Lesson 336: "Learning from the Old Testament"
Paul continues his exhortation to Timothy by telling him to continue in the things he had learned and was convinced of. These things had come from two sources which Paul set side by side as of equal importance. His own testimony and the Holy Scriptures, which at that time of course consisted of the Old Testament. Timothy’s complete confidence in both sources would be enough to prevent any slippage in his commitment to the truth (2 Tim. 3:14-17). We, like Paul and Timothy can gain wisdom from the Old Testament. Peter brings into his sermon of repentance, the background of restoration that God promised long ago through His holy prophets. “For Moses said, ‘the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people. You must listen to everything He tells you’. Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers” (Acts 3:22-25).
The eunuch was reading Isaiah when the Spirit of the Lord took Philip to the chariot of the Ethiopian. The eunuch asked who the prophet Isaiah was speaking of and Philip told him the good news of Jesus. The Old Testament points to Christ! James brings in the history of patience and perseverance in the face of suffering when he told his “audience” about Job and God’s compassion and mercy (James 5:10-11). Paul did not want his brothers to be ignorant of the fact that our forefathers were all under God’s cloud and passed through the Sea on dry land. However, because of disobedience and non-belief, God was not pleased with them. “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Cor. 10:1-13), so if you think you are standing firm, read the Old Testament again and be careful you do not fall into the forefathers’ indulgences. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).
The Old Testament promises us light in the darkness. “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain and you will do well to pay attention to it as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:19-21). Point here is that the Old Testament is trustworthy and true. The Old Testament is also filled with love stories, horror stories, war stories and stories to keep you on the edge of your chair until the very end. But have no doubt! The “stories” are all true and actual events of the days of old. They lead us directly to Jesus Christ and to the end times and we are warned to believe every Word of it (Rev. 22:18-19) just the way it was written.
“THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS BE WITH GOD’S PEOPLE. AMEN” (Rev. 22:21).