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7. 3 Reasons Pastors Should Preach Through the Old Testament The really important stuff is in the New Testament anyways, right? This seems to indicate that the Apostles have replaced the Levites as the receivers of gifts for God (though admittedly we are not explicitly speaking of tithing here). The Old Testament closes without all the promises having reached fulfillment and therefore the end demands a sequel--a sequel that ultimately comes in the New Testament. Copyright 2023 Sermonary | All Rights Reserved. They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, And whole burnt offerings on Your altar (v. 10; NASB). We will see this if we consider another function of the Levites: to pass judgment along with the elders and judges. Job gives hope for those fearing God for who is he is and not for what he gives or takes away. It may also be the most obvious, but it is worth revisiting. The case does not come before the Levitical priest or the judge until it has been tried in lower courts elsewhere in Israel as we have explicitly laid out for elders (Exo 18.13-27; Deu 1.9-18). Why does he condone what sounds like chattel slavery in Leviticus 25:45-46? I am pastoring. Thus far, we have a tribe appointed by God to have a teaching and sacramental ministry in Israel. So did John, Paul, Peter, James and Jude. The entire sacrificial system comes to an end in Jesus. Rather, it should give us a holy fear, and lead us to regularly hit our knees and ask God to humble us, and keep us humble, that we steward the power we have on loan from him to make much of Christ and serve this church, not make much of ourselves and serve our own comforts and preferences. I think holding to a distinctive office of pastor can be done without demanding hard and fast decisions as to whether episkopoi must always refer to pastors and not ruling elders (as is done in some versions of the three-office view). In this case, the sanctuary is not given an exclusive monopoly on judgment (as it is in the case of sacramental worship), but rather it is merely the highest court of appeal. The Role of the Elder, Bishop, and Pastor - The Gospel Coalition The best foundational work on this issue, in my opinion, was done by Harald Riesenfeld in The Ministry in the New Testament which appeared in The Root of the Vine: Essays in Biblical Theology, ed. Or demolishing the first story of a house once the second story was completed. Finally, it is worth noting that when the law against worship apart from the central sanctuary was broken, and the people fell into idolatry, in at least one instance it was deemed especially appropriate for a Levite to serve at the forbidden shrine (Jud 17.13). As the world gets darker and darker around us and we face greater spiritual battles than ever before, we have hope through Jesus Christ. The Book of Jeremiah records the final prophecies to Judah, warning of oncoming destruction if the nation does not repent. No, Pastor Stanley, We Should Not Unhitch Ourselves from the Old Testament Its important that we look at the Old Testament, the beginning of the book. The first thing to say is, when Jesus Christ came into the world as the long-expected Messiah of the Old Testament, a profound and dramatic change happened in the way we handle the Old Testament. With the promise of fresh mercies at dawn, the laments of Lamentations end the commentary portion of the Old Testament and provide a bridge for the reader back into the context of exile, which is picked up in the four final narrative books. You see how hes doing this. We are growing into, not away from, the one who came with unrivaled power not to be served, but to serve: You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. In the team is both more power (to use for good), and simultaneously more safety for the congregation, as individual pastors are held accountable by fellow, mature Christian brothers are not yes-men but stand on their own two feet before God. 11:16; Ezek. Not just a few scattered, nice points like Isaiah 53. Were on a mission to change that. Through the light of the revelation of the gospel of Christ you are equipped to recognize clearly Jesus in the shadow lands of the Old Testament. The reason for this is very clear: Jesus Christ himself has become a permanent priest for us and the Old Testament priesthood is now obsolete. (Mark 10:4245). Moses says, For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and turn from the way I have commanded you. However, since these prophets appear in the presence of an irregular worship system, it seems likely that the prophets are precursors to pastors only because they are acting in the stead of the Levites. Will the people meditate on the law day and night, or will they go their own way? Thats right, their power. My limited, but I hope significant and helpful, suggestion for Sarah is that two glorious uses of the Old Testament today are these. Well, its not easy to apply all of the New Testament to our lives, but its certainly easier than trying to apply to our lives all the things we read about in the massive Old Testament. So too, throughout church history, those who have been most influential in the church, though typically officers, have been so not because they had an office but because they won trust and expanded their influence by proving themselves to be faithful and effective teachers of Gods word. But in what sense is he saving us right now? If we are in Christ, then God has saved us from our sins in the past, and he will save us from his wrath in the future. There are several occupations that I would gladly pay someone else an exorbitant salary to do than to have to do it myself. . Old Testament Bride Price, and Q&A - Apple Podcasts This is not a bad thing, and it does not in any way refute Gods sovereignty, foreknowledge, or the power of His Word to speak to peoples hearts. In addition to apostles, Scripture establishes two ongoing offices in the life of the church: a lead office, called variously pastor (or shepherd, Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:2), elder (Acts 20:17; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1), and overseer (Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:12; Titus 1:7); along with an assisting office, called deacon (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:813). The New Testament never uses the term priest to describe a pastor or elder in the church. Getting 'Unhitched' from the Old Testament? Andy Stanley - Crosswalk The question is what pastors do with such power. When we put our hands to the plow of our Christian lives, we cannot leave prayer behind. So why can He not appoint people to do the work of a priest, however that work has changed in the NT economy? Secondly, the Levites received the tithes of Israel (Num 18.21-32). 1. The office and function of the pastor has a key role in this ministry as he proclaims the mystery of godliness. Thank you very much. In the Writings, the old covenant is enjoyed. Amen.'. The Bible definitely discusses questions of morals and ethics, but correctly connecting Old Testament passages to Christ is vital to a proper application of the aforementioned passages. Genesis introduces Gods universal kingdom program by highlighting the need for and provision of universal blessing. You become part of the Abrahamic hope of the world. 1 Timothy 5:17 ESV / 29 helpful votes Not Helpful iii. Why should Christians study the Old Testament? - Ligonier Ministries I finally finished God Had a Son before Mary Did book*. Examples of pastors in the Old Testament Pastors have a significant role in the Bible. This is used, in the LXX, of Moses, of the angel of the Lord (Judges 13v6, though this is arguably a little loose), but primarily of the prophets throughout the historical narratives. The apostles were a single, irreplaceable generation, the men who Christ himself discipled, plus Paul, to whom Christ appeared on the Damascus Road. This is used, in the LXX, of Moses, of "the angel of the Lord" (Judges 13v6, though this is arguably a little loose), but primarily of the prophets throughout the historical narratives. We dont need sacrifices anymore because Jesus was the decisive sacrifice himself. Psalms stresses that there is hope for those delighting in and submitting to Gods kingship by walking, waiting, and worshipping in light of the Messiah. It has a huge section in it on the practical uses of the Old Testament for our day. found that, out of 49,719 Christian sermons preached in the early summer of that year, only 61% even. The Whole Story: Why the Old Testament Is Critical to the - Crosswalk Second, letting the hundreds of promises in the Old Testament wash over you as your blood-bought birthright in Christ Jesus so that every day, you set yourself free from sin by the superior pleasures of the promises of God. Never lose your place while preaching again. God will see his kingdom purposes accomplished. Maybe you focus enough already on both testaments, or perhaps your congregation is one that would benefit from more Old Testament preaching. Again and again, pastor-elders stand at this junction as they oversee the church: whats easiest for us versus whats best for our people. As painful as it was for Jeremiah to deliver a consistent message of judgment to his own people, Jeremiah was obedient to what God had told him to do and say. Here we have Ezra reading while other Levites explain the Law to the people (vv. A 2019 Pew Research study found that, out of 49,719 Christian sermons preached in the early summer of that year, only 61% even mentioned a book from the Old Testament. Amen.'. Thus we are looking in the OT for a class of men who are designated to serve full-time, and to make their living as preachers and teachers. If a slain person is found lying in the open country in the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess, and it is not known who has struck him, then your elders and your judges shall go out and measure the distance to the cities which are around the slain one. You/We/They are pastoring. I am grateful to God for your ministry and for this podcast. 1. Lev 10.11). It's a very good thing for people who are unacquainted with the Both in the church and beyond, we might talk of two kinds of power. We show our society that, while Nietzsche and Foucault may be right about depraved aspects of humanity, our churches are led and filled with new men, with new hearts, who steward power with selfless grace and humility. Pastors, Preach The Old Testament! - YANCEY ARRINGTON (Money, Sex, and Power, 9899). Speaking of translations, I have noticed that the ESV's Old Testament has 103 mentions of 'atone' or 'atonement.' 5. In fact, the phrase that Luke uses, the Law, Prophets, and Psalms, refers to the three major divisions of the Old Testament. So it is fitting to say that the Word to be preached is first the Scriptures that Timothy grew up on, the Old Testament. When we put our hands to the plow of our Christian lives, we cannot leave prayer behind. Deuteronomy 33.8-10 is Moses prophetic blessing of the tribe of Levi in which he says of the whole tribe, that.