Reading between the lines of Scripture

Reading between the lines of Scripture

As we begin to read any of the73 books of the Catholic Bible It may not appear that Jesus and his ministry can be seen within the script.  However, as we read with a closer emphasis as to the reasons God has placed within prophecies his teaching for our salvation found in the pages will suddenly reveal the history of our salvation.  That is why the bible is called ”Salvation History.”

Each  book has its own characters and when reading about their choice by God we can see first that all of them were not specific plants without flaws.  In fact, all of the prophets chosen had more than one weakness that stood out.  Yet, God in his Master Plan, used the weaknesses of humanity so no mortal could stand before him as greater.  “God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.  It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that as it is written, whoever boasts, shall boast in the Lord.”  (1 Cor 1: 28 - 31).   

Sin entered the world almost immediately when the Archangels threw the devil and his cohorts out of heaven leaving a void that the Messiah would fill with living souls who would worship God.  Thus, with each new character in their respective book would fit a pattern that God would use to open this library of incidents all leading to the progression of redemption to a fallen race.

When Jesus was risen and came upon two disciples on the road to Emmaus, he explained to them: “Oh how foolish you are!  How slow to believe all that the prophets spoke!  Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”  Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,  he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.”  (Lk 24: 25 - 27).

Perhaps some of the most profound teachings are found in Amos,  Isaiah, and several others announcing the virgin birth and his suffering as a way of God’s forgiveness.  The point here is do not look at some of the books as an afterthought or fill-in to sell books.  They all have a place in God’s guide to show in a chronological manner his desire to save our race and how he would accomplish this plan.  

And the interesting plot of this salvation history was designed, worked out, and completed for you and me.  Each person in all of these books was placed with a particular task to save those who would follow, including themselves, by Christ. 

The book of Ruth, small yet with a geological premise.  Boaz married Ruth and their child was Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. 

 In 1 Chronicles we find a lot about David, who from his loins would come the Christ who would sit on the throne of David.  

Each story throughout the Old Testament has a continuing saga that leads us to Christ, through whom will come our redemption.  It is suggested that we do not try to read the complete bible as a novel, but if we do read the bible  from Genesis through Revelation, we will see how the progression does indeed lay out the pattern of presenting Christ to us.

Ralph B. Hathaway