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?
Moses asks to see the face of God. The Lord rejects that request as impossible, shields Moses, and then proclaims His nature as His glory passes by. This revelation later helped David, the Psalm writer, grasp the merciful and compassionate nature of the Lord and can help us have a healthier view of God as
The Lord warns Moses that when the people enter Canaan, they must not make any covenants with the people of that land. This foreshadows the New Testament command to not be "yoked together with unbelievers." In this lesson we explore the implications of that foundational teaching regarding marriage and other close relationships. Also, when Moses
Thus far it seems we have seen in the Israelite nation nothing but faithlessness and sins, including disobedience, idolatry, revelry, ingratitude and complaining. Happily, in the current passage we finally see the people doing something praiseworthy! When Moses issues a request, the people contribute freely and generously toward the construction of the tabernacle. We use
The tabernacle is constructed in accordance with all the detailed instructions the Lord had given Moses. Since the tabernacle was a physical model of spiritual things to come, the details were purposeful and necessary to follow even if the artisans did not understand the reason why. We examine the importance of following God’s commands even
The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple (Exodus 36:8-40:32) View Lesson
The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple (Exodus 36:8-40:32) View Lesson
Many Christians turn to the Psalms for comfort when facing hard times. However, if we consider how Jesus and the apostles used the Psalms, we see many more ways we can benefit from them. We begin this series with a study of Psalm 1, which provides simple, profound and practical lessons for us today. Putting
Introduction to the Psalms; Psalm 1 - Meditating on the Word View Lesson
Introduction to the Psalms; Psalm 1 - Meditating on the Word View Lesson
Psalm 2 is quoted and referenced repeatedly in the New Testament, and for good reason. It provides the first prophecy that someone referred to as "the Christ" will come. It explains that this person will be the Son of God, but rejected by the powerful. This psalm lays a foundation for much of the New
There is great treasure to be found in Psalm 3, especially when we understand its background: a heart-breaking tragedy in David's life. Here we see that even after God forgives our sins, the destructive consequences can follow for the rest of our lives. We also dig into remarkable similarities in details of David's story and
In this psalm we see David's confidence that God hears his prayers. How can we be as confident that God hears our prayers? Also, David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, tells us to "be angry and do not sin," a passage later quoted by the apostle Paul. What does that mean? Is it always a sin to be angry?
The Wisdom of Sirach contains valuable wisdom for our day-to-day lives. Sirach ben Jesus was a devoted student of the Law and the Prophets. In this lesson we look at some memorable (and hard-hitting) passages that provide extremely practical wisdom in the areas of overcoming temptation, being singularly focused on living a Godly life (not
Sirach #1: Practical Wisdom for Righteous Living View Lesson
Sirach #1: Practical Wisdom for Righteous Living View Lesson
David recounted his devotion to morning prayer in proclaiming: “In the morning You shall hear my voice.” Prayer warriors through the ages, including even Jesus, have been devoted to early morning prayer. However, does the hour at which we pray really matter? What is so special about rising early to pray? We consider insights from early Christian writer
Psalm 5 - In the Morning You Shall Hear My Voice View Lesson
Psalm 5 - In the Morning You Shall Hear My Voice View Lesson