Why Read The Old Testament?

How should we study the Bible? Is it important for us to study the stories of the Old Testament? Let us look at the Bible and see what we can learn about this very important subject.

Here are some important texts that tell us how much of the Bible is important:

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Deut. 8:3

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Psalm 119:160

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Proverbs 30:5

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Luke 4:4

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Tim. 3:16

Can we pick and choose what we want from the Bible and ignore the rest? What does the Bible say?

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Deut. 4:2

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Deut. 12:32

This injunction is repeated in Revelation:

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Rev. 22:19

We are to pay attention to everything God says. Not just a select text here and there and throw out what ever doesn’t agree with our preconceived notions. We are to let God speak for Himself. Some people are very willing to accept the promises that God has given to His people but when it comes to accepting the other stuff they want to forget those. They want only the smooth things. ("That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits" Isaiah 30:10)

The Bible admonishes us to:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15

But some excuse themselves by saying that the word "study" here does not mean to study the Bible. But what does it mean then? And if that is true how else will we be "approved unto God"? How will we know what God asks of us unless we read His word and find out what He has told the prophets? The Bible says:

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119:9

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11

How do we learn knowledge? The Bible says:

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. Isaiah 28:9-11

What did the Bereans do?

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:10-11

We should be like the Bereans, searching the scriptures daily. Not just a short devotional reading to make us feel like we have done our religious duty but to see if what we are hearing from others is in agreement with what the Bible says. How will we know if they are teaching truth if we just accept their opinion on things without studying for ourselves. We have a wonderful privilege today that we have the Bible available to us. We should use it and learn what the truth is. Jesus warned many times that people would come in the last days to deceive us.

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. Luke 21:8

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:4-5

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:11

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24

And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: Mark 13:5

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:18

Without the Bible telling us what the truth is how will we know if we are being deceived? Is there any danger in being deceived? What does the Bible say:

For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Isaiah 9:16

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Hosea 4:6

What is the importance of studying the Old Testament?

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 1 Cor. 10:6

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1 Cor. 10:11

So the Old Testament story of God leading the Israelites out of Egypt is an example to us that we might know how to follow God. That we might avoid the mistakes that they made and allow God to lead us into the heavenly Caanan. Some may wonder why the Old Testament stories might be important to us today. What we find is that we can find out how to avoid the mistakes that the people of the Old Testament have made. Some people seem to think that because some of the people written about made mistakes it should excuse them. But that is a very dangerous idea. While God was gracious to forgive their mistakes we have a privilege of learning from their mistakes and avoiding them. Rather than excusing ourselves it would be much safer for us to learn to make wise choices. An example would be the story Abraham and Hagar in Genesis 21. Just think how much unhappiness would have been avoided if Abraham had trusted God and not try to help God out by taking Hagar to be the mother of his promised child.

Another story that comes to mind is David and Bathsheba. I have heard so many people excuse their own sins because David had an affair and killed Bathshebas husband but they are missing the point of the story. David failed the Lord. Yes he was forgiven but look at the sad results of his sin. A good and noble man died as a result. How much happier our lives would be if we would learn the right lesson from the story.

Christ taught the disciples on the road to Emmaus this way:

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27

Christ our perfect example taught "in all the scriptures" beginning at Moses. Shouldn’t we do the same? Some may ask 'how do we know what writings should be considered a part of the book of the Bible'. In other words, "how do we know what writings are sacred scriptures?" Well,... we know all the old testement was considered sacred scriptures by Jesus himself.

The prophecies of the Old Testament helped people know who the Messiah really was. Without the prophecies the disciples would not have known that Jesus was the Christ. We are given prophecies about His second coming that we might know Him. We can know what to look for just like they did. Some of them even with the prophecies failed to recognize Him because they approached the scriptures with their own ideas of what they wanted to hear. They wanted a Saviour from bondage to the Romans not freedom from sin. They were looking for a great mighty warrior to fight for them but what God had in mind was the meek and mild Jesus who set an example for us that we might see how to live. He came to save His people from their sins.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:14-18

There were people in Peters day that were even then misunderstanding Paul’s writings and other scriptures to their own destruction. Are we doing that too? Are we twisting the scriptures to our destruction? How many of us come to the Bible with our own ideas of what the Bible should say and then we twist it to say what we want? We want to be encouraged in our selfishness, pride and greed. We want a God that will let us have it all here on earth but what the Bible tells us is very different. What He still wants is people that will follow Him without mourning and complaining. He wants people that will cheerfully follow Him. Will we recognize Him when He comes the second time? Or will we be ready to receive a false god who will tell us that we are all right?

Our prayer should be:

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

What is promised to those that study God’s word?

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Psalm 18:30

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21:22

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Matthew 7:7

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luke 11:9

For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. Psalm 18:28

If we ask God to help us understand the Bible we will receive what we ask for. He will lead us into all truth. (see Ps. 25:5)

While it is true that there are some texts that are difficult to understand and some appear to be in contradiction with others we must take the whole Bible to determine what the Lord says rather than base our beliefs on one text. If one text appears to say one thing and a dozen others say just the opposite it would be foolish to accept our idea of the one text over the other dozen texts. Rather, we should take a much closer look at that one that seems to be in disagreement and pray over it and ask the Lord to reveal the truth in the matter. Then we should look at other texts on the same subject. Look at texts that contain synonyms of the words contained in the odd text. Read them and compare them with it.

Always read the text in its context. This is important when it is something that seems to contradict other texts. Often this will give you a balanced understanding of the truth. There are many places where some text taken by itself would lead one into error but if we read all that the writer intended we would come to a right conclusion. How many of us would want what we have said to be taken out of context. We might be quoting someone that we disagreed with and if someone only heard what we quoted they could come to the conclusion that we believed just the opposite of what we really did believe.

One illustration that comes to mind here is how we could prove that suicide was okay. Matthew 27:5 says that Judas went out and hanged himself. If we combined that text with Luke 10:37 where Jesus said, "Go and do thou likewise" we would have a strange doctrine, don’t you think? The same holds true with the writings of Paul, James, and all the other writers.

A useful tool for study other than what we have mentioned here is the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance which will give you an idea of what the original words meant. It has been very useful to us in doing study of a word or its synonyms. You will notice at the top of this page, a link to the Blue Letter Bible, this tool will help you find verses and will let you read them in several translations, and even the Strongs numbers are included, so you can look up the original meaning of words in the Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries. There are also links to several other Bible study tools at the botton of this page.

The Lord promises that if we seek Him we will find Him:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13