JUN 1

Ruth 1:1-18
Memorise John 17:17
“…thy word is truth.”

HOW DO WE INTERPRET NARRATIVES?

In the past 2 months, we have been learning about the basic principles of Biblical interpretation. It is now time to put theory into practice, by going through some case studies of the interpretation of various genres. Over the next few days, we will start off by looking at Ruth 1:1-18 as an example of how we should interpret narratives.

First and foremost, we must bear in mind that narratives are true stories written by a Divine Author. Often, the danger in reading a narrative in the Bible is to treat it as a mere fictional account or a fairytale. As much as they are surely enjoyable and interesting to read, we would lose much of the value of these accounts if we read them just for entertainment. Rather, we must always bear in mind that these are real people (we’ll be meeting many of them in heaven!) who lived in real places during a real period in history. Remember also that it is God who inspired every word of these narratives. Hence, rather than just taking them at face value, we must also consider the fact that He who makes no mistakes has carefully chosen what to include and what not to include in each account. As you read, keep asking yourself: What is the purpose of including this narrative in the Bible? What can I learn from it? What is the significance of this event? Why did God choose to include this seemingly minor detail?

Narratives are unique in the sense that the application is not always immediately obvious. Yet, this also means that there are usually multiple takeaway lessons, if we would only put careful thought into reading them. This means not just reading the text itself, but also considering other relevant factors such as: What is the context of this account? Who was the author, and why and to whom did he write it? What happened before and after? Where and when did the events take place? Who are the characters involved? What else do we know about them?

Sounds tough? Perhaps. But the more we read of the Bible, the more we learn to appreciate it and realise that it is truly a living Book full of precious lessons for all who would earnestly and diligently seek out its truths. Dear teen, may you truly find much joy in God’s Word even as you continue to learn more about how to study this Book of Books.

Thought: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning”.
Prayer: Lord, help me to understand and appreciate Your Word.