Good Morning Friends,
Most of us read the Bible through modern eyes—Western, rational, scientific, and shaped by centuries of theological debates. But the biblical writers lived in a world alive with spiritual beings, cosmic conflict, divine councils, angels, demons, and God’s active presence. Michael Heiser’s work in The Unseen Realm reminds us that Scripture only makes sense when we honor the worldview of its God inspired authors.
To “think Hebrew” is to read the Bible in context—historical, cultural, linguistic, and supernatural. It is to remember that Israel’s story unfolded in a world of empires, covenants, cosmic rebellion, and divine purpose. When we read Scripture this way, the dots begin to connect. The Bible becomes not just a book of moral lessons but a revelation of God’s work in both the visible and invisible realms.
The question becomes: How do we read the Bible the way the writers intended and not filter out or discount its meaning?
Scripture Summaries
Psalm 82 – God in the Divine Council
The psalmist describes God presiding over a heavenly assembly, judging spiritual beings who have failed in their stewardship. This reveals a worldview where God is supreme, yet the unseen realm is active and morally accountable.
Deuteronomy 32:8–9 – Nations and the Divine Allotment
Moses teaches that God assigned the nations to spiritual rulers, while Israel became God’s own inheritance. This frames the Old Testament as a story of cosmic conflict and redemption, not merely human politics.
Ephesians 6:12 – Our Struggle Is Not Against Flesh and Blood
Paul affirms the same worldview: believers contend with “principalities and powers,” spiritual forces that oppose God’s purposes. The New Testament does not flatten the supernatural—it intensifies it.
Message: To read the Bible well, we must read it in context. Here are five points to guide us in this seeking.
Read the Bible as an ancient book, not a modern one.The writers were not modern Westerners. They were ancient Israelites, shaped by covenant, exile, temple worship, and a world filled with spiritual beings. When we impose our worldview on theirs, we miss the meaning.
Honor the supernatural worldview of Scripture. Heiser reminds us that the biblical authors assumed the unseen realm was real. Angels appear. Demons oppose. God speaks. The Spirit moves. The divine council deliberates. The nations are influenced by spiritual powers. This is not metaphor, it is the worldview of the Bible.
Read the Bible as a unified story. When we connect the dots of Genesis 6, Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 82, Daniel 10, the Gospels, and Paul’s letters, we see a coherent narrative: God is reclaiming the nations, defeating cosmic evil, and restoring humanity through Christ.
Read the Bible with humility. We do not stand over Scripture; Scripture stands over us. We do not edit out the supernatural because it makes us uncomfortable. We let the text speak in its own voice realizing the author has an intention to influence our thinking.
Read the Bible as the people of God. The Bible was written for a community, not just individuals. When we read together as a choir, congregation, elders, or families we learn to see what the writers saw: a world where God is present, active, and victorious. Small groups matter in helping to read the Bible.
And So, reading the Bible in context means reading it as the biblical writers intended without flattening the supernatural, without modern filters, and without fear. It means seeing Scripture as a story of God’s work in both realms: the visible and the invisible.
When we read this way, the Bible becomes larger, richer, and more alive. We begin to see Christ not only as the Savior of individuals but as Lord over nations, powers, and the entire cosmos. We begin to understand our place in God’s unfolding story. And we begin to read the Bible not just with our minds, but with wonder.
Pray Lord, You open our eyes to see Your Word as the biblical writers saw it. Pray You give us humility to read Scripture in its own context, courage to embrace its supernatural worldview, and wisdom to connect the dots of Your unfolding story. Pray You let Your Spirit guide our reading, deepen our understanding, and awaken our hearts to Your presence in both the seen and unseen realms. Pray You make us faithful readers, faithful learners, and faithful witnesses to Your truth. Amen.
Blessings,
John Lawson
