The Grace of God in the Old Testament (1)
Introduction. (John
1:14-17). We note from this text the statement “Grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ” Was there no grace in the Old Testament? John Calvin claimed “The
law had neither the one nor the other” (Commentary on John 1:17). That
may sound more harsh than he actually believed. He explains in the context his
belief that the grace and truth that were brought by Christ gave life to a
lifeless system of law without Christ. Even so, his words illustrate the
concept many have held regarding grace under the Old Covenant. What does the
Bible teach about grace in the Old Testament?
I. Words for “grace” in
the Old Testament.
A. Hebrew
noun chen “favour, grace, charm” (BDB).
•
We can see on the PowerPoint this word circled in Deut. 24:1 from
a Dead Sea Scroll (4QDeuta)
B. Hebrew
verb chanan “to be gracious, show favour, pity...to seek favour” (BDB).
•
We can see on the PowerPoint this word circled in Isaiah 26:10
from a Dead Sea Scroll (1QIsaa)
C. Grace
is not just a New Testament concept.
•
It runs throughout the Old Testament
II. God clearly extended
grace to His people in the Old Testament.
A. “Noah
found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Gen. 6:5-8).
B. Jacob
declared “God has dealt graciously with me” (Gen. 33:8-11).
C. Israel
“found grace in the wilderness” (Jer. 30:23-31:3).
D. The
blessing Mosaic priests were to offer over the people spoke of grace (Num.
6:23-27).
•
The oldest known biblical text contains a portion of this
blessing, dated to 600 BC.
E. During
the days of Jehoahaz “the LORD was gracious” unto Israel (2 Kings 13:20-23).
F. Jonah
resisted preaching to Nineveh knowing that God was “a gracious and merciful
God” (Jon. 3:10-4:3).
G. In
sparing a remnant after the exile, Ezra recognized “grace has been shown from
the LORD our God” (Ezra 9:5-9).
H. The wise
man proclaimed that God “gives grace to the humble” (Prov. 3:31-34; Jas. 4:6).
I.
The psalmist declared, “The LORD gives grace and glory” (Psa. 84:8-12,
NASB).