GETTING THE MOST FROM THE BOOKS OF HISTORY

Introduction to the History Books

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther are often categorized as books of history. They chronicle the account of Israel taking possession of the promised land, the time of the judges, the establishment of the monarchy, the split of the nation, the conquering of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria, the conquering of the Southern Kingdom by Babylon, their time of captivity, the return to the promised land, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Ask Good Questions

Questions to ask the text:

Examples: What does the text say? Who is the writer? Who is he writing to? Who are the people in the narrative? What is going on in this passage? When is this taking place? Where are the places being discussed? Are there any historical or cultural things that I need to investigate further to help me better understand this passage? Are there any comparisons or contrasts? Are there repeated words or ideas? Are there any words that I don’t know the meaning of? Are there particular things that I just don’t understand? What is the context of what is going on? Is this connected to the previous passage (look for words like therefore, but, and so)?

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Teaching

Psalm 25:5 “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (See Psalm 119:18)

- What truths about God, His works, His ways, or His expectations for me are in this passage? Are there promises I need to hear? Are there warnings I need to heed?

Reproof

Psalm 139:23–24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

- What does this passage teach me about my own sin? Have I broken these commandments? Have I ignored these examples? What things have I done in this passage that disobeys and dishonors God?

Correction

1 John 1:8–9 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (See Romans 2:4)

- Are there sins I need to confess and repent of? What changes do I need to make to my attitude, actions, words, behaviors, or habits to align myself with God’s will?

Training in Righteousness

Hebrews 5:14 “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (See 1 Timothy 4:7-8)

- What are some practical things I can do to apply these truths to my daily life? How can I grow in faithfulness in these areas? How should these truths affect my prayer life, Bible reading/study, worship, fellowship, evangelism, etc? Am I going to try to do these things in my own power and strength, or am I going to cry out to the Lord and depend on Him?

Important Principles

2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

Principles: Let Scripture interpret Scripture. Use clear passages to shed light on unclear passages, not vice versa. Don’t take passages out of context! Look for the clear and plain meaning of the text, but understand that Scripture often uses figures of speech, parables, allegory, and vivid imagery to teach literal truths.

Things to guard against: Don’t read your own ideas into the text (eisegesis). Draw the meaning out of the text itself (exegesis). Avoid allegorizing or spiritualizing the text unless the Bible itself does that (Example: Galatians 4:21-31). People who allegorize can be very creative, with no control based in the text itself. It becomes easy to read one’s own beliefs into the allegory and then think that they have scriptural support.

For a text to be interpreted allegorically or figuratively, there needs to be justification in the text itself or something in the cultural background of the original readers that would have led them to understand the text symbolically. The goal of every interpreter who has a high view of Scripture is to discover the intended meaning of the text. If the intended meaning is simply the literal communication of a historical fact or the straightforward explanation of a theological truth, then that is the inspired meaning. If the intended meaning is allegorical/typological/symbolic/figurative, then the interpreter should find some justification for it in the text and in the culture of the original hearers/readers.