J.R. Briggs

Experiencing Scripture in the snow

February 10, 2010

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For those of you in the NORTHEAST, MID-ATLANTIC and MIDWEST parts of the country who’ve experienced a considerable amount of snow, this is for you:

Here in the Greater Philadelphia area the snow is still coming down in buckets. I have never seen so much snow in my lifetime. It’s quite surreal. Meteorologists are calling this recent winter storm the storm of the decade, helping to make this winter the snowiest winter on record in Philly. It’s obvious: we’re experiencing Snowmageddon 2010.

As I was shoveling/digging out this afternoon I was thinking about the references of snow found in the Bible. Scripture has a lot to say about snow, mentioned 23 different times in both the Old and the New Testaments. These references are descriptions of leprosy, the color of garments, prophecy and the promises of forgiveness, to name a few.

As you are – most assuredly – snowed in and off of work/school today, consider taking some unrushed, focused, quality time to reflect upon – and actually experience – a few verses that use the white stuff as a metaphor for teaching us about God and our relationship to Him. Allow the Scriptures to use the snow to shape and form you.

Consider participating in some of these creative experiences:

I. Reflect on God’s limitless power

Job 38: Job is a fantastic book that deals with suffering, God’s purposes and trusting – even when it doesn’t make any sense at all. Job and God are having a bit of a heated conversation. In Job 37, Job loses a bit of perspective and begins to “lecture” God. Chapter 38 is God’s response to Job, heavy with rhetorical power, humbling Job in the process. Read the entire chapter of Job 38 and notice in verse 22 that God uses beautiful imagery of “storehouses” of snow and hail – this is particularly striking when I see the huge amount of snow in my front yard alone.

Ponder these questions:

1. What might the storehouses of snow and hail look like? What images come to your mind?
2. How does that speak to you regarding God’s power and greatness?
3. What implications does God’s omnipotence (limitless power) have for your life today/this week/this month?

II. Enter into a time of Confession: Enter into a time of confession, asking God to forgive you for the ways you’ve erred in the past few days.

Psalm 51:7 : Stand near a window in your house that looks out onto the snow. Slowly read Psalm 51 out loud. And when you get to verse seven – pause…look up at the snow…and then finish reading the passage.

Isaiah 1:1-20: Slowly read the entire passage. Camp out on verse 18. Let it sink it. Consider memorizing verse 18 and repeat it to yourself while you are shoveling.

III. Seek out Wisdom: The Proverbs is a fantastic book from which to glean wisdom. Reflect on the wisdom of these passages.

Proverbs 25:13

Proverbs 26:1

IV. Move from contemplation to action.

Consider blessing others in the most practical and obvious way possible: shovel your neighbor’s walk and/or the cars on your street.

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