Category: Bible Study

The Heavenly Throne Room

Stepping over the border between Rome and Vatican City, I could see the bulk of the enormous Renaissance-era church across the square. Saint Peter’s Basilica holds 60,000 people at one time. Built over 120 years, its massive central dome designed by Michelangelo towers 448 feet above the floor. From the first moment I entered, I was awestruck by its size and grandeur. It made me feel small, but in the very best way. Arguably the most famous church on the planet, even this impressive structure falls short of the glories John describes in the throne room of heaven.

In Revelation 5 & 6, John’s vision gives us a glimpse of heavenly reality: “Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it. The one seated there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.” (Revelation 4:2-3, CSB) Seated around the throne, twenty-four elders continually cast their golden crowns before it in worship. Four creatures representing all living things on earth praise the Lord endlessly: “Day and night they never stop, saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.’” They declare: “Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:8b & 11, CSB italics added)

Despite  having many authors, the Bible always reinforces itself. So, it’s no coincidence that the words of worship spoken in the throne room sound similar to Paul’s commentary about Christ in Colossians: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17, CSB, italics added) 

John’s description of his vision continues: “Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals. I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it.” John weeps because there is no one worthy to open the scroll until one of the elders reassures him, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” John looks and sees “one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders.” (Revelation 5:1-3, 5b, 6b, CSB). 

Jen Wilkin contends that everything in Revelation is a recapitulation of something mentioned elsewhere in Scripture. Rich with symbolism, the description of the one worthy to open the scroll recalls  Old Testament prophecies and symbolic events. Christ is the Lion of Judah, referencing Jacob’s prophetic blessing over his son, Judah in Genesis 49:8-14. He is the Root of David, referencing God’s promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. And He is the slaughtered lamb, referencing the Passover lamb whose blood protected the Israelite slaves in Egypt from the tenth plague in Exodus 11. In Revelation we see  “a picture of Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain who is also the Lion of judgment. Jesus is the only one worthy to judge the world (cf. John 5:22).”*  

Continuing to narrate his vision, John describes the twenty-four elders and four creatures falling down in worship before the Lamb singing, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.”(Revelation 5:9b-10, CSB)

Here we find another connection to a different New Testament book–Peter brings further clarity to John’s vision as he describes followers of Christ: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10, CSB)

Revelation describes the kingdom of priests who will reign on the earth and 1 Peter explains that every person purchased by the blood of Christ is part of this royal priesthood. So, despite our sinful natures, we’re counted righteous because of the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf (1 Corinthians 1:30 & Romans 3:21-26). One day we will rule and reign with Christ in His glory. We’ll want to keep this incredible reality in the forefront of our minds as we read about events that will unfold in the next few chapters of Revelation.

Recently I attended a worship service while visiting family out of town. The space where we gathered was a simple, dark room filled with a couple hundred chairs facing a platform. It was a far cry from the grandeur of Saint Peter’s Basilica but the worship offered was pure and heartfelt. My voice caught as I realized we were joining the multitudes in heaven giving praise to our transcendent, glorious God: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!…Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:12b &13b, CSB) The Lord is our just Judge; may John’s vision compel us to express deep gratitude for His unmerited favor and never to lose reverent awe for Him as our sovereign Creator.

Jen Wilkin, Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom, Lifeway Press, 2024.

*gotquestions.org: “What Are the Seven Seals of Revelation?”

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Re-framing Revelation

Walking out of the lecture hall, my stomach churned with anxiety. It was the first week of the quarter and I was already struggling. Some friends had assured me it would be no problem to take macroeconomics even though it was second in a sequence of classes of which I hadn’t taken the first. I had no knowledge base to build on, so when the professor lectured, it was as if she were speaking a foreign language. Filled with dread, I felt like a drowning person about to sink beneath the waves.

My hunch is that many people view the book of Revelation with that same sense of fear and apprehension. Truth be told, it’s not a book I’ve been drawn to before. My experiences with it have been limited and have lacked the context I needed to understand the bigger picture. The one verse I knew as a high school student filled me with dread: “because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16, NIV) Even after the Spirit convicted me to reject apathy and follow Jesus wholeheartedly, I still had little desire to dive into this intimidating book.

A decade later I stumbled upon a novel series that was a fictionalized account of Revelation. The books captivated me and read like action adventure thrillers. With my mind as a blank canvas, they became my reference point for complex symbols and prophecies from the Old Testament. Because I’d avoided Revelation, the series imprinted concrete events, timelines, and characters into my brain that were based on the author’s interpretation and imagination. Given my poor track record, it’s been eye-opening to re-engage it with the help of Jen Wilkin’s Bible study: Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom.

The study opens by covering Revelation 1-3:22. In the first verses we learn the elderly Apostle John writes Revelation after receiving a vision from Jesus while he’s exiled on the Island of Patmos. He starts by describing his vision of Christ: “and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. The hair of his head was white as wool—white as snow—and his eyes like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters. He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this.’” (Revelation 1:13-19, CSB)

Descriptions of Christ in the opening scene echo narratives from the Old Testament: in Exodus and Deuteronomy the Lord describes Himself as self-existent, eternal, sovereign, and almighty ; in Exodus, Isaiah, Joel, and Daniel clouds, thunder, and trumpet blasts accompany appearances of God. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus also describes Himself as the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power, glory, and a loud trumpet call. So, from the start, Revelation refers back to things that have been taught and described previously in Scripture. This apocalyptic book isn’t meant to confuse or strike fear in us but to encourage and equip us as it weaves together events that have preceded it with events yet to come. (Reading Genesis and Exodus helps greatly with understanding Revelation.)

John moves from the glorious description of Christ to addressing seven churches in Asia Minor who receive a combination of accusations, warnings, affirmations, and encouragements. The letters address issues still relevant for us today: forgetting God as our first love, compromising with sin and worldliness, tolerating immorality, being hypocritical, and prioritizing material wealth over spiritual riches. While we may not like being called out for straying from the narrow path, these warnings admonish us to choose God’s best instead of being deceived by the enemy and seduced by sin.

The seven letters also include praise and affirmation for churches who remain faithful to God amidst poverty, persecution, and powerlessness. Throughout Revelation, Jesus encourages believers to stand firm amidst trials and tribulations knowing that God’s justice will prevail in the end. Those who overcome will receive life, authority, and honor alongside Christ.

Reading the first three chapters of Revelation, I am encouraged that God knows us, sees us, and is honored by our choice to remain faithful. He rewards those who persevere. There is no question about His ultimate power and sovereignty. He is attentive, sovereign, merciful, and just.

While we may not understand everything by the end, studying this challenging narrative is worth our time. Working through Jen Wilkin’s book may be difficult, but as we grapple with questions, we’ll stretch our minds and expand our faith. Engaging the text personally will allow for rich discussion and will cement new truth into our minds as we learn from such a seasoned teacher.

Can I encourage you to let the learning process unfold rather than giving up like I did with macroeconomics? (Yes, I dropped the class and never looked back). Can I also implore you not to short-circuit the learning process by letting someone else interpret Revelation for you like I did with that fiction book series? Just reading it repeatedly and/or listening to it aloud will implant God’s Word in you and will build understanding in time. So, let’s ditch the excuses and commit to seeing this wild ride all the way through to the end. I’ve already gained so much insight studying Revelation and would love nothing more than to have you learning right there beside me.

Jen Wilkin, Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom, Lifeway Press, 2024.

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From Beginning to Forever

Each week as we’ve studied Elizabeth Woodson’s From Beginning to Forever the lesson has ended with an opportunity to summarize the portions of Scripture covered that week. So, by the end of the study, participants have written an overview of the entire Bible. Following the chapters of the study, here’s my humble attempt at re-telling the highlights of the grand narrative of Scripture:

The Creation and Corruption of the Kingdom: Genesis

In the beginning God creates the heavens, the earth and everything in them including the sun, moon, stars, plants, animals, and people. God creates humans in His image and tells them to multiply His kingdom and to rule and subdue the earth. The first two humans, Adam and Eve, succumb to temptation and choose to do the one forbidden thing—eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This breaks their fellowship with God and brings the pollution of sin into the pure and perfect world. God promises one day Eve’s offspring will crush the serpent who led them to sin, giving the first prophecy of the Messiah.

A Promise to Restore the Kingdom: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

God makes a covenant with Abraham promising him land, numerous descendants, and blessing that will impact all people on earth. The Lord confirms this covenant with Abraham’s son, Isaac, and his grandson, Jacob. God changes Jacob’s name to Israel (although both names continue to be used interchangeably after this.) Later, Jacob’s sons sell their brother, Joseph, to slave traders who take him to Egypt. After many trials, Joseph becomes second in command of Egypt and, through God’s direction, prepares the country for a severe famine. The rest of Jacob’s family later emigrates to Egypt to escape the famine. After several generations Jacob’s descendants (known as Hebrews or Israelites) became slaves in Egypt. About 400 years later, God uses Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery, to lead them to the promised land, and to help them become a distinct nation with clear laws and boundaries.

A Divided Kingdom: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

After 40 years in the desert, Joshua leads the Israelites into the promised land to take possession of it and fulfill God’s promise. A series of judges rule Israel until the people demand a king. Saul becomes the first king, but his disobedience displeases God and he loses His favor. David becomes the next king. Although he’s imperfect, he seeks to follow God’s heart and the Lord promises his offspring will rule eternally, foreshadowing the Messiah. Solomon succeeds David as king and is wise and wealthy, but unfaithful to God by marrying Gentiles and worshipping their gods. The kingdom divides when Solomon’s foolish son, Rehoboam, becomes king (the northern kingdom is called Israel, the southern kingdom is called Judah). Disobedience causes both kingdoms to be taken captive about 130 years apart–the northern kingdom is exiled to Assyria and the southern kingdom is exiled to Babylon. After exile, King Cyrus of Persia allows the Jews of the southern kingdom to return and rebuild their temple in Jerusalem under Ezra’s leadership and King Artaxerxes of the citadel of Susa allows the rebuilding of the city walls under Nehemiah’s leadership. The Israelites continue to struggle with disobedience and worship of false gods through subsequent generations.

Life in the Kingdom: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

Wisdom literature in Job, Psalms, and Proverbs provides guidance, encouragement, and warning for people living in the time period covered in the previous section. These writings give a framework for a life of flourishing that includes: 1) acquiring wisdom and following the law 2) fearing the Lord 3) submitting to suffering. Prophets enforce God’s covenants and remind people of the blessings and curses God will bring as a result of their obedience or disobedience. The Israelites are supposed to exemplify God’s love and faithfulness but worship idols and participate in sin and social injustice instead. As a consequence, God exiles them to Assyria and Babylon (mentioned in the previous section). Prophets give the people hope that a Messiah will come to bring salvation and restore them. Despite their sinfulness, the Lord continues to be faithful.

The Arrival of the King: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

God remains silent for 400 years between the books of Malachi and Matthew. The New Testament opens with the birth of the promised Messiah, Jesus.  Throughout the course of His life He fulfills all the prophecies and covenants related to the Messiah in the Old Testament, overcomes temptation, and remains sinless. During His years of ministry He heals people, casts out demons, brings dead people back to life, and preaches about the kingdom of God. Jesus teaches that belief in Him will bring eternal life and reconciliation with God, His Father. Despite His innocence, Jewish leaders accuse Him of blasphemy and convince the Romans to charge Him with treason and crucify Him. Three days after dying on the cross, Jesus resurrects from death and appears to many of His followers to give them final instructions and prepare them  for the arrival of His Holy Spirit.

The Kingdom Community: Acts thru Jude

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus gives His followers the mission to go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching the to obey everything He commands. His followers receive the Holy Spirit and become witnesses for Him in Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond. In the book of Acts God shows Peter that the gospel is for everyone–Jews and Gentiles can both be included in the family of God through Christ. Paul preaches the gospel far and wide to both Jews and Gentiles, teaching them that they are saved through faith in Jesus by God’s grace. The epistles explain God’s call for  believers to be ambassadors of Christ and to walk worthy of their calling in Him. Additionally, the epistles warn against false teaching and encourage believers in the midst of the trials and persecution they face while living as aliens and strangers in the world.

 The Kingdom is Restored: Revelation

Exiled on the Island of Patmos, the elderly Apostle John receives a series of visions revealing events that will unfold before and during Jesus’ return to earth. In his vision, John witnesses the throne room of heaven, God’s wrath poured out on rebellious and sinful people, the final judgement, the defeat of Satan, and the physical return of Christ. John sees the old heaven and earth pass away and the merging of a new heaven and earth. In the New Jerusalem God dwells with His people and Jesus rules and reigns with them for eternity. The shalom of the garden is finally restored and God’s plans and purposes prevail.

Understanding the Kingdom- A Worthy Endeavor

I’ve been learning about the Bible all of my life, have read it from start to finish several times, and have been studying it consistently for the past 25 years. Despite all of this time in God’s Word, I’ve never been able to summarize it like this before (shout out to Elizabeth Woodson for crafting a study that made it possible for me to give this overview). The more I learn, the more I realize how beautiful and multi-faceted Scripture is.  Reading it, believing it, and applying it is truly a worthy endeavor. God’s Word is living and active; it shows us everything needed to live a life of purpose and flourishing now and forevermore.

Elizabeth Woodson, From Beginning to Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture, Lifeway Press, 2022.

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Your Kingdom Come

“Later is longer,” my pastor explained during a recent sermon on parenting. His point was that disciplining and training kids  requires consistency in their younger years  that reaps benefits for their teen years and beyond. The more I thought about it, the more I realized “later is longer” also has implications for life on earth in comparison with life in eternity.

As we’re wrapping up the final chapter of Elizabeth Woodson’s From Beginning to Forever, this week’s session provides a big-picture view of Revelation. This Apocalyptic book about the end times and the creation of a new heaven and earth intimidates many people. Granted, the ambiguous chronology along with the variety of symbols, metaphors, and references to Old Testament prophecy can be confusing. But as followers of Jesus, why wouldn’t we want to seek understanding about what unfolds when He returns?

The events in Revelation are both inspiring and terrifying. It’s unsettling to read about the temporary  hardship and persecution believers will face at the hands of the enemy. But reading Revelation, we’ll also discover much encouragement. That’s why John begins the book writing “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3, ESV) Elizabeth Woodson explains the two main purposes of Revelation are to show “1) the spiritual reality of the cosmic battle, 2) the future hope of Jesus’s final victory over sin, Satan and death.” (p. 181) In short, it’s a book written to equip and encourage believers.

John’s vision begins with messages to seven churches that call out specific ways they have demonstrated faithfulness to the Lord and/ or gotten off track. While these letters aren’t written to us, they are written for us as followers of Jesus. We see praise for those who remain steadfast and endure persecution and warning for those who tolerate sin and fall into apathy. The churches of 2000 years ago may have looked different culturally, but they struggled with the same root issues as believers today. Knowing “later is longer” makes persevering and remaining faithful and obedient to God worth the effort.

After addressing the seventh church, John moves on to describe a vison the Lord gives him of the throne room of heaven. “The jeweled description of God, the twenty-four elders around the throne, winged creatures, thunder and lightning—all of this was a scene beyond words…Day and night they continue to repeat the glorious truth about God and then fall before Him in worship.” (p. 185) John explains, “They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’” (Revelation 4:9-11, ESV) While reading descriptions of what takes place in the throne room, you may recognize familiar lyrics from songs and hymns inspired by the imagery.

Next, John describes God’s judgement being poured out on earth for human rebellion and sin. Although Elizabeth Woodson doesn’t mention it specifically, one of the most comforting elements I discovered in Revelation was this command “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.” (Revelation 7:3, ESV) This seems related to Paul’s teaching to believers in Ephesians: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14, ESV) As the cosmic battle and final judgement unfold, believers will be clearly identified and protected from God’s wrath. How reassuring it is to discover this amidst many graphic and frightening scenes John describes.

While it’s unclear exactly how or when events will unfold (and it’s possible some are already unfolding), “there are three key events that all Christians agree on—1) Jesus Christ returns in a physical body; 2) the dead are resurrected; 3) believers and non-believers are judged.” (p. 188) Although the thought of facing God for judgement may make us quake in fear, we must remember that those who have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf have their names written in the book of life (Revelation 20:15) and have nothing to fear. Believers will be seen through the perfect holiness of Jesus whose blood paid the penalty for their sin.

“With God’s judgment of creation complete, God’s plan of salvation will be complete. Sin, evil, death, and Satan’s schemes will be no more… The kingdom, God’s divine plan by which He would dwell in perfect harmony with creation and humanity, can finally and fully be restored!” (p.190) The shalom of Eden will once again become a reality and the work of ruling and reigning God’s kingdom will continue for eternity with the Lord dwelling among His people.

The time we take to learn and apply Scripture, to practice the way of Jesus, and to live as aliens in the world is preparing us for the time described at the end of Revelation. The efforts we make to expand the Lord’s Kingdom on Earth give others a taste of His love and reflect the character of our Heavenly Father. Author and theologian N.T. Wright explains:

“You are…accomplishing something that will become in due course part of God’s new world.  Every act of love, gratitude and kindness; every work of art or music inspired by the love of God and delight in the beauty of his creation…every act of care and nurture, of comfort and support, for one’s fellow human beings…and of course every prayer, all Spirit-led teaching, every deed that spreads the gospel, builds up the church, embraces and embodies holiness rather than corruption, and makes the name of Jesus honored in the world—all of this will find its way, through the resurrecting power of God, into the new creation that God will one day make…what we do in Christ and by the Spirit in the present is not wasted. It will last all the way into God’s new world.”*

 Knowing “later is longer,” let’s focus our efforts on expanding God’s kingdom on earth now. Let’s invest our time and energy in endeavors that have value all the way to eternity, just as Jesus encouraged His followers to pray “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10, ESV)

*N.T. Wright Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the Church, HarperOne, 2008, page 208.

Elizabeth Woodson, From Beginning to Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture, Lifeway Press, 2022.

Interested in learning more about how what we do now can prepare us for eternity in the new heaven and earth? Consider reading Garden City by John Mark Comer or Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright. 

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The Kingdom Community

My family rented a movie recently that received a lot of hype when it released a few months ago. Having enjoyed a live version on stage, I was curious to see how it translated to the silver screen. From my comfortable spot on the couch, I was transported  by talented actors and memorable music into a vivid fictional world. As the dramatic final scene closed, “To be continued” unfurled in large script across the screen, leaving me wanting more. The movie had ended, but the story was far from over.

Thankfully, with the Bible we don’t have to wait for the sequel to the amazing life of Jesus described in the gospels. Acts picks up where the four books leave off. Written by Luke, Acts opens with Jesus giving instructions and a final command to His disciples before ascending into heaven: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NIV) Elizabeth Woodson explains in From Beginning to Forever, “For Jesus’s followers, the filling of the Holy Spirit marked a new season of ministry, when the King was dwelling with His people once again. And not only with them but in them!” (p. 153) In the book of Acts we see disciples of Jesus demonstrate power and authority as they heal people, cast out demons, confront false teachers, and preach the gospel. They also experience significant persecution that scatters them beyond Jerusalem. New leaders and teachers join their ranks, including a hateful Pharisee turned humble teacher named Paul. (If you’re unfamiliar with Acts, check out the series of posts I wrote by clicking here.)

Following Acts, the rest of the New Testament includes Pauline Epistles (letters written to believers by Paul) and General Epistles (letters written to believers by other authors). “Both sets provide believers with wisdom, encouragement, and theological truth meant to keep them aligned to the gospel.” (p. 157) Let’s consider a few key themes covered in the Epistles.

Pauline Epistles: Thirteen books of the New Testament claim Paul as their author: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. “Paul taught on the kingship of Christ and reminded believers of what it takes to access Christ’s kingdom community. His teaching also helps believers understand how to live as citizens in the kingdom who are on mission for the King.” (p. 157) With his vast knowledge of Hebrew Scripture, Paul helps readers to understand the deep significance of Jesus and all that He fulfilled as the promised Messiah. It’s hard to narrow down the many important topics he addresses, but here are a few:

  • Jesus as image of the invisible God who was present at  creation (Colossians 1)
  • Jesus as the servant who willingly humbled Himself by becoming a man and dying on the cross (Philippians 2)
  • Jesus as the one who atoned for the sins of humankind and made it possible for fallen people to be reconciled to a holy God (Romans 8)
  • Jesus as the One who made it possible for us to be righteous before God (2 Corinthians 5)
  • Jesus as the head of the church (1 Corinthians 3, Ephesians 2)

Through his explanations, Paul urges believers to “follow the commands of God out of gratitude, not obligation…[to] live as transformed people who have been freed from the eternal penalty of sin!” (p. 160). Paul admonishes believers to see themselves as the building blocks of a holy temple and to walk in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 2, 4 & 5). He spells out what it means to cast off our old selves and to put on our new selves (Colossians 3). “Paul’s letters guided believers to order every area of their lives to live worthy of the gospel (Phil. 1:27), setting our minds on the King (Col 3:2), bearing spiritual fruit (Col 1:10), and denying the desires of our flesh (Gal 5:24).” (p. 165) His letters show that when Christ rules our hearts and God’s Word dwells in our minds, our attitudes, words, and actions will align with His truth.

General Epistles: Written by several authors, all but one of these books bear their names: James (the brother of Jesus), 1 & 2 Peter (the Apostle Peter), 1,2,3 John (the Apostle John) and Jude (the brother of Jesus). The one exception is Hebrews, whose authorship is still subject to debate. These writings center on “life in the kingdom community as well, with a focus on what it means to live in allegiance to the King in the last days.” (p. 157) Understanding the tension of “living in-between the first and second comings of Jesus in a world desperate for the King to return…The authors of these books…provided the kingdom community with an overflow of wisdom to help us live well as we wait.” (p. 167) Here are a few of the many important topics they address:

  • Remaining unwavering in our faith and pursuit of Jesus (Hebrews 10, 12)
  • Enduring trials with joy as they build our faith, teach us perseverance, and lead us to maturity (James 1)
  • Undergoing persecution with an eternal perspective (1 Peter 1)
  • Living as holy and chosen people (1 Peter 2)
  • Understanding the depth of God’s love and His greatness (1, 2, 3 John)
  • Contending for our faith and internalizing truth so that we will not be deceived (Jude)

“The kingdom community dwells with the King, lives like the King, while executing the mission of the King. Who we are internally impacts the ministry we can do externally. Our ability to persevere on this side of eternity will be met with treasures in life everlasting.” (p. 171). The more we study His Word, the more we will understand God’s character, our identity, and the way to flourish in the present as we prepare for eternity.

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this post and are closing in on the final book of the Bible: Revelation. It ties together so many elements of Scripture, I can’t wait to hit the highlights with you in my next post (and to take a deeper dive in conjunction with Jen Wilkin’s Revelation study this spring.)

While overviews like this are helpful, true transformation happens when you open the Bible and let God reveal Himself to you directly. Every minute invested in studying Scripture  is worth the effort. Consistent engagement is the key to spiritual growth– it’s the only part of your daily rhythm that will last all the way to eternity.

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Elizabeth Woodson, From Beginning to Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture, Lifeway Press, 2022.

Spotlighting the Savior

With his signature red and white striped beanie, matching sweater, and Coke bottle glasses, most of us would recognize the title character of Where’s Waldo anywhere. If you’re unfamiliar, these “spotlight search” children’s books contain detailed illustrations that always include Waldo hiding in plain sight. Author and illustrator Martin Handford delights readers with his creative scenes on each page.

At the risk of sounding irreverent, prophecies of Jesus in the Old Testament remind me of Waldo as they foreshadow the arrival of the Messiah.  Many of the references to Christ are easy to miss without a “spotlight search.” Here are a few we’ve touched on as we’ve studied the grand narrative of Scripture in Elizabeth Woodson’s From Beginning to Forever:

1) Serpent Crusher: After Adam and Eve disobey God and open the world to sin, the Lord pronounces a curse on the serpent that deceived them: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15, NIV) God promises that the ongoing conflict between the enemy and humankind will one day end with Eve’s offspring crushing him. In our “spotlight search,” this is the first reference to the Messiah who would conquer the enemy and reconcile fallen humans with their perfect Creator.

2) Blessing for All People: Later, in Genesis 12 God makes a covenant with Abraham (called Abram at that time) that spotlights the One who will bring blessing to all the earth: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3, NIV) Here the Lord promises that through Abraham’s offspring the entire earth will be blessed. The Lord confirms this promise with Isaac and Jacob.

3) Eternal King: Continuing on in Scripture, the Lord spotlights the Messiah again when He makes a covenant with King David: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 8:16, NIV) He promises a king greater than David who will one day rule “Israel perfectly for the glory of God.” (Woodson, 79)

4) Savior: Many prophets also foretell the coming Savior throughout the Old Testament, as we see Isaiah spotlight in this familiar passage: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

Four hundred years of history unfold for the Israelites with no written record between Malachi at the end of the Old Testament and Matthew at the start of the New Testament. The silence breaks with the gospels; each of the four highlight different aspects of Jesus’ life and reveal Him as the fulfillment of prophecies about the Messiah. All four present Jesus as the sinless One who died to save sinners. While there are overlapping stories among them, each gospel writer emphasizes certain aspects of Jesus; together they provide a complete testimony. Let’s examine a few key parts of Jesus’ life that they spotlight:

Matthew: “Matthew, writing to a Jewish audience, emphasizes Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, proving that He is the long-awaited Messiah.”* For the Jewish people, ancestry was everything. Matthew opens his book  with the genealogy of Jesus to confirm that He is in the family line of the Messiah. Interestingly, he also lists five women in the genealogy, including three Gentiles, revealing the Lord’s intention to be a blessing to “all peoples on earth” as He promised to Abraham.

Mark: “Mark writes a fast-paced, condensed account, recording Jesus’ miraculous deeds and not recording His long discourses.”* Filled with action, Mark’s gospel reveals Jesus’ authority over both the physical and spiritual realms as He heals people, casts out demons, calms storms, and feeds thousands with a few loaves and fish. Mark also records key declarations such as Peter telling Jesus: “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29b) and a centurion exclaiming at His crucifixion, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 8:39b, NIV)

Luke: “Luke portrays Jesus as the remedy of the world’s ills, emphasizing His perfect humanity and humane concern for the weak, the suffering, and the outcast.”* This gospel includes the most comprehensive version of the Christmas story (Matthew includes other aspects of it.) Luke also shows Jesus revealing Himself as the Messiah when He reads a prophecy from Scripture aloud in the synagogue: “’The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then [Jesus] rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’.” (Luke 4:18-21, NIV)

John: “John emphasizes Jesus’ deity by selecting many conversations and sayings of Jesus on the subject and also including ‘signs’ that prove He is the Son of God.”* John uses Old Testament language to reveal Jesus as the Christ, starting his book with a familiar phrase from Genesis: “In the beginning.” (John 1:1a, NIV) John’s gospel also includes the seven “I am” statements of Jesus, echoing the Lord’s words when Moses encounters Him speaking from a burning bush and identifies Himself as “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14, NIV) Among Jesus’ most important statements about Himself, John records Him saying: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, NIV) and “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;” (John 11:25, NIV)

John sums up the intention of all four gospels: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31, NIV)

May this “spotlight search” of the Messiah leave you with no doubt that Jesus is the Savior for our fallen, broken world. And may this head knowledge lead to a deep heart connection with the One who gave Himself for you.

*Quotes describing the four gospels from: https://www.gotquestions.org/different-gospel.html

Was this forwarded to you? You can receive new posts automatically in your inbox by going to www.marybethmccullum.com, entering your e-mail address and clicking “subscribe.”

Elizabeth Woodson, From Beginning to Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture, Lifeway Press, 2022.

Life in the Kingdom

If you’ve ever watched a show and taken a break between seasons, you know the value of the recap after the opening credits that says, “Previously on…”

Since we’ve had some time off, let’s do a quick review of where we left off in From Beginning to Forever by Elizabeth Woodson. Here are the highlights of Session 4 “A Divided Kingdom”: Joshua leads the Israelites into the promised land; judges rule over Israel until the people demand a king. Saul becomes the first king but loses God’s favor when he disobeys Him. David becomes the next king and, although he commits some major sins, he shows repentance and seeks God’s heart. Solomon succeeds David as king and is wise and wealthy, but unfaithful to the Lord by marrying Gentile women and worshipping their false gods. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, becomes king and the kingdom splits in two—Israel to the north and Judah to the south. Disobedience to God causes both nations to be taken captive and exiled at different times—the northern kingdom of Israel in Assyria and the southern kingdom of Judah in Babylon. After exile, those from the southern kingdom return and rebuild the temple and walls of Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah. The Jewish people continue to struggle with disobedience and worship false gods in the years that follow. (Phew–we just covered a lot of ground!)

This week, we circle back to the same time period to examine the wisdom literature of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs and all of the major and minor prophets in the Old Testament. These twenty-two books teach us what it means to live as people of God “during the in-between moments of joy, sorrow, anger, and celebration.” (Woodson, 98) With so much rich content in Elizabeth Woodson’s book, let’s pull out some key points that prompt personal reflection, soul searching, and prayer.

Job: Living in obedience to God doesn’t mean we avoid pain and suffering. The wisdom offered in the book of Job focuses on how we respond to hardship.  “Job’s story taught Israel, and also teaches us, that righteousness and suffering are not contradictory but two sides of the same coin.” (Woodson, 100) Often in our culture today, we see pain, hardships, challenges, and trials as “bad” because we’ve been taught to prize comfort and ease. But through Job and others in Scripture, we see pain and hardship are tools God uses for ultimate good.

Our reflex is to avoid pain or to numb ourselves in the midst of it. But, what if, instead of turning away, we leaned into it? What if we asked God what He wanted us to learn from it or how He wanted to reveal Himself through it? What if, instead of being angry or offended when we go through trials, we counted them as joy, just as James encourages us to do: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4, NIV)

Psalms: The 150 songs written by a variety of authors including David and Moses “don’t rush past emotion but give space for our gamut of emotions to be felt and expressed before the Lord…Whether the psalmist was expressing bitter sorrow or exuberant joy, he was ultimately leading the reader to worship the Lord. The life of flourishing is one fully engaged in the worship of God, even during the hardest seasons.” (Woodson, 101)

Is worshiping God the first response you have in difficult times of life? Do you believe true flourishing comes from obeying the Lord? If so, how has your life shown this to be true?

Proverbs: The thirty-one chapters of Proverbs show us “how to live God’s way in God’s world…[but they are] principles, not promises.” (Woodson, 103) Proverbs sets up contrasting ways to live—the way of wisdom or the way of folly. It shows that “Only by following Him can we be formed into the kind of people who experience true flourishing in His kingdom.” (Woodson, 104) If we want the blessing and benefit of living within God’s kingdom, our focus needs to be on aligning with His will, not expecting Him to do things our way.

What practices have you incorporated into your daily rhythms that keep you walking the path of wisdom and aligning with God’s will? When you veer into folly, what safeguards do you have in place to bring you back into the way of wisdom?

Ecclesiastes: This book’s author, Solomon, had all that life could give any one person—wealth, power, relationships, and wisdom. Yet, he “realized that ultimate meaning was not found in possessions, intellect, or experiences but in God.” (Woodson, 105)

Where are you prone to seek ultimate meaning in life other than God? What distracts you most from spiritual pursuits? How might the frustration, disappointment, resentment, fear, or hurt that you experience be an indicator that you’re seeking fulfillment in something other than the Lord?

Song of Songs: This series of love poems reveals a flourishing, vibrant relationship between a husband and wife. Elsewhere in Scripture we see that marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and His church. Intimacy, mutual submission, and willingness to serve one another reveal love on many levels.

How has our culture cheapened the sacredness of marriage and sexual flourishing? How are you tempted to buy into the “low view” of marriage as a legal contract instead of a holy covenant?

The Prophets: The seventeen books of prophecy that make up the last chunk of the Old Testament were written by “covenant enforcers” to urge the Israelites to “obey the covenant, reminding them of the blessings that would come from obedience and the curses from disobedience…They spoke of consequences but also gave Israel encouragement, reminding the people of the hope of their promised King.” (Woodson, 107) Prophets warned the people to return to God when they strayed before they were exiled, encouraged them to trust God and not lose hope during exile, and urged them to stay on track once they returned to Judah. In every season of Israel’s history, the prophets admonished the people not to engage in social injustice or idol worship. “God showed His patience through the message of the prophets, giving the Israelites a long time to repent and return to living as His people in obedience to the covenant. But He was also faithful, upholding the promises of judgement He made to Israel, even as far back as Moses.” (Woodson, 110)

In our culture, we are often quick to reject words of conviction or correction and react to the concept of God’s judgement by feeling offended (It’s not that different from the Israelites’ reaction to the prophets). We live in a period when truth is relative and based solely on feelings and opinions. But our choices to ignore God’s Word impact us and others. As my pastor likes to say, “sin splashes.” If we’re following Jesus, we need to be open and responsive to conviction. Rather than hiding our sin or making excuses, we need to follow the example of David and see confession and repentance as an opportunity to restore a right relationship with the Lord: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV) We need the wisdom and discernment to stand firm in a culture that tells us right and wrong are based on personal preference.

Do you float with the current of popular culture without considering where it differs from God’s ways? Do you know where you’re vulnerable to sin? Are you open to conviction and willing to be held accountable?

With so many questions in this post, one or two might have poked at you and made you uncomfortable. Consider stopping to pray and admit your feelings of conviction to God. Invite Him to speak to you and ask for His help to obey Him where you’ve veered off course. His mercies are new every morning and He’s always ready to hear your heart and help you realign with His.

Was this forwarded to you? You can receive new posts automatically in your inbox by going to www.marybethmccullum.com, entering your e-mail address and clicking “subscribe.”

Elizabeth Woodson, From Beginning to Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture, Lifeway Press, 2022.

Wading into Unknown Waters

Sometimes God asks us to move forward with a plan and only gives us minimal details. The Bible includes many stories of courageous, faith-filled people doing this, but one of my favorites is found in the book of Joshua.

For the past few weeks we’ve been following a high-level narrative of Scripture in tandem with Elizabeth Woodson’s From Beginning to Forever.1 While Woodson’s swift pace covers lots of ground, I want to pump the brakes here so we don’t miss the incredible story of Joshua leading the Israelites into the promised land.

First, stop and imagine how daunting it must have been for Joshua to receive the mantle of leadership from Moses. His predecessor had confronted Pharaoh and prevailed, spoken directly to God multiple times, and led the unruly and ungrateful Jews in the desert for 40 years. Maybe that’s why God admonishes Joshua three times in one conversation “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6,9,18).

The Lord tasks Joshua with leading roughly two million Jews across the Jordan River at flood stage when the swollen river was probably several hundred yards across. “Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’ Joshua said to the priests, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.’ So they took it up and went ahead of them. And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’” (Joshua 3:5-8, NIV)

Before experiencing the “amazing things” the Lord would do, the people were required to consecrate themselves. This included bathing and washing their clothes—physically purifying themselves to symbolize spiritual purification and to honor the Lord as holy. “This was often done before making a sacrifice or, as in this case, before witnessing a great act of God. God’s law stated that a person could become unclean for many reasons…God used these various outward signs of uncleaness to illustrate man’s inward uncleaness that comes as a result of sin. The consecration ceremony pictured the importance of approaching God with a pure heart.”2 This couldn’t have been an easy process for people with no modern conveniences who had been living in the desert sands but the process of physical cleansing helped them understand and appreciate the beauty of spiritual purity found only in God.

Once everyone was scrubbed clean and packed up to move forward, the priests walked toward the rushing waters of the Jordan. Bystanders probably held their breath as the priests teetered on slippery rocks at the water’s edge while balancing the holy and precious Ark of the Covenant on poles on their shoulders.

With those steps of obedience, a miracle unfolds before their eyes: “Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away…So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.” (Joshua 3:15, 16a, 17, NIV) Remember, how the Lord parted the waters of the Red Sea when the Israelites’ journey began in Exodus 14? Now, He does it again at the Jordan River as their desert wandering comes to an end.

Keep in mind that Joshua trusted God before the miracle. He followed the Lord’s instructions with the simple promise that He would do “amazing things.” Bible teacher Kristi McClelland explains, “[God] doesn’t promise to tell us everything that’s going on ahead of time. He doesn’t promise we’ll see a blueprint before we start building. The reward is often on the other side of obedience…Life doesn’t always afford us all the facts before we make a decision. But we can always decide to trust God’s character. We can always decide to believe in God’s goodness and steadfast love.”3

By the time this miracle occurs, Joshua had been walking with the Lord for many years. Each time he’d stepped out in trust, God had revealed His character and faithfulness. Joshua had experienced enough miracles to know God could do whatever He said He could do. So, Joshua listened when he was told to be strong and courageous. He walked in faith, believing God’s promise that He would be with him. He took action according to God’s plans and led others with courage and confidence, undeterred by seemingly impossible circumstances. And with each act of obedience, Joshua’s faith in the Lord grew stronger.

Although I’ve never led two million people across a rushing river, I’ve seen how God reveals Himself when I respond to His prompting. Instead of holding back and playing it safe, I’ve trusted the Lord to stretch me beyond my comfort zone—whether it was starting a Bible study for spiritually curious women, spending time with teens building homes in Mexico, or spontaneously praying over hurting people I encounter. He’s used these experiences to stretch me, refine me, deepen my faith, mature me, and reveal His character.

I’m learning that God is always at work and giving us opportunities to join Him. Where might the Lord be calling you to consecrate yourself, step out in faith, and wade into unknown waters? Consider praying and asking Him to show you what He wants you to know and do. Trust Him to walk alongside you and to give you the courage to do what seems uncomfortable, awkward, or downright scary. You’ll find life is fuller, richer, and more meaningful than you could ever imagine.

Was this forwarded to you? You can receive new posts automatically in your inbox by going to www.marybethmccullum.com, entering your e-mail address and clicking “subscribe.”

1. Elizabeth Woodson, From Beginning to Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture, Lifeway Press, 2022.
2. Life Application Study Bible, Zondervan & Tyndale, 1991, 338.
3. Kristi McClelland, Jesus and Women in the First Century and Now, Lifeway Press, 2019, 43-44.

Following the Thread of Covenant

Author Elizabeth Woodson explains, “In the Bible covenants are the major thread that connect the sixty-six books of the Bible into one unified story.”1 A covenant is a sacred and binding promise between two parties. Let’s follow the thread of major covenants in Scripture that weave together to reveal God’s incredible plan to redeem fallen humanity and restore His kingdom. The chart below provides a quick overview, but don’t miss the encouraging details that follow it.

Covenant & Scripture ReferenceParties InvolvedBrief
Overview
Edenic & Adamic
Genesis 1-3		God & Adam, EveDominion over Earth
Cultural Mandate
Sin results in Death
Noahic
Genesis 6-9		God & NoahEarth would never again be destroyed by flood
Abrahamic
Genesis 12, 15, 17
Reiterated to Isaac in Genesis 26:2-6 & Jacob in Genesis 28:13-14		God & AbrahamLand, Descendants, Blessing
Mosaic/ Sinai/ Old
Exodus 19-24		God & IsraelitesBlessings & Curses based on obedience
Davidic
2 Samuel 7		God & DavidKingdom will endure & offspring will rule eternally
New Covenant
Hebrews 9:15
2 Corinthians 5:21		God & Repentant PeopleFaith in Christ and acceptance of His atoning sacrifice that reconciles people to God

Adamic & Edenic Covenant: This is a two-part covenant. The Edenic Covenant spells out how males and females together were created in God’s image and given dominion over the earth. They were given the cultural mandate to be fruitful and multiply physically as well as spiritually and culturally—to advance God’s kingdom in His creation. Eating fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was forbidden and would result in death. 

The Adamic Covenant comes as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin: there will be hostility between Satan and the descendants of Eve, pain in childbearing for women, difficulty in work, death for all living things. Despite all of the negative consequences, God also gave hope that Eve’s offspring would one day crush the serpent’s head (Galatians 4:4, 1 John 3:8 and Ephesians 1:19-23 clarify this is Jesus.) So, even in the midst of pronouncing a curse due to sin and disobedience, God shows grace in providing the hope of salvation. 

Noahic Covenant:  In this unconditional covenant, God promised He would never flood the earth again. God provided a visual sign of this covenant: “Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.” (Genesis 9:14-15, NIV) 

“The lesson to us is that when we see a rainbow we should always be reminded of God’s faithfulness and His amazing grace. We should also be reminded that our God is a holy and righteous God who has a holy hatred for sin and who will not allow sin to go unpunished forever. Also, just as God provided a way for Noah and his family to be saved in the ark, He also has provided a way for us to be saved through Jesus Christ. Noah and his family were saved from the wrath of God that came in the flood, just as those who are in Christ are saved from the ‘wrath to come’ (1 Thessalonians 1:10).”2

Abrahamic Covenant: This unconditional covenant was promised in Genesis 12, sealed with a ceremony recorded in Genesis 15, and identified by the sign of circumcision in Genesis 17. It promises land, a multitude of descendants, and blessing to and through Abraham’s descendants that affects “all peoples on earth.” (Genesis 12:3, NIV) “This promise finds its fulfillment in the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34; cf. Luke 22:20), which was ratified by Jesus Christ, the son of Abraham and Redeemer who will one day ‘restore everything’ (Acts 3:21).”3

Mosaic Covenant: This conditional covenant was made while the Israelites were traveling in the desert from Egypt to the promised land after being freed from 400+ years of slavery. God was establishing them as a nation with a distinct identity and creating their laws and culture.

“It is important to understand that the Mosaic Covenant differs significantly from the Abrahamic Covenant and later biblical covenants because it is conditional in that the blessings that God promises are directly related to Israel’s obedience to the Mosaic Law. If Israel is obedient, then God will bless them, but if they disobey, then God will punish them. The blessings and curses that are associated with this conditional covenant are found in detail in Deuteronomy 28.”4 

The Israelites failed to uphold their commitment to obey God and suffered serious consequences. Thankfully, other covenants found in the Bible are unilateral covenants of promise made by God. He fulfills what He promises regardless of whether the recipients are faithful or not. 

Davidic Covenant: In this unconditional covenant, God promises to give His people a place where they can be planted and “have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.” (2 Sam 7:10b, NIV) He also promises David “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Sam 7:16, NIV) 

In addition to referring to Solomon, David’s son who would inherit his throne, this covenant establishes “Another Son of David would rule forever and build a lasting House. This is a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, called the Son of David in Matthew 21:9.”5

New Covenant: This covenant was predicted by Moses (Deuteronomy 29 & 30), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-33) and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:26-27) It is between God and repentant people who accept Christ’s atoning sacrifice on their behalf.

The New Covenant promises God’s forgiveness and restored fellowship with Him for those whose hearts choose Him. “Under the New Covenant, we are given the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8–9). Our responsibility is to exercise faith in Christ, the One who fulfilled the Law on our behalf and brought an end to the Law’s sacrifices through His own sacrificial death. Through the life-giving Holy Spirit who lives in all believers (Romans 8:9–11), we share in the inheritance of Christ and enjoy a permanent, unbroken relationship with God (Hebrews 9:15).”6

Under the Old/ Mosaic Covenant, the blood of animals had to be sacrificed regularly by priests in the Tabernacle to atone for the sins of the people. The book of Hebrews describes the contrast between the Old and New Covenants: “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:13-15, NIV)

Like a beautiful tapestry with many colors and textures, Scripture weaves together a variety of stories. Despite covering thousands of years and numerous generations, the thread of God’s faithfulness shown through His covenants and the promise of the Messiah remains consistent. Stop for a minute and marvel at God’s ability to tend to both the smallest details and the grand scheme of the narrative at the same time. He alone is worthy of our praise!

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Zooming Out on the Bible

In January of 2023 I started a Bible reading plan with the goal of finishing all sixty-six books before the beginning of 2024. By the time June rolled around, my bookmark was nowhere near the halfway point. My harsh inner critic seemed to be jeering at me; taunting me to quit. Instead, I ditched the twelve-month plan and continued forging ahead at a more manageable pace. Twenty months after starting, I completed my “Bible in a Year” reading plan. Although I’ve studied Scripture consistently for over twenty-five years, that was only my third time reading the Bible from start to finish. 

I love God’s Word and am a fan of doing things the hard way–but reading all sixty-six books straight through is both challenging and time consuming. That’s why I’m excited to dive into Elizabeth Woodson’s new study: From Beginning to Forever. She says, “by the end of this study you will understand how the entire story of Scripture helps us know who God is, who we are, and what we are called to do in His world. The goal, friends, is not to just know facts, but to study information that will transform our motivation for living and love for God.”1

Woodson structures her study around the Kingdom of God to give us a broad overview of Scripture. I thought a bit of Bible background might enhance your knowledge, provide context, and build your enthusiasm about zooming out to study the big picture:

Major Themes: God’s redemption story contains a four-part pattern that has been repeated throughout history:  1) Rejection of God’s way 2) Decline of God’s people  3) Consequences allowed by God’s hand 4) Restored relationship to God’s presence (This is a commonly held truth among Bible scholars.  This particular statement is paraphrased from Priscilla Shirer Gideon: Your Weakness. God’s Strength. Lifeway Press, 2013.)

Word Meaning and Organizational Structure: The word “Bible” comes from the Greek word biblos meaning “book” or “scroll”; the plural form “biblia” refers to a collection of scriptures that are treated as one book. The 39 books of the Old Testament were written mostly in Hebrew (a few short passages in Aramaic).  About 100 years (or more) before the Christian era the entire Old Testament was translated into the Greek language.  Our English Bible is a translation from these original languages. The word “testament” means “covenant,” or “agreement.”  The Old Testament is the covenant of law God made with humans. The 27 books of the New Testament explain the covenant of grace God made to provide salvation for sinful humans through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (paraphrased from Henrietta Mears’ book What the Bible is All About, Tyndale 1953)

Old and New Testaments: The books of the Bible are not all written in perfect chronological order.  Some books have overlapping stories and themes with others.  All of them can be read as stand-alone books.  The Old Testament focuses on the story of the Jews (also called the Israelites or Children of Israel) from their earliest beginnings.  It chronicles their history as God’s chosen people.  The Old Testament covers a span of 1000 years.  The New Testament focuses on Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy who came to save and redeem not only the Jewish people but all of mankind as well.  The New Testament was written over the span of 100 years with the earliest being written between A.D. 48 & 60 and the latest between A.D. 60 and 100. (Information from Paul E. Little, Know What You Believe, Victor Books, 1987)

Authors: The Bible was written by about 40 authors over 1600 years.  The authors were kings and princes, poets and philosophers, prophets and statesmen.  Some were learned in all the arts of the times and others were unschooled fishermen.  Some of its authors knew Jesus personally.  Two of them were his brothers (James and Jude). (Henrietta Mears, What the Bible is All About.)

The Church believes that Jewish and Christian writers were guided by the Holy Spirit in the selection of the Scriptures that became the Old and New Testaments: “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21, NIV). Beyond this guidance, there were other factors that helped determine the validity of a book:

  • Contrary to popular bestsellers (such as Da Vinci Code) the Church never had a meeting where the Scriptures were autocratically decided upon and then forced upon the rest of the Church. Instead, the books belonging to Scripture were determined by long and continuous use by both Church leaders and members. Many books were accepted due to the great influence the book was shown to have over the lives of the people. Some books were accepted because the Church members themselves could  testify how God used the book to draw many to Him and change their lives.
  •  One of the important factors for determining the inclusion of a book is its agreement with the rest of the books. The Bible cannot contradict itself. If it did, it couldn’t be  trusted. One of the basic principles when studying the Bible is being able to trust that the Bible is a cohesive work that doesn’t contradict itself. (Bullet points based on information in “The Bible Canon: How the Books of the Bible Were Chosen?” Click here for full article.) 

Interpreting Scripture: The Bible must always be interpreted in light of its context. The environment or setting in which it was written helps us determine what a passage does and doesn’t mean. Repeated phrases and ideas in the text help us to determine what’s important. As we read, we should ask ourselves:

  • What was the importance of this text for the original audience? (For them then?)
  • What does it say that applies to all people or believers? (For us always?)
  • How is this true in my current circumstances? (For me now?) (Adapted from Jen Wilkin and the Village Church Bible study materials)

Reading Literarily, not Literally: The writings in Scripture include many different genres including law, history, poetry, proverbs, prophecy, letters (epistles), apocalyptic writing, and more. Everything in the Bible isn’t meant to be read literally, but literarily. Jen Wilkin explains: “Language obeys different rules in different contexts, and the language of the Bible is no exception. A literate reading takes these rules into consideration.” (Jen Wilkin, “Why We Should Read the Bible Literarily” Click here for full article.)

Whether you’ve been studying the Bible for many years or are jumping in for the first time, there is always something new to learn: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV) So, grab your copy of From Beginning to Forever by Elizabeth Woodson and join me for a sweeping view of the greatest story ever told that also happens to be the best-selling book of all time.

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1. Elizabeth Woodson, From Beginning to Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture, Lifeway Press, 2022.