We tend to focus more on the New Testament for a good reason, but there are still plenty of lessons to be learned from the Old Testament. Let’s take a look at some of them now.

Concern for the Poor

Compassion for others is a common theme in the New Testament, but it does show up in the Old Testament as well. For example, Leviticus teaches us that when we harvest our crops, we should be leaving part of our harvest for those who can’t grow or otherwise get their own food. The wording is specific to the time in which Leviticus was written since most of us don’t have acres of land on which to grow our own crops, but the message of giving to those less fortunate is clear. It’s about taking only what you need and leaving what is left for others, whether that means growing or making extra food, donating money to those less fortunate, or giving clothes that you no longer wear to charity.

Sin and Sacrifice

The New Testament teaches us that Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of humanity. Since He died on the cross and was resurrected, all of our sins are forgiven. Of course, that hadn’t happened yet during the time of the Old Testament. When someone sinned, they had to make amends by sacrificing an animal. This was not to be taken lightly. The animal that was sacrificed was often livestock, something that was important to the person making the sacrifice. Sin was a serious subject, which only makes Jesus’s sacrifice seem that much more powerful and important.

War and Violence

The Old Testament is full of violence and war, which can make it a tough read for some people. At a glance, it’s easy to assume that this violence is almost glorified, but that isn’t the case when you take a closer look. War was treated as a way of life in most Old Testament books. Kings had to defend their kingdoms, and that often meant going to war with other nations. And yet, most references to war against the Canaanites in Deuteronomy only referred to one period in history. Most of the time, in Deuteronomy, the king of Israel does not have a large army and isn’t focused on war and conquest. In fact, there is more of an emphasis on what God does for His people, not on the bravery of heroes fighting in a war. In many ways, it teaches us that people can and should be better, even when everyone around them is waging war against each other.