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?
In Leviticus we are introduced to one of the most important themes of the Bible: the Lord is a holy God who calls His people to be holy. The Hebrews writer tells us that without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). John Wesley considered that challenging statement as perhaps the most unpopular verse to preach on
In Psalm 91, David speaks of one who will face frightening things. In the midst of evil, this person will find protection in God and trample the lion, dragon and snake. Ironically, Satan uses this psalm to tempt Jesus into sin. Yet the wisdom in Psalm 91, and the example of our Lord, prepares us
Psalm 91 - Trampling Snakes (lesson by David Adams) View Lesson
Psalm 91 - Trampling Snakes (lesson by David Adams) View Lesson
As explained in the New Testament, we Christians are the new royal priesthood of God. Therefore, it should not surprise us to find that special rules for the high priest and the other priests point to aspects of Christ, and to the Christian life. Subjects addressed include things that can defile us, distinctive Christian teachings on marriage,
The offerings of the Levitical priests foreshadow our own service to God, as indicated throughout the New Testament. Therefore, God’s instruction in Leviticus regarding what was an “acceptable offering" can help unlock wonderful insights that apply to us today. This instruction points to significant aspects of baptism, confessing sin, and the Lord’s Supper. Perhaps the
The Jewish calendar is filled with various special days and holy celebrations, which we are no longer required to follow as Christians. Yet, when we dig into the details of these holy days, we see allusions and foreshadowing of the Christ to come and the Christian life. In this study, we will look at how
Calendar of the Feasts and Special Days (Leviticus 23) View Lesson
Calendar of the Feasts and Special Days (Leviticus 23) View Lesson
This chapter is full of wonderful lessons for Christians. Early Christians saw the oil for the lampstand and the showbread of the tabernacle as foreshadowing significant things that have now been realized through Christ. From the tragic story of the man who cursed God and was condemned to death, we are reminded that what comes
Bread, Light, Evil Speech and Vengeance (Leviticus 24) View Lesson
Bread, Light, Evil Speech and Vengeance (Leviticus 24) View Lesson
In the final lesson of this series, we find beautiful images of God's kindness hidden within the details of the Sabbath rest for the land, the Year of Jubilee, and instructions for redeeming one's property or enslaved relatives. We also encounter a concise, one-chapter summary of most of the Old Testament history that will follow.
In Psalm 20, David writes of one facing affliction and the hope and protection available to this afflicted person. We consider the honest question: does God hear our prayers in times of trial? We also look at what it means to put our trust in "the name of the Lord" and the protection this brings.
In many Christian circles, the ‘good news’ is presented along the lines of: “Christ suffered so that we don’t have to.” Is that true? Should we expect to see less suffering in this life when we turn to the Lord? Starting with this passage from David, we consider examples throughout the Scriptures of righteous people
Psalm 34:19-20 - Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous View Lesson
Psalm 34:19-20 - Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous View Lesson
In His teaching and parables, Jesus had much to say about wealth: exposing its deception, limitations, and how His followers should understand and use it. But these were not new teachings! In Psalm 49, the psalmist cries out with a riddle regarding wealth. This psalm's wisdom and vivid imagery exposes wealth's folly, helping us use