Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2021

WHY JOURNAL? BY ROB WYNALDA Education professionals say that your ability to retain information is often directly related to the method of learning. They would say that a person who simply listens to a lecture retains a surprisingly small percentage of the content delivered. Yet, when a person hears information and, at the same time, if they can physically participate with the lecturer (i.e., taking notes or discussion), their retention rate vastly improves. In Deuteronomy 17, God gives instructions to the future kings of Israel: “And it shall be, when he sits upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write himself a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life” (vv.18–19) Wow! The most important man in Israel is instructed to sit and handwrite his very own copy of the law. As we think about learning styles and retention rates, it makes perfect sense that God would want the king to handwrite his very own copy of the law. As the leader of God’s people, he needed to retain the law and learn to live and to govern in reaction to the Word of God. If you are struggling with focus during your devotions, I would challenge you to get a piece of paper and simply write out the verses you are reading. You will be pleasantly surprised how the slowing of the pace and the added focus needed to copy the text may help you wrestle with and apply God’s Word to your life. God follows His command to write, carry, and read the law with the benefits for the king and the nation. May we enjoy these benefits as well: “He may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the r ight hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel” (Deut. 17:19b–20). Rob Wynalda is President of Wynalda Litho, Inc. and a member of the Cedarville University Board of Trustees. He is also the creator of the Journible 17:18 Bible journal series. THE BIG PICTURE OF THE BIBLE BY B I LLY MARSH One central goal I have for my personal time in Scripture is to grow in my understanding of the meaning and purpose of whole books of the Bible. Perhaps another way to put this is that I’m always guarding against getting lost in the trees, even if I keep walking slowly through the forest. I believe that biblical authors inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20–21) convey their intended meaning through the composition of an entire book. Therefore, if I want to understand individual verses or passages or even chapters, then I need to first grasp a sense of the whole. I will engage in “fast reading” where I'll read through a book of the Bible quickly several times before engaging in “slow reading.” “Fast Reading” helps me get a sense of a biblical author’s intended meaning for the entire book that will then guide me as I “slow down” to study the book piece by piece. A sense of the whole is essential for making sense of the parts. All in all, Romans 15:4 shapes my approach: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” It is through understanding what was actually “written” that we faithfully read Holy Scripture as “written for us” whereby the triune God encourages and strengthens us for endurance in the Christian life by faith with real Gospel hope. Billy Marsh is Director of M.Div. Programs and Associate Professor of Theology. He earned his Ph.D. in systematic theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. YOUR MIND Cedarville Magazine | 25