An Old Testament

Theology

Old Testament Theology and History

OLDT 0511
Rebecca G. S. Idestrom

19 January 2011

Trevor Garrett
In-Ministry MDiv Cohort 7
Box 815

“Abraham Enters The Promised Land” by Johann Wilhelm Schirmer

 The Old Testament as God’s Kingdom Adventure
My view of the Old Testament is that of a grand narrative, a divine adventure story with the overall
theme of God’s Kingdom Adventure. All the elements of a great expeditionary tale are here: A
desperate crisis, a daring quest, loyal companions, a perilous path and a great hope:

• PURPOSE. A great king, a perfect kingdom.

• PROBLEM. A disaster, a rebellion, the world endangered.
• PEOPLE. A cast of characters called to action.
• PROMISES. Otherworldly prophetic hope.
• PLACE. A hopeful goal, a Promised Land.
• PATH. A difficult path to be travelled.
• PRESENCE. A supernatural presence to guide.
• PROPHETS. Dramatic warnings and foreshadowing.
• PERIL. Real danger to be faced and overcome.
• PRINCIPALITIES. Dangerous supernatural opposition.
• POETRY. A stirring soundtrack in the psalms.
• PRUDENCE. Slice-of-life insight.
• PHILOSOPHY. Plumbing the deep meaning of life.
• PASSION. Even a love story.

Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings has many sub-plots and intertwined stories which all contribute to the
establishing of a long awaited kingdom by overcoming evil for the return of the king. The Old
Testament can be viewed in much the same way: Many stories as part of one overriding plot.
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 ORIGINS: A Purpose, a People and a Problem
The grand narrative opens by establishing the introductory elements. A vision of a kingdom that
spans all of creation, a dramatic complicating event in the fall of humankind, and the launch of a
great expedition to set things right.

Creation Fall Restoration

So God created human beings in his own image. Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the
In the image of God he created them; fought against the dragon and his angels.  And the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.  And I saw the
male and female he created them. dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like
a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent
the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He
the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole
will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with
in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. them.* He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no
Gen 1.27-28 Rev 12:7–9 more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone
forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am
But the LORD is the true God; making everything new!” Rev 21.1-4
he is the living God, the eternal King….
But God made the earth by his power;
he founded the world by his wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by his understanding...
for he is the Maker of all things…
7. Rest on
Jer 10:10, 12, 16 The overall story sets up e le brati
6. Animals and Humans The Redemptive Pattern: 5 .C
5. Birds and Fish
o n
4. Luminaries
ev elati
3. Land and Vegetation 1. R 4. Redemption
2. Sky and Sea 2. Trials
1. Light
3. Crisis

In the creation story God’s kingship is established––he creates everything through a series of
royal decrees and rules over all he has created. Crisis ensues when God’s kingdom is threatened
by rebellion, and the whole universe is endangered. The scene is set.
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 PENTATEUCH: The Promise, the Presence and the Path
The scene changes from the whole universe to earth, and the adventure begins. Faced with the
threat of destruction of the whole human race, a cast of thousands emerges one by one, heroes
and heroines, with supernatural help and dire warnings to stay on the path.

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy

I will make you into a great nation. Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen “You must be holy because I, the “Not one of these people will ever Understand, therefore, that
I will bless you and make you famous, the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have LORD your God, am holy.” enter that land. They have all the LORD your God is
and you will be a blessing to others.   heard their cries of distress because of their harsh Lev 19.2 seen my glorious presence and indeed God. He is the faithful
I will bless those who bless you slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. the miraculous signs I performed God who keeps his covenant
and curse those who treat you with contempt. … Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You both in Egypt and in the for a thousand generations
All the families on earth must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” wilderness, but again and again and lavishes his unfailing
will be blessed through you. Ex 3.7,10 they have tested me by refusing love on those who love him
Gen 12.2-3 to listen to my voice.” Num 14.22 and obey his commands...
Therefore, you must obey all
1st Approach to these commands, decrees,
The Promised Land
Desert and regulations I am giving
10 Commandments Festivals, Seasons, Offerings you today. Deut 7.9,11
The Law Rules, Regulations, Standards

F ea r
For Worshipping a Holy God Complaints
And living a Holy Life Quail

& Dis
Moses 1st Address Moses 2nd
Sinai
Moses Remembering Address

ob e d
Tabernacle Moses
Intercedes Exhortation

ience
Song of
Joseph Deliverance
Jacob
Abraham Leah
PM of
Egypt Escape Fractal 40 Years
Isaac Rachel
Sarah Rebekah Burning Redemption in the Desert
Bush The Death of Moses
Noah Slavery

Slavery Passover
Crossing Prison Red Sea
Esau’s The The Whole The Whole OT
Binding Old Testament… Characters
of Isaac Birthright Jabbock of History…
The Flood and events…

And while all these stories vary widely, they all share the same redemptive pattern of God’s
Kingdom Adventure. And not only does this redemptive pattern repeat but it repeats at different
levels and on different scales. It is as if the redemptive pattern is fractal.
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 HISTORY: Places and Patricians, Prophets and Peril
The stories continue to build on each other, one after another. Our heroes and heroines face real
peril when they stray from the path, and tremendous victories when they hold to it. A royal family
emerges, the prophets introduce startling warnings, foreshadowing future events.

Joshua Judges 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1, 2 Kings Ezra Esther Nehemiah

Go through the camp In those days Israel “Do everything they 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Then God stirred the “If you keep quiet at a With a prayer to the
and tell the people to had no king; all the say to you,” the LORD And David realized that Again and again the LORD hearts of the priests time like this, God of heaven, I
get their provisions people did whatever replied, “for it is me the LORD had had sent his prophets and and Levites and the deliverance and relief replied, “If it please the
ready. In three days seemed right in their they are rejecting, not confirmed him as king seers to warn both Israel and leaders of the tribes of for the Jews will arise king, and if you are
you will cross the own eyes. Jdg 17:6 you. They don’t want over Israel and had
Judah: “Turn from all your evilJudah and Benjamin to from some other place, pleased with me, your
Jordan River and take me to be their king any ways. Obey my commands go to Jerusalem to but you and your servant, send me to
greatly blessed his and decrees—the entire law
possession of the land longer… Do as they kingdom for the sake of rebuild the Temple of relatives will die. Who Judah to rebuild the
that I commanded your
the LORD your God is ask, but solemnly warn his people Israel. the LORD. Ezr 1:5 knows if perhaps you city where my
ancestors to obey, and that I
giving you. Jos 1:11 them about the way a 1 Ch 14:2 gave you through my servants were made queen for ancestors are buried.”
king will reign over the prophets.” 2 Ki 17:13–14. just such a time as Ne 2:4–5
them.” 1 Sa 8:7, 9 this?” Es 4:14
David Solomon The Divided Nehemiah
Building Kingdom
Samuel The TempleElijah Esther
Joshua Micah Elisha
Joel Ezra
Saul David’s David’s Isaiah Jonah
Successes Failures Nahum Amos
Peace

ave d
Zephaniah Hosea

Jew
Sau
Moral

Jeremiah

J e ws S
2nd Approach

s
l’s

Thr
to the
Reje
Disobed

Habakkuk

eate
Failur

Promised Land Samson Obadiah

ctio

Adultery Rebuilding

ned
Jephthah
e

& Murder Jerusalem

ience &

Gideon Slaying Destruction Esther

Finding
Deborah & Barak A King Goliath of the Temple Rebuilding The Intercedes
Temple
Defeat

Ehud & Shamgar Exile in Babylon

Othniel Malachi
Ai Ezekiel Daniel
Judges Haggai Zechariah
Jericho

The stories enable us to learn what God is doing in our world and how He does it. We have the
advantage of knowing the ending and the overall plot, so we can see how it all fits together, which
helps see where we fit. We learn the path, we learn the perils, we see the Truth.
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 WISDOM: Poetry and Prudence, Philosophy and Passion
Even the elements of the old testament that are not, strictly speaking, narrative, add various
textures to the story: A dramatic soundtrack of soaring joys and desperate lows, slice of life
wisdom, deep philosophy broaching the meaning of life, and of course a romantic sub-plot.

Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs

Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and That’s the whole story. Here now is my final One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover.
praise him in his mighty heaven! discipline, to help them understand the insights of conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for I yearned for him, but he did not come.
Praise him for his mighty works; the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live this is everyone’s duty.  God will judge us for So I said to myself, “I will get up and roam the city,
praise his unequaled greatness! disciplined and successful lives, to help them do everything we do, including every secret thing, searching in all its streets and squares.
Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; what is right, just, and fair. Pr 1:2–3 whether good or bad. Ec 12:13–14 I will search for the one I love.” So 3:1–2.
praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes
sing praises to the LORD!
Praise the LORD! Ps 150

The Soundtrack A Slice of Life The Meaning of Life A Little Romance

And so the story goes, but doesn’t end here. Like in Tolkien’s trilogy, there is much more to come,
pulling together all the threads in The Return of the King. And by the way…isn’t the Return of the
King much much better because of all the stories that build to it? I think so.
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