Written by my friend Roy (on the Old Testament)

What I get from it is the writer believes all we do must be from an accurate understanding of Who and What Jesus is. I completely agree with that. But, I find that knowledge is continually evolving. It does always seem to evolve into something of even greater love, compassion, empathy towards others, all those wonderful kindnesses we are all drawn towards.

To me, to understand the Old Testament picture of God is that He played numerous roles and dealt mostly with the carnal, fallen man though there were always those that were of that group that he spoke of that He reserved that had never bowed the knee to Baal. He has always had this wonderful remnant, I think, even before the actual advent of Christ two thousand years ago. What He allowed those predecessors to see and walk in I am unclear on. It would take me some time to write out what I feel was accomplished by all the Father did through the Old Testament times but a picture went through my heart recently as I read in some portion of Old Testament scripture of Israel's series of slaughters concerning their enemies around them as they marched through the land. I got a picture in my mind's eye of Israel gathered around campfires following a long day's triumphant battle. Small groups and families playing the tumbrel and harp, rejoicing in there might and victory as given by the Lord. Behind the dancing, celebrating folks in the shadows were piles of bodies not yet burned and buried. Piles of old people, children, women, along with the fighting men they had defeated. As most of Israel was oblivious to the truth and danced on a few of Israel walked through the piles of wasted lives, beat their chests and wept crying out to God, "Is this all we are? Is this true relationship with You?" The Father had planted in their hearts a greater vision and understanding of man's fallen state and their need to rise again.

In the Old Testament the Father had designed to drop man to a very lowly state of being. Look at the first ones birthed from Adam and Eve to see what was in them. They birthed a murderer (Cain) and one that's blood cried from the ground for vengeance (Abel). This is what was in them. In the fall they gained an insatiable need for blood. And, the Father had dropped them into that realm and then met them there. It was a lowly covenant which is why it states in Deuteronomy 30, " 11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it."

This commandment the Lord gave wasn't far from this carnal, fallen people. It was very near them and it was "not in heaven." This was a covenant that was dropped so low and to such a debased state that we haven't begun to imagine. It is like were the Jews questioned Jesus about issuing a paper of divorce and Jesus told them that "It wasn't so from the beginning." The Father had abridged the marriage relationship so that these cruel hearted Jewish men wouldn't continuously marry young virgins, have their fun with them then throw them out on the streets forcing them into prostitution and whatever else just to survive. By issuing a paper of divorce these women could receive alimony and some benefits that would help them continue to live a descent life.

But, like the change in the marriage arrangement by the paper of divorce and so many other things that became abridged along the way it fit the Father's plan to reach down to the depths He had placed man in and continue to have relationship with him.

So, as you know, we look at so many of these things lived out by them on this lowly level and we see spiritual truths, by His grace, which we internalize and He in us lifts up to a higher level. So, it was necessary for reasons I don't fully understand for all these base things to precede us.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

I think where this scripture says "ends of the world are come" it might be better interpreted "results of the ages are come" as I think the Lord has a plan and all previous ages and times have an eventual culmination in some wonderful thing that only He knows completely and we approach that end even if that means it is another thousand years away!