I’m Feeling A Little Jewish

Oi!

I’m still keeping up with my daily Bible reading. My goal is to read through the bible this year. I started January 1 and I’m still on track. 3 chapters each day, 5 on Sundays and I will finish on December 31st. I don’t read every day, but make up for the days I skip.

For the old testament I’ve been reading from the Jewish Study Bible, Tanakh Translation. All the books are the same that I’ve been used to growing up reading my NIV. The order is a bit different. After 2 Kings it goes to Isaiah. 1 and 2 Chronicles are in the third division known as Kethuvim (Writings).

Reading through and following along with the commentary has given me a different view of the old testament. For most of my life I’ve followed the lead of people in my church in trying to figure out what to make of the old testament. I was always told that we were not ‘under’ the old law. Which seemed to be code for all of the old testament. We (as a church) read from it, but let go of so much of it. It didn’t apply anymore. We only used the parts that were convenient.

And the old testament, the Hebrew Bible, is much more than just old law. Yes, there is plenty of law in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, but there is so much more.

Reading it through new eyes I have a greater appreciation for the Jewish people and how for them that is the end of it. No new testament needed.

I’m full of great old testament stories now. Some that definitely wouldn’t make the old flannel board.

~ by bart on April 16, 2008.