James HaireI agree with his Knob analogy. When you open the book you must have a certain level of humility and willingness to altar your view to what God’s view of the matter is. Scouring the text looking for any parts that may fit your already accepted world view is a faulty way to come to a genuine understanding. That is What I believe he is saying with the voice system described. I understand your apprehension with wanting to read the old testament because of the viciousness of some of it. I always had a similar but different view, I always loved the old because It speaks of brutality and justice and I have always been somewhat war like. I enjoy the battles, kings, politics, prophets conquest and all that. The new testament I was apprehensive towards because It was soft and easy or so I thought. But, when you are genuinely seeking an authentic understanding you must venture into those areas you find uncomfortable. The world we now live in is so comforting, easy and luxurious compared with what most people experienced throughout the ages it has made us weak. Most of the world is not like that, we have this sense of security because of men who are capable of great brutality have crafted it for us, although hard to face it is necessary in a fallen world to maintain peace. Consider Israel even today, they are surrounded by those that wish their extermination. You must have some measure of brute strength to survive under such conditions. Where there is no adversity there is no character.
