I started my first round to read through the Bible chronologically on January 1st through a program called the Bible Recap. Today is Day #150.
Normally I read several chapters, sometimes from two different books. Today, I read Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible. I didn't know it was also the center chapter of the Bible before, nor did I know the labor that went into writing this particular psalm. It's more than just the author (thought to be Ezra) pouring out his heart to God. I learned that it's a Hebrew acrostic poem, with each section (containing 8 verses in each one) starting with a subsequent letter of the Hebrew alphabet (and all the lines in the section start with that letter, too). As a poetry writer, this knowledge gave me a whole new respect for this Psalm, knowing all the time and effort that went into writing it.
Honestly, this whole experience has been fascinating. I actually listen through the audio while reading on my phone or while I'm out walking, rather than just read it on my own, and I think I may be retaining things a bit more this way. I'm seeing connections, patterns, and an overarching story being played out in ways I never noticed before, and the characters each stand out and mean more to me. I love the way they have you read certain Psalms right along with I and II Samuel and I and II Chronicles to show David's emotion and intimate conversation with God as he experienced specific events.
I just happened to start Day 1 on January 1st, but you can actually start your Day 1 on any day of the year and read until that day a year later. If you've never read through the Bible this way, I highly encourage you to try it. The Bible Recap is great because after you read/listen to it, there's a lady who then recaps it and gives extra contextual information to help you understand it even more. I'm super glad I heard about it and decided to give it a try.
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