Week 3 - Reading the stories of the Old Testament

Wow!  I have so much on my heart and mind as we enter this phase of our study.  As I said tonight, I love the Old Testament.  Although I do not nearly have the necessary knowledge to properly deal with it all, I do find it easier to read and apply than the New Testament.

As far as the stories go, its easy.  Do (or don't do) what the people in the story did.  Obviously not literally, but you get the idea.  Identify and apply the principles in the story to your own life.  I love reading the Psalms too.  Seems I can always relate to their prayers, songs, and emotions as they open up their hearts towards God.

I could go on, but I will refrain from doing so.  Just a handful of stuff from tonight and from the Leader's Guide to take into consideration when reading the Old Testament:

1 - The Old Testament has a rich perspective on who God is and who we are as people and as His people.  Studying God's Covenant relationship and interaction with Israel helps us understand what His desire is for our relationship with Him is.  Yet our carnal nature is constantly in the way, thus we need a Savior.

2 - See God as the main hero.  Each story in the Old Testament has several characters.  Antagonists and Protagonists, but God is the main player.   Ask yourself, "How is God revealing about Himself in this story?"  "What is God revealing about Himself in this story?".

3 - Despite a different Cultural Context (heard that somewhere before) these stories parallel our lives.  Dr. Bruce Waltke (the gray hair guy with the New Jersey accent in the video) puts it this way in the Leader's Guide:

"The stories often have at their core the struggles of people to believe God, to trust Him, and I think we have those struggles; so the stories ring true for us"

Take David and Goliath for example.  Who hasn't had a Goliath in their life.  A obstacle so big, mocking you and your faith on a daily basis, much too strong for you to conquer - nothing in your own natural abilities can overcome. Yet somehow and in someway, God gives you the strength, ability, smarts, etc to overcome and defeat that giant.  "In my weakness, He is made strong..."

4 - We must read the Old Testament Stories in Light of God's Grand Story.  Dr. Waltke continues:

"To appreciate the importance of these Old Testament stories, you have to see the whole Bible holistically.  The framework of the Bible is a historical framework.  The stories of the Old Testament lay a foundation for the grand developing story of the whole Bible.  So we will never understand the Old testament stories apart from their place in the developing story of the Bible."

One question to constantly ask yourself when trying to grasp the "Grand Story" in an O.T. story is "How does this story anticipate or lay the foundation for what God would eventually do through Christ?"  Theologians call this "Typology" [BIG WORD ALERT].  Old Testament stories are often (some would argue they are always) intended to be a typology of Christ - a glimpse into the life of Christ.

So take a second and see if you can find a typology of Christ in the story of David and Goliath.....

I'm out,

Wag