The Old Testament is all about God’s promise to mankind. This promise is singular, pointing to the Messiah who would come to rescue humanity from sin and restore the world back to God’s perfect plan, first demonstrated in the beginning.
The Old Testament contains 39 books and is broken down into four categories of writings: Law, History, Poetry and Prophecy.
The Books of the Law
The first five books of the Bible are called “the Law” and “the Books of Moses,” as he was the author. They are also referred to as “the Torah” by the Jews and “the Pentateuch” by biblical scholars. (Pentateuch simply means “5 books” in Greek.)
These five books include the story of creation, the fall of man into sin, and the immediate chaos that ensues. Here we first find the promise of the Savior who would one day come, and we see His redemptive plan begin with a man called Abraham and his descendants, who eventually land in Egypt. In a supernatural rescue of His people, led by Moses, God proves Himself to be the great deliverer, provider, protector, and healer of his people.
In the wilderness, God gives His divine law to Abraham’s descendants in order that these people could maintain relationship with Him, but as we read of failure after failure on the part of the people, we see the need for God’s promised Savior become more and more evident.
The Books of History
The history books begin after the death of Moses, where we see Joshua take up the mantle as God’s leader, as the people move into God’s promised land.
It is through these books we read the history of the nation of Israel as they conquer the pagan nations, fulfilling God’s judgement, and settle into their new home led by prophets and deliverers called “Judges.” We continue to see them as they reject God as king and demand a human king to rule over them. Through their continued sin, we see the nation divided, and who eventually find themselves conquered by other nations, as God brings judgment on them. Still, His promise is always present that one day the Savior would come. This Savior would be a righteous King who would restore all of God’s promises to the people.
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The Books of Poetry
These books contain some of the greatest worship of men unto God, as well as God’s wisdom unto men. These beautifully written songs and poems reveal God’s heart over us, and help us to answer some of life’s most difficult questions. All of them hint at what life will be like when God’s promised Savior comes and reigns.
There is a subcategory within the books of poetry called the “wisdom literature” which includes Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.
The Prophets
As His people lived their lives, God knew that without His personal input and direction, they would never be able to follow Him completely. Throughout the Old Testament time period, God would raise up seers and prophets who would bring reminders of God’s promises and discipline to the people. These books are broken down into two categories. The Major Prophets and the Minor Prophets, although this distinction is only based on the length of the writings of each author, rather than the subject matter of each writer.
When the people of God would stray from living for God, it was the prophets who would bring the Word of the Lord to correct them. However, with every warning of God’s judgement, there was always the promise of blessing to come through the coming Savior.
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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020
Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
