Recent research has shown that we are increasingly reading articles etc. in an F pattern. We are so busy we read the first few sentences along the top and then we begin to scan downwards
to find any
interesting
bits and pieces.
We might come to a section in the middle
that we want to read all the way through
but after beginning
we realise
it wasn’t
important
after all and
we return
to a quick scan
through again.
What pattern is our bible reading I wonder? We are very keen on certain gospel stories, Acts, and large chunks of the epistles; the beginning of Revelation and its end is really
encouraging. We even read some Psalms with enthusiasm.
but then
we begin
to be
hesitant.
The beginning of Genesis is quite popular
although it does seem to get harder as it goes on.
Exodus suffers the same fate,
after all why is there all that stuff on the tabernacle?
As for
Leviticus,
Numbers,
and Deuteronomy
we know they are
important but
its very hard
to see their
relevance. In
fact all the history
books seem
a
long
way
from
2012
Yet bits of David’s story are exciting especially the one about Goliath. The prophets are great: Jonah and the big fish, Daniel in the Lion’s den, and Isaiah at Christmas and Easter. Amos for
social justice.
What’s that you say?
Jeremiah,
Ezekiel,
Hosea, Joel,
Obabiah, Micah,
Nahum, Habakkuk
Zephaniah, Haggai,
Zechariah and Malachi
Aren’t they all the same?
Joshua, Judges
1 and 2 Kings
1 and 2 Chronicles
Ezra and Nehemiah,
Well some of the stuff in them is a bit depressing, battles, judgement, exile and even the return from exile isn’t up to much!
No, I think the gospel stories are the things I like best and the New Testament is so much easier to read.
What’s that you say?
We cannot understand Jesus without the Old Testament.
Surely that can’t be true?
Can it?