Trying to Read the Bible

On April 1st, I set out to read the Bible cover-to-cover in 90 days. I started the experience with much vigor and excitement. I’ve tried my hardest to take in the words on the page and comprehend what they mean and how they affect life.

I’ve discovered some awesome things… did you know God likes the smell of cinnamon? He makes the smell a part of the anointing oil in Exodus 30:23. The realization that God might prefer some smells to others is simply fascinating to me. Knowing the rules put forth in the early books of the Old Testament adds such depth to the culture and stories in the later books. And, of course, there’s something special about reading God’s passionate conversation with Job.

So, at what point did this become hard for me?

It’s not hard for me as in ‘I don’t want to do it,’ or that I’m uninterested in what I’m reading. It’s hard in the sense that some days I forget. How can I forget after so many days of reading it?

Since I started reading I’ve gone out of town a couple of times. I go away, fully expecting to catch up and read more than usual, but each time I’ve actually ended up reading less (if reading at all).

I think it might be an exhaustion thing. When reading the Bible this intentionally - and actually trying to comprehend it - you need energy and attention. It’s a different way of reading it than when I would back in the days of high school or even college. Trying to read it all and remember the details to apply them is a much more stretching experience than just reading piecemeal for a pick-me-up.

There have been some passages that have been a bear to read, while others I have enjoyed. I’ve found that I prefer the narrative portions of the scripture. Reading through the narrative helps with the portions that are only prophesy. Some of the dialogue is hard to push through due to its unique nature, so different from how American novelists write.

After I complete this reading and before I go for round two (I hope to make this a regular thing… maybe twice a year?), I’d like to try and study more about the Jewish culture. I only wish there were descriptions of the appearances of people - so I could put a better face to the name. Of course, that doesn’t happen. It leaves too much importance to the character’s names - and the meaning therein.

Learning to read the Jewish writing is really learning how to read in a new way. The first time names and words appear hold a higher level of importance. You can often tell the significance of a person by how much is written about them and how much is remembered about them. It’s a very different writing style full of nuances and layers of meaning that are so hard to keep up with on this first pass.

So I’m a few (a lot) of days behind. I’m still planning on completing the reading, even if I don’t make it in 90 days. I’m hoping that on round two (or three, or four…) I’ll be able to better comprehend and remember all the wealth of details. I’ve loved reading the Bible in this intensive way… I only wish I could be more intentional.

I don’t understand why I never did this before. I don’t understand why I’ve waiting this many years to read all the words and try to really commit to it. It seemed so intimidating to read this massive tome of wisdom and history… and even now, as I’m behind so many days, it’s still a touch intimidating to crack open the Bible and really sit down with the Word of God.

Maybe reading the Bible should always be intimidating.

So what are your ways of reading the Bible? What struggles do you have when trying to comprehend it all? How can we read better?