Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD;

and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalms 1:1-2, KJV 

 

The final challenge in this series is actually a set of four, 30 day challenges that will take you on a self-guided study of the Old Testament. If you are new to the 30 day Bible challenges and have yet to read and study the New Testament, I would strongly encourage you doing that prior to beginning your study of the Old Testament. The reasoning behind this is that the New Testament reveals everything that God has said about salvation, and you want to be saved. As with all studies you must understand that the words I write are of human origin and therefore fallible, but your own personal study of the actual words of God as contained within Scripture are of Divine origin, and therefore infallible.

 

So, again, my encouragement to you is to read and study for yourself the New Testament first, and to do this on your own. If you would like a guide, you can find the 30 day Bible challenge and the 90 day study challenge at our 30 Day Bible Challenge website. The guide for the New Testament studies, just like this one that we are about to undertake for the Old Testament, is just that: A guide! It is intended only to give you a semblance of structure for your own studies.

 

Now, for those who are ready to begin the 120 day study of the Old Testament, let me give you a suggestion or two for your consideration: First, get you a large notebook or journal to keep your notes. Separate the notebook into how ever many sections that you are interested in studying. My own notebook will be separated into the following categories that I am interested in studying in more depth. They are as follows:

 

Those are my areas of interest. I'm sure yours will differ substantially based upon your own interests and curiosity. The study is yours. It is a big undertaking, so I encourage you to make it worth your time and effort. The notebook is for you to write out all of the verses of the topics that you have decided to study. When you are through, you will be amazed at the amount of information that God has provided on the subjects of your interest. It will increase your faith and equip you to be a better servant!

 

The first Old Testament study will be on the Books of Moses. Due to the time constraints of the study (30 days), I will be dividing it into about four chapters a day as follows: All of the Book of Genesis; most of Exodus; a few days from selected chapters of Leviticus and Numbers; all of the Book of Deuteronomy. I think that you will enjoy the study since it will be one that you will be directing yourself, but let me caution you: It is big. It is hard (thus the word, "challenge"). It might even seem tedious some days. But, if you finish it, I am convinced that you will come out of the study with a greater faith, a broader knowledge, and a keener appreciation and love for the Creator than you have ever had before.

 

Are you up to the challenge? It begins tomorrow. May God richly bless your efforts as you begin your journey to learn more about Him!

 

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:1-4, NIV (1978)