Why
Study the Old Testament?
The greatest
reason for studying the Old Testament is to see him, the living Word,
Christ, the subject of the written Word from Genesis 3:15 to Revelation
22:21. He is found everywhere in God’s Word.
Christ is the one
great subject of the whole Word of God. Apart from him the Word of God
cannot be understood because he is the master key of the Word that
unlocks it by opening our understanding of it.
Luke 24:44 And he
said unto them, These are the words which I
spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be
fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the
prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he
their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Christ is the
truth. He is the key that unlocks the truth of the Word that we might
believe and have understanding.
The Scriptures
are the word of truth. They are the truth. But we only have the true
Word, or a true understanding of the Word
when we carry out the one great requirement given in II Timothy 2:15,
rightly divide the Word of God.
There are many
keys to the Scripture’s understanding, but the master key that unlocks
the truth of the Word and provides us with an understanding of the true
Word is Christ. Everything in the Word of God is subordinate to, in
subjection to, the coming one, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He makes the
written Word shine with the glory of the divine presence of God by
opening our understanding of the Scriptures and the Father. The love of
God in the renewed mind in manifestation believes all the truth, thus it
looks for him everywhere in God’s Word.
We see him first
in Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between
thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise
thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
What is the seed
of the women?
Galatians
The “seed of the
woman” in Genesis
Genesis
God used the
temple, the Law, the offerings, among other things to illustrate and to
prepare His people for the Messiah’s,
Christ’s coming. Even historical events in the Word of God are recorded
in a way that illustrates the coming of Jesus Christ and his work.
However, we must
be careful not to go overboard looking for Jesus Christ in the Word of
God. To avoid misapplying a scripture’s meaning, we first must
understand the literal meaning of a passage from the scripture,
then the proper relationship to Jesus Christ
can be understood.
Hosea 11:1 When
Israel was a child, then I loved him,
and called my son out of
This is a
reference to
Matthew 2:13
And when they were
departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth
to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his
mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word:
for Herod will seek the young child [Jesus] to destroy him.
14
When he arose, he took
the young child and his mother by night, and departed into
15
And was there until the
death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord
by the prophet, saying, Out of
The literal truth
in Hosea must first be understood before the prophetic truth regarding
Jesus Christ can be understood. Many times prophecies fulfillment aren’t
very clear until the time of the fulfillment draws closer and closer.
The Red Thread
Here are many
places throughout the Scriptures where we see Christ along with
scripture references for consideration and further study.
In Genesis,
he is the promised seed of the woman. Genesis 3:15.
In Exodus,
he is the Passover lamb. Exodus 12.
Also the true priest and the tabernacle.
In Leviticus,
he is the high priest. Leviticus 21:10-15 He is also the offerings.
In Numbers,
he is the star to rise out of Jacob. Numbers 24:17-19.
Also the manna. Numbers 11:6,7,9.
And the rock. Numbers 20:8-11.
In Deuteronomy,
he is the two laws; love God and love your neighbor.
Also the true prophet. Deuteronomy 18:15,18.
In Joshua,
he is the captain of the Lord of hosts. Joshua 5:13-15.
In Judges,
he is the covenant angel named wonderful, or the covenant protector.
Judges 13:1-24.
In Ruth,
he is the kinsman redeemer.
In Samuel,
he is the root and the offspring of David. Please compare Revelation
12:6 and the
books of Samuel.
In Kings,
he is the greater than the temple. Please compare Matthew 22:16 and the
books of Kings.
In Chronicles,
he is the king’s son. II Chronicles
In Ezra,
Nehemiah, he is the rebuilder.
In Esther,
he is the saviour of God’s people.
In Job, he
is the daysman. Job
In Psalms,
he is the song.
In Proverbs,
he is the wisdom of God.
In
Ecclesiastes, he is the one among a thousand. Ecclesiastes 7:28.
In Song of
Solomon, he is the bridegroom of the bride.
In Isaiah,
he is Jacob’s branch. Isaiah 11:1.
In Jeremiah,
he is our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6.
In
Lamentations, he is the unbeliever’s judgment.
In Ezekiel,
he is the true shepherd. Ezekiel 34:23.
In Daniel,
he is the stone that became the head of the corner. Daniel 2:34.
In Hosea,
he is the latter rain. Hosea 6:3. Also what we looked at already in
Hosea 11:1. He is God’s son that was called out of
In Joel,
he is God’s dwelling in
In Amos,
he is the raiser of David’s tabernacle. Amos 9:11.
In Obadiah,
he is the deliverer on
In Jonah,
he is our salvation. Jonah 2:9.
In Micah,
he is the Lord of Kings. Micah 2:13.
In Nahum,
he is the stronghold in the time of trouble. Nahum 1:7.
In Habakkuk,
he is our joy and confidence. Habakkuk 3:18,19.
In Zephaniah,
he is our mighty Lord. Zephaniah 3:17.
In Haggai,
he is the desire of the nations. Haggai 2:7.
In Zechariah,
he is our servant, the branch. Zechariah 3:8.
In Malachi,
he is the sun of righteousness. Malachi 4:2.
This is Christ
and when we look, we see we find him everywhere in the Word of God.
Christ is the “gotra,”
the red thread, you find him everywhere throughout the Word.
“Gotra”
is a term from the Hindi Sanskrit that was used for a protected blood
line, or a protected blood line seed or lineage in Hinduism among the
Indians. This protected seed, this protected lineage was called a “gotra.”
Christ is the protected lineage, the gotra
from Genesis to Revelation.
This red thread
that binds together the whole Word is Christ, the promised seed, the
redeemer. The one who shed his blood, gave
his life to redeem you and me. He’s the protected lineage, the “gotra”
from Genesis through Revelation.
In Matthew,
he is Jehovah’s Messiah. Also the king.
In Mark,
he is Jehovah’s servant.
In Luke,
he is Jehovah’s man.
In John,
he is Jehovah’s son.
In Acts,
he is the gift of holy spirit.
In Romans,
he is the believer’s justification.
In Corinthians,
he is the believer’s sanctification.
In Galatians,
he is the believer’s righteousness.
In Ephesians,
he is the believer’s heavenly standing.
In Philippians,
he is the believer’s self adequacy.
In Colossians,
he is the believer’s completeness. Completely complete completeness.
In
Thessalonians, he is the believer’s soon glorification.
In Timothy,
he is the faithful men. II Timothy 2:2.
In Titus,
he is the fellow laborer.
In Philemon,
he is the love of a believer.
In Hebrews,
he is the high priest for sin.
In James,
he is the royal law. James 2:8.
In Peter,
he is the pastor.
In John,
he is as we are. I John 4:17.
In Jude,
he is the beloved.
In Revelation,
he is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16.
He is the doom of
the adversary, as promised in Genesis 3:15 and accomplished in
Revelation
He is the no
night of Revelation 22:5, of which Genesis 1:1 is night.
He is the light
of Revelation 21:13, of which Genesis
He is the no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying of Revelation
21:4, of which Genesis
He is the no more
curse of Revelation 22:3, of which Genesis 3:17 is the curse.
He is the welcome
home to paradise of Revelation 22:2, of which Genesis 3:22-24 is the
banishment of paradise.
Who is this Jesus
Christ? He is Abel’s sacrifice, Genesis 4:4, Abraham’s ram, Genesis
22:13.
He is Isaac’s
well, Genesis 26:25. He is Jacob’s ladder, Genesis 28:12. He is
Samuel’s horn of
oil, I Samuel 16:13. David’s slingshot, I Samuel 17:40,50.
Hezekiah’s sundial, Isaiah 38:8. Elijah’s mantle I Kings 19:13-19, II
Kings 2:8-14. Elisha’s staff, II Kings 4:29.
Who is this Jesus
Christ? He is Job’s prayer, Job 16:17. Isaiah’s fig tree, Isaiah 34:4.
He is Ezekiel’s wheel. In Daniel
In Acts 5:15,
he’s Peter’s shadow Acts
He is the lily of
the valley and the rose of Sharon in life’s deserts. Song of Solomon
2:1.
He is the pearl
of great price. Matthew 13:46. He is the rock for pilgrims in a weary
land. Isaiah 32:2.
He is the way,
the truth and the life. John 14:6. He is the chief corner stone.
Ephesians 2:20.
Christ is the
believer’s redemption. He is the believer’s knowledge. He is the
believer’s wisdom.
The Christian
believer’s all in all in all.
In Revelation
He is the subject
of the whole Word from Genesis 3:15 to Revelation 22:21. He is the key
to understanding the whole Word. He is the one who makes known the God
of truth.
So why study the
Old Testament?
1. To see him,
Jesus Christ, the subject of the whole Word who leads us to God.
2. That we might
have hope.
3. To receive
instruction in right teaching for right living.