Applying the Old Testament Today

Note: Spacing and such don't transfer well from Word to this blog. Might be a little "discombobulated". Also, this is an essay I wrote in seminary...it was written for academic purposes and, thus, uses way bigger words than I normally use. Please don't accuse me of having a stick up my butt...enjoy! Introduction I must admit that I have been caught up in the argument that so many of the Old Testament laws do not apply as they are under the “old covenant” and I have struggled with how the ones that obviously do apply to me fit into my life. An example of one that I do not apply to me is Leviticus 19:27 (NIV), which states, “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.” Instead of determining if it applies or not, there exists a method that helps me to investigate how it does apply. In so doing, I find that in what was a very specific instruction for ancient Israel has not been rendered useless by time; rather it can be applied by applying the five steps of principlism. In this essay, I intend to discuss the benefits of principlism and how it can help in studying the Old Testament. I will also use principlism as a method to do a brief devotional study of Leviticus 19:9-10. Principlism I believe that the greatest strength in the Mr. Hays’ approach is in that it avoids the pointless argument of whether or not a certain Old Testament passage applies or not. If Christians believe that the Bible, in its entirety, is the inspired word of God, then God’s word should be timeless and applicable to all situations. The principlism method gives students of God’s word a method by which he or she can use the Old Testament law to interact on a very deep level with God’s instructions in the Old Testament in a practical way. Hays states in his article that the method “may tend to oversimplify some complex issues.” I will concede that this may be a weakness, however I would contend that it might work to the advantage of those who tend to complicate God’s word. I will add that, as an added caution to using this step, there seems to be a bit of a subjective nature to step one in determining what a particular Old Testament Law meant in that day. There could be a propensity towards eisegesis or “guessing” that could lead the inexperienced Bible student astray. In this case, I would recommend either consulting a commentary or a pastor to gain insight and clarity before proceeding with study. My understanding of how to use the Old Testament law has been challenged and expanded in that I can utilize the steps for my own Bible study and enrichment. I confess that I am one to quickly brush off the “quirky” commandments that just seem odd by using the “that doesn’t apply to me” excuse. However, I am challenged to dig deeply and find where and how those same “quirky” laws can build my faith. This method of principlism gives a method that ties the Old Testament with the New Testament and helps believers to reconcile the old with the new. Reconciling the Old and the New Hays states in his article, “Jesus was not stating that the Law is eternally binding on New Testament believers.” It may not be binding, but that does not mean that it is not useful. The Law was put into place so that the nation of Israel could properly worship God and be adequately prepared for the advent of the Messiah. Once the Messiah came with the new covenant in his blood, the Law was fulfilled. It is interesting that a great many of the laws in the Old Testament are not only repeated in the New Testament, but they were intensified. Jesus not only fulfilled the Law, but He brought a new meaning to the law. Hays states that Jesus proclaimed, “that meaning of the Law must be interpreted in light of His coming and in light of the profound changes introduced by the New Covenant.” Jesus brought a new and deeper meaning to the law that causes believers to read it differently and apply it differently than it was originally meant. It is through Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law that New Testament believers are “no longer under the Law” and its requirements, but it “does not pass away” in that it is practically applicable. Addressing the Contradiction As has been lightly touched upon until now in this essay, there is a gigantic elephant under the table manifest in the contradiction that is inherent in discussing whether or not the Law is relevant to the New Testament believer or not. There are many questions that remain. “Do I follow the Law or not?” “Do I just follow the 10 Commandments and ignore everything else?” There are other questions, but I think these two will suffice for the purpose of discussion here. When Jesus says that the Law shall not pass away, I agree with Him, but not in that we are to follow the Law today. As I see it, the ultimate end of the Old Testament Law was not an actual end but a fulfillment in the person and work of Christ. The Law taught Israel how to be in right relationship with God until such a time as the Messiah could come and replace that Law with His death and resurrection. The fulfillment of the Law was the death and resurrection of Jesus. I believe that the Old Testament Law was a very literal set of rules for a time when God’s people needed very clear and detailed direction in how to live righteous and pure lives. There was no lens or filter through which to apply the Law other than a literal interpretation. Then Jesus came and changed everything. With the New Covenant in the blood of Christ, there comes a brand new filter through which to view and apply the Old Testament. The Old Testament is simply not to be taken as literally as it was originally intended save those commands in the New Testament, which Jesus repeated and validated. When we read the Old Testament Law, we now have to ask ourselves some new questions. We have to apply the teachings of Christ to glean meaning from the Old Testament. But doesn’t this just make sense? Do Christians not apply the teachings of Christ to just about every situation in order to glean meaning and make sense of the world? When I look at the Old Testament from this angle, even the “quirky” rules to which I referred earlier actually make some sense. Not cutting the hair at the sides of one’s head is not about literal grooming standards when Christ is applied to that scripture. This law becomes about loving Christ so much that I will do everything that I can to look differently from a corrupt world so that I am set apart for Christ’s mission. When Jesus Christ, the slain Lamb of God, is applied to bring meaning to the Old Testament something truly amazing happens. Crystal clarity comes as the Old Testament and the New Testament are found to be in a beautiful, perfect harmony and unity. Application: Leviticus 19:9-10 “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.” (NIV) Initial Meaning This was a law put into place for the benefit of the poor. This is obviously meant for someone who was looking for food to be able to pick through a harvested field and gather whatever he or she could in order to eat it or sell it. Differences Between Then and Now Farming is still widespread, but it is not a common activity for poor people to walk through a field in order to find that leftovers or gather that which a person or machine dropped during the harvest. Today, there are many more organizations created to prepare food or hand out resources to those in need so that the poor do not need to actually glean from a field for food. Universal Principles What I see here is a care for the poor. Those who have are required to have compassion on those who do not have. Foreigners who did not have the benefit of a large family from which to draw support should be cared for, as well. Correlation with the New Testament Among other passages, Matthew 25:31-46 comes immediately to mind in that Jesus tells of separating out those who love Him from those who do not by how they care for the poor and the needy. Application for Today If I am to show myself as a disciple of Christ, I am to make an effort to care for the poor and needy. I am to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the sick. Conclusion As discussed and actually proven in this essay, the Old Testament is truly applicable to today. I see the Old Testament as I see some of the senior saints in our congregation at New Bridge. I have some very dear old friends whose world fifty or sixty years ago looked very different from my own today, but they walked through many of the same issues through which I currently struggle. If I glean some of their wisdom, I may just avoid some mistakes in my walk with Christ. I look forward to gleaning countless lessons from my old friend, the Old Testament.   BIBLIOGRAPHY Hays, J. Daniel. “Applying the Old Testament Law Today.” Bibliotheca Sacra 158:629 (2001): 21-35. http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_law_hays.html (accessed Nov 20, 2011).