DECIPHERING THE THRONE ROOM- Reading the Bible as complete story
Reading the Bible can be like entering a throne room of a King.
It is extremely intimidating; sometimes complicated and there are a lot of fancy words and sometimes confusing ceremonies. But, the throne room can become less intimating when you know more about the King’s character.
The King of the World - the author of the Bible - who sits in the preverbal throne room of “reading the Bible” is gracious, generous and desperately WANTS YOU in His presence!
So while yes, learning to read the Bible can be intimating it is also one of the deepest blessings you can experience in your life.
The Bible is a complete story that leads to Jesus. It can be difficult to match all of the pieces together, but it can be helpful to identify certain themes as you read through scripture. We’ve identify six themes to help as you read and we hope you can use these as a reference point as you seek God through His word.
1. Creation
From the beginning was the Word Jesus Christ (John 1:1), God the creator (Genesis 1:1) and the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:2). The Old Testament begins with God, as the maker of all creation. He created the heavens and the earth, and he brought order and beauty out of dark chaos. On the fifth day of his seven day triumph, God created humanity in His image.
We were made to rule and create on God’s behalf as a reflection of Him. He charged men and women to steward the things He created for good and beauty. We can meditate on this and pray with the psalmists:
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Yet you made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the work of your hands; you have put all things under his feet. (Psalm 8:3-6)
We were made to live, love, and work with God.
2. Fall
While in the garden, man and woman faced the choice of either trusting their Creator God’s understanding of good and evil, or usurping his authority by deciding for themselves. With manipulation from the enemy, they sinned and as a result experienced separation from God. Life was now burdened by discord and pain - which was to be relieved by death. It is important to note that even here God proved Himself to be gracious by providing their daily needs and even clothing them (Genesis 3:21).
3. Israel
The bulk of the Old Testament is about Israel - a group of people set apart to be God’s nation. The never-ending lineages, exiles, wars, famines and destruction of this people played a great part in putting God’s goodness and glory on display. In Genesis 12, God tells Abram to go into the land that he would call him. He promises to make him into a great nation, that he was blessed to be a blessing, and that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him. God’s heart for his people to be near in right relationship didn’t begin when Jesus came, it was the plan from the beginning.
In the Old Testament, God gave the law to bring awareness of sin. He allowed his people to enter into his presence through continual sacrifice. He also gave a lineage of prophets, kings, priests, and judges who served to govern, provide for and protect the people. Even though the leaders and the people continually rebelled against God, He continued in faithfulness towards His people.
4. The Gospels
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory” (2 Corinthians 1:20). The promises given to Abraham were fulfilled through his lineage when Jesus Christ came to bear our shame. Through faith in Christ, we can now approach the throne of grace with confidence.
5. The Church
We’re now no longer separated from God in sin, but are being made into the literal dwelling place of God’s Spirit. The letters of the New Testament are written for the comfort and conviction of our church body, teaching us to live as imitators of Christ Himself. We are again entrusted to be ambassadors on behalf of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “All authority on heaven and on earth was given to me. Go therefore, and make disciples, baptizing them… teaching them to do all that I have taught you. And behold, I will be with you always to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). The first commandment from Genesis to be fruitful and multiply is recommissioned and redirected to offer the free gift of salvation to every tribe, tongue, and nation.
6. Restoration
By grace we know how this story ends! Our prayers to “Our Father who is in heaven” have not and will not be in vain, because we know the end of the story. God wins; there will be a new heaven and a new earth and all of the nations will come to the New Jerusalem to worship and be with God forever. The triumph of the gospel is that He will be glorified among all the earth. Today we can “be still and know that [he is] God, for he will be exalted among the nations, he will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). Here we find urgency for repentance, and confidence to testify his goodness to all, in hopes of the day when pain is no more, and we get to behold our God forever and ever, amen.
I hope this becomes a helpful tool in navigating the word of God so that we can say with Moses, “If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and enjoy your favor” (Exodus 33:13). It is our prayer that as you read the Bible you experience the King’s presence and pleasure and desire to be with Him more and more!
By Nicole Beard
Nicole is our faithful intern (2020) and member of The Traveling Team. She is a student at the University of Central Arkansas studying graphic design. She has a heart for people and desires to connect them to God's heart for the world as she goes.
