We’re off!
And we’re off! The Bible in a Year Adventure begins! And with Genesis we most definitely begin at the beginning. In these early chapters of Genesis we learn about the nature of the world in which we live (as originally made it is good, and ordered – not chaotic) and our status within it. We learn about the nature of sin and its rapidly spreading effects. And most importantly we learn of the creator God who gives us both our existence and our purpose.
In the light of 2009’s celebrations of Charles Darwin we may have all sorts of questions about how Genesis does or doesn’t square with current scientific theories. Gordon Wenham, in his commentary on Genesis warns against trying to bring a Twenty First Century agenda to an ancient text. He writes: ‘Though historical and scientific questions may be uppermost in our minds as we approach the text, it is doubtful whether they were in the writer’s mind, and we should therefore be cautious about looking for answers to questions he was not concerned with. Genesis is primarily about God’s character and his purposes for sinful mankind. Let us beware of allowing our interests to divert us from the central thrust of the book, so that we miss what the LORD, our creator and redeemer, is saying to us.’ (Word Biblical Commentary on Genesis 1 – 15, p. liii)
As we read the early chapters of Genesis notice what sin does to relationships – within human society and between humans and God.
Reading the first chapters of Matthew may feel a bit like Christmas all over again. The genealogy at the start is a reminder that the birth of Jesus is not the beginning of the story. Luke goes back to Adam in his gospel, and John goes right back to creation, but Matthew’s concern is to locate Jesus’ place within the families of Abraham and David. Both of these two key figures from the Old Testament were on the receiving end of covenant promises from God. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation and that all peoples would be blessed through him (we’ll be reading about that soon in Genesis 12). God promised David that his royal family line would last forever (see 2 Samuel 7). Jesus is the fulfilment of these and many other promises in the Old Testament.
In fact, fulfilment is a major theme throughout Matthew’s gospel. Notice how often he pauses to tell us how Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled in the life of Jesus. While you’re at it, spot the link between Psalm 2:7 and Matthew 3:17 when it comes.
Psalm 1 is a great encouragement at the start of this Bible adventure. May we be people who this year learn to delight in God’s law and meditate on it day and night.
My plan from here on is to be posting blogs each Sunday with some thoughts about the upcoming week’s readings. Do leave a comment if you have the time and inclination and we’ll see if we can get a bit of a community conversation going.
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14 Responses to “We’re off!”We’re wondering why we waited so long to start this!
Hi all!
Am excited to have started on the Adventure – it’s so great to be sharing this journey together as a church community! Me being me, I’m bound to have loads of questions, and am hoping this is the right place to start posting them…so here goes…
Jan 2 – Psalm 2 v 4
“The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.”
Psalm 2 seems to be saying that God is laughing at those on earth who are rebelling against him. This is an image of God that I haven’t really come across before and find quite difficult. I can imagine God being angry and wrathful (vs 5 and 12) at human sin, but find the picture of God mocking human rebellion hard to reconcile.
Any thoughts???
I’d like to thank everyone at St James who made it possible for us to read the bible together in a year. I find it exciting to think about what may come from us doing this.
If you haven’t got a 1-yr bible go to http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/january.asp?version=51&startmmdd=0101 & click on the date [in blue], & a window will open giving the full text of that day’s readings.
Thoughts on Rachael’s question on Ps 2:4, for jan 2nd. It’s a good question & got me thinking too, so I looked it up in a commentary I have. Here’s the gist of what it says -
Israel was a small nation, surrounded by big enemies on the north, east & south, so vulnerable to attack. Easy then, for them to be worried & anxious. What the psalmist – who’s writing a song, perhaps for public use in worship – is trying to say is ‘don’t worry, God is on our side. He’s so mighty & strong that their plans to attack us are puny in comparison, so small – like an ant plotting to attack & defeat a lion – that it’s almost laughable’.
The commentary suggests it was written when a new king was anointed [v2] which may have been a time of uncertainty for the people: ‘will this king be strong enough to keep us safe & hold off our enemies?’
So it’s not really saying that God looks at us to mock us – more reassurance, for ‘the people of the time, of God’s might & power & ability to keep them safe from their enemies.
Does this make sense??
@Kathy Thanks for the link. The reading plan is also on the front page of this website and shows the day’s readings and readings either side of today’s date in case you need to catch up or want to forge ahead.
Facebook users can also add a reading plan control to their home page.
http://mobile.oneyearbibleonline.com/
Useful if you have the internet on your phone!
I’m really excited by this whole thing. Especially reading it together as a family and church family. I wonder how it will affect us and who we will be come 2011?
Rachael’s question about Psalm 2 is interesting. You find similar language at Psalm 59:8. I guess the language of scoffing and mocking sounds like it belittles people and therefore isn’t loving. Part of the problem comes from ascribing human attributes (emotions, etc.) to God. We kind of need to do it in order to understand him, but something will always get ‘lost in translation’ because he is different from us. My guess here is that the emphasis is on how laughable it is for finite humans to conspire against God.
I didn’t start reading on jan 1st so am catching up today before term starts again tomorrow. Have just been reading about Noah’s ark. If you think of a tiny boat as shown in children’s book, go to this website : http://www.pbase.com/paulthedane/image/78106281. A dutch man has buit a full-size replica, so the images on the website might help you visualise just what the dimensions given in the bible look like in real life.
How wonderful that the daily reading for Tuesday is about the Tower of Babel – on the very day that the worlds tallest building in Dubai is officially opened!
Hi all,
Love this, it feels exciting, safe and solid to be doing this as a whole church and in a way that I can manage [reading being my very weak point] cant wait to see the fruits of our ‘whole church’ commitment to this ‘Adventure’ together.
a couple of things, sorry for what may be silly questions but really want to get to grips with this.
like Rachel’s Ps 2v4 question [ok with that one] I cant get my head around this – reading Gen 11 v 5-9 this is not like the God I imagine! just in the reading and perhaps from my very simple view of the bible it seems to me that this is like the action of a child chucking his toys in a tantrum [the mum in me] I can’t seem to find another bit that shows the reason why God would do such a thing, surly he would have delighted in our ability and progress as the ultimate Father that we love Him for, but so hope there is more to it than that !! anyone?
also from Nick ‘Tower of Babel’ where, did I miss something? going to read it again but dont think I saw the name in that reading? again, don’t want to miss out on the leasson. anyone??
blessings x
@Jo – The Tower of Babel is the one described in Genesis 11:1-9 (see v. 9 where ‘Babel’ appears).
Most scholars seem to think what was wrong with it from God’s point of view was that it was a symbol of human pride (a) trying to reach the heavens through human effort and (b) trying to ‘make a name for ourselves’ (v.4). A possible alternative is that this tower was a religious building associated with pagan religion. We know that people in the area used to build buildings called ziggurats (a bit like the pyramid-like buildings the Incas built in South America) that were supposed to function a bit like ladders for the gods to go to and from the heavens on.
James, thank you, not sure I will really get to grips with the old testement much but will keep going and trust that the Lord will lock in what I need to know in my spirit if not in my dizzy head ! just hope you are ok with the questions?
blessings x
No problem Jo. The world of the Old Testament often seems strange and alien, largely because in many ways it is! Different cultures. Different ways of thinking. Different ways of doing things. But still the same God! Keep the questions coming.