Struggling with the old testament
- Thread starter Cold
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
The nice thing about an ongoing group is they met for a specific purpose at a specific time and
everyone wants to go home afterwards LOL. I do prefer smaller groups and an hour and a half is
a good amount of time. We read from multiple versions also and compared what each said and
discussed differences. It was really lovely! Also listening to someone read the Bible, I would find
a reputable source. Some are dramatized a bit and that can add to the experience also. Some
sites like Biblegateway or Biblehub give you multiple translations to choose from...
everyone wants to go home afterwards LOL. I do prefer smaller groups and an hour and a half is
a good amount of time. We read from multiple versions also and compared what each said and
discussed differences. It was really lovely! Also listening to someone read the Bible, I would find
a reputable source. Some are dramatized a bit and that can add to the experience also. Some
sites like Biblegateway or Biblehub give you multiple translations to choose from...
-
1
- Show all
Oh man, an hour and a half sounds a bit difficult for me lol. My church sermon is roughly 45 minutes and I find that already difficult to focus on. I also didn't even think of having to read out loud 
. I basically sound like I have a stutter when I try to read anything out loud or just try to speak a normal sentence. I resonated with Moses when he was asking God how he could convince the Israelites to follow him when he can barely speak properly lol. It seems I have a lot of praying to do for some more changes in my life if I want to get involved with new things.
. I basically sound like I have a stutter when I try to read anything out loud or just try to speak a normal sentence. I resonated with Moses when he was asking God how he could convince the Israelites to follow him when he can barely speak properly lol. It seems I have a lot of praying to do for some more changes in my life if I want to get involved with new things.-
2
-
1
- Show all
Oh man, an hour and a half sounds a bit difficult for me lol. My church sermon is roughly 45 minutes and I find that already difficult to focus on. I also didn't even think of having to read out loud . I basically sound like I have a stutter when I try to read anything out loud or just try to speak a normal sentence. I resonated with Moses when he was asking God how he could convince the Israelites to follow him when he can barely speak properly lol. It seems I have a lot of praying to do for some more changes in my life if I want to get involved with new things.
. I basically sound like I have a stutter when I try to read anything out loud or just try to speak a normal sentence. I resonated with Moses when he was asking God how he could convince the Israelites to follow him when he can barely speak properly lol. It seems I have a lot of praying to do for some more changes in my life if I want to get involved with new things.
in spite of your social awkwardness and difficulties and maybe even because of them!
The Bible also has a verse about remaining silent. Even a fool is thought wise
if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Haha. If you have
nothing to say, best not to say anything, but you may surprise yourself!
You can be the strong silent deep and mysterious type
-
2
- Show all
People in person are often much nicer than they are online. Meaning, they will love you
in spite of your social awkwardness and difficulties and maybe even because of them!
The Bible also has a verse about remaining silent. Even a fool is thought wise
if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Haha. If you have
nothing to say, best not to say anything, but you may surprise yourself!
in spite of your social awkwardness and difficulties and maybe even because of them!
The Bible also has a verse about remaining silent. Even a fool is thought wise
if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Haha. If you have
nothing to say, best not to say anything, but you may surprise yourself!
-
5
-
1
- Show all
I have been saved over 50 years. The OT is God's word. Much of it is no longer applicable to the New Covenant. However, A lot of lessons can be learned from it. One example is the difference between Saul and David. Read the account of their lives in the Spirit and you will see why Saul was a failure and David a great success.
The Bible is a Spiritual book that can only be truly understood spiritually. If you employ intellect only, it is hard work and of little value. If you ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand, it is wonderfully edifying. That includes the OT.
The Bible is a Spiritual book that can only be truly understood spiritually. If you employ intellect only, it is hard work and of little value. If you ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand, it is wonderfully edifying. That includes the OT.
-
3
- Show all
The first few books can be very daunting and repetitive but still important, It gets more interesting and easier reading a bit further on. God put it all there for a reason. You can not properly understand the New Testament without reading the Old and you can not properly understand the Old without reading the New. - Persevere and God bless you.
-
2
-
1
- Show all
Reading the Bible from cover to cover is always going to be rewarding but you might try combining part of your study time with other forms of Bible study. I have a good concordance (Cruden’s or Strongs and a book called Treasury of Scripture Knowledge they are of great value for deeper Bible study, I might mention that the online Bible I use can be accessed online at blueletterbible.org, it is very helpful for all types of Bible studies. They provide several different reading plans, the two references I mentioned above, an audio Bible, devotionals etd.
One of my major lines of study is to find Jesus in Bible prophecy. Here is a prophecy from Numbers that is recognized by a hostile ruler in the New Testament:
[um 24:17 KJV 17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Mat 2:2, 7, 9-10 KJV 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. ... 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. ... 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
The interaction between Balaam and his ass in Numbers 22 borders on humorous and is used for by New Testament writers as an example in 2 Peter 2: 15, 16, Jude 11 and Revelation 2:14.
There is another place in Numbers which is referred to by Jesus himself:
Jhn 3:14 KJV]14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
[Num 21:8-9 KJV] 8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
I have to reference Exodus here to give the full picture:
Exo 14:19-20 KJV 19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness [to them], but it gave light by night [to these]: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
[Num 9:18 KJV] 18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
[Co 10:1-4 KJV 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
One of my major lines of study is to find Jesus in Bible prophecy. Here is a prophecy from Numbers that is recognized by a hostile ruler in the New Testament:
[um 24:17 KJV 17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Mat 2:2, 7, 9-10 KJV 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. ... 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. ... 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
The interaction between Balaam and his ass in Numbers 22 borders on humorous and is used for by New Testament writers as an example in 2 Peter 2: 15, 16, Jude 11 and Revelation 2:14.
There is another place in Numbers which is referred to by Jesus himself:
Jhn 3:14 KJV]14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
[Num 21:8-9 KJV] 8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
I have to reference Exodus here to give the full picture:
Exo 14:19-20 KJV 19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness [to them], but it gave light by night [to these]: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
[Num 9:18 KJV] 18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
[Co 10:1-4 KJV 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
One thing is for sure - after you have 'persevered' and read The Holy Bible
through once and "every word" is in your mind and spirit, then you will be
able to apply this in your life, eh?:
May our Blessed Saviour Richly Encourage and Edify you in your
Persistent efforts for Him, To The Honor and Glory Of His Name.
Amen.
through once and "every word" is in your mind and spirit, then you will be
able to apply this in your life, eh?:
"But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of The Mouth of God."
(Matthew 4:4 AV)
May our Blessed Saviour Richly Encourage and Edify you in your
Persistent efforts for Him, To The Honor and Glory Of His Name.
Amen.
"The old is the new concealed, and the new is the old revealed."
“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: and not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.”
2 Corinthians 3:12-16 KJV
The ot creates a mindset like this
“Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.”
Deuteronomy 5:25 KJV
because of Adams transgression of whom we came from we can’t be saved thinking that if we hear Gods voice we’ll surely die . but the New Testament based on Jesus words on his righteousness and obedience which we are now created from creates this mindset because of remission of sins rather than impitetion of every sin in the ot
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:24
the opposite of “ if we hear the lords word anymore we’ll surely die ….if we hear the lords word we’ll surely live forever with him in glory !!!!
i think the nt gives us sight of God but the ot veils his truth
-
1
- Show all
Yeah....
The "begats" give everyone a difficult time to wade through. Mostly because we don't get translated names....so it's monotonous. If you knew what the names meant it's a completely different story.
Wait until you get to Kings and Chronicles....then "so and so did evil in the sight of God and he died....
However....
The first five books are foundational for the rest of the Bible. (AKA the Torah)
The other 61 books all allude to sections in the five books of Moses.
Knowing what is said in them really helps when later you are studying and something rings a bell of referencing the stuff you have previously read.
First comes judgement then comes blessing....meaning the dry reading will eventually pay off. Just stick with it....and be patient.
The "begats" give everyone a difficult time to wade through. Mostly because we don't get translated names....so it's monotonous. If you knew what the names meant it's a completely different story.
Wait until you get to Kings and Chronicles....then "so and so did evil in the sight of God and he died....
However....
The first five books are foundational for the rest of the Bible. (AKA the Torah)
The other 61 books all allude to sections in the five books of Moses.
Knowing what is said in them really helps when later you are studying and something rings a bell of referencing the stuff you have previously read.
First comes judgement then comes blessing....meaning the dry reading will eventually pay off. Just stick with it....and be patient.
-
1
- Show all
I hear what you are saying! I have also struggled with the Old Testament. Books like Numbers and Leviticus make my mind wonder because they often seem to be saying the same thing over and over. I also have trouble with books like Daniel and Revelation because of the various visions.
You might also consider getting a copy of Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible.
I only mention his work since it is a complete commentary. A copy can probably be found at a used book store. I think his works are also in the public domain, which means you might find it online. This book has helped me as I struggle at times with both the old and new testament.
If your problem is with reading itself, I would recommend listening to sermons on the internet!
Good luck!
You might also consider getting a copy of Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible.
I only mention his work since it is a complete commentary. A copy can probably be found at a used book store. I think his works are also in the public domain, which means you might find it online. This book has helped me as I struggle at times with both the old and new testament.
If your problem is with reading itself, I would recommend listening to sermons on the internet!
Good luck!
Apart from the good advice to try and Audio Bible.. I would say if your having trouble always pray before you start to read and set no time limit to read the Old testament.. read for 10 minutes or only read one chapter at a time if your finding it difficult to concentrate.. Read with faith that in time you will be blessed because you read the Bible..
As someone in love with the Torah and Tanakh I will say this much.
Begin with the Major and Minor Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi) (they are prophesying about Jesus when He comes as the Messiah)
Then the Psalms and Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (Inspirational Passages and Instructional)
Then Joshua until Job (History) (Job is a message for us all)
Then the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy) (Creation, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and the Law)
Begin with the Major and Minor Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi) (they are prophesying about Jesus when He comes as the Messiah)
Then the Psalms and Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (Inspirational Passages and Instructional)
Then Joshua until Job (History) (Job is a message for us all)
Then the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy) (Creation, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and the Law)
You are not alone in this earth mess here on earth, we all that are here are in.
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
therefore continue to believe god will show you through this trouble you are in.
see:
Even though you too are in the world, you are in. a fight too
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
IK am telling you this for your safety to get through this trouble you ar sin, deciding and wanting to be new in. God for you. Continue
Colossians 1:21-23
Authorized (King James) Version
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
You will leave things not good for you behind you, God works on one thing at a time for you to see and be new in it. Not all at one time. All at one time, seeing all problems at one time is confusion that evil loves to do to us the kids in belief to God to see this truth and remain humble in it once do it right by God showing us all by Faith alone, giving God all the credit, none to the self
Phil 3:1-4 tells me this and trust Phil 1:6 trust that God will somehow, somneway do it through you too
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
therefore continue to believe god will show you through this trouble you are in.
see:
Even though you too are in the world, you are in. a fight too
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
IK am telling you this for your safety to get through this trouble you ar sin, deciding and wanting to be new in. God for you. Continue
Colossians 1:21-23
Authorized (King James) Version
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
You will leave things not good for you behind you, God works on one thing at a time for you to see and be new in it. Not all at one time. All at one time, seeing all problems at one time is confusion that evil loves to do to us the kids in belief to God to see this truth and remain humble in it once do it right by God showing us all by Faith alone, giving God all the credit, none to the self
Phil 3:1-4 tells me this and trust Phil 1:6 trust that God will somehow, somneway do it through you too
I could never articulate how grateful I am that the Almighty had me read the Bible from the beginning to the end… I think it is very important and worth while….more than anything else a person can do in this life!
I do wonder if something unseen comes upon a person that reads the Bible page upon page.. precept upon… Believe to see..The Truth sets us free..
I do wonder if something unseen comes upon a person that reads the Bible page upon page.. precept upon… Believe to see..The Truth sets us free..