Orthodoxy, in OT

The acceptance of God's revelation of himself to his people that should lead to worship and obedience.

Foundational truths about Israel's God

God is one

Deuteronomy 6:4

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.

God is unique

Deuteronomy 4:39 See also Deuteronomy 4:35; Psalm 97:9; Isaiah 44:6–8

Know therefore this day and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

God is self-existent

Exodus 3:14

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

God is the Creator

Isaiah 40:28 See also Genesis 1:1, Genesis 2:7; Job 38:4

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

God will not tolerate rivals

Exodus 20:3–6 parallel Deuteronomy 5:7–8; Deuteronomy 8:19–20, Deuteronomy 13:6–8; Isaiah 42:8

God commands universal worship

Psalm 86:9–10 See also Isaiah 19:21; Zechariah 8:20–22

All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name. For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.

Right belief is passed on through the community of faith

Psalm 145:4 See also Exodus 12:24–27; Deuteronomy 6:6–8, Deuteronomy 6:20–25; Joshua 4:20–24; Psalm 78:2–6

One generation will commend Your works to the next, and will proclaim Your mighty acts—

Right belief demands right practice

Reverent fear

Deuteronomy 10:12–13

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?

Worship

See also Deuteronomy 12:4–7; 2 Kings 17:35–39; 1 Chronicles 16:28–29 parallel Psalm 96:7–9; Psalm 95:6–7

Observance of festivals

Deuteronomy 16:1–2, Deuteronomy 16:9–17

Offering acceptable sacrifices

Leviticus 1:2–4, Leviticus 5:5–6; Malachi 1:7–8

Faithfulness to the covenant

Deuteronomy 29:9–15; Psalm 25:10

Devotion to God

Deuteronomy 6:5 See also Deuteronomy 11:1; 1 Chronicles 22:19; Psalm 31:23; Hosea 6:6

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Trust in God's faithfulness

Psalm 4:5, Psalm 33:4 See also Psalm 37:3–5, Psalm 115:9–11, Psalm 119:89–93

Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the LORD.

For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy.

Obedience

Deuteronomy 5:32 See also Deuteronomy 6:1–3, Deuteronomy 26:16–19; 1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 30:21; Jeremiah 7:21–23

So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.

Justice in society

Micah 6:8 See also Psalm 106:3; Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 1:11–17, Isaiah 56:1

He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Walking in God's ways

God's ways are right

Hosea 14:9 See also Proverbs 10:29

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.

Walking in God's ways brings his blessing

Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 5:33, Deuteronomy 28:9, Deuteronomy 30:19–20

Examples of kings who walked in God's ways

2 Samuel 22:22 parallel Psalm 18:21 David; 2 Chronicles 14:2–4 parallel 1 Kings 15:11–12 Asa; 2 Chronicles 17:3–6 Jehoshaphat; 2 Chronicles 26:4 parallel 2 Kings 15:3 Uzziah (and Amaziah); 2 Chronicles 29:2 parallel 2 Kings 18:3 Hezekiah; 2 Chronicles 34:2 parallel 2 Kings 22:2 Josiah