In your view, what was/is the core theme of the Old Testament?

[Shekinahglory]

Great thread. From the moment it opens with God created until the Even so Lord Jesus come is the central theme of all of Scripture. As Creator, as Good Shepherd seeking the lost sheep Adam and Eve and the Shekinah Glory and the Rock and much more

 

[stovebolts]

I stumbled into this site and after reading it I am confused by it. So I attached the link and now I await your comments--
no animosity intended or implied

universalknowledge.net - Google Search

Like JohnDB, the site isn't phone friendly... It's too hard to read.

 

[SkyWriting]

In your view, what was/is the core theme of the Old Testament?
In reading the Old Testament, what do you believe the core theme was and for what purpose was it written-?

Matthew 7:12
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them,
for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Luke 6:31
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Romans 13:8-10
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Galatians 5:13-14
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Mark 12:29-34
Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

1 Timothy 1:5
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Matthew 22:39-40
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

[Serving Zion]

In your view, what was/is the core theme of the Old Testament?
Definition of Theme
Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work, which may be stated directly or indirectly.

Definition of Theme
In contemporary literary studies, a theme is a central topic a text treats.[1] Themes can be divided into two categories: a work's thematic concept is what readers "think the work is about" and its thematic statement being "what the work says about the subject".[2] Themes are often distinguished from premises.

Definition of theme
1a: a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation
guilt and punishment is the theme of the story
b: a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern
the campaign has lacked a theme

In reading the Old Testament, what do you believe the core theme was and for what purpose was it written-?

Hi Kathy The Old Testament wasn't written as a single volume with a theme, as it has become known to us today. In the days before Jesus, each book was a separate scroll, and in the time of the writings of the prophets, the prophets were largely not listened to. There is Daniel and Jeremiah, for example, who wrote about being amongst false prophets, whose job was to advise the rulers. But the rulers didn't know how to discern the true prophets from the false ones, and the false prophets persecuted them because they were envious. So something happened after the time of the prophets that made their writings become valued so that they were copied and studied in synagogues.

Jesus is recorded as having taken the scroll of Isaiah, finding a specific location in it, and reading those words. He also refers to scriptures from memory at times in order to cut down the arguments brought against Him. So it shows that He had studied the scriptures well, and that the religious leaders were bound to operate according to them. So in that culture, the scriptures were an authority of truth and direction about how God would bless or curse their lifestyle.

In retrospect, we can view the scriptures as they relate to the history that was unfolding while they were in effect as the authoritative law to the people of Israel. We can see a few different themes, so it really depends upon the context for which theme we might see as being significant. One of the major recurring themes, is the human's inability to remain pure in faith - and that is telling of the struggle man has with sin, while sin is an adversary that never stops finding ways to corrupt the human.

The fall of Adam and Eve, then the fall of the whole world in Noah's time, followed by the eventual covetousness of the Tower of Babylon, then the heinous sin of Joseph's brothers that led to the family eventually becoming enslaved in Egypt. Then the purification of their faith by God's salvation that came when they were so broken in their oppression that their prayer found His favour. So soon after, that they turned back to idolatry that Moses was provoked to break the tablet of the Ten Commandments. Then God's refusal to save that generation, for forty years until the nation had been renewed by a generation that had not worshipped idols. Their conquest to capture the promised land that they did well to begin with but then intermarried with the pagan nations, thereby corrupting their religion with pagan religion, and the generations that followed being stories of the kings of the kingdom bringing periods of alternating righteousness and wickedness until eventually the temple that Solomon built was destroyed and they were carried off by Babylon as captives. While in Babylon they wept, and again they were saved as in the days of Egypt, but it was not through a Messianic figure as in the days of Moses. For them, their work to rebuild the temple was a community effort and they fought opposition and persecutions.

So that's one theme we can see through the Old Testament, and as we can look at it in hindsight, we can see the tragedy of their having not been able to grasp the huge potential that God had provisioned for them if they would have put the lessons into practice (because "hindsight is 20/20").

So the New Testament shows us what that potential was: after the revival of the Jewish state coming back from the Babylonian exile, and having lost all semblance of their original religion due to the utter pollution of their mind through having been dispersed among and subjected to the spirit of Babylon, they tried by their best efforts to fortify the Jewish religion. But because it was an intellectual pursuit, there was much in-fighting (as there can be among Christians who exercise religion in the same manner). That is how the Messiah was said to be coming as the one anointed by God to cleanse the Levites and teach the house of Israel a pure faith (Malachi 3) - as they so eagerly longed for God to give them a perfect king. So He did. And that is the tragedy of it all. They didn't see Jesus as the Messiah, they saw Him as a man (Philippians 2:7), no more worthy of honour than themselves, and being pained continually by the conviction of His truthfulness because they did not give Him the proper place of honour in their regard for Him, they eventually lost the fight against sin and sin drove them to murder Him (Matthew 21:38-39).

There's themes in the stories too, of Solomon, Samson, David, Hezekiah that although the human can be blessed by God, he is still capable of doing things that bring God's judgement against him, and the fact that it has happened becomes a lasting blemish on his relationship with God.

There can be other themes to observe too, that because God does not punish wickedness immediately they are encouraged to think they can go on doing more of the wrong they are doing (eg Micah 3:11, Jeremiah 4:10), .. it just depends on what comes to mind when a context is given as to what sort of themes can be observed.

 

[for_his_glory]

Hi Kathy The Old Testament wasn't written as a single volume with a theme, as it has become known to us today. In the days before Jesus, each book was a separate scroll, and in the time of the writings of the prophets, the prophets were largely not listened to. There is Daniel and Jeremiah, for example, who wrote about being amongst false prophets, whose job was to advise the rulers. But the rulers didn't know how to discern the true prophets from the false ones, and the false prophets persecuted them because they were envious. So something happened after the time of the prophets that made their writings become valued so that they were copied and studied in synagogues.

Jesus is recorded as having taken the scroll of Isaiah, finding a specific location in it, and reading those words. He also refers to scriptures from memory at times in order to cut down the arguments brought against Him. So it shows that He had studied the scriptures well, and that the religious leaders were bound to operate according to them. So in that culture, the scriptures were an authority of truth and direction about how God would bless or curse their lifestyle.

In retrospect, we can view the scriptures as they relate to the history that was unfolding while they were in effect as the authoritative law to the people of Israel. We can see a few different themes, so it really depends upon the context for which theme we might see as being significant. One of the major recurring themes, is the human's inability to remain pure in faith - and that is telling of the struggle man has with sin, while sin is an adversary that never stops finding ways to corrupt the human.

The fall of Adam and Eve, then the fall of the whole world in Noah's time, followed by the eventual covetousness of the Tower of Babylon, then the heinous sin of Joseph's brothers that led to the family eventually becoming enslaved in Egypt. Then the purification of their faith by God's salvation that came when they were so broken in their oppression that their prayer found His favour. So soon after, that they turned back to idolatry that Moses was provoked to break the tablet of the Ten Commandments. Then God's refusal to save that generation, for forty years until the nation had been renewed by a generation that had not worshipped idols. Their conquest to capture the promised land that they did well to begin with but then intermarried with the pagan nations, thereby corrupting their religion with pagan religion, and the generations that followed being stories of the kings of the kingdom bringing periods of alternating righteousness and wickedness until eventually the temple that Solomon built was destroyed and they were carried off by Babylon as captives. While in Babylon they wept, and again they were saved as in the days of Egypt, but it was not through a Messianic figure as in the days of Moses. For them, their work to rebuild the temple was a community effort and they fought opposition and persecutions.

So that's one theme we can see through the Old Testament, and as we can look at it in hindsight, we can see the tragedy of their having not been able to grasp the huge potential that God had provisioned for them if they would have put the lessons into practice (because "hindsight is 20/20").

So the New Testament shows us what that potential was: after the revival of the Jewish state coming back from the Babylonian exile, and having lost all semblance of their original religion due to the utter pollution of their mind through having been dispersed among and subjected to the spirit of Babylon, they tried by their best efforts to fortify the Jewish religion. But because it was an intellectual pursuit, there was much in-fighting (as there can be among Christians who exercise religion in the same manner). That is how the Messiah was said to be coming as the one anointed by God to cleanse the Levites and teach the house of Israel a pure faith (Malachi 3) - as they so eagerly longed for God to give them a perfect king. So He did. And that is the tragedy of it all. They didn't see Jesus as the Messiah, they saw Him as a man (Philippians 2:7), no more worthy of honour than themselves, and being pained continually by the conviction of His truthfulness because they did not give Him the proper place of honour in their regard for Him, they eventually lost the fight against sin and sin drove them to murder Him (Matthew 21:38-39).

There's themes in the stories too, of Solomon, Samson, David, Hezekiah that although the human can be blessed by God, he is still capable of doing things that bring God's judgement against him, and the fact that it has happened becomes a lasting blemish on his relationship with God.

There can be other themes to observe too, that because God does not punish wickedness immediately they are encouraged to think they can go on doing more of the wrong they are doing (eg Micah 3:11, Jeremiah 4:10), .. it just depends on what comes to mind when a context is given as to what sort of themes can be observed.

What the OT boils down to is God's blessings or cursing like those found in Deuteronomy Chapters 27 and 28. It's all about walking in obedience to God's commands and statures and what happens if we are disobedient. One gives life eternal and the other damnation.

 

[GodsGrace]

Hi KD,

The theme of the O.T., as far as I could see, is that God wished to reveal Himself to man...to a chosen people through whom the world would eventually get to know Him.

After all, HE created those people,,,that nation through whom we would all get to know God and what He wants from us through Jesus ---eventually.

Through His commands and their obedience, starting with Abraham, the history would be written out. I like how the O.T. is all different books by different writers and yet it is one story. Perhaps God chosen these people because they would be such great story-tellers.

Man has always known about God in some way. But He wanted these creatures He created to have a relationship with Him, and He wanted it to be of our own free will,,,and so - here we are.

What do YOU believe it's about??

 

[GodsGrace]

Hi Kathy The Old Testament wasn't written as a single volume with a theme, as it has become known to us today. In the days before Jesus, each book was a separate scroll, and in the time of the writings of the prophets, the prophets were largely not listened to. There is Daniel and Jeremiah, for example, who wrote about being amongst false prophets, whose job was to advise the rulers. But the rulers didn't know how to discern the true prophets from the false ones, and the false prophets persecuted them because they were envious. So something happened after the time of the prophets that made their writings become valued so that they were copied and studied in synagogues.

Jesus is recorded as having taken the scroll of Isaiah, finding a specific location in it, and reading those words. He also refers to scriptures from memory at times in order to cut down the arguments brought against Him. So it shows that He had studied the scriptures well, and that the religious leaders were bound to operate according to them. So in that culture, the scriptures were an authority of truth and direction about how God would bless or curse their lifestyle.

In retrospect, we can view the scriptures as they relate to the history that was unfolding while they were in effect as the authoritative law to the people of Israel. We can see a few different themes, so it really depends upon the context for which theme we might see as being significant. One of the major recurring themes, is the human's inability to remain pure in faith - and that is telling of the struggle man has with sin, while sin is an adversary that never stops finding ways to corrupt the human.

The fall of Adam and Eve, then the fall of the whole world in Noah's time, followed by the eventual covetousness of the Tower of Babylon, then the heinous sin of Joseph's brothers that led to the family eventually becoming enslaved in Egypt. Then the purification of their faith by God's salvation that came when they were so broken in their oppression that their prayer found His favour. So soon after, that they turned back to idolatry that Moses was provoked to break the tablet of the Ten Commandments. Then God's refusal to save that generation, for forty years until the nation had been renewed by a generation that had not worshipped idols. Their conquest to capture the promised land that they did well to begin with but then intermarried with the pagan nations, thereby corrupting their religion with pagan religion, and the generations that followed being stories of the kings of the kingdom bringing periods of alternating righteousness and wickedness until eventually the temple that Solomon built was destroyed and they were carried off by Babylon as captives. While in Babylon they wept, and again they were saved as in the days of Egypt, but it was not through a Messianic figure as in the days of Moses. For them, their work to rebuild the temple was a community effort and they fought opposition and persecutions.

So that's one theme we can see through the Old Testament, and as we can look at it in hindsight, we can see the tragedy of their having not been able to grasp the huge potential that God had provisioned for them if they would have put the lessons into practice (because "hindsight is 20/20").

So the New Testament shows us what that potential was: after the revival of the Jewish state coming back from the Babylonian exile, and having lost all semblance of their original religion due to the utter pollution of their mind through having been dispersed among and subjected to the spirit of Babylon, they tried by their best efforts to fortify the Jewish religion. But because it was an intellectual pursuit, there was much in-fighting (as there can be among Christians who exercise religion in the same manner). That is how the Messiah was said to be coming as the one anointed by God to cleanse the Levites and teach the house of Israel a pure faith (Malachi 3) - as they so eagerly longed for God to give them a perfect king. So He did. And that is the tragedy of it all. They didn't see Jesus as the Messiah, they saw Him as a man (Philippians 2:7), no more worthy of honour than themselves, and being pained continually by the conviction of His truthfulness because they did not give Him the proper place of honour in their regard for Him, they eventually lost the fight against sin and sin drove them to murder Him (Matthew 21:38-39).

There's themes in the stories too, of Solomon, Samson, David, Hezekiah that although the human can be blessed by God, he is still capable of doing things that bring God's judgement against him, and the fact that it has happened becomes a lasting blemish on his relationship with God.

There can be other themes to observe too, that because God does not punish wickedness immediately they are encouraged to think they can go on doing more of the wrong they are doing (eg Micah 3:11, Jeremiah 4:10), .. it just depends on what comes to mind when a context is given as to what sort of themes can be observed.

Great synopsis!

Your posts are like lessons---very nice.

 

[atpollard]

God restoring what was lost, from the general to the specific in the OT and from the specific to the general in the NT.

[Gen 3:15 NIV] 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

• God will use the “seed” (offspring) of the woman to restore the relationship between God and mankind
• Most General = one of all living people

[Gen 7:1 NIV] 1 The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

• God saves all of mankind through one righteous man.
• Foreshadow of the ultimate Messiah promised in Gen 3:15

[Gen 12:1-3 NIV] 1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

• God narrows His selection down from the “seed of a woman” to a great nation from the household of Abram (Abraham)

[Gen 17:19-21 NIV] 19 Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year."

• God narrows down from the household of Abraham to the descendents of Isaac.
• The decision was made by God contrary to the will of men.

[Gen 25:21-25 NIV] 21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." 24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.

• God narrows the descendents of Isaac to the house of Jacob.
• The decision was made by God before they were born.

[Gen 49:8-12 NIV] 8 "Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you. 9 You are a lion's cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. 11 He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.

• From the 12 sons of Jacob that will form the nation of Israel, God narrows it down to the tribe of Judah.

[1Sa 16:10-13 NIV] 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered. "He is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one." 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

• God anoints David from the tribe of Judah as His chosen king, both defining the lineage and foreshadowing the King of Kings.
• [2Ch 21:7 NIV] 7 Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.
• [2Ch 21:7 NIV] 7 Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.
• [Isa 16:5 NIV] 5 In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it--one from the house of David--one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.
• [Isa 22:22 NIV] 22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
• [Zec 13:1 NIV] 1 "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

[Mat 1:17 NIV] 17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
[Mar 1:10-11 NIV] 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
[Luk 1:26-27 NIV] 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
[Jhn 1:1-14 NIV] 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• The promise fulfilled:
  • Seed of woman
  • Descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel
  • From the tribe of Judah
  • through the line of David
• The Son of God.
• Born of a Virgin.
• God incarnate.

Everything points towards the promise that finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Forward to Christ from the Old Testament and backwards to Christ in the New Testament.

 

[stovebolts]

God restoring what was lost, from the general to the specific in the OT and from the specific to the general in the NT.

[Gen 3:15 NIV] 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

• God will use the “seed” (offspring) of the woman to restore the relationship between God and mankind
• Most General = one of all living people

[Gen 7:1 NIV] 1 The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

• God saves all of mankind through one righteous man.
• Foreshadow of the ultimate Messiah promised in Gen 3:15

[Gen 12:1-3 NIV] 1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

• God narrows His selection down from the “seed of a woman” to a great nation from the household of Abram (Abraham)

[Gen 17:19-21 NIV] 19 Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year."

• God narrows down from the household of Abraham to the descendents of Isaac.
• The decision was made by God contrary to the will of men.

[Gen 25:21-25 NIV] 21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." 24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.

• God narrows the descendents of Isaac to the house of Jacob.
• The decision was made by God before they were born.

[Gen 49:8-12 NIV] 8 "Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you. 9 You are a lion's cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. 11 He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.

• From the 12 sons of Jacob that will form the nation of Israel, God narrows it down to the tribe of Judah.

[1Sa 16:10-13 NIV] 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered. "He is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one." 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

• God anoints David from the tribe of Judah as His chosen king, both defining the lineage and foreshadowing the King of Kings.
• [2Ch 21:7 NIV] 7 Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.
• [2Ch 21:7 NIV] 7 Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.
• [Isa 16:5 NIV] 5 In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it--one from the house of David--one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.
• [Isa 22:22 NIV] 22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
• [Zec 13:1 NIV] 1 "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

[Mat 1:17 NIV] 17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
[Mar 1:10-11 NIV] 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
[Luk 1:26-27 NIV] 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
[Jhn 1:1-14 NIV] 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• The promise fulfilled:
  • Seed of woman
  • Descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel
  • From the tribe of Judah
  • through the line of David
• The Son of God.
• Born of a Virgin.
• God incarnate.

Everything points towards the promise that finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Forward to Christ from the Old Testament and backwards to Christ in the New Testament.

Very nicely articulated!

 

[Prycejosh1987]

In reading the Old Testament, what do you believe the core theme was and for what purpose was it written-?

To be symbolic texts for us today, If there was no old testament, the bible would not be so helpful and give us symbolic meanings today.