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Author: John Yocum, from the Servants of the Word, an international, ecumenical brotherhood of men living single for the Lord.

The great teacher Augustine said, "The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old is unveiled in the New.”

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he writes, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

Here Paul is quoting Psalm 69:9 in order to teach us that Christ's aim was to please the Father. He then goes on to give an important principle: The Old Testament, far from being obsolete, instructs us and gives us hope. It allows us to see and understand the identity and mission of Jesus Christ. In fact, we desperately need the Old Testament to teach us who Christ is, namely, the Messiah of Israel, the Servant promised in the prophet Isaiah; the New Adam and the High Priest of our redemption. In light of what God has accomplished in Him, the whole Old Testament is bathed in a new light, and lets us see there what God has always been about in history. Will you allow the Old Testament to speak hope to you today?

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.