After taking a break from his podcast and throwing in a couple of one-off episodes, I continue a multi-part series based on my 30 years of teaching the Catholic faith in my local parish’s inquiry program. In this episode, we begin our brief overview of the Old Testament.

Hello, this is Chris Young. Welcome to Episode 102 of Contemplating Life.

After taking a break from his podcast and throwing in a couple of one-off episodes, in this episode, I continue a multi-part series based on my 30 years of teaching the Catholic faith in my local parish’s inquiry program.

As always, whenever I talk about religion, I’m not out to convert anyone. I’m just telling my stories.

Note: Handout materials for this lesson in PDF format are linked in the description of this episode. So, you might want to get those first. By the way, I found a typo in one of the handouts that has gone undetected for decades. So, you get the new, improved version.

The next several episodes will be a re-creation of the third of four lessons that I used to teach in the RCIA program for Catholic converts in my parish. I used to warn the participants that this class would be a guaranteed failure. Having enjoyed my previous two lessons, they were shocked. Then I informed them that my goal was to teach the entire Old Testament in one evening. And I promised I would fail to do so. That got a big laugh. Then I promised that next week would be a similar failure when my job was to teach the entire New Testament in one evening. Even though I will fail in both attempts, we will still hit the high points.

Please note that my lessons were typically at least 90 minutes long, whereas I aim to keep these podcast episodes under 30 minutes. Additionally, without time constraints in this podcast, I tend to expand on the material and occasionally wander off topic. So, this one could be three or four episodes long.

In scholarly circles, the Old Testament is often referred to as the Hebrew Scriptures or the Hebrew Bible, out of respect for its origins among the Jewish people. We will discuss this further later, including how Christianity adopted these books into its official canon and the disputes that have arisen over which books should be included or excluded.

How do we manage to hit the high points of such a large work in a single lesson? Whenever the New Testament refers to the Hebrew Scriptures, it often refers to them as “the law and the prophets.” This is a kind of shorthand reference to the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures. Different variations of that phrase appear over 10 times. Luke 24:44 speaks of the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms.

Taking our cue from Luke, we will examine each of these three categories, beginning with the Book of Psalms, one of the most beloved and accessible parts of the Old Testament.

These were not just poems to be recited. They were hymns that were sung or chanted in the Jewish temple. There have been many attempts to recreate the music that was intended to accompany these hymns, but scholars are divided on whether notations found in early manuscripts can be used to reverse-engineer the original melodies. The ancient Babylonians left behind clay tablets containing musical notation as early as 1400 BCE. The ancient Greeks developed musical notation as early as the sixth century BCE. Unfortunately, none of these notations include the melodies for the Book of Psalms.

The Psalms were written over at least five centuries, from the 10th century BCE to the post-Exilic period, not earlier than the 5th century BCE.

According to Jewish tradition, the Book of Psalms was composed by various authors. The Psalms were composed by the First Man Adam, Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Heman, Jeduthun, Asaph, and the three sons of Korah. Of course, assuming that Adam actually existed, it is impossible that he developed a system of writing and that his work would survive for millennia. Of the 150 Psalms, 73 are noted to be written by David. The New Testament also claims that Psalm 2 and Psalm 95 were written by David. Most scholars do not believe that the works can be tied directly to the historical figure David. Keep in mind that the ancient concept of authorship was much less rigorous than what we think of today. Tradition says that Moses wrote the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures despite the fact that he died about three-fourths of the way through those books.

Both the Hebrew and Greek versions of the Old Testament agree that there are 150 Psalms; however, they divide them differently, and the numbering doesn’t align. The Latin Vulgate, which was the official translation used by Christianity for many centuries, used the Greek numbering system. Modern Catholics use the New American Standard translation, which employs the Hebrew numbering system. Traditional Protestant versions, such as the King James Version, also use the Hebrew system.

For more interesting details about the Book of Psalms, see the links in the description to a Wikipedia article and to introductory material in the New American Standard translation.

For an opening prayer of this lesson, I often had the group recite the 23rd Psalm, which is probably the most famous and most beloved of the Psalms.

Let us pray…

A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

In green pastures he makes me lie down;

to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul.

He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff comfort me.

*You set a table before me in front of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me

all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.

Amen.

It’s easy to see how this prayer reflects David’s personal experience. It begins very calmly and peacefully. David is a humble shepherd boy. It describes the Lord as his shepherd who provides everything he needs.

In verse 4, it takes a sudden dark turn. We are no longer in a green pasture nor at life-restoring still waters. Suddenly, we are faced with the “valley of the shadow of death.” What the hell happened? That is indeed David’s story. One day, he is attending his flocks. The next day, he is facing down the giant Philistine warrior Goliath. David is unfazed by this challenge. He knows the Lord is still protecting him. To add insult to injury, the Lord provides a victory meal to taunt David’s enemies. The reference to anointing is that David was indeed anointed as the king. He knows that God’s goodness not only will be available throughout his life but also to eternity in the house of the Lord.

I think that one of the reasons this particular Psalm is so beloved is that it reflects our human experience. One day, we are enjoying life and the blessings that come from God. The next day, it seems like all hell has broken loose. David doesn’t feel abandoned by God when trouble arrives. He is a role model who challenges us to do likewise. He serves as a reminder that God is with us in both good times and bad. His story is a reminder that, in the end, the good guys will have an eternal reward.

In my opinion, the Book of Psalms is the most accessible part of the entire Bible. If you want to just pick up the Bible and read some Scripture that can speak to you today, it’s hard to go wrong with the Psalms.

Moving along…

The remainder of the Old Testament is considerably more challenging to comprehend. In my 30 years of experience teaching these classes, two questions frequently arise about the Old Testament.

First, why was the God of the Old Testament perceived as an angry and vengeful figure who was quick to punish his followers when they strayed, yet the New Testament emphasizes the love, forgiveness, and brotherhood of Jesus, as we are all children of God? Did God change?

Second, how can I apply the Old Testament to my life today?

I believe it is providential that the first question can best be answered by understanding the law, and the second question can best be answered by examining the prophets. So, that will be our strategy.

Let’s tackle the first issue. Did God change between the Old Testament and the New Testament? The answer is most decidedly no. He didn’t change. We changed. The human race changed. We grew up. I want you to consider the parallels between the relationship between an ordinary parent and child and our relationship as children of God, our Father.

Ask yourself, what is the first word that an infant understands? I’m not asking what the first word they speak, such as “mama” or “dada.” What word, when you speak it to them, do they understand?

NO!

Before any other word, children understand the meaning of “no.” When you tell a child “no” in a certain tone of voice, they understand exactly what you mean. Sometimes “no” is a noun. When a child reaches for a dangerous object, you tell them, “That is a no-no.” Then perhaps the child reaches for something else and looks at you As if to ask, “Is that a no-no too?”. You have to say, “Yes. That’s a no-no, too.” Any parent will tell you that all too often, after clearly identifying an object as a no-no, the child defiantly grabs it anyway.

We see this same scenario in the story of Adam and Eve. God clearly defines that that tree over there is a no-no. What happens? These immature children of God defiantly eat the forbidden fruit anyway.

As a child grows, we make up lists of no-nos.

You can’t play in the street. Don’t jump on the furniture. Stay away from the hot stove. Put away your toys and keep your room clean. You have to be home at a certain time.

[Audio from “Pink Floyd: The Wall – Another Brick in the Wall Part 2”]

“If you don’t eat your meat, you can’t have any pudding!

How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?

[end clip]

Do we as parents make these rules because we are mean? Our children often accuse us of such. How many of you parents have been told by your child, “You’re being mean to me,” when you were simply lovingly trying to protect them from harm by imposing rules to keep them safe?

God the Father is no different. His rules are there to protect us. He knows what is best for us. God made his own lists, the most famous of which we call the Ten Commandments. It’s primarily a list of things you are forbidden to do. Only two of them are positive commands: “Remember and keep holy the Lord’s day” and “Honor your father and your mother.” But there is a strong implication “Don’t you dare forget the Lord’s day” and “Don’t you dare dishonor your father and your mother.”

As our children grow, you can shift from discipline to positive reinforcement. If you clean your room, you can watch an extra hour of TV. If you get good grades, you might be rewarded with a new toy or a trip to the ice cream shop. Often, simple praise from a parent, such as “good boy” or “good girl,” is a worthy reward for good behavior. Expressing your pride in your children can keep them on the right path.

By the time we reached the New Testament, the human race has grown into adolescence. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presents a list of positive traits, known as the Beatitudes. For example, “Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the merciful.” And so on. In essence, Jesus praises us for our good behavior and promises us that when we do these things, our Heavenly Father approves, and we will be blessed.

Finally, children grow up. They leave the nest. It is the hope of every parent that somewhere along the way, the spirit of their parental guidance resides within them. The hope is that as they mature, they will discover that Mom and Dad weren’t as crazy as we thought they were. Much of what they taught us was valuable wisdom.

After Jesus teaches us all that he can. After he reveals the Father by being His incarnate Word, Jesus leaves but promises us the Holy Spirit will guide us always and remind us of all that Jesus taught us.

Did God change between the Old Testament and the New Testament? No. We changed. The human race changed. Like a human child, we grew up. We gradually matured. We come to a deeper understanding of what God wants of us and what He expects from us, and how He has been a loving parent all along. God, our Father, adapted his way of showing his love for us, his children, in an age-appropriate manner. In our infancy, the only way to protect us was to lay down the law. But as we matured, we gathered the wisdom and insight to understand the blessings that come with following God’s will. And should we forget, the Holy Spirit is there to remind us of all that Jesus taught us both in word and deed.

If we have difficulty seeing God as a loving Father, let’s take a slightly different look at the Ten Commandments. Follow with me using the handout page on the Ten Commandments.

In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

There is that phrase again, “the Law and the Prophets.” Notice in our handout, we have divided the commandments into two categories based on this passage. The first three commandments deal with our relationship with God. The remaining seven deal with our relationship with our neighbor.

By the way, nowhere in Scripture doesn’t say, “These are the Ten Commandments.” Christian and Jewish traditions agree there are 10 but disagree on how to divide up the text from Exodus 20:1-17 into 10 different individual commandments. Whenever someone says we should post the 10 Commandments in public buildings, my first question is, “Which ten?” Everybody numbers them differently. See the linked Wikipedia article that discusses how different traditions number the commandments. Naturally, I’m using the traditional Catholic numbering system.

Rather than look at the commandments as negative statements forbidding us to do things, consider them protections that are loving Father imposes upon others to protect us. In the left column, we have the traditional Catholic wording of the Commandments. In the right column, I have reworded them with this alternative perspective.

For example, rather than “You shall not steal.” Think of it this way: God says, “All material things are mine and are given to you as gifts from me. I forbid anyone to steal from you what I have given you.” Similarly, rather than “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Take the other approach. God says, “You are my beloved creation. I forbid everyone from bearing false witness against you.”

Even the first three commandments can be reinterpreted as coming from a loving father rather than a jealous God. So rather than “I am the Lord your God. You shall not have other gods before me,” reinterpret that as “I am the Lord your God. You are my beloved creations. All other gods are false gods who do not love you like I, your God, love you, because there is no other true God. I forbid all false gods from leading you away from my love.”

Of course, the consequence of forbidding anyone from harming you who is a child of God is that everyone else is a child of God also. And so, you must respect them as your brothers and sisters and offer them the same protection and respect that you would expect to receive.

In other words, as Jesus said in Matthew 7:12, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

Although Matthew attributes the words, “This is the law and the prophets,” to Jesus, scholars believe this may not be a direct quote but rather Matthew’s addition. As we will see in future episodes, Matthew is writing for a Jewish audience to explain Jesus in the context of and as the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures. So, Jesus’ proclamation of the Golden Rule, in Matthew’s opinion, is a summary of the entire Hebrew Scriptures.

For Matthew, God is not a mean, vengeful person whipping us into shape by imposing harsh restrictions. He is a loving father, admonishing his children to get along with one another.

We will wrap things up for today. In the next episode, we will delve deeper into laws in general. Why do we have laws? We will also explore the role of sacrifice and covenant, which are central themes of the Hebrew Scriptures.

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I will see you next time as we continue contemplating life. Until then, fly safe.