Following last week's overview of the entire Bible, we focused specifically on the story of the Old Testament in this second session.
The 39 books of the Old Testament can be split into 5 major categories:
Books of Moses, or the Law: Genesis to Deuteronomy
Books of History: Joshua to Esther, half of Daniel
Writings: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
Major Prophets: Isaiah to Daniel
Minor Prophets: Hosea to Malachi
The Old Testament is made up of different genres, but each of these books of the Old Testament work together to tell one narrative. It is not a collection of short stories, but is really one story.
Here's how each book fits into the larger storyline.
Genesis
God reveals Himself in creation which is spoiled by sin in the Fall. God promises to save the world through through one family by making a promise with them (covenant). The book ends with the family of God formed according to the promise.
Exodus
The family of God become a people but are in the wrong place. God delivers them from their suffering in captivity and makes a home dwelling among them.
Leviticus
God shows the people how to live as holy, so that they may have the presence of God. They receive the law of God (moral, ceremonial, civic law). Their holy lifestyle is their mission to the whole world.
Numbers
The family of God travels to Mt Sinai for a special encounter with God but they are full of complaining and doubt. This book shows the pattern of sin and redemption again and again.
Deuteronomy
As the greatest prophet, Moses gives the people the law a second time in 5 sermons reminding them of their identity and mission. The name literally means “twice, the law”.
Joshua
Who will lead the people into the promised land now that the greatest prophet is dead? A saviour is given to lead the people into battle and conquest as a nation.
Judges
Having received part of the promised land, the people of God forgot their holy mission- they intermingled with the idolatry of the land. The theme of the book repeats itself in the phrase “each did what was right in his own eyes” and “there was no king in Israel”. God saves them again and again through 12 chosen men and women.
Ruth
A short book that does not seem to fit into the big picture of Israel – about personal faith, love and the family of the king. Non-Israelite foreigners are folded into the promise for the Saviour.
1 Samuel
The people of God desire a human king and they receive one – one whose heart is not fully God’s. This book shows us what a king should not be. Israel becomes a kingdom.
2 Samuel
The true king appears – one after God’s own heart. In him, God’s promises start to fully come true for Israel.
1 Kings
This book describes the high point of Israel. God’s king brings God’s presence into God’s kingdom in God’s promised land through the building of God’s temple. Things begin to falter after this golden era.
2 Kings
The nation is split into two and we see the failure of the kings to rule God’s people rightly. Eventually, both the nations go into exile in the 25th chapter.
1 Chronicles
History is told again through the life of the kings, beginning with Adam and going straight through the destruction of Judah by Babylon.
2 Chronicles
The story of the exiled nation continues but now focusing on the restoration of the nation in 3 waves. The people of God return to the land of God but they have lost so much since the golden era.
Ezra
This book tells how the people of God returned to the land of God by rediscovering the word of God. This is the second wave of exiles returning.
Nehemiah
God’s chosen man is not a priest or prophet or a king, but a normal secular worker who uses his position and gifts to build the city of God and restore the people of God. This is the third wave of returning exiles.
Esther
God uses a special woman to be the saviour of her people in exile. Through her actions, she preserves the covenant people and thus, preserves the covenant. In this book we learn about the silent sovereignty of God.
Daniel
In this book about exiles, we learn about how to live in a world that is not our home – persevering and remaining holy, faithful to God. The second half of the book opens our eyes to world history and through prophecy, shows what will happen between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New.
Jonah
The only minor prophet which has a narrative – shows us the failed attitude of the prophet of God towards the nations of the world. In this book we learn about the purpose and mission of God.
Hence, the Old Testament tells us the story of the world God created, how it was wrecked by sin, but how the faithful Creator God unfolded His plan of redemption to bring His people back to His promised land, under His rule and blessing. Throughout the span of history, we continue to see the deep-seated problem of sin, with repeated cycles of failure of His people to obey His commands and live as His people, but this gracious and loving God continues to redeem and deliver them. We see God keeping His promise to Abraham in Gen 12, multiplying his descendants from a family (Isaac) to a tribe (Jacob's sons) to a nation (Exodus) and finally a kingdom (Saul onwards).
So much has happened throughout the span of the Old Testament, and each event and incident continues to fuel a deeper sense of longing and permanence. The high points never last, the low points are downright depressing. At the end of the Old Testament, a 400 year silence ensues, before the events of the New Testament begin. Why? Because each part of the Old Testament is meant to point forward to Jesus -- a better Adam, a better Moses, a better Joshua, a better David, a better Solomon, the true Israel, the true temple.
What does this mean for us today? Like the people of the Old Testament, we have the same sin problem in our nature. We cannot save ourselves. Like the God of the people of the Old Testament, God is still the faithful, holy, loving, just God, who is still carrying out His plan of redemption for all the nations.