Session 5 - Old Testament (History, Prophets, Wisdom)

Interpreting Scripture

Last week the idea of sola scriptura (scripture alone) was introduced. This is the belief that the Bible is the true source of Christian truth, casting away Holy Tradition. However, this begs the question, how should we interpret scripture? In the centuries since the protestant reformation began, the Christian West splintered into hundreds of denominations - all based on the assumption that their interpretation of scripture was the correct one. This is why Holy Tradition is important. As mentioned last week, scripture is part of Tradition, so to divorce it from itself leads to wandering blindness.

When looking at the Old Testament, it is important to keep in mind how ancient people understood and recorded history. You will often encounter Christians and non-Christians alike who will try to use the false dichotomy of allegory and fact when analyzing the Old Testament. However, the stories we see in the Bible are not always intended to be one or the other. The events of the Old Testament are true events which are also stories told to present us the reality of God's truth, and teach us valuable lessons.

History

Following the Pentateuch, the Old Testament continues into many books which are referred to as history. These books such as Joshua, Judges, Kingdoms, Chronicles, and several more, serve to tell of the history of the Israelite people as they settle in the promised land.

The book of Joshua follows after the repose of Moses, as Moses' successor Joshua leads the Hebrews over the Jordan into the promised land. It goes on to detail how the Israelite people drove out the native inhabitants of the land, and the settlement of the twelve tribes of Israel as appointed by Moses.

The book of Judges tells of the period when the Israelites were ruled by the "judges" whom God appointed. During this period, the Israelites were often unfaithful to God and given to evil. They were constantly at war with themselves and with their neighbors.

The books of Samuel and Kings begin with the birth of Samuel, the prophet whom God chose to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel. Until Saul there was no king, for God Himself was to be King for His people. Saul soon became evil and God sent Samuel to anoint David, a shepherd boy, as king in his place. Because of this Saul made war with David, but David was merciful even when he could have killed Saul. Saul killed himself rather than be killed in battle. David established a kingdom centered in Jerusalem. David's son, Solomon, enlarged his father's kingdom and built the Temple on Mount Zion.

Soon after Solomon's death, the kingdom collapsed. The states of Israel and Judah arose, both at constant war with each other and those around them. This was a period of evil that lasted three hundred years and ended with the Babylonian captivity. The Babylonian captivity began when the empire of Babylon defeated the Israelites and destroyed Jerusalem, including the Temple, and took many Israelites as captives back to Babylon.

The Babylonian captivity ended when the Persian empire conquered Babylon and restored the Israelites back to their homeland, and encouraged the rebuilding of the Temple. The books of Esther, the Esdras, Tobit, Judith, and the Maccabees are included in the Orthodox Biblical canon. These books take place during this time period, and help connect Old Testament times to the two centuries preceding Christ's incarnation. They tell of the reorganization of the Jewish community around the temple and the struggling remnants of the kingdoms as they are subjugated by external powers.

Wisdom

The books of the Bible referred to as the Wisdom books include Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, and a few others. The book of Job tells the story of a righteous man who remains strong in his faith despite great suffering. The book of Proverbs, known as the Proverbs of Solomon, is a collection of short sayings concerning the proper conduct of wise and righteous persons.

The Psalms are included in wisdom literature, but also stand out on their own as a cornerstone of Christian and Jewish worship. Traditionally called the psalms of David, although many also come from other authors as well. Virtually all states of man's soul before God are found expressed in the psalms: praising, thanking, blessing, rejoicing, petitioning, repenting, lamenting, questioning, and even complaining. The Psalms also concern prophecy - Christ quotes Psalm in His triumphant entry to Jerusalem, Psalm 110 in reference to His divinity, and Psalm 22 when hanging upon the cross.

Prophets

There are sixteen books in the Bible called by the names of the prophets. A prophet is one who speaks by the direct inspiration of God; only secondarily does the word mean one who foretells the future. Four of the prophetic books are those of the major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.

Isaiah lived in the time preceding the Babylonian exile. He foretold of the impending doom upon the people of God for their wickedness and infidelity to the Lord. He also tells of the mercy of God upon His people, as well as the gentiles, in the time of His redemption with Christ.

The book of Jeremiah covers the period of the seventh century before Christ and, like Isaiah, prophecies the Lord's wrath upon His sinful people. Jeremiah suffered greatly at the hands of the people and was constantly persecuted for his proclamation of the Word of the Lord.

The book of Ezekiel, who was a priest as well as a prophet, is from the time of the Babylonian captivity. Ezekiel, as with the other prophets, tells of God's righteous anger, but also of hope and forgiveness.

The prophecy of Daniel is concerned with the faithfulness of the Jews in time of forced apostasy in the Babylonian captivity. Central in the book's messages is the redemption of Israel in the coming of the Son of Man (Christ).

The rest of the prophets are known as the minor prophets, but they present much of the same prophecies as the major prophets. They all are sent by God to proclaim the justice of God, and also to give hope and teach about the Messiah who is to come.

Psalm 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. 18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.