Old Testament Overview
Teachings of Rev. Walter "Lucky" Arnold, as recorded by Sara McDonnell 
(The Hebrew Bible or Old Testament, is known as the Tanakh, which is an acronym derived from the three major divisions of the book "TaNaKh." The first division is the Torah. It is comprised of the first five books, known also as the Books of Moses or the teachings or law. The second division is the Nevi'im, for Prophets, and the third division is the Ketuvim, the Writings.)
The Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
Genesis is the historical prologue that introduces the Sovereign and the Subjects. God is introduced as
Creator, Ruler and Redeemer or Rescuer or Restorer.
Exodus is the Covenantal Document that forms the family into a nation, and creates a nation without a
territory. . .but a realm governed by Torah.
Leviticus tells how to restore and maintain relationship between a perfect God and an imperfect people. It
is a book about reconciliation. It is a directive for worship.
Numbers resumes the narrative as prophesy and documents God’s faithfulness and Israel’s
unfaithfulness. Israel had a spotty record of following God.
Deuteronomy is the updated constitution for life in the land. It is a key to understanding the ministry of
Jesus. It is a series of five speeches by Moses on the plains of Moab, when Israel was preparing to enter
the Promised Land. The Exodus generation had died out and Moses was instructing the people how to
live in the Promised Land.
The Nevi'im
(Joshua, Judges, 1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel,
and the twelve minor prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)
God asks, “Why have you done this?” The prophets and prophesy document and prosecute God’s case against Israel’s covenant unfaithfulness. The prophets prosecute the case, on the basis of the covenant stipulations and promise a blessed future or warn or threaten a dark future based on the covenant sanctions of
Leviticus 26 and
Deuteronomy
28.
(Jesus’ miracles can often be seen as the sovereign administration of these covenant sanctions of blessing and curse.) The message of the prophets, particularly the writing prophets, issue a call to repentance based on Leviticus 26:40, calling on those with ears to hear to repent and confess and seek restoration of their relationship with God.
The former prophets, Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings document the relationship and
application of the TORAH to the relationship. Israel is indicted and convicted for
breaking covenant. In Judges 2 the Angel of the Lord, the pre-incarnate Christ, prosecutes the case against
Israel. In Judges 6 the Prophet stands in the place of the Angel of the Lord as
the Prosecutor of God’s complaint against his people. The prophets bring God’s message to the people and play the role of prosecutor. The
former prophets act as court stenographers, but in 2 Kings 18 there is a change in covenant diplomacy.
A direct appeal is made by the Great King to the people, rather than simply calling the vassal king to account. God's message is "Your king will lead to your destruction, but to those who will listen, be reconciled to me before judgment comes."
The writing prophets do not address all of Israel, but speak only to a remnant. This message to the remnant from the prophets is written in poetic, musical language that may be sung so it reaches the hearts of the remnant. Their writing is in sermons, ballads, and anthems to the remnant. The prophets speak of waiting on the rescue and the future of the remnant, but judgment to the masses. Isaiah 40 writes of God’s return in glory and first mentions good news in Isaiah 40:9, see also Isaiah 52:7 and 61:1.
The
Ketuvim (Ruth, Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Daniel, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, and I and II
Chronicles)
Israel’s response is found in the wisdom books of Job, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, and Proverbs.
Interestingly, if we compared the founding documents of the USA with the Torah, the Declaration of Independence would be parallel to Genesis; the Articles of Confederation would be parallel to Exodus; and the
Constitution would be parallel to Deuteronomy.
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