Project Description
2014/11
How Can I Benefit From The Old Testament?
Paul, writing to Timothy, said “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15). Paul was referring to the Old Testament scriptures. The Lord had taken those scriptures and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, had made them effectual to Timothy’s salvation.
It is sad that those same Old Testament scriptures are so neglected by many of God’s people today, since, like the New Testament, they are given by inspiration to furnish us as Christians (2 Timothy 3:16-17). By this neglect they miss out on much blessing and the equipping that the Lord gives through His Word. How may we benefit from this priceless resource?
Always look for Christ
The key to reading the Old Testament is to look for our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the theme of every book of the Old Testament. The Lord Jesus Himself set the example for us to search for Him in the Old Testament (Luke 24:27).
Look for the person of Christ. Sometimes the Lord Jesus Christ is seen appearing as the Angel of the Lord.
Look for pictures of Christ. Sometimes He appears in type, i.e. in some picture form. So the lamp stand in the tabernacle is a type of Jesus Christ as the Light of the World. Boaz purchasing Ruth is a type of Jesus Christ purchasing His people to be His own.
Look for the prophecies of Christ. There are many wonderful prophecies of Christ through the Old Testament. These are not limited to the prophetic books (see for example Deuteronomy 18:18.)
There are some who are reticent to see Christ set forth in types, pictures and parallels. They claim that a passage only has a single meaning and sense. However, they miss the fact that the New Testament itself continuously shows that literal historical events in the Old Testament contain redemptive parallels. (See Matthew 12:40; 2 Corinthians 4:6, and Galatians 4:21-26). The Old Testament is to be read in light of the New, and vice versa.
Read the Old Testament passages in light of their historical context
To benefit most from the study of the Old Testament, keep the historical context in mind. When reading a psalm, pay attention to any background details given in the title. When reading the prophets, keep in mind in which period they were ministering.
Understand the nature of God’s law
One of the reasons so many Christians ignore the Old Testament is because they do not believe it is relevant for today. Some have misinterpreted the words “ye are not under the law, but under grace” to mean the law has no relevance for the Christian. That is the very opposite of what the scriptures actually teach. The Christian, set free from the condemnation of the law, now delights in the law (Romans 7:22).
The Old Testament law is usually divided into three divisions: the moral law; the ceremonial law, and the civil law. The moral law of God is summarised in the Ten Commandments. The moral law is relevant for every age, from creation through to the Lord’s return. Therefore, every one of the Ten Commandments is emphasised and taught in the New Testament. The ceremonial law relates to the sacrifices and worship that was to be carried out in connection with the Levitical priesthood, the tabernacle and Jerusalem temple. That law pointed forward to Christ and has been fulfilled in the finished work of Christ (Hebrews 9:11-14). The civil law or judicial law related to Israel as a nation living in the Promised Land. While that law contains abiding principles, its actual enactment is not for the Christian today. By way of example we see that the civil law taught that idolatry was to be punished by stoning to death (Deuteronomy 17:5). While that law is not to be administered by the church today, it is still a sin to engage in idolatry. Keeping these distinctions in mind will help you avoid confusion and glean great blessing.
Have a searching eye
The Old Testament is full of teaching that is vital for every age. When reading the Old Testament, ask yourself various questions about the passage. For example, ask what it has taught you about God and His attributes and actions. As you read the Old Testament look for the great doctrines of the New Testament that are taught in the catechism such as justification, sanctification, adoption and so on.
Make notes and annotations
Some find it helpful when they are reading the scriptures to make notes in a notebook or write brief annotations in their Bible. This might include writing relevant New Testament references beside a passage or verse. You could record what you believe are the key words, phrases or verses in a passage.
Search for application
The Word of God is not merely a book to be studied and learned – it is a book that is to be applied. As you read the Old Testament look for lessons for your daily life. Speaking of Old Testament accounts Paul said, “all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition.” (1Corinthians 10:11). Give time to ponder over the passage you have read and search for practical lessons that you can benefit from.
Make use of study aids
Make use of the margin in your Bible and Bible maps. Some books of the Old Testament are hard to study without help from commentaries. The commentaries of Matthew Poole and Matthew Henry are always full of helpful suggestions. While a commentary should never take the place of the scriptures it can be useful in your study of the Bible.
I trust that like the two on the Emmaus Road your heart will burn as you read the Old Testament scriptures! (Luke 24:32).
Rev. Philip Gardiner.
