The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG09

/ 1 4 7

T H E O L D T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

and seek to expand one’s knowledge of the antitype through the understanding of the type. The benefits of character-type investigations for creating continuity between the Old and New Testaments are enormous. They include our gaining an increased knowledge of the Scriptures, learning to communicate the Word to others at higher levels of interest, relevance, and entertainment, regaining a sense of wonder at the inspiration of the Scriptures, and discovering a more comprehensive picture of Jesus Christ through the types. Some of the most important character types in the OT point to and illustrate the ministry of Jesus Christ in the NT in his roles as a prophet, priest, and king in the persons of Moses, Melchizedek, and David respectively. While Christ is illumined in the character types, the nature of his own roles is infinitely greater in both glory and significance. Moses, the Prophet of the Lord, is an OT character type of Jesus Christ demonstrated in key aspects of his life. His life coincides with Jesus in that he was as an infant that was sought by a king, hidden in Egypt for a time for his protection, was sent by God to deliver God’s people and God’s message, and was rejected at his own “first coming.” In a sense, Moses (like Christ) chose a Gentile bride during the period of his rejection, and learned obedience through suffering. He also mediated a covenant between the people and God, reflected the glory of the Father (by contrast), and was messenger of the Lord, both to God’s people and his enemies. Melchizedek, the Priest of the Most High God, is an OT character type of Jesus Christ, whose name resonates with the title of Christ (King of righteousness, King of peace), who was both a priest and a king, and who possessed no priestly lineage or genealogy. Like Christ, he was called the Priest of the Most High God, received tithes from God’s people, blessed faithful Abraham, and his priestly order is both eternal and unchanging. David, the King of Israel, is an OT character type of Jesus Christ. Like the Lord Jesus, David was born in Bethlehem, grew in lowly reputation, and was chosen and anointed by God to rule over God’s people Israel. Like Christ, David was a shepherd (risking his life for his sheep), was sent to his brothers who derided him, and who, as God’s warrior, defeated God’s enemy who had oppressed God’s people. Also, promises were given

3