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How Reading the Bible Should be Something Ordinary

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Tommy Keene writes at The Christward Collective about reading the Bible in an ordinary way. What he means by that is that we should read the Bible as we’d read any other book. Not just a sentence or paragraph at a time, but consuming chapters and books and more in great gobbles.

First, he suggests we ought to read the book and not merely read around the book. Set aside all your commentaries and study notes so you can soak in the text itself. Reader’s Bibles help immensely by clearing out all the gunk that has accumulated over the generations.

Second, he encourages us to read entire books of the Bible in a single sitting. Don’t bother to stop every time you hit something you don’t understand. Don’t pause or rewind; just keep going. Let the big picture impact you first, and then go back to the difficult parts as needed.

As Keene says:

Over the years we have trained ourselves to read the Bible in an unnatural way, so we’re going to have to break some bad habits.

Keene’s sound advice is well worth considering. Check it out!

Exodus 33: Atonement = Forgiveness + Reconciliation

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After the people commit a “great sin,” Moses offers to go back up Mt. Sinai. His hope? “Perhaps I can make atonement for your sin” (Ex 32:30). This work of atonement began with begging God’s forgiveness (Ex 32:31-32), but that clearly wasn’t enough (Ex 32:33-35). Full atonement requires something more.

Observation of Exodus 33

Most repeated words: people (14 times), Moses (12x), said (11), tent (11), Lord (9), up (9), go (8), not (8), face (5), favor (5), know (5), sight (5)

  • As Moses is trying to bring the Lord and the people back together, I’m not surprised to see repeated mention of these characters
  • But what role do the tent, and the favor of God’s face, play…?

In the first section (Ex 33:1-6), Yahweh assesses the situation as it stands.

  • Yahweh speaks to Moses
    • He will keep his oath to give them the land
    • But Moses must lead them (Ex 33:1)
    • Yahweh will send an angel to clear out the inhabitants (Ex 33:2)
    • But he himself will not go with them, lest he consume them on the way (Ex 33:3)
  • The people mourn at this “disastrous word” (Ex 33:4)
  • Yahweh’s speech is repeated (Ex 33:5)
    • There is real danger for these people if Yahweh were to be with them!
  • The people strip their ornaments (Ex 33:6)

In the second section (Ex 33:7-11), Yahweh speaks to Moses at the tent of meeting face-to-face.

In the third section (Ex 33:12-23), Moses pleads with Yahweh to alter this course of events.

  • Moses leverages the favor he’s already got with Yahweh (Ex 33:12).
  • He pleads for even more favor (Ex 33:13).
  • Yahweh then promises to go with them (Ex 33:14).
  • But Moses is not assured. He wants to make sure Yahweh will be with them (Ex 33:15-16).
  • Yahweh agrees to this very thing (Ex 33:17).
  • But Moses is still not assured. He requests proof that Yahweh will be with them. And the requested proof is that Yahweh will show Moses his glory (Ex 33:18).
  • Yahweh agrees, but with conditions to preserve Moses’ life (Ex 33:19-23).

    Julie Gibbons (2010), Creative Commons

Interpretation of Exodus 33

Some possible questions:

  1. If Yahweh has agreed to forgive their sin (and not wipe them all out to start over with Moses), why all this fuss? Why won’t he just go with them?
  2. What is going on with the tent of meeting in Ex 33:7-11? Why is this little anecdote stuck right here? Wouldn’t the story make more sense without it (if we read Ex 33:1-6 and then jumped to Ex 33:12-23)?
  3. Why won’t Moses take God at his word? Why does he request proof that God will be with them?

My answers (numbers correspond to the questions):

  1. Though Yahweh has forgiven (most of) the people and chosen not to destroy them for their sin, this passage shows us vividly that forgiveness alone is not enough to accomplish full atonement. Though the legal transaction of forgiveness has taken place, there is still the relational damage between Yahweh and the people that must be dealt with. Yahweh will keep his word to give these people the land of Canaan (Ex 33:1-2). But the relationship has been so damaged that, if Yahweh was with them, there could be more explosions (Ex 33:3).
  2. We must not read Ex 33:7-11 in a vacuum, divorced from the context. This has everything to do with the flow of the chapter! I’m honestly not sure why the ESV (along with NASB, NIV, and NRSV) add the “used to” to Ex 33:7, as an interpretation of the Hebrew’s shift in tense. But the CSB, NET, NKJV, and LEB all translate with a straightforward, “Now Moses took the tent and pitched it outside the camp,” which makes more sense in the context. Of course, the tabernacle hasn’t been pitched yet, but Moses set up a proto-tabernacle, a mini-mountain, where the glory cloud could descend and Yahweh could speak to Moses (Ex 33:9). But from God’s speech in Ex 33:1-3, Moses knows that God can no longer live with his people. The relationship is too damaged. So this tent must go outside the camp. When Moses goes to speak with Yahweh, all the people wait breathlessly at the doors of their own tents, hoping beyond hope that their God will move back into camp with them. Yahweh speaks to Moses as to a friend (Ex 33:11), but that is not good enough for Moses. Moses wants God to have this relationship with all his people. This causes Moses to plead for a change and to request proof that it will happen.
  3. Moses knows how high the stakes are. God has placed his favor on Moses in a special way, but Moses won’t back down until Yahweh sets such favor on all the people. According to Ex 33:15-16, “me” and “us” are a package deal. “You can’t take me up, Yahweh, without taking all of us!” So Moses asks God to put his money where his mouth is; he wants to see the ring on Israel’s finger to know the wedding is still on. “Please show me your glory!” And he gets more than he bargained for. Yahweh will make all his goodness pass by, and he will become a witness to Yahweh’s lavish grace and mercy (Ex 33:19) when he repairs the relationship between his people and himself.

Train of thought:

  • Forgiveness, on its own, clearly wasn’t enough to provide full atonement.
  • The relationship has broken to the point that Yahweh must move out.
  • The grace of true reconciliation is astoundingly glorious (and life-threatening).

Main point: Full atonement = forgiveness + reconciliation

Connection to Christ: When God, before the world began, set his affection on his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, he got us as a package deal. Jesus came to die for his people, that he might bring us to God. And God loves us, not because we are lovable or particularly noble, but because Jesus claimed us as his own. When Jesus worked to provide atonement, to cover our sins, he did what had to be done so we could be forgiven. But he didn’t stop there. He also brought us close to God, as an intimate part of his family.

My Application of Exodus 33

The world does not work this way. The world tries to forgive and forget. Most people walk on eggshells, hold grudges, or give in to backbiting when relationships go sour.
But it must not be so with me (or with our community). The more I delight in the full reconciliation Jesus has provided for me with God, the better equipped I will be to not only forgive but also reconcile with those around me.

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

The Lost Skill of Listening to the Bible

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Last week, The Gospel Coalition published an article with the intriguing title “Don’t Just Read the Bible.” I was expecting the article to be about Bible study (Don’t just read the Bible but study it.) But in fact, the author went in a different direction: Don’t just read the Bible; listen to it being read.

I have valued Bible listening for quite some time, which is why I’m happy to allow for audio-Bible listening in our 90-day reading challenge. Listening to the Bible is a marvelous way to soak in the big picture, the main ideas, the overarching story line. And in his TGC article, Jonathan Bailey makes a good case for the practice:

So how do reading and listening shape us in different ways? When we read, our default tendency is to study, to pull apart the text and piece it back together, and to draw conclusions. We’re after comprehension: to grasp with the mind, to sharpen our thinking, to learn, and, above all, to understand. When we read, we want to get something out of it. 

When we listen, we have to leave all that behind. We lose our ability to be precise; there’s no underlining, cross-referencing, or consulting commentaries. Listening is more leisurely. When we listen we’re after apprehension: to lay hold of something, or better said, to have something lay hold of us.

Now of course, comprehension is not a bad thing. But I certainly appreciate the useful distinction between comprehension (getting something out of it) and apprehension (merely beholding the wonder). This sounds just right. And anyway, having our own Bibles to read is a rather recent development in the history of the world. Before the 16th century, most people would only get to listen.

So in the bio at the bottom, I noticed that Mr. Bailey just launched a Kickstarter project for a new Bible listening mobile app. An app designed to perfect not the reading experience but the listening experience. Different vocal tracks with a variety of English-speaking accents. Seamless synchronization. Original music scored to highlight the text. Listening plans and playlists.

I must say I am impressed. So impressed that I immediately backed the project to get a lifetime subscription to the app. Perhaps you might want to consider this project as well. It became fully funded within 3 days, but it’s still open to new backers. The more they raise, the more features they can add at launch. But regardless of how much they raise now, it sounds like many more features will come over time.

So I encourage you to check it out! Here is the Kickstarter campaign for the listening app. And here is the article at TGC about the unique value of listening to the Bible.

Exodus 32: Our Most Troubling Trouble

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God has explained to Moses how to recreate heaven on earth by building a place for God to live with his people. Moses holds in his hands two tablets of stone inscribed with Yahweh’s testimony (Ex 31:18). Now it’s time to execute the Lord’s instructions. But what will happen when a uniquely righteous God tries to dwell among his sinful people?

Observation of Exodus 32:1-35

Most repeated words: said (21 times), people (20x), Moses (17), Lord (13), out (12), Aaron (9), brought (9), sin (9), up (9), made (8)

  • while these words summarize the main action of the story, I don’t see any further significance to their repetition (but I always start observing with repetition, as it’s easy to observe, and it often suggests a direction for inquiry).

The first section (Ex 32:1-20) describes parallel scenes at the top and bottom of the mountain

  • Bottom of the mountain (Ex 32:1-6): The story’s conflict/tension arises when the people get nervous at Moses’ delay and ask Aaron to make them gods for revelry.
    • Top of the mountain (Ex 32:7-10): Yahweh tells Moses what is happening at the bottom, and he prepares to consume the people (“your people,” not “my people.” Yikes!).
    • Top of the mountain (Ex 32:11-14): Moses implores Yahweh and persuades him to relent from consuming the people.
  • Bottom of the mountain (Ex 32:15-20): Moses delays no longer but descends and sees the gods and revelry.

The second section (Ex 32:21-24) shows Moses uncovering Aaron’s motive for leading the people into “such a great sin”

  • First, Aaron blames the people (Ex 32:22).
  • Second, Aaron blames his circumstances (Ex 32:24) – “It’s not my fault, Moses; out came this calf!”
  • In between Aaron’s two self-justifications, he reveals his presenting problem: the nervousness people felt at Moses’ delay (Ex 32:23).

The third section (Ex 32:25-35) narrates a quasi-resolution to the conflict between the people and God

  • The Levites prove to be on Yahweh’s side by executing their countrymen (Ex 32:25-29).
  • Moses will go back up the mountain; perhaps he can cover (“make atonement for”) their sin (Ex 32:30-32).
  • But to move forward, Yahweh must punish sin (Ex 32:33-35).

    Nicolas Poussin, public domain

Interpretation of Exodus 32

Some possible questions:

  1. Why does Moses’ delay make the people so nervous that they would resort to such wild idolatry and revelry?
  2. How is it possible for Moses to persuade God to relent from consuming the people?
  3. Does God truly relent, if he visits their sin on them and sends a plague (Ex 32:34-35)? Is he just a whiny, capricious god?
  4. So what is the point of these three resolutions in Ex 32:25-35? How do they help?

My answers (numbers correspond to the questions):

  1. We were told that Moses was on the mountain for 40 days (Ex 24:18), but the characters in the story were never told. All they knew was that they were to take care of any disputes while they waited for Moses to return (Ex 24:14). But Yahweh has heard the cries of these people before (Ex 3:7). They were to him as a son (Ex 4:22-23). They are now his treasured possession among all peoples (Ex 19:5). But now they forget who actually rescued them (compare Ex 20:2 with Ex 32:4) and who now leads them (Ex 32:1, where they want “gods who shall go before us”). In forgetting these things, they bring into question whose people they truly are (no longer “my people” but “your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt” in Ex 32:7). Clearly, this is extremely unsettling for them.
  2. In this chapter, we finally see Moses settling into his appointed role as the mediator between God and his people. The main point of Ex 1:1-7:7 was to train him for this role. Clearly this was a part of Yahweh’s plan all along, and this incident of sin is no real surprise to him. It’s no accident that Moses appeal to the same promises (Ex 32:13) that motivated Yahweh to free these slaves in the first place (Ex 2:24-25). Thus, in speaking to Yahweh, Moses is acting like Yahweh. And when Moses goes to speak to the people, he still acts like Yahweh (compare Ex 32:9-10 with Ex 32:19). Here is just the mediator they need.
  3. Yahweh does not follow through on his threat to consume the people and re-create a nation through Moses (Ex 32:10). But he can’t just wave his hand and pretend the sin didn’t happen. He shows that payment must still be made for it (Ex 32:33-35).
  4. First, Yahweh blesses non-conformity to the fear and sin of the age (Ex 32:25-29). Second, there is hope that he just might cover (“atone for”) their sin (Ex 32:30-32). Third, this covering can only take place if payment is made (Ex 32:33-35).

Train of thought:

  • They get themselves into trouble when they forget who rescued them and now leads them.
  • This brings into question whose people they are.
  • The most troubling part is the potential severing of this covenant relationship and closeness to Yahweh!
  • Self-medicating the fear and anxiety with false assurance and pleasure does nothing to help.
  • But Yahweh’s mediator might make it right again by not conforming but covering the sin by paying for it.

Main point: God has a superior solution to our most troubling trouble. He can make a way to bring us back to him.

Connection to Christ: Moses couldn’t do it himself, but Jesus could. Jesus not only acts or speaks like Yahweh; he is Yahweh in the flesh. He never confirmed to the sinful pattern of this world. He shed his own blood to pay for our sin, such that his blood now covers those who trust him with their life.

My Application of Exodus 32

Head: I know the theology, that Jesus is the only savior. But when I feel anxious or afraid, I am still mostly inclined to self-medicate with pleasure, selfishness, blame-shifting, or anything else. When I face such temptation, I must remind myself of who alone can save me and lead me.

Heart: When I remember the Lord Jesus, I love him more than my false saviors.

Hands: I can close the browser window, set aside the video game, and choose not to attack my critic. Such things have never been able to save me in the past or lead me into paradise. Jesus is all in all, and being close to him is all that matters.

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

The Staggering Consequences of Neglecting Your Bible

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Erik Raymond looks at Psalm 1 to draw out “The Staggering Consequences of Neglecting Your Bible.” He observes the severe contrasts in the psalm to draw the following conclusions:

So often we minimize doctrinal differences, but we cannot forget, doctrinal error leads to eternal punishment. We must be sure above all that we have that essential doctrine clear and see the Bible as God’s holy Word, given to us as a treasure to for reading, meditation, prayer, preaching, and singing. Too often our doctrinal confessions that assert a belief in the inspiration and inerrancy of the Scriptures are betrayed by lives that ignore them. We must be sure that we are not succumbing to the false teaching that denies the supernatural nature of the Bible.

When we look at the result of a life lived drinking and delighting in the Word contrasted with one that rejects and belittles it, we have ample cause for evaluating our habits and our hearts.

Here in the dawning of a new year, it is certainly healthy to ask yourself what changes you should make with your life in order to give yourself more faithfully to this Word. For motivation, you need only to consider the staggering consequences of neglecting your Bible.

Check it out!

Top 10 Posts of 2017

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San Churchill (2007), Creative Commons

It’s hip and cool for bloggers to post their top 10 posts of the year. And we want to be hip and cool. Our hearts tell us to do it, and the Bible says to “walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes” (Eccl 11:9). So here goes.

Last week, we gave you the top 10 posts from those written in 2017. Now, we list the top 10 posts from the full KW archive. If lots of other people are reading these posts, you probably should be, too.

10. Teach Bible Study to a 12-Year-Old

Many people care about their pre-teens.

9. How I Prepare a Bible Study

In another post I explain, in the abstract, 5 practices for preparing effective Bible studies. In this post, I describe what it looks like for me to employ those practices.

8. 10 Reasons to Avoid Sexual Immorality

This was the most-viewed post in 2014, but it hasn’t been on the list since then. I’m delighted to see a resurgence in its appeal.

7. Top 11 OT Verses Quoted in NT

This post was part of my 2013 series analyzing every Old Testament quotation in the New Testament. This one focusing on verses seems to be the one people first stumble on to. This post was #3 on this list last year.

6. Teach Bible Study to a 4-Year-Old

Many people care about teaching their kids when they’re getting close to school age. This post was #4 on this list last year.

5. Top 10 OT Books Quoted in the NT

From the most quoted verses (#7 above), people usually find this list of the most quoted books.

4. 10 Old Testament Books Never Quoted in the New Testament

This post was also part of my 2013 series analyzing every Old Testament quotation in the New Testament. Good to know not only what’s said, but also what’s not said. This post was #7 on this list last year.

3. Why Elihu is So Mysterious

This 2015 post had an unexpected popularity this year. Elihu is that mysterious 4th friend in the book of Job. If you even knew he existed, chances are you’ve skipped his speeches entirely. This post is my attempt to explain his role in the drama of the play of Job.

2. Details of the OIA Method

We put this one into the top menu so people could find it easily. It pretty much explains why this blog exists, so we’re glad it gets a lot of pageviews.

1. Summary of the OIA Method

See the previous post, unless you want less of a detailed explanation and more of a summary. Then see this post instead.

 

Bible Reading Plans

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If you’re still considering whether to take up the 2018 Bible Reading Challenge, you’re not too late! And if you’ve decided to do it, you might wish for a list of milestones to let you know you’re on schedule to finish in time.

So at the suggestion of Tyler Redden, a reader pursuing the challenge, I’ve created a few reading plans for you. Just pick which reading order you prefer and click the link to find a Google Doc with the daily readings mapped out for you. From the doc, click File > Make a copy in the top menu. Then you’ll have an editable version of the doc to make your very own.

Top 10 Posts of 2017—Written in 2017

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It’s that time of the year again, when all the coolest bloggers bring their Top 10 lists out of the woodwork. “Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after” (Eccl 1:10-11).

This post lists the top 10 viewed posts this year, from among the posts we wrote this year. Next week, we’ll list the top 10 viewed posts from the full KW archive. May these lists give you much to consider and delight in as the new year rolls off the horizon into your chosen time zone.

10. Exodus 15:1-21: I Will Sing to the Lord

Exodus 15 is the first major climax in the book, and this post represents my climactic attempt to explain what’s happening in the text. We must sing to Yahweh, for there is no other god who can cast down his enemies and raise up his people.

9. The Resurrection of Jesus According to Mark

We celebrated Easter this year with a short series explaining the unique main points of the gospel’s resurrection narratives. You did know each gospel has a unique point to make, right? According to Mark, the King has come, but he is not here; so everything must change.

8. You Can Read the Bible to Your Kids

I can’t believe I never realized before this year that I had permission to simply read the Bible to my kids. Family devotionals, children’s Bibles, workbooks, and curricula are all fine and good, but just not necessary. Only one thing is necessary: living bread for hungry souls. About an hour, once per week, isn’t so bad. It’s become a delightful part of our family’s routine. And I have to keep a promise to my daughter.

7. Exodus 3:1-4:17: The Making of a Mediator

The most viewed post thus far from my Exodus walk through. Perhaps we can all relate to Moses in his hesitation and excuses. And praise God for a better Moses who never hesitated.

6. Leading Women’s Bible Studies: Not Just for Women

It’s rare for one of my “check it out” posts to garner this much attention. But for good reason: When it comes to Bible study, Jen Wilkin knows what she’s talking about. And her wisdom is not just for women. Don’t discount it just because she works primarily with ladies.

5. The Resurrection of Jesus According to Matthew

Ryan Higginbottom kicked off our resurrection series with this gem. According to Matthew, the risen Jesus is the gracious king of the Jews, the Messiah. Great news!

4. The Resurrection of Jesus According to John

For John, the resurrection is not only the climax, but also the full substance, of his message. Jesus truly is the Son of God, the Messiah who makes all things new, the source and essence of life. You can trust him with your life

3. E-Sword: Bible Study Software for Everyone

This year was a year of many reviews, and two of them were among the top 3 viewed posts of the year. Ryan wrote this review of a free Bible software program to assist you in your handling of the Scripture.

2. CSB Study Bible: Great Translation, Fine Study Resource

This review was my first exposure to the new Christian Standard Bible published this year. And while I didn’t like the study Bible nearly as much as the reader’s Bible, I happily recommend the translation in any edition you find most helpful.

1. 4 Bible Studies for Advent

Views of this post were almost 3 times higher than the second-place post, even though this post published later in the year than any other on this list. I urge you to consider Ryan’s advice to offer your families Bible studies and not mere devotionals. Feed them God’s word, and not just what some author had to say about portions of God’s word.

 

 

 

The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible: A Beautiful Gospel Presentation for Preschoolers

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The Bible is for everyone, even the smallest and youngest among us. And children can usually handle more of the Bible than we’re ready to give them. The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible by Jared Kennedy, illustrated by Trish Mahoney, is a new storybook Bible for preschoolers that focuses on the promises of God, made in the Old Testament and kept in the New Testament. How does this resource do at introducing little ones to Christ in the Scripture?

Background

I can’t discuss The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible (BGSB) without first drawing attention to another title from the same publisher, The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski. Machowski’s work teaches 156 Bible stories (78 OT, 78 NT), which synchronize with the Gospel Story Curriculum, a 3-year plan for Sunday school classes through the elementary school years. My church uses the Gospel Story Bible with the corresponding curriculum, and we appreciate the consistency and clear focus on Jesus in every lesson. One criticism of the Gospel Story Bible, however, has been that it doesn’t suit preschoolers. There are too many words and not enough pictures to hold their attention for long, and preschool teachers have had to abridge the stories on the fly to match the prevailing attention span each week.

I was eager to receive a complimentary copy of the BGSB, in exchange for an honest review, to see if it would meet this need.

What it does well

I am always impressed by the production quality of children’s materials from New Growth Press, and the BGSB is no exception. It is sturdy, hefty, bright, colorful, and pleasing to the eye. It exemplifies the excellence I have come to expect.

It abridges the 156 stories from Machowski’s volume down to 52 stories. Each story takes 6-8 pages, with only a sentence or two per page. So the stories really move and make quick transitions from one illustration to the next.

In addition, the BGSB keeps the intense focus on Jesus. Every story mentions him explicitly, communicating rich theology in child-friendly language. Each story offers a moral or lesson that never feels moralistic, as we reach the lesson only after seeing the story through the lens of Jesus.

What could be better

Though I appreciate the general theme of promises made (OT)/promises kept (NT), I don’t sense much of a coherent flow from one story to another. The book feels like a series of episodes, connected only because they each speak in some way about Jesus. Perhaps Jesus should be enough of a thematic connection, but I think David Helm does a better job in The Big Picture Story Bible, where he traces the themes of the people of God under the rule of God in the place God gives. In Helm’s work, Jesus is presented more as the chief climax than as the content of every story.

Also, one of the greatest strengths of Machowski’s Gospel Story Bible is that he includes frequent quotes of Scripture in his storytelling. But unfortunately, Kennedy has dropped this practice in his adaptation for preschoolers in the BGSB. Each story header lists the Scripture reference(s) the story comes from, but, as far as I can tell, the actual words of Scripture are nowhere to be found within the stories. This makes the BGSB less of a story Bible and more of a story about the Bible. The distinction may be subtle, but I think it speaks volumes about how much we trust the Scriptures themselves to speak to the hearts of our little ones.

Conclusion

I’m glad we have a copy of The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible, and I’m eager to read it to my 3-year-old and 1-year-old when we can. But I’ll be looking to give priority of time to other resources that keep the text of Scripture more center-stage. The Bible is for everyone, even the smallest and youngest among us. And children can usually handle more of the Bible than we’re ready to give them.

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