Sometimes reading the Old Testament is confusing to us because we expect, when we come to stories in the Bible, to find good examples to follow. And sometimes, of course, we do find them. Men Like Daniel and Joseph offer consistent pictures of godly lives. But then we find lots of people (like, the whole book of Judges) who are no kind of example at all. And then, most confusingly, we find people who we know are supposed to be examples of godliness, but who do things we just know can’t be right. Abraham and David top the list here. The other day I found this list which helps us with some of these issues. These are good things to remember when reading the narratives of the Old Testament:
Ten Principles for Interpreting OT Narrative:
- A narrative usually does not directly teach a doctrine but rather illustrates a doctrine or doctrines taught propositionally elsewhere.
- A narrative records simply what happened, not necessarily what should have happened or what should happen every time.
- We’re not always told at the end of the narrative what was good & bad; narratives invite reflection and thoughtful pondering based on other teachings.
- The things that happen in a narrative are not necessarily a positive example for us, even if the person is a positive figure by and large.
- Most people are far from perfection; so are their actions.
- All narratives are incomplete and selective in details; sometimes what is left out is as important as what is included (what is important is that we know everything the inspired author intended of us to know).
- A narrative is not written to answer all our theological questions and they are misinterpreted if we come with our questions, rather than the questions the narrator wants to answer.
- God is the real ‘good’ character and the hero of all biblical narrative; he is the only one always worthy of emulation.
- The historical narratives are always to be interpreted by the teaching material.
- Always remember that Jesus told us the story is about him; you haven’t finished understanding the narrative as a Christian until you see how it helps you to understand and know and love him.
– By Julian Freeman