The Completed Masterpiece
by J. Sidlow Baxter
T I he New Testament is the an swer to the Old. Without it the Old is like a river which loses itself in the sands. It is revelation without destination; something pre-visual ized but never post-realized; prom ise without fulfillment; preparation without consummation. If the New Testament is not the answer to the Old, then the Old has never had an answer, and never can have an an swer. But the New Testament is the answer. It is the true, clear, glorious fulfillment. Let us see how this is so. The Unfinished Symphony T ry to imagine yourself reading or studying the Old Testament for the first time. Let us suppose that you have a Jewish friend who says to you, “ Our Hebrew Scriptures are wonderful. You should read them.” So you read the Old Testament. The first section you traverse is the Torah or Law—the “ Pentateuch.” The thing which probably strikes you most is the prevalence of ani mal sacrifice. It begins away back in Genesis 4. It occurs again in chapters 9, 12 and 22. It presents itself more clearly in Exodus. In Leviticus there is an entire organi zation of sacrifices, offerings, rites, ceremonies. Everywhere the impres sion clings that these sacrifices and ceremonies somehow point to real ities outside of themselves, yet this is nowhere clearly explained. You read on through the remain ing books, hoping to find an expla nation. You travel through the his torical books (Joshua to Esther) and the philosophical books (Job to Song of Solomon) and the prophetical books (Isaiah to Malachi). But al though the sacrifices and ceremonies of the Law are referred to again and again, you come to the end of the The King's Business/Morch 1958
swept into exile. 1 and 2 Chronicles review the tragic story. In Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, a remnant re turns to Judaea. But it is only a remnant. The walls of Jerusalem are rebuilt, but the Davidic throne is no more. In Judaea the Jews are a minor dependency. Outside they are scattered to the four winds. You read on through the philosophical books, but there is nothing further about them there; nor is there in the prophets, except in the last little trio, Haggai, Zechariah and Mala chi where things are far from well with the returned remnant. Thus you finish your second reading of the Old Testament with a sad sigh that it is a book of unachieved pur poses. One thing, however, now stands out with captivating power. It is this: in its spiritual aspects the Old Testament is surely unmatched, and you can well understand the pride of the Jews in it. You must read it yet again for here, surely, the true God is revealed, as also the way to find Him. You start at Genesis again. Sure ly this is the most credible and sublime account of origins ever penned. You re-peruse Exodus, Le viticus, Numbers, D eu te ron om y . Surely this is the most wonderful Law ever given. But your special interest is now focused on those philosophical books in the fivefold poetic group (Job to Solomon’s Song) for it is those which deal with the aching problems of the in dividual human heart. In them you will surely find a solution. But do you? Nay, for although there are illuminating, penetrating, practical, reassuring counsels and lessons and prom ises, somehow there are no clear or final solutions to the dire problems of sin and pain 13
Old Testament without the light that you need. And you have a dis appointing sense that the Old Testa ment is a book of unexplained cere monies. Still, you have decided that the Old Testament is just about the most wonderful book you ever read and that the Jews are a remarkable race. Is it really so, that the Jews are God’s “ chosen people,” with high purpose and destiny? You read it all again, starting at Genesis. You see the obliteration of the antediluvian civilization, also God’s covenant with Noah that the race should never be flood-destroyed again. Next you encounter the far- reaching covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12, 15, 17 and 22, renewed later to Isaac and Jacob. After that you see the 12 tribes freed from Egyptian bondage by Jehovah’s out stretched arm, welded into a nation at Sinai, given a Law and ordi nances and constituted a theocracy. You watch the covenant people invade and occupy Canaan. The fu ture is florid with possibilities. But alas, the Book of Judges follows with its sordid declensions and servitudes. The first Book of Samuel recounts the change-over from theocracy to monarchy. 1 Kings brings disrup tion of the one kingdom into two. 2 Kings ends with both kingdoms A bout the A uthor Of. Baxter was born in Australia but while he was quite young his family moved to Scot land. While still in his teens he became a minister of note and later was the pastor of the famous Charlotte Baptist Chapel in Edin burgh. He now is devoting full time to evan gelism and writing. His six-volume series, "Know the Book," is a classic in Bible study.
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker