Why Study the Old Testament?
Introduction:
“One of
the most fundamental questions which has faced theology and the church in
every age and still demands an answer today is whether or not Christianity
also needs an Old Testament. Is the Old Testament to be thrown away as
obsolete, or preserved as a relic from days of yore, or treasured as a
classic and read by scholars, or used occasionally as a change from the New
Testament, or kept in a box in case it should be needed some day?”
David Baker, Two Testaments, One Bible
Theme:
Discuss five reasons for studying the Old
Testament and the importance and value of each.
Body:
I.
God was its Author.
Hebrews 1:1
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the
fathers by the prophets.”
NKJV
This verse informs us that in time past God spoke to the fathers by the
prophets. God was doing the speaking, making His will known to mankind.
Paul’s words in
II Timothy 3:16 refer also to Old Testament books.
“All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God...” God was the
source. Since He is God, we should listen to what He has to say! We should
have the attitude stated in this verse.
Psalm 119:161-162. “Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart
stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great
treasure.”
NKJV
Can you
imagine receiving a letter from the person that you love the most and yet
never taking the time to read it? Think about that.
II.
The Old Testament contains the only complete and accurate account of the
origin of this world and of mankind.
Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
NKJV
Where else can you find a detailed account of the six days of creation, what
was created when, or an account of God’s creating Adam and Eve and the
beginning of the institution of marriage?
Genesis 1 and 2
as well as
Job 38-40
provide information found nowhere else. From these chapters, we can know
that the world was created in six literal 24-hour days just a few thousand
years ago and that evolution played no part in it. Let’s thank God for the
Old Testament Scriptures.
John 1:1-3
has so much more meaning when we read the Old Testament chapters.
“In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning
with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was
made that was made.”
NKJV
III.
The Old Testament describes God’s nature.
A.
He’s eternal.
Deuteronomy 33:27
“The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms. .
.”
NKJV
[God, the Great I Am, shows the value of the Old Testament.]
B.
He’s faithful.
Isaiah 44:6-8
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of
hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. And
who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for
Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming
and shall come, Let them show these to them. Do not fear, nor be afraid,
Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses.
Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’
”
NKJV
What God
foretold in the Old Testament, did happen.
C.
He’s just.
Deuteronomy 32:4
“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of
truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”
NKJV
D.
He’s loving,
merciful and kind.
Psalm 31:19, 21
“Oh, how great
is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You Which you
have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!
21
Blessed be the Lord, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong
city!”
NKJV
God gave the
world 100 years to repent in the days of Noah.
E.
He’s powerful.
I Chronicles 29:10-11
“Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said:
‘Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours,
O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the
majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the
kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all.’ ”
NKJV
The Flood, the
Tower of Babel, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are examples of
God’s power.
IV.
The Old Testament instructs us by its examples.
Read
I Corinthians 10:5-12. “But with most of them God was not well pleased, for
their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our
examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they
also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is
written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor
let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day
twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also
tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also
complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things
happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon
whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he
stands take heed lest he fall.”
NKJV
Paul says what
happened to God’s people in times pasts should teach us a lesson. The
principles involved are timeless. By reading about the Old Testament
characters mentioned in
Hebrews 11, we
should be encouraged and our faith strengthened. Quote
Romans 15:4
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that
we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
NKJV
They’re for us to learn from. It instills within us a hope when we see
people of old enduring afflictions yet remaining faithful. Yes, we can
learn much from pages of the Old Testament.
V.
It tells of the origin of sin and the need for redemption.
Genesis 3
declares how sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden. That same chapter
mentions the coming of the Seed, the Messiah. Much of the Old Testament
foretells of this Great Deliverer and the fact that His coming was essential
for man’s salvation, the central element in God’s plan for man’s
redemption.
Isaiah 53:4-6
“Surely He has born our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him
stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our
peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep
have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way, And the Lord
has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
NKJV
Read
Romans 5:18-19.
“Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting
in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came
to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s
disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many
will be made righteous.”
NKJV
Because of
Christ’s death on the cross, the shedding of His blood, all who so choose
may be justified, pronounced “not guilty.” What about you? Will you obey
Him now?
Bobby Stafford
August 20, 2017
