I started reading the Bible for one reason...I'd never read it all the way through and wanted to say I had done it. I don't know if that is a stellar reason for scripture reading, but it was mine. I had, of course, read the major Bible stories and was familiar with Bible history, but when I started at the beginning, somewhere around Numbers chapter 1, I ran out of steam. Too many begats I guess. To accomplish my goal, I read a chapter a night, right before bed, and started to see real progress. When I finished Numbers I gave a big "Whoop, whoop!"I kept plugging along until I reached Isaiah and then I had a thought, "Sure I've been reading the Bible and accomplishing my goal, but what have I learned exactly?" Perseverance? Yes. Doctrine? Sometimes I gleaned a few things in my dogged march forward. Personal Spiritual Experiences? Eh, not so much. How could I still just read a chapter a night from Isaiah? You know, Isaiah, the man who prophesied the coming of Christ, who testified of His amazing life, whom Jesus himself quoted, and of whom the Savior said, "...search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah" (3 Nephi 23:1). So, I started to study, and then amazing things happened, and I learned! I kept studying when I reached Jeremiah and on through Ezekiel and the amazing, fantastic Daniel, and now I'm in Hosea. Does anybody quote Hosea? I don't know that they do (I'm not finished yet though so maybe I'll come across a well known verse) but they should! Hosea is awesome!!
The book is set up as a parable where Hosea, who represents Jehovah, takes an adulteress (Israel who had gone after the worship of other gods) as a wife. Chapter 3 verse 2 states: "So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley." "So what," you say. This is what! The amount of money represented
by the silver and barley equals roughly to 30 pieces of silver, or the price of a slave. This money, or bridal present, redeems Israel. The people were in bondage to sin and iniquity, slaves, and the Lord Jesus Christ paid the purchase price to reconcile Israel to God. Or, to bring it home, He did that for me. I'm so grateful! My Bible pages up to 861 are empty...now they look like this. I can't wait to start again and really study from the beginning!
5 comments :
Thanks for sharing that. I have been stuck in Job for a long time and now I think I will give it another go. Thanks for your example. Love you.
So I am very behind on your blog. You have done so many fun things! The day at Lagoon, what fun it looks like you all had. Then to eat such good food! Made my mouth water just looking at it. Then last but not least you squeezed in your daily scripture study! I have often wanted to read the bible but do the same thing every time. I start but then get really overwhelmed because I feel like I have no idea what the heck I just read and quit! I will have to give it another go and this time study and not just read to finish.
Love this post! You are my new hero. I was going to suggest reading the Bible with Cleon Skousen's books where he literally translates it all for us... but it sounds like you don't need it!!
You are a true inspiration to us all!!! I have never read the whole bible either and I will probably use your excuse for mine. Thanks!!!
Oh how I miss you! I still remember you would teach us from the scriptures every time we met as a RS presidency way back when. I loved that. You are so insightful.
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