The following are some principal purposes for studying the Old Testament today:1) The examples of those who lived under the law were written for our learning (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11).
2) They “testify” to the Deity of Christ (John 1:45; Luke 24:44; Acts 10:43; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:15-28; Hebrews 8:1).
3) They help us understand principles of righteousness (Hebrews 11:1-12:2); faith and obedience of Abraham (James 2:21-24); patience of Job (James 5:11); courage of Elijah (1 Kings 18:1-40; moral purity of Joseph (Genesis 39:7-12); consequence of Saul’s disobedience (1 Samuel 15:13-23).
4) The Jewish covenant of the Old Testament served the purpose of making the Jews to “know” sin (Romans 7:7; Gal. 3:19) and of bringing them “to Christ” (Gal. 3:23-25).
5) The law foreshadowed many New Testament institutions (1 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 9:1-14; Hebrews 10:1-14; 1 Peter 2:5-10).
6) Christ lived under the dispensation of the law of Moses (Matthew 5:17-19).
7) In his death, as the one perfect offering for sin, He fulfilled the law and “took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:14-16).
We also need to remember the example of the prophets in the Old Testament as they suffered affliction (James 5:10). Like them, if we remain “faithful” to the Lord (Revelation 2:10), we can “rejoice and be exceeding glad” for our reward in heaven will be “great” (Matthew 5:12).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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