Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “Old Testament”
The Cities of Refuge (Part 2 of 2): As we conclude our short series on the biblical cities of refuge, we learn about what happened after a person arrived in such a city. By escaping there, an accidental manslayer received protection from vengeance, but this protection was contingent upon staying in the city. The opportunity to leave and return home …
The Cities of Refuge (Part 1 of 2): In the ancient world, killing a person, even accidentally, was liable to bring the rage of an “avenger of blood.” This person, a relative or loved one of the dead, could take vengeance by killing the one who caused the death. And so, a cycle of bloodshed would begin. But in giving …
Clean vs. UncleanWhy were the priests such an important part of ancient Israel? This week, in part 2 of our series on the priests, we see how necessary they were in separating the clean from the unclean, as God explained in the Law to the Israelites. Did “unclean” indicate sin? Not always. Uncleanness was simply a part of being human …
Holy vs. CommonWhile leading His people out of Egypt to the Promised Land, God distinguished between what was common and what was holy. It was the only way He, being perfectly holy, could dwell among His people. This week, we begin a 2-part series on God’s requirements of Israel’s priests and His Chosen People, which shape our understanding of holiness, …
The Coming MessiahMalachi’s prophecies unmistakably drive home the truth that Israel’s halfhearted sacrifices were not pleasing to God because the people were far from His heart. But in chapter 4, the prophet turned the attention from Israel’s spiritual complacency to its future filled with divine promise, the opening to God’s great blessing and restoration. The finale of our 4-part series …
God’s MessengerThe first two chapters of Malachi paint an unflattering picture of the Jewish people after returning to their land. Instead of giving the Lord their best, they offered halfhearted sacrifices to Him. But in chapter 3, God graciously assured Israel He would send His Messenger and that His presence would return to the Temple! Part 3 of our 4-part …
The Table of the LᴏʀᴅThe prophet Malachi referred to the Temple altar as “the table of the Lᴏʀᴅ,” indicating a close relationship and fellowship between God and His people. Yet, the Israelites flippantly offered unworthy sacrifices on this table, failing to give the Lord the honor due Him. Part 2 of our 4-part series on the book of Malachi examines …
Give God Your Best Because the Best is Yet to Come!In the last book of the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi warned the children of Israel that they needed to repent of their sin. Having recently returned to the Holy Land from exile, they were guilty of the same sin with which many of us struggle today: spiritual apathy, or …
The Glory of God, Part 2As Christians, we praise God for His glory—but what exactly is God’s glory? Last week we identified it as His substance, His physical manifestation dwelling with His people, and studied the consequence of disrespecting it. In part 2 of our series on God’s glory, we take a look at a healthy fear of and love …
The Glory of God, Part 1We often praise God for and speak about His incomparable glory. But do you really know what His glory is? Could you define it? Understanding God’s glory is key to understanding His character. Scripture shows that His glory is not an abstract concept—it’s His substance, His physical presence. Chris kicks off a 3-week series on …
