The Old Testament is comprised mostly of prophetic writings that God delivered through His prophets. The first five books, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are accredited to Moses.  In Genesis we read that God created Heaven and earth

And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. (Gen 1:8)
this is important to understand. God created Heaven and earth. 

In the beginning we see how man fell from God's grace. Eve was tempted and then convinced Adam (which is derived from Hebrew meaning humankind) to also disobey God. Sin had entered the world. Man was wicked and without the love of God in his heart.  In fact, by reading Genesis when a man thought a woman fare to look at he would often go in unto her,sexual intercourse, and if he liked the woman then he presented himself to her father. God was displeased with His creation of man; then came the great flood.

God made His first Covenant with mankind, that He would flood the earth leaving only Noah and those on board the Ark, to survive.  God also made a promise forever, He would never again flood the world and did put a bow in the sky that whenever He looked upon it He would remember His promise. However, sin was still in the world since man is born with sin.

Ham, one of Noah's son's, did see his father naked and instead of turning his head he ran to tell his brothers. His brothers, full of humality, did back up and cover their fathers nakedness. However Noah knew what his son had done and therefore cursed the son of his own son; Noah cursed his grandson, from which the Egyptians, Africans and Canaanites did come. From Shem came the Semetics, including the lineage of Abraham.

It wasn't until Abraham that God made his second covenant with mankind.
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: (Gen 15:18)

Still mankind is wicked at heart, unrepentent and even provoking God to anger. 

Along comes Moses, who God lifted up to be a great man, even though at times Moses had his doubts, he listened to God and God kept His promise.  The Israelites were freed from bondage and given a land of their own, the land of Canaan. 

God made His third covenant with mankind, this time specifically with Moses and the Israelite. God delivered 10 commandments, along with the Arc of the Covenant, and inspired Moses to write 603 additional laws to govern the people. Now God's people had a way to atone for their sin against God and the Bible is replete with examples of how God protected and lifted up His people when they obeyed Him. Conversely, when they left God for pagan rituals and their own self direction, God punishes them. Now God is a loving and merciful God, so time and time again He sent prophet after prophet to rule and warn His people.

These prophets spoke and warned of things past and events yet to come. They predicted the coming of the Messiah,  our Lord Jesus, who, like so many prophets before Him were killed. Yet Jesus was not just a prophet, He is the Son of God, whose blood was shed for all sinners, whom God raised from the dead in order that everyone can receive eternal life with God.  Jesus was the new covenant with mankind from God. God's personal assurance that whomever believes on Him and His Son shall have everlasting life eternal. Still man is wicked at heart. 

This new covenant, with better promises is easier to follow, for God wrote His laws into the hearts and minds of His people. No longer will someone not know of God and His promise of life eternal. He loves us so much that He sent His new covenant to be delivered personally by His Son sacrificing His own Son so that we may be forgiven for all sins. Still we are required two things in order to receive His gift and follow His Son, love God the Father, the only true God, with all of our hearts, and minds, and souls. We are to love everyone as ourselves, even as Jesus loved us.

This is why knowledge of the Old Testament is so important in understanding the New Testament. God started anew with us, He made it so much easier for us to obey Him and love Him. Faith has always been important, and as you will discover in the New Testament,  it is faith that saves us from eternal damnation, given freely by God the Father.

 

Now let's look at a passage from Psalms and see how the Old Testament directly relates to the New Testament.
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psa 22:16-18)

Does this start to remind you of anything?  Jesus died on the Cross and they compassed Him like dogs. The Roman soldiers cast lots for His garments. They pierced His hands and feet as the result of Crucifixion.


Much of what Jesus was quoting from scripture was from Psalms. So for us to read and learn the Old Testament is helpig us to understand the ministry of Jesus Christ.