A couple of years ago I decided I wanted to go through the Bible slowly chapter by chapter. I thought it would take 3 years to go through the whole Bible. I’m actually probably around 4 years in and just now finishing the Old Testament. And I didn’t start blogging it until about Numbers I think. So there’s more blanks I need to fill in later.
So as I finish Malachi, I think on two things. One, do I go back first and blog that which has been missed? Or continue on to the New Testament? And two, what can we learn from the Old Testament? The last question I will reflect on for this post.
- People just never seem to get it. God wants to bless them, but humans love our sin. Time and time and time again people went back to their ways of sexual immorality, greed and idolatry. Nothing new even today.
- God always gave ample warning of judgment prior to it being enacted. He called on the people to repent as he did not want judgment but rather mercy. But people lost the fear of God and didn’t believe it could happen to them or that it would be as bad as God said. They found otherwise.
- The people God used were horrifically flawed. Abraham was a liar. David had so much blood on his hands. But God used people like them who had significant issues, but their hearts were ultimately set on loving the Lord. That love is what led to their repentance and God raising them up again and again.
- The people needed a Messiah. Because they could never seem to get it together. We need the Messiah for the same reason.
- Gid was serious about his Word. He said he would bless them if they stayed faithful, and curse them if they didn’t. That was the agreement. He extended Israel much mercy but ultimately there came a time where he had to take action.
- Israel is to be honored no matter their behavior. Even when Israel did evil, God still held the nations accountable to how they treated Israel. It wasn’t a matter of whether or not Israel was righteous. More often that wasn’t the case. But it was the fact that they are the covenant people of God. Do not mess with apple of his eye, even when they are the evil doers.
Of course there is so much more that could be said. So many people and names throughout the centuries. So I asked myself a question. If I were in that day and time, would I worship the God of Israel.
Some may be quick to answer, but when you read through the Bible slowly it means the last third of the Old Testament is the prophets, and they are about judgment over and over. t gets really quite heavy.
I think of all the curses upon the people and what they suffered for their disobedience. I think too
