A Fresh Outlook

Many people view the Old testament as boring and unrelatable. They make up excuses to not read it like "it doesnt apply to me nowadays" or "its confusing with all those big long lists of names". The shove it aside and focus mainly on the New Testament.

What people don't realize it that by understanding the Old Testament we are able to understand the New Testament so much better.

We should study the Old Testament because..

1.) It is the Word of God
2.) The scriptures were written for our learning
3.) The true nature of God is revealed in the Old Testament. We often forget that the God who worked through Jesus was the same God that spoke through the prophets. He is soveriegn over all his nations and will punish the unfaithful and reward the faithful.
4.) We gain wisdom that comes from learning from the mistakes of Israelites in Old Testament times.
5.) Many faithful men and women are mentioned to serve as examples for Christians to follow, they lived righteous lives and believed with all their hearts

It helps us to understand the New Testament better.

1.) Many of the verses in the New Testament have references to the ones in the Old Testament. If we do not know the history of these verses we cannot completely understand them or their significance.
2.) The OT sets the context to help us understand the meaning behind many of the things that happened in the NT and the activites Jesus participated in.
3.) We are able to see the fulfillment of prophecy in the coming of the Messiah and understand them better.

http://www.ugcoc.com/Christain%20Living/why_should_christians_study_the_.htm

Jesus existed before creation and God makes no effort to hide his coming from the people of Old Testament times. They were told by the prophets that there would be a time when the kingdom would be restored and a Messiah would rule with the strength and the name of the Lord.

By reading the OT and studying each book I have learned so much. Not only does the fulfillment of the prophecies reaffirm my faith so does the historical evidence that supports the events of the OT.

God is a loving God who paid the ultimate price for his people but he is also in powerful control of the world and will judge sin. He is sovereign and all knowing and will punish those who disobey his commands.

Isaiah 2:19 Men will flee to caves in the rocks, and to holes in the ground, from dread of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.

Tes-tify