Expert: Dr Don Howe - 4/24/2010

Question
Dear Dr. Howe,

Thank you so much for your time.

My question is about how we, as New Testament Christians, are to read and understand the Old Testament. Were the Old Testament scriptures meant only for Israel, or can we in the Church Age regard them as applicable to our present day lives, and not just to our future in heaven?

For example, can I take Job 5:17,18 to mean that God may possibly bind up the wounds of His discipline of us in this life, as opposed to His doing so only in the next and, as another example, are we to take 2 Chron. 7:14 as meant for the Church, and for America today, as well as for Israel?

If necessary, could you perhaps suggest some reading material on  the topic.  

Thank you again.

Sincerely,
Marge

Answer
Marge, thank you for your question. The Old Testament is relevant today just as it was back then. The ceremonial laws, food restrictions, and all the crazy rabbinical rules the Pharisees created are not longer  relevant. But the prophecies that are future that are mentioned in the OT is still relevant. There is still things that are partially completed like the complete fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant mentioned in the OT will not occur til the millennial reign and Jesus is sits on the throne of David.    
  The Ten Commandments are relevant. All of the Proverbs can be applied today. The Psalms can be applied. So the OT is relevant for today. The 70 th week mentioned by Daniel is still future and relevant.
  But all throughout the OT, God tells us about His sovereignty and He has complete control over this world.  

  You mentioned Job 5:17-18 which states “Behold, happy [is] the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.”
  The Book of Job is has a lot in it but it can be hard to follow. You need to keep in context what the Book of Job is about. “The Book of Job emphasizes the sovereignty and omnipotence of God. For instance the Hebrew word divine name Shaddai, usually translated as Almighty, is employed by all characters in the book. Eliphaz describes the Almighty as controlling the destiny of everyone (5:17-20) and is independent of humanity (22:2,3). Bildad argues that the Almighty is just (8:3-4), and sovereign in His rule over the universe (25:2-3). Finally, Zophar describes the way of the Almighty is beyond human comprehension (11:7-10). Hence, Job’s friends use the name Shaddai to speak of God’s transcendence as well as His sovereign power.
  In the Book of Job the sovereignty of God refutes a simplistic understanding of divine retribution, which assumes that there is an automatic connection between one’s spirituality and prosperity on Earth. Such was the basis of Satan’s accusation in  the prologue that Job served God only for his own profit (1:9-11). Moreover, it is the basis for Eliphaz and Bildad’s advice to Job. Both claimed that Job’s suffering pointed to a hidden sin in Job’s life, because God certainly would not punish an upright person (4:7-11;8:11-22;18:5-21). But God’s answer to Job refuted this false belief (38:1-39:30). The Lord declared Himself completely sovereign. He is not obligated to bless those who obey Him. All His actions are based on his gracious nature and His own free will. In this way, the Book of Job is an extended refutation of Satan’s challenge that prosperity is connected people’s goodness, and consequently that people’s suffering is connect to their sins.
  In this way, the Book of Job teaches that the Lord is not bound to anyone’s preconceived theological system. Elihu’s speech on God’s greatness and His sovereign majesty over nature (36:1-37:24) serve as a prelude to the climax of the book: the Lord’s answer to Job (38:1-42:6). In His speech, God lowers Himself to Job’s level in order to answer job’s questions. In the process, He reveals to all people that He is completely free, but also truly good. He is the sovereign and benevolent Creator who continues to  determine the course of the universe according to His own hidden plan. Just like Job, we must learn to submit to the Almighty God and accept by faith that He has a good plan for us” (Nelson Study Bible).
  Marge, the Book of Job teaches that is not wrong for us to question God when adversity or bad things happen to us, and ask why. It is wrong for us to come up with accusations about His sovereignty, because He do what He wants, but it also wrong if we become disobedient because we have adversity. Job asked many times why these terrible things came against him but he did not curse God, and remained obedient to Him. This lesson was relevant in Job’s time and for us today, which shows the OT is relevant for us.
  In response to Job 5:17-18, Job had three friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, which Eliphaz was the probably the oldest. They decided they would give their advice why Job was going through his adversities, so a large portion of the Chapter’s of Job is about each one of these friend’s comments. In Job 5, Eliphaz is speaking and in 5:17 “Behold, happy [is] the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.” Here Eliphaz insinuates that since Job’s suffering was result of God’s correcting or chastening, so he (Job but includes us to) are not to despise the correction that God provides. It is sometimes hard to happy in the corrections that God gives to His children. Listen to what Psa. 94: 12 says on this “Blessed [is] the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law,” or Prov. 3:11-12 states “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth.” This applies to us today.
  Eliphaz was wrong to take upon himself and just assume or suggest this was what was going on in Job’s case.

  Job 5:18 states “For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.” God is one who makes sore or brings pain, binds up, wounds, and heals. God is sovereign and in control, not man. This definitely applies to us today when we are taking God out of schools, prayers, and courthouses. God will judge us for this but it will be on His own sovereign schedule. We need to pray for America.
  1 Sam. 2:6-8 tells us about His sovereignty “The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up” (this could me God can also resurrect the dead). “The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.” The Lord is definitely in control in OT and NT times.

  Deut. 39:2 says it best “See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand.” God alone controls human existence. Because H is totally free to do what He wants, only He can either curse or bless, wound or heal, kill or give life.

  Enough said if the OT applies to NT Christians.

Blessings,

Dr Don Howe, RN, PhD, ThD