Living by the Book/Living by the Book Workbook Set (121 page)

Jeremiah 36

TIME COMMITMENT:

30 minutes

“Just as circumstances vary, so do people. . . . It means that how you apply Scripture will probably look a bit different from how I apply it. Same truth, different ways of applying it. Not because one of us is better than the other, but because we are different from one another” (p. 329).

R
ead Jeremiah 36. (Don’t let the proliferation of unusual names divert your attention from what is taking place.) Spend time going through the steps of Observation and Interpretation. What truths do you come to see as a result of your observation?

Now turn your attention to Application. Think about the circumstances of your life. Do any specific situations come to mind, either past or present, for which this biblical example could be helpful?

Consider: How can I apply the truth of this passage in a practical way to improve those situations?

Remember that your Application process will be influenced by your education, your emphasis, your execution (the way you tend to get things done), and your excellence (your God-given strengths).

Now consider how some of the following individuals might respond to the same passage (Jeremiah 36). Do you think they would arrive at the same application(s) that you did, or do you think they might apply the truth of the Scripture in a different way?

• A college freshman who has worked hard but is still making low grades

• A corporate employee who just can’t seem to get along with her boss

• A Christian who has not yet mastered his anger and resentment when wronged

• A young pastor struggling in his new church

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

Philippians 4:1–9

TIME COMMITMENT:

45 minutes

“When it comes to Application, we must acknowledge that each of us brings unique strengths and limitations to the task, by virtue of our God-given design. By accepting that design and cooperating with the way it works, we are more likely to practice God’s Word in the particular way He meant it to apply to us” (p. 337).

T
oday your assignment is twofold. First, read Philippians 4:1–9 and use what you have been learning about the Application process to discern how you might personally apply what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi. You should find a number of verses within this passage that spark potential applications: the public argument between two of the church women (vv. 2–3), the emphatic command to rejoice always (v. 4), the challenge to replace anxiety with prayer to experience the inexplicable peace of God (vv. 6–7), and the goal of training one’s mind to think only on positive things (v. 8), among others.

Record your personal application insights below.

The second part of this assignment is to have three of your friends or family members read Philippians 4:1–9 and make their own lists of applications. When they finish, compare your list with theirs. You may arrive at some of the same applications, but you are also likely to confirm, through a wide variety of responses to the same passage, that “Interpretation is one; Application is many.”

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

Genesis 25:19–34; 27:1–46

TIME COMMITMENT:

60 minutes

“We saw the importance of context to Interpretation. Now we discover its importance to Application. We’ve got to understand the ancient culture. The more we know about the culture in which a passage was written and to which it was originally applied, the more accurate will be our understanding and the more we’ll be able to make use of it in our own cultural setting. But that’s not all. We also must understand our own culture. Just as we seek insight into the ancient context, we need to seek insight into our own” (pp. 345–46).

T
he conflict between Jacob and Esau may be a rather familiar story to many of us. Yet do you really understand the significance of the red stew incident (Genesis 25:27–34)? What was the big deal about Isaac’s blessing of Jacob instead of Esau (27:27–40)?

We can get a sense of what’s happening in these accounts, but we won’t fully understand it until we get a clear grasp on the culture of the time. See what you can find out that can help you better understand this story. Consider looking for additional information about
birthrights
and the rights of the
firstborn
. Begin by seeking out other biblical sources where these issues are discussed. When you’ve exhausted all your scriptural sources, then look in other resources (commentaries, Bible dictionaries, etc.). Record your discoveries below.