Mick’s Memo—The Older Testament
We have spent the past 2 months studying the “Minor” Prophets. Some may be thinking, “Why do we waste time on the Old Testament when we could be studying the New?” “What can we get out of the Old Testament?” I have to admit I find great encouragement, hope, and inspiration by reading the accounts of Jesus’ interactions here on earth. I enjoy the drama of Paul’s transformation from one who sought to silence and imprison Jesus’ followers, to one who became perhaps the most vocal advocate for the gospel and a great liberator of those in bondage to life without Jesus. I am intrigued by the epistles to the churches and church leaders of the first century. That being said I also marvel at the relentless progress of revelation about God we find from Genesis to Revelation.
More important however than my opinion is what the New Testament itself says about the importance of the Old Testament. For instance Jesus said this in His resurrection appearance
Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Luke 24:44-45 (NKJV)
Jesus tells us that the truth about Him was predicted in the OT and the significance of His life and death is only understood in its light. The Apostle Paul’s ministry is an example for us. His strategy was steeped in studies and explanations of the OT as described for us in this verse…
They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Acts 28:23 (NIV)
The revelation we have been given, older and newer testaments, is a complete portrait of God and outline of His plan for humanity. To ignore either is to truncate our awareness of God, like an interrupted portrait or reading a book’s conclusion without the body. The Old Testament was the source of revelation that used to call people to Himself before the incarnation. Jesus equated belief in him with belief in the content of the Old Testament in this key verse that concludes the account of the “Rich Man” and Lazarus—
"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’" Luke 16:31 (NIV)
The foundation of our New Testament faith is a thorough understanding of the OT and if we ignore its revelation, we probably will have problems with the New Testament also.
This weekend we will study one of the more unique writings of the Minor Prophets—Habakkuk. It chronicles dialogue between the prophet, who has some hard questions to bring up, and God who has some challenging answers for the prophet to absorb.
I hope to see you this weekend,
Blessings!
Mick
