Dictionary of Bible Themes: 1443 revelation, in OT

1443 revelation, in OT

Dictionary of Bible Themes

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The OT bears witness to God's revelation in the history of Israel and in the inspired testimony of the prophets and other writers of the period. This knowledge of God prepares the way for the full disclosure of God in Jesus Christ in the NT.

Revelation in Eden and before the flood

Genesis 1:3; Genesis 2:16-18 See also Genesis 1:29-30; Genesis 3:9-19; Genesis 4:6-7,9-15; Genesis 6:13-22

The covenant framework of OT revelation after the flood

God's covenant with Noah

Genesis 9:8-11 This covenant covers all living creatures. See also Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:12-17

God's covenant with Abraham

Genesis 17:7 See also Genesis 15:9-21; Genesis 17:2,4,10-14; Genesis 22:16-18; Exodus 6:2-6; 1 Chronicles 16:14-18; Psalm 105:8-9

God's covenant with Moses at Sinai

Exodus 34:27 See also Exodus 24:3-8; Exodus 34:10-14; Deuteronomy 5:2-4 Mount Sinai was also known as Mount Horeb; Jeremiah 11:2-5

God's covenant with David

Psalm 89:3-4 See also 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Psalm 132:11-12

The promise of a new covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34 See also Isaiah 42:6; Matthew 26:27-28 pp Mark 14:24 pp Luke 22:20 pp 1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 8:8-12; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 10:15-18

The recipients of OT revelation

The people of Israel

On occasions God spoke to people outside the covenant community

Daniel 2:27-28 See also Genesis 41:25,28-32; Daniel 4:1-37; Daniel 5:17-28

Methods of OT revelation

Direct communication

Deuteronomy 18:18 See also Exodus 4:12; Numbers 12:8; Numbers 23:5; Isaiah 50:4; Isaiah 51:16; Jeremiah 1:9

Visions and dreams

Numbers 12:6 See also Genesis 15:1; Genesis 28:12; Genesis 37:5-7,9; Genesis 46:2; Numbers 24:4; Deuteronomy 13:1; Judges 7:13-14; Job 33:14-15; Ezekiel 1:1,26-28

Visible manifestations (theophanies)

Genesis 18:1 See also Genesis 32:24-30; Exodus 3:1-6; Exodus 34:4-7; Numbers 11:25; Numbers 12:5; Numbers 14:10-12; Joshua 5:13-15

Scripture

Deuteronomy 31:9 See also Exodus 17:14; Numbers 33:2; Isaiah 30:8; Jeremiah 36:2; Jeremiah 51:60

The content of OT revelation

Revelation of God's will and purposes

Genesis 17:1-2 See also Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:1-5; Exodus 19:5-6; Exodus 20:1-17 pp Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:1-2; Leviticus 20:7-8

Revelation of God's plan

Genesis 3:15 See also Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-10; Isaiah 42:1; Micah 5:1-5; Zechariah 9:9-13

Revelation of God's character and being

Exodus 3:11-15

God's glory:

Exodus 40:34; 1 Kings 8:11; Ezekiel 1:28

God is just and merciful:

Numbers 14:17-19; Psalm 143:1

God's love:

Deuteronomy 7:7-8; Lamentations 3:22

God is righteous:

Psalm 72:2; Psalm 103:6; Isaiah 59:17

God is the sovereign creator:

Psalm 115:3; Psalm 135:5-6

The incompleteness of OT revelation

Hebrews 11:39-40 The fulness of God's redemption could only become apparent with the fulness of his revelation in Jesus Christ. See also Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:10-12