On individual pages for each book of Torah, I’m putting downloadable Torah portion files. Just click on the blue hyperlinks to download them.
In these files, I do a form of drash or comparative analysis. When I look at the text, I often look at the literary structure and the Hebrew language, as well as thematic parallels, literary parallels, or chiastic/concentric structures. Thematic connections are compared using charts. Parallels can be parallels in the actual section of text being studied (literary) but they can also be found in other areas of Scripture (non-literary).
I often include a column for questions/comments, a column for Yeshua, or future application for comparative purposes. Often there are themes in each of the original historical events that played out in the life of Yeshua. Sometimes, the opposite of a theme can take place for a variety of reasons. A series of themes can form a pattern or a shadow that is repeated in Scripture; you can’t see it unless you chart it out and compare. These patterns and shadows can even play out in our own lives. These patterns and/or shadows often reveal a typological picture of Yeshua and/or events that surrounded His life. Since we are dealing with shadows, an unexpected historical figure may project a character trait or theme that we see in Yeshua or someone else; just remember that they are contributing to the shadow and don’t let it bother you if it doesn’t “match up” to the person you would expect or like it to. As we compare themes in Scripture from beginning to the end of Scripture, we can see how they remain constant or change. In a way, constancy confirms the validity of the New Testament which many are already rejecting.
Sometimes study like this only yields little nuggets of insight, sometimes it yields a goldmine. You never know what your time investment in study is going to yield.
Comparing and contrasting the themes (or thematic connections) of each stage of the parallels and chiasms often take us beyond the Peshat and reveal the Remez, Drash, and Sod. It gives us a picture of something else that otherwise would remain hidden. For example it can reveal the reason for the chukkim which often do not make any logical sense to us. Often our finite minds can’t comprehend spiritual things because they are too complex; however, when we look at Scripture this way, we begin to understand things such as the Bride of Messiah on a deeper level.
Sometimes we may not use this method at all. It just depends on how YHVH leads me in private study. It also depends on the amount of time I’m able to put into it prior to it being covered in my fellowship.
If you are interested in learning how to do thematic pattern analysis, please view the presentations found under the Tools tab for Patterns in Scripture.
Highway to Holiness 