After reading the Bible story through in such a short amount of time, what stood out to you or struck you that you had not thought of before?
I don’t think it was just the speed at which I read it, but also the fact that it was in chronological order that helped make the Bible feel more like one complete story. This specifically struck me when reading through the different kings and happenings of Israel and Judah, and hearing the different prophets’ messages being interspersed in the correct contexts. This also applied to some of the Psalms or Proverbs of David and Solomon in the midst of their lives. Reading these things with their direct relationships helped me to grasp at what God was trying to do through his people, and their response to him.
Of the 5 directions for practicing humble interpretation of Scripture, which one do you find the most difficult to put into practice?
The practice of holding my interpretation with the graciousness of a humble servant is the direction of humble interpretation I find the most difficult. This happens particularly when I am preaching in some manner. After taking time to study, refine, practice, and meditate on scripture for some time, I grow in my confidence of its interpretation. This in and of itself is not the problem, but when I go to deliver this interpretation I get excited in the experience and delivery. The mixture of excitement and delivery then has a solidifying effect on me, where a different interpretation or even disagreement of my interpretation seems harder for me to accept and listen to. Perhaps because I end up tying some of my personal value into the delivery, and therefore when the interpretation is challenged it can be hard to not feel that my value is personally being attacked as well.