For all its vast diversity and uneveness, it (the Bible) is a book with a plot and a plot that can be readily stated. God makes the world in love. For one reason the world choses to rejct God. God will not reject the world but continues his mysterious and relentless pursuit of it to the end of time. That is what he is doing through all the passion and poetry and invective of the prophets. THat is why history plays such a crucial part in the old testament- all those kings and renegades and battles and invasions and apostasies - because it was precisely through people like that and events like those that God was at work. in the new testament , He was supremly at work in the person and event of Jesus Christ. Only "is at work" would be the more accurate way of putting it because ... his work goes on still, of course, and at one and the same time the Biblical past not only illumines the present but becomes itself part of the present, part of our own individual pasts. Until you can read the story of Adam and eve, of Abraham and Sarah, of David and Bathsheba, as yrou own story.... you have not really understood it. THe Bible... is a book finally about ourselves, our own apostasies , our own battles and blessings.
Psalm 119:105-112
"
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.
107 I have suffered much;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.
108 Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws.
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your precepts.
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end."
2 Timothy 3:14-17
"14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Psalm 119:105-112
"
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.
107 I have suffered much;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.
108 Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws.
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your precepts.
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end."
2 Timothy 3:14-17
"14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
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