The Old Testament

It has been a looooong time.

I love how I have the best intentions to write and then life happens and I don't follow through like I want to. I think that happens to everyone.

So I have a new love in my life.

The Old Testament.

It is so beautiful, inspiring, mournful, educational and instructive.

I had the chance to attend a BYU religion class this last semester. Since I didn't take tests or write papers my sister teases me that I was attending a "lecture series" and if so that is how I wish I could go back and complete all of my college courses.

We studied the 2nd half of the Old Testament- from 1 Kings to Malachi and I can honestly say that it was the first time I'd read most of that material. Sure, I had heard the main stories of that time- of Solomon's anointing, the separation and destruction of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the stories of Daniel, Jonah, Job, and Esther. But there were so many things that I was no familiar with- the preaching of Amos, Jeremiah and Ezekiel (along with Joel and Micah), specific ways that Elijah and Elisha were types of Christ, Jehu the destroyer, Hosea and Gomer typifying our relationship to Christ, Josiah the righteous king, the reasons for the destruction of Israel and Judah, Zechariah's preaching about rebuilding the temple, and Malachi's rebuke of Judah for their lame (literally) offerings of sacrificial animals.

I have over 35 pages of typed notes plus those I wrote in a notebook as I read each scripture section. I won't share all of those here (sigh of relief) but did want to write down in no particular order some of the impressions that have come to me over these 3 months.

1- The Old Testament is not as off putting as I first thought. It definitely helped to have a guide (teacher) to lead me through it and to put in context most of the books. The thing I didn't realize before is that the OT is not chronological (how did I not know this???). The books are placed generally as the law, the writings and the prophets and so of course reading cover to cover leaves one very confused. You must first know and understand the history of what is happening to God's covenant people so that the preaching and the stories can make sense in the larger picture.

2- The Old Testament shows how frail and consistently inconsistent human beings are. They work hard, they turn to the Lord, they become puffed up, they turn away from the Lord (often in the OT to other gods) they are called to repent, they don't repent, they are stricken, the Lord calls after them in their affliction, they turn back to him (sometimes), they work hard, and on and on and on. I loved the beautiful and gentle language in Ezekiel 18 that the Lord has no pleasure in the wicked dying and remaining in their wicked ways. He wants us to put off our transgressions so he can make us a new heart and spirit. He pleads, "turn yourselves and live ye."

3- The Old Testament is full of stories of good people who suffer. I don't know why this is comforting to me, but I appreciated so much reading about prophets who loved God and wanted to serve him and were tried in every possible way- swallowed by a whale, fed by ravens, told to not marry nor have children, placed in the mire, exiled and jailed, physically afflicted, deserted by friends and family, etc. It is a tale full of suffering and woe yet the writings we have in the Old Testament show how each of these prophets stay with the Lord. No matter what. Jeremiah is my favorite example of this as his life seemed to be one of suffering from beginning to end. That guy drew the short straw and his book of Lamentations is a painfully beautiful expression of his suffering for his unrepentant people. And yet like Mormon and Moroni he fulfilled his mission and did what God wanted him to do even though it came at great personal cost.There is so much soul felt, mournful, pain evident and heart breaking writing in the Old Testament and reading it was like a balm to my soul. 

4- The Old Testament shows clearly why and how we so often break the first commandment- to have no other gods before the true and living God. It is a commandment that I have often brushed over in my life rationalizing that "of course I have no other god but Heavenly Father" when in really looking at myself I have all kinds of other gods. Just like the Israelites of old who worshipped golden idols and set up high places I have all kinds of things that I set my heart on and in a way worship- in various degrees distracting me from the true and living God. It was eye opening to read about how often Israel broke this first and most important commandment and how we likewise today fall prey to this same vice. It was also a wonderful reminder that if I can keep the first commandment and really love God with all of my heart so many things fall into their proper place.

5- The Old Testament is a record that teaches us how the Lord works with His children. Our teacher would often say that "Once we have made covenants with the Lord we have left neutral ground forever and He will seek after us in one way or another eternally." That is the story of the Old Testament- the Lord working with his covenant people again. And again. And again. Whether we 1) come to him on our own or 2) are humbled and choose to come to him or 3) are compelled to come to him through affliction it does not matter- the end goal is the same. He is our God and wants us to be his people. End of story. Well I guess there is one more option 4) we refuse in every case to choose Him. But since we can't see into the eternal realm even in that seemingly damning option there is probably still room for the Lord to continue His work on us.

6- The Old Testament teaches that God will never act to destroy his people or break the covenant without first warning them and calling them to repentance through His prophets. Amos, Joel, Micah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel are some examples of this. Even when Israel and Judah are ripe for destruction they are warned to repent and given opportunity to change. That is a comforting thought for us individually and as a people today. God will not come and destroy without warning us first through the voice of his prophets. His pattern, established anciently in the Old Testament and employed in the Book of Mormon is still un use today. If we listen to the voice of the prophet and follow his counsel we will be protected.

I could go on and on but think this will suffice for now. Needless to say I'm a convert to the Old Testament and really feel like reading and coming to understand these scriptures over the past three months was a great gift to me. It helped to heal my heart. It gave me greater understanding. It gave me strength to carry on. And taught me again about the everlasting kindness of Jehovah and His mercy and grace. 

I love Him.

Jehovah, God of the Old Testament and Jesus Christ, God of the New. I want to be with Him and know Him and give Him my heart.

That is the power of scripture.

To get inside of us and turn our hearts closer to God. It had that effect on me this semester and I look forward to the chance we have to study scripture in the coming year as individuals, as families and as a whole church.