While all the Old Testament books were written many generations prior Jesus' birth, they inform us about Jesus and help us understand the significance of His life in human history. This is why Romans (and other New Testament books that similarly rely upon the Old Testament) can make its case about Christ by using the Old Testament.
- The first books of the Old Testament (Genesis to Esther): Like the first books of the New Testament provide the historical context for the remaining books in the New Testament, the first books of the Old Testament provide the historical story within which the later books were written.
- The later books of the Old Testament include:
- Written recordings of announcements made by special leaders within the Israelite community to the people of Israel (Isaiah to Malachi)
- Wisdom and poetry books which include a prayer book (Psalms), a collection of wise sayings (Proverbs), two case studies regarding wisdom (Job and Ecclesiastes), and a poem of romantic love (Song of Solomon).
Most people find it helpful to first gain the historical context provided in the first books before reading the later books.
Creation of a Nation
The first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) were all written by Moses for a Jewish audience approximately 3500 years ago. Moses was the leader for the emerging Jewish nation, Israel.
Moses wrote these books to prepare the emerging nation for its major move into the current land of Israel. He did so by first articulating a problem basic to the human condition, then introducing God's solution to the problem -- the creation of a nation through whom he would bless humankind.
These books present a photo album of Israel's ancestry, initiate her religious purpose, and provide a legal constitution for her new life. Most significantly, these books display God's formation, salvation, and establishment of them as a nation -- even though they were often unfaithful to Him and forgetful of Him -- so that He might accomplish something through them of huge significance for all peoples.
>>Read Genesis and Exodus now
>>Read the first few chapters of Leviticus in order to taste the legal code, which continues through Numbers and Deuteronomy
History of a Nation
The next few books (from Joshua to Esther) provide the remaining historical context for the later books in the Old Testament. Joshua, Judges and Ruth describe the account of the new Jewish nation's move into their new land and their first steps in establishing life as a nation in the new land.
- Joshua: After Moses' death his aide, Joshua, led the people of Israel into the land God had prepared for them. The book named after Joshua describes the process of this people's move into this new land.
- Judges describes the process of their establishment within this land. It emphasizes a typical pattern: throughout this period Israel and her leaders struggled to remain faithful to God. As their unfaithfulness compounded, Israel found herself in more and more chaos -- until such a time that God, in his mercy, provided a deliverer (called a judge) to rescue them.
- Ruth, written in the period of the Judges, provides a foil to the pattern of Judges. Whereas people habitually stray in Judges, Ruth and the other key figures of the book maintain reliance on God's gracious care of them -- even in the teeth of life's hardships.
>>Read Joshua, Judges, and Ruth now
From Judges to the First Kings
Following the period of the Judges, we read of the Israelites desire to be led by kings just like neighboring countries. I and II Samuel describe the circumstances of the transition from the time of the judges to the introduction of Israel's first kings. Samuel narrates the life of the first two kings, David and Solomon.
During this time many of Israel's worship songs and much of its wisdom literature was written. As you read the following group of books (look in your table of contents to locate them), note the differences in content, style, and purpose between:
- the narratives (I and II Samuel) which biography the life of kings David and Solomon
- the poems of worship (Psalms) written by king David
- the wisdom literature (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) and love poem (Song of Solomon) written by king Solomon
>>Read I and II Samuel now. When you read about David check out some of the Psalms and when you read about Solomon explore Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon
A Nation Spirals Downward into Exile
I and II Kings continue where the Samuel books end. They relate the life of Israel under the leadership of more kings. Sadly, David and to a lesser extent Solomon, were Israel's best kings for 1000 years (until Jesus). In fact, the country split into two parts Israel (north) and Judah (south) immediately following their reign due to poor leadership. The Kings books aren't always encouraging!
As you read the Kings, look for the pattern found similarly in the time of the Judges: under the leadership of kings Israel falls into a pattern of cyclical and diminishing sensitivity to God.
This section closes with Judah's exile to Babylon after her defeat by the Babylonian army in 586 BC. I and II Kings explain why, from a spiritual perspective, Israel fell into exile. I and II Chronicles tell the same basic story, but with the purpose of pointing out how God continued to graciously hold his people -- even during their failure to serve him. As a result, the Chronicles books feel more positive than the Kings books.
In these situations of Israel's general diminishing regard of God under the leadership of various kings, God called forth prophets (like Samuel) to remind the people of their covenant promises to Him (the ones you read in Moses' books and saw re-affirmed Samuel's). These prophets, both in Israel (north) and Judah (south), reminded the people to live according to God's will by emphasizing the sure outcome of their actions and sometimes prophesying future events (Israel's eventual exile in 722BC for example).
The words of many of the prophets you read about in this section were recorded: the final 17 books of the Old Testament contain messages from prophets.
>>Read either Kings or Chronicles now. When you read about a prophet, check the table of contents to see if he has a book. If so, read excerpts from his book as you read about the circumstances within which he spoke.
A Nation Renewed: Return from Exile
Hopefully you noticed that in addition to warnings, God also relayed encouraging words through His prophets -- Israel's exile would not be permanent. Through the prophets God promised to renew His peoples' singleness of heart, return them to the land and prosper them.
This history section closes with the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther which relate events surrounding the fulfilment of this promise: the return from exile. Prophets continued to speak during this period too. As before, explore their books as you read about their ministry.
>>Read Ezra and Nehemiah now. Check out the prophetic books Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi as you do so.
Next>>Tying it all together: Jesus fulfills the anticipation
A Guided Tour through the Bible
Copyright 2004 © by Paul Engstrom. Reprinted with permission of Author. May not be used without permission.
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