Post 8 - Joel

I really enjoyed class on Monday. We were given the opportunity to read Scripture as literature. Many people might have different opinions as to whether or not we can consider Scripture “literature”, but I find no reason why it is would not be considered as so. I am eager to take that opportunity, being at a Christian school, to be able to read, analyze, and discuss Scripture as part of class. The book of Joel was full of imagery. When I read it for homework, it already brought vivid images to my mind. However, when we were able to go outside and read the book over again in the presence of nature, it created a stronger sense of imagery. In class, we called these things such as fields, bountiful harvests, apple trees, barns, the sky, water brooks, and etc as part of ecology. The beautiful day outside probably deserves credit as to why I felt this way of reading and the setting to be so successful. 

We also discussed in class the idea of reading scripture as literature as the apocalypse, or revelation. When we read the Scripture, there is also something that God is desiring to reveal to us whether it is found in the ways of meaning, ways of reading it, or using your imagination. We can always find a way to go “deeper” into Scripture because we never truly receive all the revelation God has in store. 

One of my favorite verses was the Promise of the Spirit. “It will come about after this. That I will pour out my Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants, I will pour out my SPirit in those days.” This is just an encouraging revelation of what God desires for our future.