You’d be forgiven for thinking sometimes that the Old Testament seems so completely different from the New Testament. For example, language, style, the character of God portrayed, the nature of events recounted, the relevance to our everyday lives etc. That they both exist in the one Bible can be thought of as a bit strange.

For me personally, growing up in a Jewish family, I only ever knew the Old Testament. In fact, I didn’t know anything at all about the New Testament until the age of about 21 when I was bought a Good News Bible. Having recently been introduced to some of the basic ideas of Christianity, I was hungry to read through the NT and was staggered by its significance. It was like being given the keys to a secret closet that contained great treasures. Or more to the point, it was like being given the last part of a book that I’d been longing to understand and finish for many years.

Two main things struck me:-

First, the OT law (which in the past I’d been strongly encouraged to follow to the letter) was merely a way of revealing our human nature – i.e. sinful! It was actually impossible to fulfil the law’s requirements. I’d somehow missed that verse in Isaiah that talks about all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.

Second, that for the first time I glimpsed something of God’s true character through the life and person of Jesus Christ. He’d always been a God ‘out there somewhere’, and certainly a very impersonal God. Now I was realising that God was actually someone I could relate to and who wanted to be close to me.

Anyway, over the course of the next few months (or maybe years!), I’d like to share with you some reflections from the Old Testament, often from an autobiographical point of view - i.e. verses from the OT and some thoughts about the way those verses have really helped and encouraged me in my life and in my journey of faith. Occasionally, I’ll refer to verses in the NT too when it’s appropriate. I’ve called this series ‘Down2Earth’ – probably not a very original name but I want to share things that I hope you will find to be meaningful and relevant in your everyday lives – in other words, not a load of super-spiritual stuff that’s difficult to relate to but rather things that are strictly down to earth! Feel free to respond by posting your own comments, thoughts or personal experiences.