Fionnuala and I started a house group about a year ago. It didn’t really work out for reasons I won’t go into and we have since moved on from the church in question. But it did give me an opportunity to study the Bible and look at it more thematically and holistically, as opposed to on a story by story or book by book basis.
What fascinates me is here we have a book written over a space of thousands of years by dozens of people, many of whom didn’t know each other, yet there is a consistency and continuity throughout that allows it to flow seamlessly from start to finish. There are themes in Genesis that can be cross referenced to Revelation. Psalms and Isaiah are constantly hinting at what is to come as well as what has passed.
I began to pick themes from tbe Scriptures and trace them throughout the Bible, digging away for the meaning and message. The symbolism and strands, the diversity and depth are mind blowing at times. It is like a billion piece jigsaw that fits together verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book.
Within The Word there are words that jump out at me. Words repeated over and over like a drum pounding out a powerful message over the millennia. So over the coming months I am going to periodically study words and their biblical meaning and interpretation. The first word I’m going to consider is ‘Fire’. The series will be titled ‘The Words Of God.’
Fionnuala gave me a similar prompt when I asked her for some blogging ideas earlier today. ‘What does Heaven smell like?’ she hit me with. Whooooaaahhh! Heavy stuff! But it all emanates from a verse in Revelation about the prayers of God’s people rising up to Heaven like incense. The Bible is not a dusty old book. It is the living, breathing Word Of God. It is Jesus; vibrant, colourful, deafening at times. It is an assault on our senses. We can touch it, taste it, see it, feel it, hear it.
Which gave me an idea for another thematic study which I have cleverly titled ‘Making Senses Of The Bible.’ I’m not sure how this will pan out but it will encourage me to spend more time studying and probing at Scripture. I will keep my regular blogging going but this is just another strand to my bow so to speak.
Revelation 8:4 – ‘The smoke of the incense, along with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.’
Have you favourite words or themes in the Bible?
What is your favourite smell?
Black Thoughts 
These both sound like great series. I look forward to reading your insight. 🙂
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Thank you. I hope you enjoy it. What Bible book are you reading at the minute?
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I am currently doing a Bible study walking through Psalm 107, on His steadfast love (the study is actually titled “Steadfast Love”).
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That sounds interesting. I hope you enjoy it. The Psalms are amazing.
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It has already shed a light on a lot of things for me. It’s a beautiful Psalm.
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I’m going to read it. I love Psalms and Proverbs. I’m trying to spend more time reading them. They are like a sanctuary from real life.
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It really is a reprieve, and it’s truly enlightening.
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I tried to reply to your Day 6 post but not sure if you got it.
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I did. Glad to know it’s not just me. 🙂
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I have had those same thoughts about how the Bible is so diverse and so intertwined! You put it beautifully. I like any Bible passage about being brave or valiant, and my favorite verse is Psalm 108:13. My favorite smell is probably fresh air in the woods or orange peels (smell them sometime. Awesome!). Thanks for this post!
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You’re welcome. I hope you don’t eat the orange peel after you smell it 😂
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Oh yeah, they’re yummy 😋. Jk!
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My favorite book of the Bible now is Psalms. The constant theme I find there is trusting in God.
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Yes Psalms is awesome. I’m reading Isaiah at the moment. It’s a book I want to learn more about as I see it quoted everywhere.
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I call the deep searching of the Bible “gold mining” for I find precious nuggets. They don’t always agree with typical teaching, but that is in minor areas. Many times we don’t see it because we are not native Greek and Hebrew speakers. Keep digging. My favorite book of the Bible is the one I am currently researching. The smell in heaven is the smell of Joy
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Keep digging 🙏🏻
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One of the things which always astounds me is how the Bible is truly timeless in many of its themes… particularly the themes related to human nature, human strife, and God’s mercy. I think it was today at church where I was re-hit with a sense of, “Whoa – this was true then, and it’s still true today!”
Favorite smell? Mint brownies. Or, maybe that’s just a craving? I am also partial to leather.
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We have just bought a new leather sofa so leather is the favourite smell in our family at the minute as well.
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This is so awesome because I started a blogging series, Bible Summary. I finished Genesis (in two posts) last week. This Saturday will be Exodus. I’m also completing my first complete run through the Bible. I’ve read through it before, but not every chapter (like the genealogy ones for example). I am on the last book, Revelations. It is crazy to think there are some books of the Bible, I know almost by heart, versus others or stories/lessons that are so dim to me. And I completely agree, everything in the Bible connects. I firmly believe, and tell my readers, “The Bible will explain itself.” Cause it will. And God will continue to open our eyes when we are set on Him. Here’s to ideas, inspiration, and motivation.
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Thank you. I’ll go back over your Genesis posts and then follow your series. Hopefully we can both learn and grow from our parallel studies – Stephen.
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That would be awesome!
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This is going to be a great read! I can’t wait to benefit from some of your word studies. Have fun! Favorite smell? Lavender. Thanks for your obedience.
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Thank you. I’ll do my best.
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My favorite smell my hands down is lilacs. The saddest part is they only last a few weeks out of the year
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Lilacs are my wife’s favourite flower.
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