Reading Devotionally

The following is the last question posed by swbtsbloggers.

Question: How do you apply this textual hermeneutic when reading the OT devotionally?

Answer: In many ways, what I am suggesting is that devotional reading is good Bible reading. The Bible itself even commands us that we read it in much this same way (cf. Joshua 1 and Psalms 1). My understanding of devotional reading is reading the Word of God in order to gain wisdom and learn how to live. What I am suggesting is that we follow the author’s lead in understanding the message of his text. When we have successfully done so, we will gain wisdom and learn how to live.

In practice, I simply read the Bible. However, I try to read large sections of the Bible at a time. Often we have a tendency to read with a narrow focus. We often get no sense of the overall theme or movement of a book. Applying this hermeneutic means following precisely the instruction of Scripture: meditate day and night upon Scripture that we may be careful to do and find wisdom and success.

The interview was first posted at swbtsbloggers.