Movements in Scripture

Big Idea: Biblical scrolls are made up of several distinct movements that make patterns that come together like a beautiful mosaic.

Movements in Scripture

Synagogues revere a handwritten Torah scroll carefully kept for special events. The Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy) is the first section of the Bible recounting God creating man and laying out what a good relationship with Him looks like.

Handwritten Bible Scrolls Meant to be Remembered

earliest sections of the Bible were made up of handwritten scrolls intended to be read to a community on a regular basis, with memorization encouraged. Word patterns and a flow of ideas had a cadence to it. A scroll contained collections of writings, each with their own distinct message and theme. This was in ancient times before chapters and verses were added to it that we are now so accustomed to.

Example of a Pattern

If you examine Genesis chapter one you see a certain rhythm.

Then God said let there be…

God saw that it was good…

And the evening and the morning was the ___ day.

This is one example of a pattern of words.

The Bigger Picture

When looking at a mosaic you may not notice it becomes a much larger picture till you step back. Patterns might be intricate and small, joining other patterns to make up a larger picture. Check out this mosaic from a collection of pictures in the Canadian town of Amherstburg! Many pieces of artwork are pieced together from the community to form a larger mosaic. An image emerges with a message of community unity. 

The Word of God is like that! It is profound at the deepest, intimate level, and it comes together on a larger scale with a message for the world for all time. In last week’s blog we noted movements of a symphony each with a different style or tone. Some are brisk and breezy and others are slow and reflective, each sharing a common melody. When discerning a movement in a Bible section, look for a common primary theme, a repetition of words, the introduction of a significant word, patterns of words and so forth.

Ideas Throughout Form a Meaningful Whole

The ideas come together in to a meaningful whole. As we study the Bible we want to study the intricacies and the meaning of words. Do not miss the big picture! Ask how one part fits in with the whole message of the Bible. It all points to Jesus!

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.  Hebrews 1:1-3 NLT

For more information on the power of movements in scripture, check out this video from BibleProject.

_____________________

This is third in a series, The Bible in Sync for the month of September 2022

Up next : Links
Previous post: Like a Symphony
______________________

Reflect:

1.Take a look at the mosaic picture again. What are some of the smaller pictures you can make out? Why might it fit in with the whole? Could you tell the bigger picture at first glance? Why or why not? Do you think the Bible is a bit like this picture? Why or why not?

2. Can you think of a theme in the Bible? What is it? How does your theme fit in with God’s message of love and rescue of His creation?