God and History

Launching into a study of the Old Testament is a challenging endeavor. To some, it might seem like an insurmountable amount of material to grasp in any logical, unified manner. To others, it might seem like facing a boring history lesson. To still others, it might seem like a study of ancient times which has little relevance to our lives today.

However, all of these views of O.T. study are fatally flawed. The material, although it consists of 39 separate books written by about 40 writers over a period exceeding 1,000 years, is amazingly understandable. It is anything but boring! Because it is addressed to the hearts of men and women, it is entirely relevant to the needs of our hearts today and in every generation.

But just why is the study of the O.T. valuable? We must remember that it was the only written Bible that the early church had for many years. From it, they learned about the nature of God, the descriptions of sin and its punishments, the value of righteous living, the many practical admonitions about ethical behavior, and the predictions and descriptions of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

God clearly intended the O.T. to be used by the church for all generations. One of man’s biggest needs in our day is to develop the correct understanding of the nature of God, and the O.T. reveals to us both the kindness and sternness of God (Romans 11-22). Regarding the kindness, Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Regarding the sternness, 1 Corinthians 10:6 says, “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”

The entire O.T. system was designed as preparation for the coming of Christ and his kingdom. Therefore, our study of this system is mandatory. We cannot understand much of the New Testament without a basic knowledge of the O.T. As has been said, “the New is in the Old concealed, and the Old is in the New revealed.” They are two vital parts of the whole. Therefore, to be ignorant of one is to be ignorant of the whole.

As we begin our study of the O.T. together, get ready to be informed, challenged, and thrilled. When your faith is grounded in the long history of how deliberately and lovingly God works to win men and women, you will sense a fullness in your faith that will see you through the hurdles of life in an imperfect world and into that perfect world which awaits the faithful.

May our study accomplish all that God intends in our hearts and lives, and may he be glorified mightily in the process!