Reading through the Old Testament has always been a rewarding and yet difficult challenge for me.

This summer, I have a new-found love for a couple books that I have really struggled through in the past.

Leviticus and Numbers.

I think my understanding and new appreciation for these books began in April when Grant and I attended T4G and I heard this message by Ligon Duncan on Numbers 5.

There are a handful of sermons that I know almost by heart because God has used them so profoundly to impact me.

This message on Numbers immediately became one of them. I thought about it for days afterward and four months later I am still thinking about it.

If I could point to one thing that has helped me during my journey of studying Old Testament books, I would say it is asking myself the simple question, “How does this point to Christ?”

When I began asking this question, I started seeing more than difficult laws, strange rituals, and scary skin conditions…I started seeing Jesus.

Jen Wilkin, in her new book, Women of the Word, discusses many helpful principles for how we should approach our study of the Bible.

She rightly points out the importance of understanding the “Big Story” of the Bible as we study individual books of the Bible.

“Without the bigger picture, we can only gain a partial appreciation of what any snapshot is telling us. From Genesis to Revelation the Bible is telling us about the rule and reign of God.”

Perspective is so crucial to life. It matters in singleness, marriage, in mothering.

It’s typically pretty easy to distinguish those who have perspective and those who do not. Without perspective we can quickly get lost in the loneliness, the mundane, and the trials.

Perspective changes everything.

The same is true in our study of Scripture. Without the proper context, I have gotten lost in many passages that are actually amazingly rich and deep.

Of course, this is why it’s important to read through the Old and New Testaments, to meditate on the Psalms and learn from the Prophets…because then we began to see how all of Scripture fits together and how every single book is pointing to Jesus.

When I’m reading through a difficult book, I like to have my study Bible and a good commentary handy when I get lost or confused. I also try to listen to sermons that correspond with what I am studying in Scripture. And it sure is nice having a seminary husband to ask difficult questions and share what I am learning.

This summer, Leviticus and Numbers have taught me so much about the holiness of God, the vileness of my own sin, and most of all the love of Jesus.

The sinless One, touching the unclean and making them clean.

Jesus, cleansing me.

The Gospel in Leviticus and Numbers…one of my greatest joys this summer of 2014.

 

What is the Lord teaching you through His Word this summer?

 

Luke 24:26-27:

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

 

I really enjoyed this short video of Kristie Anyabwile as she shares how God used the book of Leviticus in her life.