The wonderful scope of the Old Testament Scriptures in their references to Christ, renders last month’s subject rather a matter for practical study than for a short article. We can therefore in these lines but attempt, and that most briefly and imperfectly, to direct the attention of the Bible Student to some of the more prominent features.
Beginning at Genesis, we find Christ spoken of in connection with man generally, as the “woman’s seed”; next, in connection with the narrower circle of Israel, as the “ seed of Abraham,” to which the remaining titles are all related: LORD coming first, in the interview with Abraham, and here especially referred to Christ in accordance with John 8:56. The “ Shepherd “ telling us of watchfulness and care, and the “ Stone “ of firmness and stability, are titles full of instruction.
Exodus and Leviticus, significantly enough, contain no titles of Christ, being so pre-eminently rich in types, thus speaking of Him as plainly and even more fully than the previous book.
Numbers gives future titles, and Deuteronomy, the book the Lord quotes continually as a prophet, gives that as His title.
Joshua, representing spiritual victory, presents the LORD as our Captain.
We now meet with very few titles as far as the Psalms, though Job obscurely refers to the Lord as the Redeemer.
In the Psalms, Christ passes before us as in a panorama, in His sufferings and in His glories, in every variety of title, ranging from “a worm and no man,” to the “King of Glory,” the “Lord’s Anointed.” We also find Him spoken of as a man, a servant, a priest, a stranger, a stone, &c.
The group of names in the Canticles is a most lovely cluster of jewels, each precious to the believer’s heart. Undoubtedly however, the fullest and grandest collection of titles in the Old Testament occurs in Isaiah. Here too, we find great heights and profound depths ranging from the “Everlasting Father” to the “Man of Sorrows.” In this book, however, “the glories” predominate, just as in the Psalms “the sufferings” are more prominent. We cannot, however, dwell on these, but we can imagine no more fruitful field of study than the titles in Isaiah, so full, so rich, so various.
Among the Minor Prophets, Hosea, Micah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, all speak directly of Christ in varied ways of great interest.
The Second list, though by no means exhaustive like the first, contains the chief titles of Jehovah which are proper to the LORD as such, rather than to God generally, and will be found even more varied than the first, well repaying thoughtful study. Indeed, the subjects recorded in the last two months afford a field for the understanding and affections of the new man of the greatest richness; for what subject is so great, so blessed, and so practical as our Lord Himself, of whose glories, as these papers have shown, all the Scriptures are full.
May our souls be led from these studies into a greater and fuller appreciation of His loveliness, and learn in deeper measure the meaning of the poet’s words: —
“Fairer than all the earth-born race,
Perfect in comeliness thou art;
Replenished are thy lips with grace,
And full of love thy tender heart.
God ever blest! we bow the knee,
And own all fullness dwells in Thee.”
The Holy Bible: The Books of The Bible—No. 3—Old Testament.
By Whom Probably Written, Or Compiled.
Where and When Probably Written.
GENESIS, origin, chapter 1:1.
On the Plains of Moab, about 1452 B.C.
Seed-plot of all Biblical subjects, principles, and relationshiPsalms
Moses, see Luke 20:37; Romans 9:15-17...
On the Plains of Moab, about 1452.B.C.
Redemption; and the revelation of grace in the construction of the Tabernacle and its holy vessels.
LEVITICUS, from the priestly tribe Levi.
Moses, see Romans 10:5: Matthew 8:4...
On the Plains of Moab, about 1452
God in the midst of the redeemed, and instructing in the truths of sacrifice and worship.
NUMBERS, from the numbering of Israel
Moses, see John 3:14; Luke 2:22-24..
On the Plains of Moab, about 1452 B.C.
God numbering His redeemed, and their service and testings in the wilderness.
DEUTERONOMY, the law repeated
Moses, see chapter 31; Acts 3:22
On the Plains of Moab, about 1452 B.C.
God gathering the people, without the intervention of priest and Levite, around Himself. Their blessing in the land on the ground of obedience.
JOSHUA, salvation of the Lord
Joshua, chapter 24:26; Acts 7:45
The accomplishment of Divine counsel (Exodus 3:8; 6:6, 8). Canaan the scene of blessing thereby the place of conflict.
JUDGES, Israel’s deliverers and judges
The covenant people forgetful of Jehovah; their sins and His signal deliverances.
A typical outline of Gods purposes respecting Israel.
1 SAMUEL, asked of the Lord, chap. 1:20
Samuel, chapter 10:25; Acts 13:22
Israel’s rejection of Jehovah as king; man’s choice of a king, and its sorrowful consequences.
Gad and Nathan, 1 Chronicles 29:29
The kingdom established in David according to Divine purpose.
1 KINGS, from Israel’s Kingdom history...
Babylon, about 457 B.C. Materials from whence these inspired books are compiled commenced with the death of David and closed with the destruction of Jerusalem, 558 B.C.
The public history of the kingdom, especially of the kings of Israel, of whom there were 19. Typical also of the earthly part of Christ’s millennial kingdom.
The public history of the kingdom, especially of the kings of Judah, of whom there were 20. Typical also of the earthly part of Christ’s millennial kingdom.
1 CHRONICLES, chronological accounts...
Palestine, after the restoration, about 457 B.C. See 1 Chronicles 6:15; also 2 Chronicles 26:21-23.
The public history of the kingdom, noting especially the sovereigns of Judah, of whom there were 20. Typical also of
the earthly part of Christ’s millennial kingdom.
Palestine, after the restoration. about 457 B.C.
Ecclesiastical history of the Judah-remnant returned from the Babylon captivity to Jerusalem.
NEHEMIAH, whom Jehovah comforts
Palestine, after the restoration, about 434 B.C.
Civil history of the Jews on their return from Babylon.
Mordecai, chapter 9:20-32
God’s care, providentially exercised, toward His people, who elected to remain in Persia instead of returning under the edict of Cyrus.
Moses, James 5:11; Ezekiel 14:14, 20
Land of Midian, (Exodus 2:15) about 1552 B. c.
A book upon the moral government of God. Job pious, and the sum nearly, of human righteousness, tested in the Divine presence, and found wanting.
BOOK OF PSALMS, i.e. of Sacred Songs....
Many writers, David chiefly; Ezra, the compiler
Palestine chiefly. The first, chronologically, is the 90th, the last the 137th (?). The composition of the whole extended through a period of 1,000 years. Ezra the compiler, on his return from the Babylon captivity about 457 B.C.
The prophetic future of Israel, and their latter-day circumstances morally considered. The Messiah’s identification with the remnant (Jewish).
The PROVERBS, i.e. wise maxims, 1 Kings 4:32
Spoken by Solomon except ch. 30, 31; compiler, (?)
Palestine, probably collected and compiled in the days of Hezekiah (chap. 25:1) about 726 B.C.
The path of Divine wisdom for earthly relationships and circumstances.
Ecclesiastes, the preacher, chap. 1:1, 2
Palestine, about 975 B.C.
The world, its wealth, wisdom, pleasures and its boundless resources, are all pronounced vanity. ‘The object neither large nor precious enough for the heart.
SONG OF SOLOMON, see chap. 1:1 with 1 Kings 4:32...
Palestine, about 1014 B.C.
The moral subjects treated of are love and communion. The Beloved, i.e., Christ God’s object for the heart whether of Jew or Gentile.
ISAIAH, salvation of the Lord
Isaiah, chap. 1:1; John 12:38-41
Palestine, about 698 B.C.
The grandest of the Hebrew prophets, and containing a full prophetic outline of Israel’s future.
JEREMIAH, established of the Lord
Jeremiah, chap. 1:1-4; Matthew 2:17, 18
Palestine or Egypt, about 587 B.C.
Moral appeals addressed to the conscience of Judah, with history and prophetic future of the nation.
LAMENTATIONS, strains of anguish
Palestine, about 588 B.C.
Zion’s desolation by the Chaldeans is pressed in touching strains of anguish.
Ezekiel, chap. 1:1-3; Romans 2:24
Banks of the Chebar, Mesopotamia about 574 B.C.
Chaldean destruction of Jerusalem prophetically and symbolically announced and Israel’s prophetic future in her land
Daniel, chap. 14; Matthew 24:15:
Babylon, (at the court) about 534 B.C.
The rise, course, and doom of the four universal empires, and especially of the third and fourth in connection with the latter day circumstances of Israel.
Hosea, chap. 1:1, 2; Romans 9:25
Palestine, about 725 Exodus
In these appeals, warnings, and prophetic utterances, Israel only is addressed.
JOEL, whose God is Jehovah
Palestine, about 800 B.C.
The day of the Lord in Judgment upon Judah and the Gentiles, and subsequent blessing of “all flesh.”
Amos, chap. 1:1; Acts 15:16, 17
Judgment announced upon those nations in external relationship to Israel, also the judgment of Israel and its future blessing.
OBADIAH, servant of the Lord
Palestine, probably, about 587 (?)
The burden of Edom, whose rage and pride against Israel knew no bounds: see Psalms 137:7.
Jonah, chap. 1:1; Matthew 12:39-41
Palestine or nigh Nineveh, about 826 B.C.
The instructive history of this Jewish prophet and God’s governmental dealings with nations are finely blended in this book.
Micah, chap. 1:1; Matthew 2:5, 6
Palestine, about 750 B.C.
God judging Israel and all the earth from His temple, but sovereign mercy is yet in store for Israel, chap. 7:20.
Nahum, chap. 1:1; Romans 10:15.
Palestine probably, about 713 B.C.
God’s character in judgment while revealing the doom of Nineveh, destroyed about 625 B.C.
Habakkuk, chap. 1:1; Acts 41
Palestine, about 626 B.C.
The prophet identifying himself in heart and interest with the condition and circumstances of the people before God.
ZEPHANIAH, protected of the Lord
Palestine, about 630 B.C.
Thorough and unsparing judgment upon Israel and the Gentiles lying near to Palestine, glory gilding the future.
Haggai, chap. 1:1; Matthew 21:4, 5
Palestine, about 520 B.C.
The indifference of the returned remnants to Jehovah and His house with the future glory of the Lord and of His coming kingdom.
ZECHARIAH, remembered of the Lord
Zechariah, chapter 1:1; Matthew 21:4, 5
Palestine, about 520 B.C.
Here the royalty of Christ and His connection with the Jews and the Jews alone, especially in the future as the Deliverer of His people from their sins and Gentile enemies are in question.
MALACHI, the Lord’s messenger chapter 3:1
Malachi, chap. 1:1; Matthew 11:10
Palestine, about 420 B.C.
Jehovah’s closing message to and pleading with Israel, or rather Judah, returned from the captivity to Palestine.