My wife and I have been reading through the Bible this year. We are almost half-way done with it. I was thinking last night and this morning about how this reading has helped me see the overall big picture of Scripture. Here are some thougts on it:

• Basically, the Bible is about one thing--the story of God's relationship with people. It's how He wants our relationship to be and how throughout history He has made people right with Himself through Jesus. Eventually, all will confess He is Lord, though not all will have a right relationship with Him.
• Some passages are difficult to understand as to why they are in the Bible. In reading through Chronicles and Kings right now, I often think, "Why in the world is this in the Bible." However, there is a good reason everything that is in the Bible is actually in there. 
• The Bible does not claim to be a complete history of all the world. Hear me out here. It is a very historical book, but it is more concerned about how God has shown up in history than it is about tracing man's history. We must never forget, the Bible is about God, not about people. It only concerns people as God has decided to interact with us. So for the Bible to not give an account of what we would consider to be a major event in ancient history is not necessarily a bad thing, nor does it make the Bible irrelevant or inaccurate. It just proves that it's a book about God, not about man.
• The Bible does not also claim to be a science book. It does have scientific elements, and it is completely accurate when it does relay those kind of stories, but once again, it is primarily concerned about relaying the story of God and His interaction with people. 

Needless to say, I am really enjoying seeing the entire story of God unfold. Right now in the story, God's people have split into two camps. One was led by Rehoboam and the other led by Jeroboam. Not sure why they couldn't have had way different names so I could remember which led which kingdom, but oh well. :-)

At this point, most of Israel is in rebellion against God, and right after Solomon built God this amazing temple. God has promised to punish Israel if they do not repent, so it doesn't look great for them right now.

I'm convinced though that they will come around. God made this covenant, and He keeps it very close to Himself in the temple, in the Holy of Holies. So I figure, God wouldn't make a covenant if He didn't intend to make it happen, you know?

Jacob