Old Testament Study – Introduction
In this study, we will be attempting an in-depth look at the history
behind the pages of the Old Testament. It has long been a conviction of mine
that the majority of Christians lack a real understanding of the events which
surround and shape the story we find there, and my own personal experience
shows that even a survey-level knowledge of this historical background can
revolutionize one’s understanding of this two-thirds portion of the Word of
God. This I will attempt to provide; and following this, I will take a brief
look at each of the books of the Old Testament and try to fit them into the
historical picture.
But before beginning the study, I have deemed it necessary to lay a few
foundations on which to build. To do this I have made available four files in
which I discuss briefly the contents of the Old Testament, something of the
land the Israelites occupied and its importance in their history, and a little
about about the world view of the Old Testament authors, especially vis-a-vis
their understanding of history. In the fourth file I have summarized briefly
the history which we will be examining in depth in the coming weeks – or
rather, as seems more likely, months. Read it to get some idea of where I’ll
be going in this study. And I would strongly urge those who would like to
participate in this study to download all four files and look them over first.
A brief understanding of the topics they discuss is, I feel, essential to what
is to come.
And please be sure to pray for me, constantly. This is a big undertaking,
and I just hope I haven’t gone and bit off more than I can chew. Pray that
the Lord will give me the stamina and the time I will need to complete it.
Guess that’s it for now. I’ll be back in just a few weeks with the first
installment. Until then, God bless one and all.
Calvin Culver