Many Christians struggle with the Old Testament. It feels like an alien book (or set of books). When you consider the Levitical purity laws or the detailed history of the people of Israel, most people assume that it has limited relevance for modern life. Some of you have given up reading the Old Testament. Others persist with reading it but with a limited understanding of how it connects with your life.
I want to suggest to you that it’s possible to make sense of the Old Testament. As you start to understand it, the events of the New Testament will speak to you with even greater clarity. You’ll begin to see that the same God stands behind Old and New. And that the scriptures weave together to tell an incredible story. Here are four things you can do to get a better handle on these books:
1. Understand the whole story
It’s very easy to read the bible as a series of individual books. Paul wrote to the Ephesians. Jeremiah recorded his prophetic insights. Each book stands alone. And yet to see it this way is to miss the woods for the trees. Scripture should be read as one unfolding narrative, from creation (Genesis) to new creation (Revelation). Along the way, humanity persistently rejects God’s authority (the fall, Israel’s exile etc.), but God relentlessly pursues his people, seeking to establish his rule and reign, which will eventually be fully consummated when Christ returns.
To understand any book that you’re reading, you need to understand where it fits in the biblical narrative. As you understand the overall biblical narrative, you’ll begin to see consistent themes across the scriptures in beautiful ways. There are a number of short bible overviews, but my personal recommendation is ‘From Eden to the New Jerusalem’ (by Alexander) which is an accessible and exciting introduction to the Bible’s big story. Failing that, this short Old Testament summary video from the Bible Project is excellent!
2. Understand the context
It’s useful to understand the context of any book you’re reading. Who wrote it? Why did they write it? Who were they writing to? What's their context? It’s not essential, but it will give you new insights to what the writer is saying and why they’re saying it. A good study bible (e.g. Crossway ESV Study Bible) will provide a few pages of introduction on each book and some very helpful explanatory notes. This feels particularly useful for reading the Old Testament. Otherwise, try The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God or The Bible Project for short introductions to a specific book.
3. Locate Christ in the scriptures
Jesus is clear that the Old Testament scriptures point to him (John 5.39–40, Luke 24.25–27). Of course, this is true of the specific prophecies that are scattered throughout the Old Testament. Taken together, it’s quite incredible to see how the Old Testament writers predict the coming messiah. But there’s more to it than prophecy. There is a sense that we see Christ in the incompleteness of the Old Testament. As we see countless unfaithful kings presiding over the nation of Israel, it leaves us with the lingering question - who is sufficient to faithfully lead the people of God? To which, in light of the New Testament, we know it's Christ! Glen Scrivener (who spoke at Salt Live last year) has written a brilliant article which goes into more detail.
4. Identify the New Testament parallel
Whilst we can see the common threads of scripture across the entire narrative, there’s a sense to which we need to read the instructions and promises of the Old Testament through Christ. As we consider God’s promises of a land for the people of God to dwell in (the promised land), we can celebrate that we are destined to dwell with God in the new creation. As we consider the various laws regarding sacrificial offerings, we can rejoice that we worship the true Passover lamb and have the privilege of access to God because of his sacrificial death. When you read the Old Testament, you need to ask, what does this mean for the New Testament believer, in light of Christ?
It may feel a little challenging, but understanding the Old Testament should give you wonderful new insights as to the beauty of Christ and wonder of God’s plan enacted through the ages.