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Goal:
To convince you of the value of exploring the Old Testament,
and to begin the journey.
Studying the Old Testament
Why? —Four motivations
What? —Four Key Concepts
Why? Four motivations for studying the Old Testament
God has chosen to reveal himself in two volumes
It is not up to us to say only the second is worth much attention
It is the foundation on which the New is built
Some things in the N.T. are clearer if we know the old
Some are much richer with added nuance
Not just a bunch of stories tells a big story
We encounter Jesus, the Father and the Spirit in the stories, in a way that enriches our relationship with them
It has been said that most errors creep into the church from mis-interpreting the O.T.
Jesus is the golden thread which links everything together. To study the Old Testament is ultimately to learn about Jesus.
John 13
“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen.
But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’
Psalm 41
All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me…
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
2 Samuel 15 – Betrayal
…Absalom… sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.
…
But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.
And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” 2 Samuel 17 (after the plot failed)
Ahithophel… set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.
Psalm 55 —What it felt like for David
For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him.
But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.
…
His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
Studying the Old Testament
Why? —Four motivations
What? —Four Key Concepts
Key Concepts
Progressive
Not smooth progress but in “Epochs”
Epochs
Original goodness at creation
Fall to Flood
Noah to Abraham
Abraham to Exodus
The Law through Moses
Era of the Prophets
The Messiah comes
Key Concepts
Progressive
Not smooth progress but in “Epochs”
Covenantal
Adam & Eve
Humanity after Noah’s flood
Abraham (and descendents)
Nation of Israel after Exodus
David
New Covenant with us
Hebrews 8
Key Concepts
Progressive
Not smooth progress but in “Epochs”
Covenantal
Organically Connected
Numbers 21
And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when they see it, shall live.”
So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, they would look at the bronze serpent and live.
John 3
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Why? – Four Motivations
God has chosen to reveal himself in two volumes
It is the foundation on which the New is built
We encounter Jesus, the Father and the Spirit in the stories, in a way that enriches our relationship with them
It has been said that most errors creep into the church from mis-interpreting the O.T. What? —Four Key Concepts
Progressive
Not smooth progress but in “Epochs”
Covenantal
Organically Connected
Luke 24
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures.
…
They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?”
Jesus is the golden thread which links everything together. To study the Old Testament is ultimately to learn about Jesus.