Study the Bible

By Danny Saavedra

Yesterday, we learned the importance of consistently consuming large portions of Scripture with the goal of reading the entire Bible in order to see how God wove all things together to point us to the work of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior and King! We discovered that we gain a new level of appreciation, gratitude, devotion, and a deeper, richer love towards God when we consume the fullness of His Word. And we learned that it’s extremely doable to read through the whole Bible.

Today, we switch gears. Whereas reading larger chunks of the Bible is all about experiencing the entirety of God’s revelation to man, studying the Bible is all about diving into the depths of God’s Word. The goal here is to slow down and study in unrushed reflection. 

This practice of study is what David described in Psalm 119:15 (NLT) when he said, “I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.” That word for reflect in the Hebrew means “to behold; to consider; to scan; to regard with pleasure, favor, and care.” I particularly love the description “to regard with pleasure, favor, and care.” 

There’s a real meticulousness, thoughtfulness, and understanding of the preciousness of what we’re holding in this word reflect. As a dad, the only thing I can think of that even comes close to this idea is the first time I held my firstborn child. I remember that moment like it was yesterday. The doctor placed him in my arms, and I held him with tear-filled, indescribable joy, but also extreme care and an understanding of the fact that something precious was in my arms. I scanned him from top to bottom, looking at each feature—his eyes, his nose, his cute little fingers and toes. I regarded him with pleasure and favor as the purpose-giving joy and satisfaction of fatherhood set in.

Studying the Bible for depth is when you take a few verses that really speak to you and you dissect them. It’s when you really spend time digging into what those verses are saying, what God is saying to you specifically, and how you can apply it to your everyday life. 

What the verses are saying . . . For this, you’re seeking context. Something I find helpful is reading some commentaries in order to dive into the original language and see the full force of each verse; to know the intended implication of each verse or passage in order to make the proper application to my life.

What God is saying to you . . . It’s time to reflect on what you just read. What stuck out to you about this verse? What did you feel when you read it? What did God show you? Write it down! Record your findings, your feelings, your questions, and the answers you find as you pray and study.

Personally, when I set aside time for reflection, I’ll reflect on just a few paragraphs. Why? Because they’re usually a well-contained set of thoughts. When reading, pay attention to verses and chapter numbers. When studying, go from paragraph to paragraph. This will help you consume thoughts more in line with how the original writers intended. 

Now, here’s the awesome thing about this practice: There are already a number of solid methods you can put into practice to help you get the most out of your study time. There’s the popular S.O.A.P. method, the W.O.R.D. method, and the H.E.A.R. method. And that’s just three I’ve seen. There are many others out there you can try. 

If you test one method for a few days and find it doesn’t really work for you, try another until you find the one you’re comfortable with. Or maybe you use something different or something you’ve refined and perfected over the years. Whatever works best in helping you to know the Lord on a deeper level and apply His Word in your life . . . run with that!

I recommend you create a rhythm in which you alternate between reading and studying. For me, it’s one key verse with prayer in the morning, reading in the afternoon after lunch, and then studying in the evening when everyone in my house is asleep, and I can really dig in, break down the Word, and then pray over it. 

I try to do this five times per week. But maybe for you it’s alternating day-to-day or month-to-month between reading and study, or maybe it’s studying through one whole book of the Bible study and then reading one book. There’s no secret formula or one-size-fits-all. Just pray and ask for guidance as you seek to establish your healthy routine of growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through His Word.