Are You Reading Through the Bible?

In this regular feature Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call.Here’s this week’s question:Dear Dave and TA, I know from The Berean Call Newsletter that TA is exhorting and encouraging readers to go through the Bible book by book at least once a year.I’m attempting exactly that, and it’s been a tremendous blessing.I just thought you might want to bring the same encouragement to your radio listeners.

Tom:

Well, Dave, we do, I do, you do.At the beginning of the year, in our newsletter, I encourage people, if they haven’t done it before, and of course I bared my soul and said, Each time that I try that, you know, I get so far and then I get distracted with other things.It’s not like I’m not in the Bible, I am, but the problem is that I wanted a more consistent, from cover to cover understanding the Bible, and I’m here to report that it’s going really well, Dave.I’ve been through the New Testament, just finished the Book of Samuel, from Genesis to Samuel, so in fact, I may even do it twice.

Dave:

You’re ahead of schedule.

Tom:

Now here’s how it blesses me.Before, when I, you know, we do a lot of research, we’re in the Bible all the time, but Dave, to read books, from book to book, you begin to understand things because you see them in the context and especially in the Old Testament, you know, I’ve been able to say, Well, wait a minute, now I know what that reference is, because I just read it last week.So, how do you go about it, Dave?

Dave:

Well Tom, I have read through the Bible many times, but I do not adopt a program like this.You know, in fact, as you say, we’re in the Bible, I’m in the Bible all day long, and I get my Bible that way now.I go back and refer to this and that, but you cannot understand the New Testament without the Old Testament.And so, for a person who has never even read the Old Testament, well, you need to read it a number of times.Now, my wife Ruth and I, we read through the New Testament in the evening.You know, I read and---

Tom:

Dave, I’ve gotten a lot of free meals at your house, and the dessert is always followed by reading from the Bible, which is better than dessert, honestly, seriously.

Dave:

We have been through, I couldn’t tell you how many times we have been through the New Testament, Ruth and I just alone, because our children are grown.

Tom:

But when I had meals, again free meals, Dave, when your kids were at home, it was the same thing then.

Dave:

I used to read Proverbs over and over to them at breakfast, because you’re on a pretty tight schedule here, you’ve got four school kids trying to get there, and Proverbs, I would really recommend, it’s fantastic!Back when I was a young man, which is a few years ago, maybe more than a few, if you said part of a verse in Proverbs, I could give you the rest of it.I don’t have that memory anymore, but I used to meditate on the Book of Proverbs, because this is Solomon’s advice to his son.Well, then it ought to be a father’s advice to his sons as well, and we ought to take it seriously.

Tom:

Dave, let me quote a Proverb for you, and it’s so bad, you talk about memory, this is my favorite Proverb, but to make sure that I’m saying it accurately, I’m just going to read it, because it just says what you just said.This is Proverbs Chapter 4, Verse 7:“Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding.”That’s what Proverbs do for you.

Dave:

Exactly.I could really launch into something about understanding, but anyway, you have to understand the Bible.Matthew 13, for example, when Jesus told the parable of the sower---a number of parables in Matthew 13.The parable of the sower that went forth sow, and the first seed fell by the wayside, the birds of the air came and took it.Remember, what Jesus said.The disciples said, Well, what does this mean?Jesus said, When anyone receives the word of the kingdom and understandeth it not.Tom, that’s what I would have against, say many TV shows.You can sit there watching a Christian television program, and you know, you’ve been on TV.The theme begins to sound gently in the background, you know you’ve got very little time left, and they lead them in a prayer to receive Jesus, and you sit there wondering what Jesus is this they are talking about?They didn’t really explain who He is.

Tom:

What understanding could there have been, it’s not enough content

Dave:

Right.So, the Bible emphasizes understanding, and you can get converts who will be enthusiastic, but if they didn’t have a thorough understanding, you cannot believe what you don’t understand.Now if you went to Jeremiah:9:24But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
See All...---well, verse 23 and 24, The wise shouldn’t glory in their wisdom, the rich in their riches, the mighty in their might, but let them glory in this, that they understand.It’s the first thing it says, that he understandeth and knoweth me the Lord, and so forth.

Tom:

Dave, just a final encouragement to people; you know the King James Version has 783,137 words.Most people read about 250 words a minute, but let’s say you’re a slower reader, and so on.Let’s say you read 150 words a minute, it would take you 87 hours to read the Bible from cover to cover.Now, if somebody sleeps for 6 or 7 hours a night, all right, that still leaves 6,250 hours to accomplish 87 hours of Bible reading.Everybody can do that, Dave, there is no reason why not.

Dave:

Absolutely.

Tom:

And you’re not going to understand the Bible unless you read it.Now that may sound stupid to say, but the fact is, biblical illiteracy among Christians in rampant.

Dave:

So we have to do more than read it, Tom, as you know, we’ve got to meditate upon it.

Tom:

And be doers.

Dave:

Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.But his delight is in the law of the Lord;and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”Okay, that’s how we get understanding.So a person could just read through, you know, on a program, and they are not getting it.But they need to meditate.Hide the word of God in your heart.Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.So, this is our meat, this is our food.Man will not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.So, this is what we’ve got to really be living by and meditating upon 24 hours a day, even in your sleep, dream about it.