and feeling for the Scriptures.

Therefore the following,

Gaining a "feel for Scripture" must be based in fact. Such a "feel" for the material must be rooted in fact. That means that a starting place for such understanding comes from a knowledge base say as will result from this study.

Gaining a "feel for Scripture" must involve the Holy Spirit. Also involved is the teaching function of the Holy Spirit.  Remember the Holy Spirit authored the Scriptures through various writers and as well was involved in the preservation and transmission of the Word of God.

 Gaining a "feel for Scripture" must involve exposure. Some years ago I received a subscription to a computer magazine. At first what I read made no sense but as I read and reread the articles I began to gain an understanding of the material. So it is with the Bible, exposure, reading and rereading with thoughtfulness is necessary.

Gaining a "feel for Scripture" must take time. Then there is the element of time. That is to say that there it simply takes time to gain a feel for the Scriptures. Certainly with that time comes understanding. In summary then, we could say that in order to gain a feel for the Bible there must be a knowledge of the Bible, a functioning of the Holy Spirit, and those things over a period of time.

PUSHING DEEPER

Without losing sight of the big picture view focus upon the Old Testament layout.  For some this is a mysterious book with is hard to understand.  While parts of it may remain so for a while, there will come a time when it begins to clear up.

Previously you studied this figure

The next figure is going to be changed and more detail will be added to it.  Again open your Bible to the index and when you have a look it is very likely that you will find that you were right in where you placed a number of the books.  Again, this is not to suggest that you memorize this diagram but that it gain some familiarity to you.

 Here is a typical index which I have marked with the various periods of the Old Testament.

 You will notice that abbreviations were used and as well at the point of Dispersion Cycle 2, I made a mistake and made a change.  Therefore, when you mark your Bible it is a good idea to use pencil.  There are other reasons for this which will be discussed later.

Crossing the Obstacles to Understanding – Part II

(Lesson Three)

Before beginning this lesson it is suggested that one should complete the previous lesson.  As well and from memory reproduce the following diagram which is how the last lesson was ended.

 If you cannot reproduce the diagram from memory, take a few minutes to study it and to get a feel for the layout of the various constituent parts of the Old and New Testaments.  Such will be important as we continue our travels through the Bible.  Also take a minute and look at the Table of Contents in the front of your Bible and see how the layout of the books compares to the diagram.

 Continuing the Look at Differences

In the previous post, consideration was given to the difficulties of crossing Language Obstacles, Cultural Obstacles, with the comment that further items would be considered in this lesson.

3.       TIME:  Time is also of concern when it comes to crossing from the times of the Bible to present day understandings.  Take for example the Gospel accounts of Jesus life.  We with our 21^st Century need for chronology see the chronological differences as inconsistencies. 

Said another way, writing in the manner of the West and of the Greek meant utilizing a linear format.  Such was not a high priority in that time and culture.  It is not so much that it did not matter but that arranging events in such a way to support the narrative was of higher priority.

4.       SETTINGS:  All of the writings of the Scriptures were within not just a cultural context but also were set in the real lives of people.  As well they were set within geographic settings.  Sometimes it was a combination of the two. 

An example is found in the City of Jerusalem.  It is the high point of Israel so it is that people went up to Jerusalem or when leaving went down to such and such a place.  Of course in our way of thinking up is not to a particular place but to the north.

You can see that crossing these challenges to understanding would be quite an undertaking.

Making the Scriptures Come Alive

Now to the Bible. In spite of these challenges, the Bible remains understandable to us today. Of course if one reads much of the background, it enlivens one's understanding but the basic and essential truths of the Scriptures may be grasped by any or all who care to read them. It is in every sense a breakdown of truth to suggest that one cannot understand the essential truths as set forth in the Scriptures.

Having said that then, it is equally true that there is a wealth of understanding available if one will take but a few minutes to seek understanding of the language, culture, times, etc. With the advent of the WWW, there is much available that will enhance one's understandings of the times, cultures, etc. in which the various books of the Bible were written.

God has a Dog in the Hunt

Maybe you’ve heard it said, “I don’t have a dog in the hunt.”  This in no way is meant to make trivial God’s interest in the Scriptures and in the individual but “God does have a dog in the hunt.”  He is invested in the project to make Scripture available to any and all who care to study.

Why is the Bible so available to us today? Another illustration will help with that question. Imagine that you write a love letter to someone dear to you. Would you not want them to be able to read and understand it? Well, suppose you couch your feelings in terms they cannot understand.

How preposterous a thought. Well then, consider that the Bible is the Word of God written to all mankind--those He loves--His love letter to each and every person on earth. Simply from the human view, were it beyond understanding would it not be like the just mentioned love letter?

From the child learning to read to the Godly scholar, the miracle of the Living Word being revealed in the Written Word is that it may be understood by all who will take time to read it!

 Looking Deeper

In terms of the diagram attention will now focus only upon the Old Testament. Again the graphic is going the change.

 To understand this diagram you will need to be looking once again at the index in your Bible.  What you will see is that the Old Testament list of books can be comfortably divided into two cycles.  However not every era is represented in both cycles. 

Cycle One:  Genesis through Esther.  Notice that in the first cycle the Period of the Dispersion is not represented in the listing.

Cycle Two:  Job through Malachi.  Notice that there is but one book (Job) in the Period of the Pentateuch and the Period of Entrance is not represented.

Assignment

The assignment this time is not so much to memorize the new material but simply to gain a feel for the material by making some general observations.  Look down the listing of Old Testament books in your Bible's Table of Contents and see if you can identify the following things. 

First, notice the two cycles.

Second, notice what book likely fit into which period in each cycle.

Third, notice which cycles are not represented.

It is not so much a matter of whether you can do it or not but that you are gaining some familiarity with the layout.  Do not worry nor feel overwhelmed if it still seems a bit mysterious.  By taking “baby steps” and reviewing, you will get there.