This drops first: the only people who ask this in a comprehensive manner are those who don’t read it. Yes, there are stumbling stones scattered throughout but only a cancel culture’s posture of unforgiveness can read the OT and not be spiritually uplifted.
I really like the statement: The Bible is not written to us, but for us! So many make direct applications like 2 Chronicles 7:14 to America which is an example of taking what is written to Israel and applying it directly to us (America). Interpreting and applying the OT requires great skill and nuance. Another complicating factor is the large amount of narrative. In general most preachers and people in the pew take great liberties with narrative often elevating minor points of the story to significant theological truths. To be fair they do they same thing with the Gospels. Rarely do preachers in Charismatic/Pentecostal settings connect the narrative to the argument of the book and the context of the original audience. Then add in reading backwards from 2 Tim 3:16-17 and Luke 24 and things get really, really imaginative and creative. The New Testament authors use of the Old opens the doors to a “Wild West” of interpretation and application. No doubt the OT applies today but with careful hermeneutics, original context work, lots of canonical connection, and sensitivity to genre.
It is hard to understand but if you read it looking for Jesus, He is there! If you look for prophecies that came true and realize and understand that was from Jesus, it takes a whole different meaning. I think it is really difficult to understand the OT until you have studied most of the Bible and see how it all fits together and the people in it show what we should do and shouldn't do and that all of them were used by Jesus in their weaknesses and their strengths!
It is easy for us to forget or just ignore the reality that 2 Timothy 3.14-17 are about the Hebrew Bible and not the so called New Testament. Neither Paul nor Timothy ever heard of "Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, etc" and those, including 1-2 Timothy, were not known to Timothy since childhood. Paul says it is those Scriptures (Genesis to Malachi or if you are Orthodox/Catholic throw in the Deuterocanonicals) that make one "wise unto salvation in Christ Jesus" and equip the people of God in the terms he gives. Sounds like he believed them to be "spiritually edifying." Certainly historically many have found various documents in the NT not very edifying either, either. We think of Luther's opinions on James and Revelation especially. But I have a hard time finding something as spiritually rich as Psalms, Job, and my own prejudices cause me to throw Song of Songs in there too. :-) But Strawn is correct, we find what we are looking for.
I really like the statement: The Bible is not written to us, but for us! So many make direct applications like 2 Chronicles 7:14 to America which is an example of taking what is written to Israel and applying it directly to us (America). Interpreting and applying the OT requires great skill and nuance. Another complicating factor is the large amount of narrative. In general most preachers and people in the pew take great liberties with narrative often elevating minor points of the story to significant theological truths. To be fair they do they same thing with the Gospels. Rarely do preachers in Charismatic/Pentecostal settings connect the narrative to the argument of the book and the context of the original audience. Then add in reading backwards from 2 Tim 3:16-17 and Luke 24 and things get really, really imaginative and creative. The New Testament authors use of the Old opens the doors to a “Wild West” of interpretation and application. No doubt the OT applies today but with careful hermeneutics, original context work, lots of canonical connection, and sensitivity to genre.
It is hard to understand but if you read it looking for Jesus, He is there! If you look for prophecies that came true and realize and understand that was from Jesus, it takes a whole different meaning. I think it is really difficult to understand the OT until you have studied most of the Bible and see how it all fits together and the people in it show what we should do and shouldn't do and that all of them were used by Jesus in their weaknesses and their strengths!
It is easy for us to forget or just ignore the reality that 2 Timothy 3.14-17 are about the Hebrew Bible and not the so called New Testament. Neither Paul nor Timothy ever heard of "Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, etc" and those, including 1-2 Timothy, were not known to Timothy since childhood. Paul says it is those Scriptures (Genesis to Malachi or if you are Orthodox/Catholic throw in the Deuterocanonicals) that make one "wise unto salvation in Christ Jesus" and equip the people of God in the terms he gives. Sounds like he believed them to be "spiritually edifying." Certainly historically many have found various documents in the NT not very edifying either, either. We think of Luther's opinions on James and Revelation especially. But I have a hard time finding something as spiritually rich as Psalms, Job, and my own prejudices cause me to throw Song of Songs in there too. :-) But Strawn is correct, we find what we are looking for.