Why Study the Old Testament
It is not an uncommon question to be asked: Why is the Old Testament important?
I fear, in the past I have not replied to this question as well as I might, or indeed should have done.
The writer of Hebrews states :
Heb 8:5 (ESV2011)
5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”
God of the Old Testament and New Testament
There is a lot (falsely) said about the difference between the “God” of the Old Testament and the “God” of the New Testament. This is error and serves no good purpose.
When our Lord met the disciples on the road to Emmaus, hear what He said to them:
Luke 24:25-27 (ESV2011)O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
25 And he said to them, “
26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
What was the response of the disciples?
Luke 24:32 (ESV2011)
32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
Why do we sing “Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same”.
We read of our Lord in the Old Testament and the New. He has not changed! The covenant or promise that God gives may have changed but God is the same.
When the laws were given to the Children of Israel they were told:
Deut 6:4-5 (ESV2011)
4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
… this continues
Deut 6:6-7 (ESV2011)
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
In losing touch with the Old Testament, we lose touch with God who established the way we should live, and the way we should worship him.
We need to remember that God is still a consuming fire.
Again we read the writer to the Hebrews:….
Heb 11:6 (ESV2011)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.