The Old Testament is the story of the Old Covenant (“testament” means “covenant”) between God and his people. At the same time, the Old Testament foretells the coming of a new covenant and a coming prophet, priest, and king. For many reasons, a solid understanding of the Old Testament is crucial for understanding the New Testament. If you have found the Old Testament confusing, irrelevant, or boring, or if you desire to take your understanding of the Old Testament to a new level, we recommend you start with the first lesson in our Genesis series, Introduction to the O.T., Pt. 1 – Why Study the Old Testament?
The Lord commands Moses to take a second census, confirming that nearly all the men from the first census died in the desert before they reached the Promised Land. We wrestle with the sobering fact that only a few will be saved, and how we reconcile that with the nature of God, who is full
The Second Census and the Sons of Korah (Numbers 26) View Lesson
The Second Census and the Sons of Korah (Numbers 26) View Lesson
Moses, told he is about to die, expresses concern for the people he will leave behind. He does not want them to be “like sheep having no shepherd”. In reply, the Lord instructs him to lay hands on Joshua, who will become his successor. Early Christians saw great significance in Joshua (in Greek = Jesus)
The offerings and festivals of the old covenant provide rich foreshadowings of what would later be revealed through Jesus. They continue to offer practical insights for us today, even though we no longer are bound to observe the Law of Moses. We also consider what the Law said regarding oaths and swearing, which Jesus expanded
Few Old Testament prophecies are as stunning as Psalm 22. Written by David over a thousand years before Jesus' crucifixion, it describes His passion in remarkable detail. Early Christian writer Justin Martyr made the case that the entire psalm is about Jesus. For Christians, this psalm can open our eyes to the suffering Christ, whose example we
In the defeat of the Midianites, we learn that Balaam, a casualty of the battle, was the one responsible for teaching the Midianites to entice the Israelite men into immorality and idolatry. Jesus will refer to that episode in addressing false teachers in the church. After the battle, the Lord gives instruction for purification by
For those feeling spiritually dry or stagnant, this psalm is an excellent place to begin, to re-ignite your passion for the Scriptures. Learn from a passionate and expressive young man, who derived tremendous strength and comfort from the Word of God in the midst of a great difficulties. Be inspired by his example, and you
In this short book, we are privy to a conversation between Habakkuk, an honest prophet, and the Lord. Habakkuk questions injustices he sees, and the Lord provides a troubling response. Through the Lord's answers come some of the most important themes from all of the Old Testament. New Testament writers use this text to establish that
This book provides stirring imagery, strong warnings and even some little-known prophecies about Jesus. A courageous prophet brings a message of judgment against God's people, with a significant theme being Israel's lack of concern for the poor. We take the opportunity to explore what the Scriptures teach about caring for the poor, an essential aspect
Satan quoted this psalm to Jesus in one of the three temptations in the Wilderness. It speaks of angels supporting someone so he would not dash his foot against a stone. Does that refer to Jesus, or to us? In this message we consider the perspective taken by Origen, as we also review the importance
Psalm 91 - They Shall Bear You Up (lesson by Chuck Pike) View Lesson
Psalm 91 - They Shall Bear You Up (lesson by Chuck Pike) View Lesson
Many consider this to be the single most important book in the Old Testament. Why is that? We begin by considering ten reasons why this book is so important for Christians to study today. After establishing the context for Deuteronomy, we explore the first chapter, where Moses recounts the journey from Mt. Sinai to the time at Kadesh Barnea
Introduction and Recounting the Journey (Deuteronomy 1) View Lesson
Introduction and Recounting the Journey (Deuteronomy 1) View Lesson