Old Testament Overview ：Understanding the Prelude to the Promises and the Shadow of Christ | Bible Overview Series

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." This is the most authoritative conclusion Jesus gave to the Old Testament (then called the Law and the Prophets) in Matthew 5:17. Without reading the Old Testament, you cannot understand why Jesus was born, why He died, or truly appreciate the profound and precious grace contained in the New Testament!

The Old Testament recounts how God created the world, chose His people, made a covenant with humanity, and unfolded His plan of redemption step by step. This introduction and guide to the Old Testament will help you understand its overall background, structure, and core themes before you begin reading. It will also help you delve deeper into the themes of creation, the Fall, election, the law, the covenant, holiness, the prophets, judgment, hope, and the Messiah, as well as how God has continuously demonstrated His faithfulness, justice, and mercy throughout history.

🧭 Pre-reading guide: How to develop a holistic view of the Old Testament?

To avoid getting lost in this vast sea of books spanning 39 volumes and thousands of years of history, please establish this clear "four-dimensional" structure before reading:

1. The Foundation of History: The Law / The Pentateuch (5 books)

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Core content : The origin of all things, how God chose Abraham, how He saved the Israelites from Egypt, and how He gave the Ten Commandments and the Law at Mount Sinai.
In short : the origin of all things and the establishment of a divine covenant.

2. The Unfolding of History: History Books (12 volumes)

From the Book of Joshua to the Book of Esther.
Core content : It records the tragic history of the Israelites entering the Promised Land of Canaan, the period of the Judges, the establishment of a united kingdom (Saul, David, and Solomon), the division of the country into the northern and southern kingdoms, their eventual captivity due to betrayal of God, and the final return of the remnant to the Holy Land.
In short : a nation's history of repeated failures and eventual redemption before a faithful God.

3. Spiritual Resonance: The Book of Poetic Wisdom (5 volumes)

The Book of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.
Core content : It doesn't focus on history, but rather on the genuine interactions between humans and God, and between humans and life. It includes debates in the face of suffering, praise and supplication to God, wisdom in navigating life, and pure love.
In short : Faith is a genuine expression of real life and emotions.

4. The Call of the Future: The Prophets (17 volumes)

This includes the major prophetic books (5 books, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah) and the minor prophetic books (12 books, from Hosea to Malachi).
Key points : In the dark ages of the Israelites, when morality had declined and the nation was destroyed, God raised up prophets to issue stern warnings of judgment and tearful calls for repentance. More importantly, the prophetic books contain hundreds of clear prophecies about the future Savior (Christ ).
In short : the ultimate hope for that true light in the darkness and despair.

A one-sentence summary of the Old Testament

The Old Testament tells us that God created all things, and man fell because of sin. Throughout history, God has continued to carry out His plan of salvation through election, covenant, law, sacrifice, kings, prophets, and judgment, and He is constantly preparing for the true salvation and perfection that is to come.

✍️What is the Old Testament?

Meaning of the name : Here, "covenant" also refers to "covenant". The "Old Testament" is the " covenant of law " that God made with the Israelites through Moses at Mount Sinai.
Background of writing : It was written between 1400 BC and 400 BC, spanning about a thousand years.
Text and Authors : The book consists of 39 volumes and was written by about 30 authors from different backgrounds, including kings, farmers, priests, and prophets. It is mainly written in Hebrew (with a very few passages in Aramaic).
Language style : It is full of the profound, symmetrical, poetic, and magnificent historical narrative unique to Hebrew culture.

🗺️ Structural Framework: God's Unwavering Search

When reading the Old Testament, you can follow this clear line of thought:

Creation and Fall : God created a perfect world, but humanity chose to betray God, and from then on, sin and death entered the world.
Election and Covenant : God actively seeks out people. He chose Abraham, promising that his descendants would become a great nation, and that all nations would be blessed through his offspring.
Salvation and the Promulgation of Law : God used His power to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, established the law, and told mankind that God is holy and that His people who are with Him must also be holy.
Failure and Hope : Throughout the history of the Old Testament, humanity (represented by the Israelites) has proven one thing—with our flawed nature, we can never perfectly obey the law. Therefore, at the end of the Old Testament (the Book of Malachi), history comes to an abrupt halt in silence and darkness, and everyone holds their breath awaiting the coming of the Savior described by the prophet, who can truly solve sin and bring a new heart.

💡 Bible Reading Filter: Find these two most impactful clues while reading

1. The law is a "mirror".

When reading the dense, almost harsh laws in Leviticus or Deuteronomy, never think of God as a "control freak." Paul says in the New Testament that the law is a mirror. God established it so that people, when looking in the mirror, would discover: "My God, God is so holy, and I am so defiled; I cannot do it on my own!" The ultimate goal of the law is for people to discover their need for salvation.

2. The shadow of Christ is everywhere.

Jesus said that the Old Testament is all His testimony. The most enjoyable way to read the Old Testament is to find the "Easter eggs":

Abraham's offering of Isaac foreshadows the Father's willingness to offer up His only begotten Son, Jesus.
The Passover lamb that was slain symbolizes Jesus shedding his blood for us on the cross.
The bronze serpent lifted up in the wilderness symbolizes Jesus' crucifixion, so that all who believe in Him may be healed.

👉 Before reading the Old Testament , pay attention to a few things.

First, the Old Testament places great emphasis on the "covenant." The relationships between God and Adam, Noah, Abraham, Israel, and David were not arbitrary, but rather imbued with the solemnity and grace of a covenant. When reading the Old Testament, grasping this thread of the "covenant" will make much of the content clearer.

Secondly, the Old Testament places great emphasis on "holiness." Whether it's the Law, the Tabernacle, the Temple, the priests, or the prophets' calls, they all point to one thing: God is holy, and people cannot treat Him carelessly. Holiness is not a peripheral theme, but one of the core themes of the Old Testament.

Third, the Old Testament places great emphasis on "election and grace." Israel was chosen not because they were better, but because of God's promise and grace. Understanding this is crucial because the Old Testament demonstrates throughout that salvation does not begin with human deservement, but with God's proactive mercy.

Fourth, the Old Testament places great emphasis on "remembrance and obedience." God continually calls upon His people to remember His works, keep His covenant, and obey His word. Yet, the people repeatedly forget and stray from His path. This cycle reveals that the real problem for humanity is not a lack of information, but rather a refusal of the heart to obey.

Fifth, the Old Testament also places great emphasis on "hope." Even in the darkest prophetic messages, you will often see God leaving hope: the remnant, restoration, the Messiah, the New Testament, the Holy Spirit, the glorious kingdom, and the new heaven and new earth. The Old Testament does not merely dwell on human failures; it consistently moves towards hope.

After reading the Old Testament

As you read through the entire Old Testament, you will increasingly realize that although these thirty-nine books differ in style, era, and characters, they all tell the story of the same God and advance the same redemptive narrative. It begins with creation, proceeds through the Fall, the Flood, the patriarchs, the Exodus, the wilderness, Canaan, the Judges, the Kings, the exile, and the return. On the surface, it often appears as a journey of failure, fragmentation, and setbacks; but upon deeper reflection, you will discover that God has never strayed from His plan.

You will come to a deeper understanding that the God of the Old Testament is not merely a God who issues commands and imposes judgment. He is certainly holy and righteous, and he takes sin seriously; but He is also a covenant-keeping God of love, a God who continually gives people opportunities to turn back, a God who leaves hope even in captivity, and a God who foretells future glory even in judgment. He is not only demanding things of people; He is also continually preparing for a more complete salvation.

You will also gain a deeper understanding that people in the Old Testament were truly unable to mend the world, the nation, worship, or even their own hearts on their own. The best kings fail, the strongest prophets cannot completely change people, and the most perfect systems cannot prevent the corruption of the human heart. The Old Testament will make it increasingly clear to you that what people need is not just some improvement, but a deeper salvation. And it is precisely for this reason that the Old Testament will gradually lead you to the New Testament, allowing you to better understand why Jesus Christ had to come.

Moreover, when you read the final promises in the prophetic books about the New Testament, the Messiah, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the restoration of Zion, the return of all nations to God, and the new heaven and new earth, you will find that one of the most precious aspects of the Old Testament is that it does not stop at "reality is terrible," but continues to say: God has not finished speaking, and He will ultimately fulfill all His promises.

What does the Old Testament most want you to see?

What the Old Testament most wants you to see is not just "many great things happened in the past," but "who God really is and how He steadfastly advances His plan in a corrupt world." The Old Testament is never centered on human success, but on God's faithfulness.

At the same time, the Old Testament also wants you to see that humanity's real problems are far more serious than they appear. Simply providing more rules, reminders, or religious forms won't solve the problems. Humanity needs deeper atonement, deeper renewal, deeper obedience, and a more authentic King. The Old Testament continually reveals this need.

Finally, the Old Testament also tells you that God's salvation is not a temporary remedy. He had a purpose from the beginning, made promises from the early days, and continually prepared throughout history until its true fulfillment in the future. In this way, the Old Testament is not just the "preliminary part," but shows you how deep God's plan is, how long His faithfulness lasts, and how great His mercy is.

🤔 Reflections after reading:

Regarding the "idols" in my life : Reading the history of the Old Testament, you will find that the most common sin committed by the Israelites was "idolatry." Reflecting on my life, although I don't worship clay or wooden idols today, is there anything in my heart (such as money, status, appearance, or a certain relationship) that occupies the most central place that only God deserves?

Regarding how I deal with suffering and emotions : When I encounter injustice or extreme pain in life, do I choose to escape and blame others, or can I, like the poet in the Psalms and Job in the Book of Job, pour out my most genuine emotions, even with tears and anger, before God without reservation, and still hold on to Him tightly in the midst of suffering?

Regarding gratitude "not having to earn love through actions" : Looking at the painful lessons of the Israelites in the Old Testament who repeatedly vowed "We will obey everything God has said," only to fail in the end, have I truly recognized my own weakness? Do I feel genuinely fortunate and grateful that I live in the age of grace of the New Testament, where I don't have to tremblingly obey hundreds of laws to earn God's love?

Regarding God's unwavering love : Throughout the Old Testament, humanity has betrayed and resisted countless times, yet God has always kept His covenant and shown mercy, even in disciplining with the hope of healing. Faced with such a God who never abandons you, are you willing to open your heart to Him again?

📌 Bible Reading Tips : When reading the Old Testament, you will inevitably encounter many accounts of bloody killings or morally reprehensible events that may leave you feeling extremely confused or even "disillusioned." Please remember two points: First, the Bible is true; it never "whitewashes" its heroes. It exposes the ugliness of human nature, which precisely proves how much humanity needs salvation. Second, the Old Testament was written within the specific historical and cultural context of the ancient Near East. When reading it, avoid applying 21st-century modern moral standards. You must return to the historical context of that time to explore God's unchanging laws of justice and love!

Why is the Old Testament so important?

The Old Testament is important because it lays the foundation for the entire Bible. Without the Old Testament, it is difficult to truly understand where the themes of creation, sin, covenant, law, sacrifice, temple, priests, kings, prophets, remnant, messiah, new testament, and new heaven and new earth come from.

Moreover, the Old Testament is particularly important because it shows that God's work is not fragmented, but rather unfolds throughout history, progressing layer by layer. It helps you understand that God did not conceive of salvation on a whim, but was preparing, promising, and waiting from the very beginning for that moment of full revelation.

A message to the readers

If you are about to begin reading the Old Testament, don't rush to treat it merely as a collection of ancient history, laws, royal stories, and prophetic pronouncements. It actually takes you on an extremely deep, extremely real, and extremely glorious journey: you will see how God created, how He allowed humanity to truly reveal its corruption, how He left promises even in ruins, how He kept His covenant even in rebellion, and how He prepared step by step for the ultimate salvation to come.

May you, in reading the Old Testament, not only learn more about the people and events, but also gain a deeper understanding of this God who has reigned since the beginning of creation and has always been faithful; may you not only see human failures, but also be more willing to see that God has never given up; may you be constantly reminded throughout the Old Testament that true hope never lies in people finally becoming good enough, but in God still steadfastly accomplishing His own plan of salvation.

When we close the scroll of the Old Testament, are we also awestruck by this grand epic spanning thousands of years? In this magnificent puzzle of sacred history, every promise foreshadows salvation, and every story resonates with God's unwavering love.

However, the overview is merely a distant view from the mountaintop. To truly savor the sweetness of this wellspring of life, we need to approach it personally and turn the pages of that 39-volume, weighty, and magnificent book of life.

Now, let us journey through thousands of years of history to revisit the beginning of the universe, to understand the wisdom of the sages and wise men in their suffering, and to listen to the prophets' ultimate hope for the true light in the darkness!

👇Please select the book that interests you and click the link below to begin your exploration of a single book in the Old Testament:

📜 First Dimension: The Foundation of History – The Law (The Pentateuch)

It records the origin of all things, the establishment of the divine covenant, and the promulgation of the divine holy law.

Genesis 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Genesis 📖 Daily Devotional Reading of Genesis
Exodus 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Exodus 📖 Daily Devotional Reading of Exodus
Leviticus 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Leviticus
Numbers 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Numbers
Deuteronomy 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Deuteronomy

⚔️ The Second Dimension: The Unfolding of History – History Books

It records the bloody history of the Israelites in the Promised Land: their conquest, nation-building, division, loss of their nation, captivity, and their tragic return.

The Book of Joshua 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Joshua
The Book of Judges 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Judges
The Book of Ruth 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Ruth
1 Samuel 🧭 Introduction and Guide to 1 Samuel
2 Samuel 🧭 Introduction and Guide to 2 Samuel
1 Kings 🧭 Introduction and Guide to 1 Kings
2 Kings 🧭 Introduction and Guide to 2 Kings
History of Dynasties, Part 1 🧭 Introduction and Guide to History of Dynasties, Part 1
History of Dynasties, Part 2 🧭 Introduction and Guide to History of Dynasties, Part 2
The Book of Ezra 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Ezra
Nehemiah 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Nehemiah
Esther 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Esther

🎻The Third Dimension: Spiritual Resonance – A Book of Poetic Wisdom

It doesn't delve into grand historical narratives, but rather focuses on the most authentic interactions, emotions, and wisdom of life between humans and gods, and between humans and their daily lives.

The Book of Job 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Job
Psalms 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Psalms
Proverbs 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Proverbs
Ecclesiastes 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs 🧭 Introduction and Guide

🎺 The Fourth Dimension: The Call of the Future – The Prophetic Books

God raised up prophets in the dark ages to issue stern judgments, tearful calls, and ultimate prophecies about the future Savior Christ.

🗿 The Great Prophets

Isaiah 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Isaiah
Jeremiah 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Jeremiah
Lamentations 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Lamentations
Ezekiel 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Ezekiel
Daniel 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Daniel

🍃 The Book of the Minor Prophets

Hosea 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Hosea
The Book of Joel 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Joel
The Book of Amos 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Amos
Obadiah 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Obadiah
The Book of Jonah 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Jonah
Micah 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Micah
Na Hongshu 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Na Hongshu
The Book of Habakkuk 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Book of Habakkuk
The Elegant Book of the Western Barbarians 🧭 Introduction and Guide to the Elegant Book of the Western Barbarians
Haggai's Book 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Haggai's Book
Zechariah 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Zechariah
Malachi 🧭 Introduction and Guide to Malachi

🌱 Dandelion's Reminder

May this introductory series be a good companion on your Bible reading journey. We suggest that you come here to read the introductory text on the first day of starting your Bible reading plan for each book.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. — Psalm 119:105

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