“When did you last read Habakkuk?” one of our tutors often used to say. I knew I hadn’t read it recently, if at all. I wonder if you have? The Bible doesn’t make for easy reading, especially the Old Testament. That isn’t surprising. It covers a lot of ground. It wasn’t originally written in English. In fact, many of its books were handed down orally before they were written down at all. The 66 books vary in genre, including poetry and wisdom stories as well as records of events. The people who are spoken about lived in very different worlds, from each other and from us. And yet, in our Bible study group before the pandemic we agreed time and time again that human nature hasn’t changed. Neither has God, although many perceive God differently since Jesus came to show us the way.

I put it to you though that the Bible is the most important book you’ll ever read. It certainly changed my direction in life when I read the New Testament and came to believe in Jesus. The Bible turns the ways of the world on their head - not only the ancient worlds in which the books were written, but the ways of our world today. The reason that each book was handed down from one generation to another and is treated as sacred is because the power of God comes through it in some way. People are touched, influenced, and responsive in the spirit when touched by the Holy Spirit through the words of the Bible. We know it to be the truth, and we know it to be good, even though it’s not easy, it’s incomprehensible, it’s challenging as well as affirming. So is God.

I remember as a child hearing ‘Bible-basher’ as a derogatory term for people who liked to quote from the Bible to try to control other people or to coerce them into believing in God. It had the adverse effect. It put people off. The Bible isn’t there for that reason, or for us to use the bits we like out of context. Jesus was scathing toward the religious people of his time who were doing this. “You don’t have <the Father’s> word abiding in you, because you don’t believe him whom he has sent” he said. “You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf... But I know that you do not have the love of God in you.” (John 5: 38, 39, 42). The Bible extends an invitation for us to engage with God, through Jesus, and to know the love of God.

We spend time every day watching TV, reading novels or newspapers, surfing the Internet, or listening to the radio, all of which influence us. Do we spend time every day prayerfully reading the Bible? Paul said “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Bible doesn’t make for easy reading, but the Bible is complete in its 66 books. It has all of life in there, in this world and the next. Through it we can draw near to God, and come to know the love of God. We need to be both challenged and affirmed in order to grow in spirit, to draw ever closer to God, through Christ Jesus.

When did you last read Habakkuk? 

Amen.

Julie Rubidge, Lay Minister