Does the Old Testament apply to me today?

Some years ago, I started reading the entire Bible annually. To do this, I read at least four chapters each day, including one psalm. When I started, I often read straight through from Genesis to the end of Revelation. I don’t do that anymore because I’ve found reading straight through the Old Testament to be a bit heavy-going.

What do I mean by “heavy-going”? Before I explain, let me affirm my love for God’s Word. It’s truly the anchor of my life. The Bible’s bedrock truth informs my faith and guides my everyday living. By this, I don’t just mean parts of the Bible but the whole Bible, including the Old Testament. Though much of the Old Testament is beautifully written and filled with interesting characters, stories, and history, I’ve found parts challenging to understand and apply to my daily life.

I’m referring, for example, to the genealogies scattered throughout the Old Testament. Genesis has nine genealogies, and 1 Chronicles has nine chapters of genealogies! The names in these genealogies can be hard to pronounce, and I’ve sometimes wondered about their meaning. To be honest, I’ve sometimes found reading the Prophets difficult, too. There are many passages in the Prophets with soaring lyrical poetry and beautiful imagery pointing to the Messiah. But many passages in the Prophets and other parts of the Old Testament seem laden with God’s vengeful wrath toward unfaithful Israel, not to mention his harsh judgment against the surrounding nations. I’ve sometimes even asked myself, “Who is this angry God of the Old Testament?”

Throughout history, Christians have struggled with some of the same passages and questions I do. One leader in the early church, a bishop in Asia Minor named Marcion, even rejected the Old Testament entirely! He did so because he believed that the “angry God” of the Old Testament couldn’t possibly be the same loving God of the New Testament, the Father of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

So, how does the Old Testament apply to me (or us) today? As I read the Old Testament, I try to remember two bits of wisdom. First, as with many things I don’t understand, I repeat the famous prayer of Anselm (another early church figure): “Faith seeking understanding.” This is a posture of humble trust that all Scripture, including the parts I don’t yet understand, is God’s Word. It’s also asking the Holy Spirit to help me understand and apply his Word to my life. Second, I keep in mind the words of Augustine (yet another early church figure), who coined the helpful dictum, “The New Testament is in the Old concealed, and the Old is in the New revealed.” In other words, we can’t fully understand one without the other.

With that prayer and wisdom in mind, I now alternate reading the Bible between an Old Testament book and a New Testament book, switching back and forth as I go. This way of reading helps me keep the Bible’s story arc in mind as I read individual passages. Reading the genealogies in Genesis and Chronicles, I see God works through individuals like me. When I read the elaborate details for constructing the tabernacle in Exodus, I’m reminded this “tent” looks forward to the glorious temple of Jesus' body. When I read the Prophets’ relentlessly pronouncing God’s judgment, I’m impressed with how much God hates sin (and painfully reminded that I should hate my sins, too). When I read the intricate regulations for sacrifice in Leviticus, I take heart that Jesus’ blood has covered all of my sins, once and for all. And when I read of the promised Messiah, I rejoice that I know who the Messiah is and celebrate that God loves the world so much that “he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Alternating between reading Old and New Testament books has deepened my appreciation and wonder for God’s marvelous plan of salvation revealed in the Bible. But it hasn’t clarified everything I read or answered all my questions. Still, I will keep reading and trusting that what God has revealed in his Word has meaning for my life as I seek to follow Jesus every day.

Do you want to see how the Old Testament matters to your life today? I invite you to check out Today’s devotional series, “Remembering in Deuteronomy,” a 31-day look at God’s power and presence in the story of his love for his people.