Struggling through the OT

[Kelly]

OK, I've decided to read the Old Testament from front to back because I felt that it would be an important for a better understanding of the NT.

Let me tell you, it's been very difficult. I've made it to Joshua this morning, but it hasn't been easy. Sacrificial processes, tabernacle design requirements, census after census. I am having great difficulty staying focused and have to admit I start skimming. When I read NT scripture, the words of Jesus and the disciples, it's so moving, so engaging and much more powerful to me. It's hard not to skip the OT completely and go right for Jesus' words (although I know he said not to discount the words of the prophets.)

It's really hard for me to think that this is the same God as the one found in the NT (I guess I appreciate Jesus' sacrifice even more now). Thousands of people are getting destroyed left and right for the slightest bit of unfaithfulness, lack of trust in God, etc. City after city is being overthrown and every living person inside killed by God's chosen people. I know that I could never have survived in Moses' camp. At some point I would have been given a plague or been stoned for something!

Any advice or words of wisdom on how to best get the message of the OT and comprehend it's message, how to perservere and read it completely, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rising_Suns]

hey kelly,
yeah I've always been a NT Christian as well. It wasn't till recently that I began learning more about the old covanent times. Like you said, it really helps you to appreciate the sacrifice Jesus put Himself through for us, but also remember that the old law was not abolished, but rather revised. The God of the old testament and the God of the new testament are one God with seemingly polarized attributes. On the one hand, you have vengence and wrath, and on the other, love and mercy.

It really helps to see the old attributes of God when you think about how we got to where we are today. Ever since the beginning with adam and eve, man chose the way of courruption over the way of truth, and all throughout time, man has chosen to walk down this road of damnation (resulting from adam's fall in the beginning) Once you have this perspective (that is was our choice that brought society to where it was/is), then it is easy to see that God sent His Son because He loved us so much that He would help us to be with Him even though the majority of the world didn't want to. Man chose an evil path, and God compensates and adjusts to our decision by sending His son. Old law to new law. Same God, but now the punishment was poured out on Jesus instead of us.

It also helps to view God as a Father in a family, in order to grasp and accept the attributes of God in the old testament. A Father may punish his child, not because he hates him, but rather because he loves him. Punishment can be a form of love, to help us grow and mature to something more than we were. Though we may perceive it as hatefull, in the grander picture, our "suffering" (which really is self inflicted) helped bring us closer to God in the end. In the other cases of the old testament, people simply got what they chose; life without God. All God did was grant to those their choice that they sealed through their thoughts or actions.

Anyway. if I could, I would want to suffer as Jesus has suffered. I not only want to feel His glory and faith, but to share in his pain and sorrow. It's these polarized emotions that propell us to find a deeper faith in God, and it's exactly how God Himself is.

 

[Lotar]

I find the Samuels and the Kings the most interesting books of the bible, so just perservere, the seemingly endless descriptions will end

 

[Blessed-one]

usually, new christians read the NT to get the basis before reading the OT, not that the OT should be set aside! try some commentaries, that should help, especially with the background.

yeah, i agree, OT is awesome, take Proverbs for example.

 

[onajourney87]

I'm with ya on the OT being difficult(especially Leviticus).

Myself, I started mixing my OT and NT reading together. Basically, I'll read 2 chapters in the OT, then one in the NT. It's helped me quite a bit, especially in books such as Leviticus, Psalms, Song of Solomon, etc.

There's one other thing that helped me, and it was this:
How to Apply the Old Testament to Today

osm

 

[Mr.Cheese]

We are so out of touch with the context of the OT that it is hard to get through a lot of it. There is a book by Baker publishers called "Exploring the Old Testament." It can help. Joshua-2 Kings is called the Deuteronomistic History. Kingship and following the "Law of Moses," following God and not turning away are important issues throughout those books.
InterVarsity Press has a one volume background commentary on teh Old Testament that might help out.
Also, for class whe have to use a newer commentary called teh "Smith and Helwys" commentaries. I've got one on 1 and 2 Sam and also 1 and 2 Kings. I'm about halfway through the one on Samuel and I like it a LOT. It's down to earth and very readable. It's actually enjoyable to read. It's a commentary just itching to be preached from. It's also...65 dollars. But it comes with a full text CDROM. It's worth it.

 

[Rising_Suns]

yeah, i agree, OT is awesome, take Proverbs for example.

and psalms. I absolutely love psalms.

 

[endure]

kelly
a word of advice.

i understand, there are somethings about the new testament you dont really understand untill you understand the old testament, but please, let the old testament rest untill you have good handle on the new testament, becuase the new testament was written directly to you, and the old testament wasnt exactly, though it can apply to you.

the old testament doesnt even deal with your salvation and the spiritual principles that directly apply to your life anywhere the way the new testament does. the new testament directly points the out and clearly explains them openly, the old testament only hints and nips at them and you have hunt all around to get a big picture.

if it helps, Jesus is your savoir, not the old prophets or moses or abraham, and untill you really really know Jesus and his principles, dont bother with anyone else, they were only pointing you to him anyway.

the entire bible can feed you, but truthfully, the new testament was written specifically for you to have at the beggining of the process, the old testament is deeper, more confusing and very diffrent, you will understand much less of the old testament without the new testament, then you will the new testament without the old testament.

your going the hardway man.

 

[Jmeister8]

Kelly,

How can I convey to you the depth of spiritual wealth that can be gleaned from the old testament.

Once you have read the New Testament then read it again in the Old Testament.

When Paul says in corinthians "Christ our passover" You can then read in Exodus just what the old testament passover was all about. When Christ dies on the cross then go back and read about the day of atonement and how the high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat for the forgivness of the sins of the people. Or when Christ died the veil of the temple was ripped apart. Only the High priest could go beyond the veil in the OT and then only once a year and then with great fear that if he should do something wrong he would be struck dead. He wore a rope around his waist with a bell. If the bell should stop ringing then those outside would drag him out because they couldn't go in after him. Today the veil is torn apart for all who will come in without fear but can come to him and say Abba father,(Daddy).

The New Testament to some extent is a text book of our faith, The Old Testament will bring the New Testament alive. Maybe this will help alittle

The books of the Law.........Genesis through Deut.
The books of History...........Joshuah through Nehemiah
The books of Poetry
and wisdom.......................Esther through song of sol.
The books of Prophesy........Isiah through Malachi

Realize this also, If we consider that the Old Testament is the infalible word of God (which it is) then you are not only reading a book of great spiritual value but you are also reading an infalible book of history. This book conveys the most reliable knowlege of the most ancient of times. modern day excavations only confirm the reliability of the OT.
Ps 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple

Let the Old Testament word of God illuminate the New Testament word of God and then bask in the illuminating revalations. God Bless.

 

[Kelly]

Thanks all, I am not giving up. Some parts are really informative and I get great value from reading them. It's just the grocery lists and census reports I struggle through.

Interesting observation. We read psalm 136 aloud at church last night, but we skipped the middle part (10-22). I had just been talking to my wife on the way to church that we seem to gloss over the "angry" God bits, and this only proved it. It's a total package, IMHO, and we have to embrace all of God's emotions.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

I'm learning that the Old Testament is a gold mine right under my nose I never knew about.