We landed in Texas about two years ago, and in the fall I signed up for a course in Matthew. I actually took one for credit (a Greek exegesis kind) and audited another on the “Kingdom in Matthew.” It was not long before Matthew became one of my favorite books.
That spring I took a course in the Torah and Former Prophets (Genesis-2 Kings) and we did anything but cover them evenly. I spent most of my time in Genesis and that quickly became one of my favorite books.
In my second fall, I took three courses and lived to tell about it. For the Pauline epistles course, I wrote an “argument” of Galatians and absolutely loved it. It became one of my favorite books. For my other two classes, I did a lot of work in Isaiah and was just blown away. Once you get over the hump, the guy is matchless. It is easily one of my favorite books.
Last semester, I had a seminar in Hebrews to Revelation. There’s a lot going on there, but I started one paper and finished a different one, both in Revelation, and I felt like I could spend the rest of my life there. It’s definitely one of the best books in the Bible.
Two weeks ago, I finished more than a year of teaching 1 Samuel, week by week, in Sunday School. I’ve taught 1 Samuel in broad sweep many times, but, oh, the treasures that you see when you read slowly and have time to digest. I love this book and hope to teach it again many times, for it will always be one of my favorite books.
Today I finished writing (first draft) a chapter on Chronicles for an OT survey textbook. For this, I have spent a large amount of time reading and thinking about this book over the last couple of months. To even say this is to admit unpardonable failure in years past (since I was teaching, um, the history of anc…). I can’t even say it. Let’s just say that Chronicles rocks. If you read it as filler, you are a thief who plunders a jewelry store of its tools. It must be read as it was written – a single, book with a powerful message. So, yes, this is far and away one of my favorite books.
I got three years of study left. Who knows what might happen?
It’s funny how the book you are currently studying, teaching, or preaching tends to become your favorite book. The Word of God is so rich and we are so blessed to be able to read, study, and share it.
It kind of makes me think about how Oswald Chambers talks about how what we are willing to put into the relationship determines our intimacy with God and it seems this is true with our love of His word in a way as well.