Reading the Old Testament Update

So, you’ll remember that I took the 30 day New Testament challenge early in the year.  Afterwards, I thought I’d read the Old Testament to round out the experience (the entire Bible in a year).  There are some cool reading schedules out there (one I’d like to try some time has daily readings from the Old & New Testaments, as well as the Psalms) but I ended up modifying a chronological schedule, making it fit into 11 months instead of 12.  So far, I’ve managed to stay on track, although I find myself having to catch up more than I did with the New Testament challenge.  The daily readings for that program were so long that I NEVER wanted to get behind.  The Old Testament readings average about 3-4 chapters (sometimes only 2) a day – not enough to scare me from skipping a day.  Isn’t it funny how human brains work???

Things I’ve noticed (now that I’m up to the end of King David’s reign).

There are a LOT of chapters that just list the names of people – who serves in the temple, which descendants are responsible for which jobs, who came out to fight this battle, who was around when the Israelites entered the promised land – they just go on and on.  I’m not sure how others read these chapters, but I find myself skimming for significant sentences (“the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God” – 1 Chronicles 23:28) that are suggestive to me.

Another thing – I’m reminded of just how brief the stories are.  Reading about the patriarchs requires major effort to “liken the scriptures unto” me.  It takes some imagination to put into context the bare bones of the various actions that are described.  There are a LOT of chapters describing feasts, sacrifices, and the basic code of conduct.  Interesting culturally but hard to imagine living.  I wonder if someone from that time reading about our time would feel the same??

Favorites:  I love the book of Ruth – it’s a wonderful story of love.  Naomi and Ruth had the kind of relationship that all mothers and daughters-in-law should try to have.  Very tender.  Also, I really like reading Genesis – there’s so much interesting stuff going on (and it covers a LOT of time).  Reading Job reminded me of being in college – we studied Job as a literary work and I kept remembering insights my professor pointed out.  Elijah and Elisha were exciting prophets.  They got to do all kinds of cool things.  I have a lot of empathy for Moses – his task was impossibly difficult and it must have been disheartening to see his people settle for so much less than they could have had.

Finally – my most rewarding part of reading the Old Testament – looking for references to Christ.  The more I look, the more I find.  Even something as simple as the phrase, “draw lots” reminds me of when the soldiers drew lots to divide Christ’s clothing.  There are so many ways in which the Old Testament reminds and suggests and foreshadows the great center of history when the Savior came to earth and lived and died for all mankind.  It reminds me how much this is a intricately and carefully planned world and experience.  It reminds me how much God loves me and each person to live on the earth.

So, there you have it.  My midway to the goal update.

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