I've picked up an interesting book recently, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, by A.J. Jacobs. As a Bible student and teacher, I was curious to read of Mr. Jacobs attempts to catalog, interpret and apply the myriad of laws and rules of the Bible.
So far, I'm finding that he uses engaging humor to describe his journey through the Testaments. During his "year" he takes the opportunity to visit various people and groups who are well-known for their adherence to the Bible (e.g. Amish, Hasidic Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses), which further adds depth/perspective on the challenges of applying God's Word in our modern context.
At this point, I don't expect that Mr. Jacobs will answer many of the obscure "Why?" questions of the Bible (e.g. Why were the Israelites told to abstain from boiling a goat kid in it's mother's milk). Perhaps we cannot fully fathom the implications of all these rules based upon the culture and environment of the Patriarchical Period? God told His people that they were not to be like the other Nations. Somehow, all these stipulations would create a vastly unique people who were to devote themselves to the One True GOD. Mr. Jacobs descriptions of his Biblical explorations have most certainly renewed in myself a sense of wonder, and triggered me to ponder many of these morsels again on my own.
An interesting facet for me is Mr. Jacobs' proclamation at the beginning of his narrative that he is basically a secularist/materialist/atheist, from a Jewish family; and his subsequent self-inquiry as to whether he wants to believe in the God of the Bible. I've prayed many times, "Lord, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.", so I find myself wondering how this endeavor will ultimately impact Mr. Jacobs' worldview at the end of the year. To me, this is the point of intersection into everyday reality; is this God, the creator of the universe, speaking to mankind at different points throughout human history - If so, then He must have had a reason and a point for all those esoteric laws and commands. Even more importantly though, what does He have to say to us today?
1 comment:
Mark!
I am getting this book for Mason for Christmas. He mentioned it after hearing about it on NPR and I wrote it down as a gift idea. That's amazing that you're reading it. I read an interview with the guy and he said that he has new respect for faith now that he's accomplished this. I am anxious to hear more (or read it after Mason). I am so glad to see that you're blogging again.
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