Session 4 OT
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Religion
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Nov 24, 2024
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Session4 OT
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Justice and mercy
The theme of justice and mercy is pervasive throughout the Old Testament. The
contradiction between God’s just judgment and His loving mercy is examined. In the Old
Testament, God is portrayed as a strict punisher of evildoers and a kind giver of second chances
to those seeking them sincerely. The Old Testament contains stories, rules, and prophecies with
this underlying thread. God’s righteous actions in punishing Pharaoh and the Egyptians for their
mistreatment of the Israelites are depicted in the book of Exodus. God’s mercy in sparing the
Israelites from the tenth and last plague and instituting a system of animal sacrifice to atone for
their transgressions is also emphasized.
Atonement
The concept of atonement is central to the connection between God and mankind in the
Old Testament. The term “atonement” describes the act of making amends for wrongdoing. It
entails admitting guilt, asking for forgiveness, and being made clean before God again. The
concept of atonement runs across many of the Old Testament’s texts and rites. God instituted the
sacrifice system as a form of atonement for transgressions under the Mosaic Covenant. Blood
sacrifice and the high priest’s duty as an intermediary between God and the people are
emphasized in Leviticus, which also offers specific instructions for other forms of sacrifices and
rites.
Redemption
Redemption is another major topic throughout the Old Testament. Redemption refers to
the release of God’s people from some type of servitude, whether it be physical servitude
(slavery), spiritual servitude (exile), or spiritual servitude (sin). It includes the concept of God
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delivering His people and restoring them to a place of liberty and wholeness. Redemption is
central to the storyline of the Old Testament. The Israelites are saved from their servitude in
Egypt by the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, as recounted in the book of Exodus. The
prophetic literature, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, portrays this concept of redemption via the promise
of restoration and the expectation of a future Messianic deliverer who would bring final
redemption to God’s people.
The theme of holiness emphasizes the absolute purity and perfection of God. God’s
holiness is foundational to who He is and serves as the yardstick by which we evaluate our
behavior. God’s people are commanded to reflect His holiness throughout the Old Testament.
Israel was to be set aside as a holy people by obeying the rules and commandments given to
them. The theme of atonement addresses the problem of sin and the need for reconciliation
between a holy God and sinful humanity. The sacrifices and ceremonies of the Old Testament
offered a short-term solution to the problem of sin. It proved that sin was very harmful and that a
blood sacrifice was necessary for redemption.
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References
Longman III, A. (2012) Introducing the Old Testament: A Short Guide to Its History and
Message. Zondervan Academic; Abridged edition