A common objection is that the "Old Testament" God is mean and violent while Jesus and the "New Testament" God are nice, peaceful and mild. Serious Christians readily agree that God is the same throughout, yet many still find the Old Testament outdated or not "relevant" to our modern lives. We're tempted to turn chiefly to the New Testament for insight and wisdom and largely ignore the Old Testament, though it comprises 75% of inspired scripture. We may read the classic stories of David and Goliath and Noah's Ark but generally skip the mysterious prophetic books of Jeremiah, Obadiah, Amos, and the like.
As our family nears the completion of reading the Old Testament together, we are reading through these prophets. I can see why many are discouraged reading these books, and why many would not read these to their children. For example:
Amos 9:1-4
I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said, "Smite the capitals so that the thresholds will shake, And break them on the heads of them all! Then I will slay the rest of them with the sword; They will not have a fugitive who will flee, Or a refugee who will escape.
"Though they dig into Sheol, From there shall My hand take them; And though they ascend to heaven, From there will I bring them down.
"And though they hide on the summit of Carmel, I will search them out and take them from there; And though they conceal themselves from My sight on the floor of the sea, From there I will command the serpent and it will bite them.
"And though they go into captivity before their enemies, From there I will command the sword that it slay them, And I will set My eyes against them for evil and not for good."
This is the stuff of nightmares, hardly conducive to sleepfulness. Rather jolting when compared to a sweet bedtime story or the common children's bedtime prayer "...I pray the Lord my soul to keep..." And these prophets roll on for hundreds of pages, requiring months to read. As the daily readings turn into weeks, then months, one message becomes very clear: the Lord God is angry beyond expression and is relentless in His crushing of sinners. For me, "relentless" is the word that keeps coming to mind as we continue reading.
Rather than dismissing these books as too frightening or relevant only for ancient middle eastern cultures, we should embrace all the fury revealed in these writings. For this fury is aimed directly at you and me. God is indeed relentless and will not quit punishing until His indescribeable fury is quenched. For though His anger surpasses description, it is not unjust.
We love Jesus too little when we do not appreciate His work adequately. When you understand that you are the target of the punishment described by Amos, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and the others, you will fall in eternal laughter at the feet of the Lord Jesus. He took on Himself all this wrath and exhausted every penalty which you and I justly deserve.
So read the whole Bible, even the prophets - especially the prophets. Read it out loud with all the little children gathered round. Be appalled and terrified at the incredible violence and destruction God pours out on sinners. Then turn and adore the Savior, who took away the shame and guilt of His people. Pray that He will "keep your soul", then slide off into perfect blissful rest - tearfully, gratefully laughing yourself to sleep.
More on reading the Old Testament prophets:
The Prophets and the West (by Gene Edward Veith)
The More Things Change (by R.C. Sproul Jr.)
