Old Testament Survey
By David Scott Nichols
Curriculum Vitae
David Scott Nichols MD Brandon Ophthalmologist since 1983 Univ. of Miami–B.S. -Engineering Science 1971 Massachusetts Institute of Technology-MS-1972 University of Miami – Medical Degree - 1976 Internship – Internal Medicine WHMC - 1977 Residency – Ophthalmology BAMC 1980 Separated USAF after 13 years – 1985 Sandra (wife), Laura, Christine & Sarah
Lifelong interest in Bible study Early interests included Apologetics and Prophesy I have spent decades studying theology including the Liberty Home Bible Institute 2 year program - Dean Harold Wilmington Now, I am developing approx. 10 lecture series on various subjects…
Lecture Series Topics
Apologetics Old Testament Survey Romans – commentary Hebrews – commentary Acts and The New Testament Church Job and the “Problem of Pain” The Uniqueness of Christianity The Life of Christ Eschatology
Introduction
Why did God ‘write’ the Old Testament? God wanted to tell people the history of mankind God used these scriptures to demonstrate His power and reality God wanted to prepare the world for His Son God wanted to show us His plan for our lives and future God shows us through the pages of the Old Testament the result of following Him and the result of rebellion
Lecture Schedule
Introduction and the Book of Genesis The Book of Genesis – part 2 From Egypt to the “Promised Land” Joshua and the Time of Judges The Kings of Israel – the Glory Years The Wisdom Books The Divided Kingdom – part 1 The Divided Kingdom – part 2
The Minor Prophets The Captivity Years in Babylon – Ezekiel and Daniel The Return to Jerusalem Summation
The Book of Genesis
An incredible book of history – first book of the Bible Brief history of our universe – consistent with philosophical and scientific evidence A history of God’s “chosen people” Supported by modern archaeological findings Gives beautiful insights into the future, including… Jesus the Messiah Watch for “types” in the stories told (prefigurations of Jesus)
Creation
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Gen 1:1 Details may be debatable, but the scientific and philosophical evidence is undeniable for the veracity of the Biblical account Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden The Fall of Man Cain and Abel The birth of Seth follows the murder of Abel
The Days of Noah
Total depravity of mankind – except for one man and his family Noah had three sons – Shem, Japheth and Ham God commands Noah to build an ark (450’x75’x45’) The worldwide flood comes The rainbow – a new beginning, a new world Ham, Japheth and Shem Tower of Babel
Patriarchal Stage
Abram and Lot – travel from Ur of the Chaldees to the “Promised Land” A brief delay in Haran, then on to Canaan A an unadvised ‘flight’ to Egypt A lack of faith almost spells disaster Back to Bethel and a division of land The recue of Lot King Melchizedek of Salem
The Travels of Abraham
Abraham and Sarah
Abram and Sarai get restless Hagar begets Ishmael – trouble ensues God makes a covenant with Abram A name change for Abram and Sarai to Abraham (father of many nations) and Sarah (princess) Circumcisions are completed Sarah becomes pregnant at 90!
Sodom and Gomorrah
Abraham pleas for Sodom – “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” God gives Sodom a chance… The end comes through burning sulfur Lot’s wife hesitates… and is lost. She changes in to a pillar of salt Lot’s daughters commit sin of incest This yields the fathers of the Moabites and Ammonites
The Birth of Isaac
Sarah gives birth to Isaac Hagar and Ishmael are sent away Abraham is tested severely – as is Isaac Sarah dies and is buried by Abraham
Esau and Jacob
Abraham sends a servant to find a bride for Isaac Rebekah, from Nahor, agrees to wed Isaac Esau and Jacob are born The birthright is the prize – Esau gets hoodwinked Jacob lights out for Haran – and his uncle Laban Esau moves on to Edom with his Hittite bride Jacob takes a wife… or two First came Leah… Then came Rachel… Still more years to serve?
Jacob heads for home
Jacob flees away from Haran Laban gives chase Jacob anxiously awaits confrontation with Esau Jacob “wrestles with God” Jacob gets a new name … Israel Jacob meets Esau
Dinah and the Shechemites
Dinah is violated by Shechem, son of Hamor Dinah’s brothers plan revenge Hamor’s attempt for peace The brother’s plan Success but at what cost?
Jacob returns to Bethel
Jacob returns to Bethel Rachel dies in childbirth as family is completed Isaac dies and is buried Esau – the patriarch of many Jacob – twelve fine sons
Joseph and his brothers
Joseph’s dreams Joseph’s betrayal at the hands of his brothers Joseph rises to power in Egypt Potiphar’s house Chief cupbearer and the chief baker Pharaoh’s dreams Joseph placed in charge The famine comes to the region
Famine in the land
Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt The second trip to Egypt Joseph reveals himself! Jacob and his sons come to Egypt The 430 year sojourn begins……. Israel gives his blessings Israel dies and is buried back home
Holy Land – Twelve Tribes
Exodus
Israel spends 430 years in Egypt – from freedom to slavery A baby in the bulrushes Prince Moses Escape into Midian Meeting on Mt. Horeb – the burning bush The call of the great “I AM”
Moses vs. Pharaoh
“Let My People go” Ten Plagues – the tenth leads to Passover Pharaoh tells Moses to go. God protects His chosen people with a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. Parting of the Red Sea The Egyptian army followed Moses through the Red Sea… but, God allowed the sea to close over them and they drowned. The long journey to the “Promised Land” begins
Exodus as a “Type”
The story of the Exodus has marked similarities to the life of a Christian. Note the festival of Passover. Even the entire journey from Egypt to the promised land is analogous to the journey of our lives. The question to ask… will you make it to the promised land?
The First Few Months
Food and Water for the day – manna from heaven bitter waters of Marah. Victory in war vs. the Amalikites. Moses reunites with his family Jethro’s idea – share the workload with the Sanhedrin. Mt. Sinai meetings – plans from God The Golden Calf debacle The Tent of Meeting > the Tabernacle
The Tabernacle of God
Map of the Exodus
Wilderness Trail
Leviticus
Offerings Aaron’s sons – Nadab and Abihu Feasts of Israel Passover Unleavened Bread Firstfruits Pentecost (Shavuot) Trumpets Day of Atonement Shelters (Booths or Tabernacle)
Numbers
Census Priests and Levites Time to go… The Kadesh-Barnea scouting party Caleb and Joshua Forty years in the desert
Wandering Years
Tough passage Aaron’s the man Ashes of the Red Heifer Moses gets mad Aaron and Miriam die Bronze serpant Balaam Boundaries are defined
Division of Land-Tribes of Israel
Deuteronomy
Moses reviews the past Moses passes the torch to Joshua Moses’ view from Mt. Nebo A beautiful eulogy
history:
Adam/Eve --- Cain and Abel and Seth Seth > Enos > Cainan> Jared> Enoch> Methuselah> Lamech> Noah Noah > Shem & Ham & Japheth (sons of Noah) Then came the Great Worldwide Flood……. Ham and Japheth went out after the Tower of Babel to establish many great nations over the millennia Shem > Abraham/Sarah > Ishmael (from Hagar)and Isaac Ishmael > progeny yielded Arab nation (combined with Esau’s progeny) Isaac/Rebecca > Jacob (later changed to Israel) & Esau Esau > combined with Ishmael to yield Edom and Arab nations Jacob/Leah > 6 sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar) Jacob/Zilpah> 2 sons (Gad, Asher) Jacob/Rachel > 2 sons (Joseph, Benjamin)
Joshua
Joshua sends spies into Jericho Rahab the harlot helps the Israelites Camped out at the Jordon The Ark leads the way across the Jordon Twelve large Memorial Stones set up in Gilgal Joshua gains respect as successor to Moses The tribes of Reuben, Gad, Manasseh lend a hand
Jericho
Circumcision rite renewed Passover celebrated No more need for manna The walls of Jericho come tumbling down!
Once around the wall for six days Ark of the Covenant leads the way Seven trumpets of rams horns Seven times around on the seventh day Trumpets + shouts = the walls tumble down! The city is destroyed – Rahab and family spared
Conquest of the land
Achan’s terrible sin Southern Campaign is a success The Amorites fall The sun stands still
Northern Campaign completed - Hazor falls Division of the land amongst the tribes Joshua’s final speech Joshua (Timnath Serah in Ephraim), Joseph (Shechem) Eleazar the high priest (Ephraim)
Division of Land-Tribes of Israel
Judges
Judah and Simeon take the offensive “Every man did what was right in his eyes” The Lord raises up Judges Fifteen judges:: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Barak, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson, Deborah, Eli, and Samuel Othniel, then Ehud Deborah teams with Barak
Gideon
Midianites control Israel The “Angel of the Lord” raises up Gideon Fire from a rock Gideon throws out Baal! Gideon throws his fleece… twice Trumpets, torches, pitchers and 300 men Midianites and Amalekites defeated Forty years of peace
Samson
Several judges come and go… Samson is born Samson marries a Philistine woman The wedding day riddle – “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” Judges 14:14 Philistines shouldn’t have made Samson mad Twenty years of peace Delilah causes big trouble
Atrocious crime in Gibeah Tribe of Benjamin almost wiped out Dark days almost over Hannah dedicates her son Samuel to God
Exodus to the Promised Land
The First Passover Crossing the Red Sea The Law at Mt. Sinai – salvation by works God’s gift of the Promised Land Wilderness Wandering Entering into the Promised Land! SLAVE IN Egypt
Sacrifice of the Lamb A chance for salvation The Law – salvation by works God’s Free Gift of Salvation The walk of a lifetime Passing into Heaven!
SLAVE TO Sin
Exodus to the Promised Land
The First Passover Crossing the Red Sea The Law at Mt. Sinai – salvation by works God’s gift of the Promised Land Wilderness Wandering Entering into the Promised Land! SLAVE IN Egypt
Sacrifice of the Lamb Acceptance of salvation The Law – our work toward sanctification Walking in the ‘peace of God’ while on this earth Carnal Christians Walking ‘in the light’ while on this earth!
SLAVE TO Sin
The Book of Ruth
Elimelech, Naomi and sons travel to Moab Ruth welcomed into the family Sadly, the men die “Whither thou goest, I will go” “and thy God my God” Ruth remarries Ruth has a very special great grandson… King David!
1 Samuel
Elkanah, Hannah and Peninnah Eli and his sons, Haphni and Phineas Hannah’s prayer is answered Eli’s sons are trouble Samuel hears from the Lord Philistines take the Ark of the Covenant… Philistines give back the Ark… willingly! Samuel begins his work as a judge
Israel wants a king
God allows Israel a king Saul is God’s choice Saul starts out nicely – he follows God Saul makes his first mistake – a big one! Saul vs. the Amalikites – Saul wins one and loses one
A little shephard boy
God sends Samuel for a new king A shepherd boy is chosen From sheep to the harp to the giant! David slays Goliath “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” Saul’s jealously rages Jonathan is David’s best friend
David the fugitive
David heads for the hills Ahimelech helps with bread and a sword The family heads for Moab David spares Saul’s life – twice! David heads to Philistine… for a while Samuel returns to speak to Saul Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle
ll Samuel
King David takes office Seven years in Hebron
Ishbosheth vies for power Abner changes sides Joab kills Abner King David gains full control over Israel – 2 Samuel 5:1-5 David takes Jerusalem! Philistines fall to the new King
King David’s Reign
The Ark comes to the “City of David” Uzzah pays for a mistake A joyful celebration! 2 Samuel 6:16 God’s covenant to David 2 Samuel 7:8-16 David’s humble response 2 Samuel 7:22-29 David takes the “Promised Land” David is a “man after God’s own heart”
The Lust of the Flesh
David and Bathsheba Uriah pays the ultimate price Nathan tells a story 2 Samuel 12:1-7 & 1015 The penalty for sin begins… A baby boy dies 2 Samuel 12:22-24 The rape of Tamar The murder of a son The exile of a son
Absalom
Absalom returns home Absalom plots revenge David must flee Jerusalem Bad advice from a spy Help from God… David stops the insurrection attempt Another son’s death… #3 2 Samuel 18:33 The infamous census David’s reign ends after 40 years
l Kings
King Solomon assumes control 1 Kings 1:30 God grants Solomon wisdom and more 1 Kings 3:9-14 The case of the harlots’ baby 1 Kings 3:16-28 The Temple is built 1 Kings 6:11-14 God moves in Solomon expands Israel Seaports Land and building projects Wealth
Slave labor causes unrest Far too many woman 1 Kings 11:4 God is not pleased – He speaks to Solomon 1 Kings 11:9-13 Solomon passes on…
The Divided Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom (Israel) The Southern Kingdom (Judah) King Solomon’s death
Jeroboam returns from Egypt Rehoboam’s rash decision Jeroboam heads north to become “Israel’s” king 1 Kings 12:16-20 King Rehoboam shows constraint 1 Kings 12:24 Jeroboam turns to false gods – his fate is sealed 1 Kings 13:2
The Northern Kingdom
19 kings – all bad and unsaved Capital was first in Tizrah… then in Samaria. This Kingdom lasted for 210 years - Assyria defeated them in 722 B.C. The people from this Kingdom are now often referred to as the lost tribes of Israel. Jeroboam (931-909 B.C.) Recall his early years as king… then… Loses battle to King Abijah His “house” will fall because of his heresy Kings 14:10-11
1
Nadab (910-908 B.C.) – Jeroboam’s son… assassinated by Baasha Baasha (909-885 B.C.) – assassinated the entire family of Jeroboam! He also engaged in war during his reign against Judah and King Asa. Ela (885-883 B.C.) – son of Baasha. He was killed while drunk by Zimri (commander of Ela’s chariots). Zimri (885 – 7 days) He wiped out Baasha’s family. Omri (885-873 B.C.) – replaced Zimri as the people’s choice. He moved the capital from Tizrah to Samaria.
King Ahab
King Omri’s son ruled from 874-853 B.C. capital city - Samaria Married the virago, Jezabel Baal worship causes great hardship for Israel The God of the hills and the valleys (plains) Ahab lets King Ben-Hadad go to safety against God’s command. God pronounces judgment on Ahab. 1 Kings 20:42 The incident concerning the vineyard of Naboth. Jezebel shows her true character… i.e. evil.
Final rebellion spells doom for Ahab. Jezebel and Ahab die inglorious deaths Ahab died as the result of a random arrow. Jezebel was thrown out of a window, several years later, and was ravaged by wild dogs. This was during the reign of King Jehu who came into power several years after Ahab died.
Ahaziah (853-851 B.C.) He looked to the Canaanite god, Baalzebub when he was sick. God used his great prophet Elijah and fire from Heaven to punish this evil king. This resulted in the king’s death. 2 Kings 1:15-17 Jehoram (Joram) (852-840 B.C.) The youngest son of Jezebel and Ahab. His fight against Moab was a success. Elisha was prophet during his reign. Jehu killed him. Jehu (841-813 B.C.) He had been a military leader. God used him to kill Ahab’s heirs. Jezebel meets her death. He also purged Israel of many Baal worshippers… but, did not re-institute worship of the one true God. God did allow for his heirs to reign. Jehoahaz (817-797 B.C.) – son of Jehu.
Jehoash (798-782 B.C.) He was in power when Elisha died. He fought against Judah at one point destroying a portion of the wall of Jerusalem and stealing some of the Temple’s treasures. Jeroboam II (793-752 B.C.) – ruled longer than any other northern king. He regained much of the previously lost land for Israel. Jonah began his ministry during his reign. Zechariah 753 B.C. – Last of the line of Jehu’s heirs on the throne. Lasted only six months. Killed by Shallum. Shallum (752 B.C. – one month) assassinated by Menahem. Menahem (752-742 B.C.) Began payment of tribute to Assyria.
Pekahiah (742-740 B.C.) – son of Menahem. Killed by Pekah. Pekah (740-732 B.C.) The fall of Israel to Assyria began… Hoshea (732-721 B.C.) Israel’s last king His reign ended in 721 B.C. when Israel was captured by Assyria
The Southern Kingdom
20 Kings (mostly bad… a few were Godly… some were a little of both) Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) (931-914 B.C.)
Levites return to Judah Problems with Egypt – for the first time in over 100 years, Jerusalem was attacked by a foreign power. Several cities did fall. Jerusalem did not fall. Idol worship begins in Judah. The Temple was plundered.
Abijam (Abijah) (914-911 B.C.) Rehoboam’s son. After God led Abijam to victory over Jeroboam in one big battle, this northern king quickly turned his back on God. He died after a three year reign. Asa (good-bad) (911-870 B.C.) – 41 year reign. He served God and Israel well in the early years. He fenced in much of Israel. He led a revival. God led him to victory over the Ethiopians. Unfortunately, he forgot God in his later years and this led to a regrettable life and reign as he approached death.
Jehoshaphat (873-848 B.C.) son of Asa
Many building projects Nationwide religious training program Ungodly alliances with Northern Kings in later years After repenting, God gave him victory against the Moabites, Ammonites and the men of Mount Seir. 2 Chronicles 20:13-30
Joram (853-845 B.C.) – son-in-law of Ahab. Judah lost Edom during his reign. A bad king. Ahaziah (841 B.C.) Joram’s son. assassinated by King Jeru. (Jeru also assassinated the Northern King Joram)
Athaliah (841-835 B.C.) only woman ruler – Jezabel was her mother, Baal worshipper who tried to kill all of the heirs of David. Joash (835-795 B.C.) (good–bad) He was hidden in the temple by his Aunt Jehoshabeath’s priest husband, Jehoiada, until he was later crowned king at age 7. Athaliah was killed while investigating his inauguration. Joash ruled justly until the death of Jehoiada died. Then, he forgot his God. Amaziah (796-767 B.C.) Son of Joash. He had a long reign; conquered Edom, but then began to follow their gods. Defeated by the Northern King, Joash – taken as prisoner to Samaria. He was co-regent with his son, Uzziah, for a time. He was mostly a good king. Uzziah (792-740 B.C.) – (good) Mighty builder and warrior – pride lead to leprosy in later life.
Jotham (750-736 B.C.) (good) defeated the Ammonites and built the upper gate of the Temple. 2 Chronicles 27:2-5 speaks of his accomplishments. Ahaz (735-719 B.C.) Began his reign at age of twenty. A bad king. Given a sign from God… also a prophecy of the coming Messiah. Hezekiah (716-687 B.C.) – very good king Rich king Repaired the Temple and great time of revival A great Passover celebration was held. Pride lead to a fall (boils) – given15 more years from God Tells Babylonians of Temple riches Sennacherib falls to Hezekiah (185,000 die)
Manasseh (697-642 B.C.) wicked until the end… but not at the end
Son of Hezekiah Longest rule – 55 years Worshipped foreign gods, sacrificed his own sons to an idol, etc. Wicked king for virtually entire reign… at the end, he repented after he was captured by Babylon 2 Chronicles 33:15-16
Amon (643-641 B.C.) – evil son of Manasseh; killed by his own servants Josiah (641-610 B.C.) – very good king, the last Godly king Repaired the Temple Re-instituted the Law of Moses Started a great revival including the celebration of Passover Tore down Baal idols Killed in battle with Egypt
Jehoahaz (609 B.C.) – captured by the Pharaoh after only 90 days on the throne. Jehoikim (609-598 B.C.) Burned Jeremiah’s scroll Vassal of both Egypt and Babylon
Jehoichin (598 – 3 months) – carried to Babylon and was in their prison for 36 years… then released Zedekiah (597-586 B.C.) – blinded by Babylonians and then killed
Elijah
First introduced in the Bible in 1 Kings 17:1 Escape into Kerith Ravine east of Jordan A visit to a widow A contest between God and Baal 1 Kings 18:30-40 Ahab, Jezebel and Elijah Elijah retreats in depression 1 Kings 19:1-18 Elijah passes the torch to Elisha A great ride to Heaven! 2 Kings 2:9-12
Elisha
A double portion of blessings A multitude of miracles
Purifying waters Parted the Jordan Creation of oil for empty vessles Healing Syrian commander with leprosy Purifying poison stew Blinding an army Feeding a large crowd with small amount of bread Floating axe head And more…
Elisha’s unusual death – a visit by King Jehoash Touch by the dead corpse of Elisha brings a dead man to life
The Writing Prophets
Obadiah (850-810) (Edom) Jonah (785-750) (Ninevah) Nahum (650-620) (Ninevah) Amos (760-753) (Israel) Hosea (760-700) (Israel) Joel (841-834) (Judah) Isaiah (739-681) (Judah) Micah (735-700) (Israel) Zephaniah (640-620) (Judah) Habakkuk (609-606) (Judah) Jeremiah (627-575) (Judah)
Division of Land-Tribes of Israel
Prophets in the Land
Isaiah
Prophet to Judah – 739-681 B.C. Isaiah (the Lord Saves) Predicted the fall of Judah and Israel His call to service – the year King Uzziah died – 740 B.C. (Isaiah 6) Father of two children (Isaiah 7-8) ◦ Shear-jashub (a remnant will return) ◦ Maher-shalal-hash-baz (quick to plunder, quick to spoil)
Isaiah’s vision concerning Judah (Isaiah 1) God notes that Israel had degenerated into a sinful nation requiring discipline. One day, this will change… "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. ” (Isaiah 1:18) The latter days… (Isaiah 2)
The Latter Days
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. (Isaiah 2:2-4)
The Long Delay
The long delay (Isaiah 3) God’s punishment will be meted out (Isaiah 2-5) In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. …….
Isaiah Volunteers
5 And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for. [Isaiah's Commission from the Lord]: And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." (Isaiah 6:1-8)
God Will Not Be Mocked
The conquest begins in the region of Galilee (Isaiah 9) Better days will come… (Isaiah 9) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. (Isaiah 9:6-7) Assyria will get their due someday as well A word concerning the Messiah The fall of foreign nations – details given in chapters 13-23 Chapter 24 wraps up these prophecies and ends with… the Lord of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders. (Isaiah 24:23)
Israel will be brought down for a time. (Isaiah 29) Recovery will come some day (Isaiah 29) Be careful not to go to “Egypt” for help (Isaiah 30-31) "Ah, stubborn children," declares the Lord, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; 2 who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation. (Isaiah 30:1-3) God will come to save His children… God reminds them with an old story of past glory (Isaiah 36-39)
A Beautiful Future
Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;… 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; (Isaiah 35:4-6,10)
Isaiah speaks of the Messiah
Chapter 40-66 concerns the Messiah and the Millennial Kingdom Beautiful verses – (Isaiah 40:3,8,22,29-31) A voice cries: " In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3) The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8) It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in. (Isaiah 40:22)
Messiah
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)
The Coming Messiah The
Messiah is coming… (Isaiah 42) my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. 5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 "I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness . 8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other. (Isaiah 42:1-8) Behold
God Will Eventually Punish the Wicked
For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant. 15 I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools. 16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. 17 They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, "You are our gods." (Isaiah 42:14-17)
God will redeem Israel some day (Isaiah 43) Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. 6 I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, 7 everyone who is called by my name. (Isaiah 43:5-7) Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. (Isaiah 43:10-11) King Cyrus will let the Jews return to Jerusalem (Isaiah 44:28) God reminds Israel how to be saved. There is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. 22 "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:21-22 (ESV) God points out the absurdity of idols. (Isaiah 46) Isaiah tells us about Jesus (Isaiah 49-50)
The Messiah’s Salvation is for all Mankind
now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— 6 he says: "It is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." 7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." (Isaiah 49:57)
Suffering Servant - King of Kings
Isaiah 50-53 (esp. 53) The appearance of Jesus -As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: (Isaiah 52:14) The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away. 6 I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. 7 "For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. (Isaiah 50:5-7) The glorious chapter 53 – prediction of the coming Messiah, Jesus
Isaiah 53
Who has believed what they heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
Isaiah 53 cont.
and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Isaiah 53 cont.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53)
“My thoughts are not your thoughts” (Isaiah 55) “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56:7) The Millennial Kingdom & Heaven(Isaiah 60-65) "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17) The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. (Isaiah 60:19)
Important insights in Isaiah
Heaven (Isaiah 26:19) (also Job 19:25-27; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 73:24-25; Eccl 12:7) More about the coming Savior Other amazing prophesies in Isaiah Verses showing the great power and glory of God Additional prophesies of the coming Messiah
Jeremiah
The “Weeping Prophet” Lived during reign of last four kings of Judah Continued his work in Babylon He did not marry Primarily a prophet of doom Baruch was his scribe (also for Lamentations) Commissioned by God (Jer. 1)
Jeremiah’s Commissioning
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you , and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." 6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." 7 But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord." (Jer 1:4-8)
God’s Punishment Unveiled ď ˝
Then the Lord said to me, "Out of the north disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15Â For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the Lord, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah. (Jer 1:14-15)
God Reasons with Judah
God pleads with Judah Thus says the Lord, "I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. 3 Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the Lord.“ 4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord: " What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? (Jer 2:2-5)
God tells of a Future Reconciliation
God tells of the coming reunion of Israel and Judah (Jer. 3:16-18) And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, "The ark of the covenant of the Lord." It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. 17 At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. 18 In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage. (Jer 3:1618)
Visions of Destruction
Jeremiah’s anxious pleas to his countrymen My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent, (Jer 4:19) I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger.27 For thus says the Lord, "The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end. (Jer 4:26-27)
God is Just and cannot be mocked
"But even in those days, declares the Lord, I will not make a full end of you. 19 And when your people say, 'Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us?' you shall say to them, 'As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.' " (Jer 5:18-19) I will do to the house that is called by my name, and in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh. 15 And I will cast you out of my sight, as I cast out all your kinsmen, all the offspring of Ephraim. (Jer 7:14-15)
God Will Bring Disaster Upon Judah
Again the Lord said to me, "A conspiracy exists among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers. 11 Therefore, thus says the Lord, behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them. (Jer 11:9-11) "I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage; I have given the beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies. (Jer 12:7)
Predicted 70 year captivity in Babylon. This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the Lord… (Jer 25:11-12) God says it is too late now – the die is cast. Jeremiah complains that it is too difficult for him. Jeremiah asks God why the wicked prosper.
The Potter and the Clay
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. (Jer 18:1-8 )
Judah’s Fall
God tells Jeremiah that He will take care of the other nations. Jeremiah faces abuse – his scroll is burned King Nebuchadnezzar takes control – 606 B.C. Jerusalem totally destroyed – 586 B.C.
Zedekiah’s Death
In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city. 3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, with all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon. 4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled, going out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls; and they went toward the Arabah.
5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath; and he passed sentence on him. 6 The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. 7 He put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon. 8 The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the house of the people, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.
9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained. 10 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time. (Jer 39:1-10) The Lord Delivers Jeremiah: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying, 12 "Take him, look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he tells you.“ (Jer 39:11-12)
One final “object lesson”: Jeremiah purchases a field… (Jeremiah 32) God’s new Covenant: Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. 38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. (Jer 32:37-41)
New Covenant
The entire twelve Tribes will be covered. God will inscribe His laws upon their hearts. It will go into effect after “Jacob’s Trouble.” It will be superior to the Mosaic Covenant. It will ensure an everlasting nation. The mediator will the be the Messiah. It will be an everlasting covenant.
Jeremiah’s predictions
Just a few of Jeremiah’s prophesies: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
Fall of Jerusalem Destruction of the Temple Death of King Jehoahaz in Egypt 70 year captivity in Babylon Final rebuilding of Israel
Lamentations
Jeremiah’s lament over the fall of Judah Written soon after 586 B.C. Written as acrostic poems Isaiah and Jeremiah - conclusion
The Minor Prophets
Obadiah (850-810) (Edom) Jonah (785-750) (Ninevah) Nahum (650-620) (Ninevah) Amos (760-753) (Israel) Hosea (760-700) (Israel) Joel (841-834) (Judah) Micah (735-700) (Israel) Zephaniah (640-620) (Judah) Habakkuk (609-606) (Judah)
Obadiah ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
Edom (850-810 B.C.) Shortest book in the Old Testament Name means “servant of the Lord” Prophesies concerning the destruction of Edom By A.D. 70, Rome had over-run the entire land
Petra
Jonah
Jonah (785-750 B.C.) - Nineveh A “type” of Jesus Christ “Buried” for three days in a great fish - Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matt 12:38-40) Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh… he tried to run away from God and hide. You cannot hide from God The “mountains of the sea” The wrap up – not Jonah’s best moment
Nahum
Prophet to Israel – 650-620 B.C. The ultimate fate of Nineveh – destruction by Babylon and the Medes in 612 B.C. The method of destruction foretold – “with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries…” (Nahum 1:8) Alexander the Great did not even know that a city existed in that region when he travelled through during his conquests some 300 years later. In A.D.1845, it was finally excavated.
Amos
760-753 B.C. Raised to be a herdsman, not a prophet Came from Tekoa near Bethlehem Prophet to Bethel, the Northern Kingdom Three sermons and five visions God tells about the future restoration of Israel
Hosea
Prophet to Israel (760-700 B.C.) God told him to marry a harlot, Gomer Three children: ◦ Jezreel – to be scattered ◦ Loruhama – no more mercy ◦ Loammi – not my people
Joel
Prophet to Judah (841-834 B.C.) Locust plague – tribulation Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! (Joel 2:1-2) Coming salvation of Judah
Micah
Israel and Judah prophet (735-700 B.C.) Ministered during time of Isaiah Final prophet of God for the Northern Kingdom Tells of Babylon captivity - Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies. (Micah 4:10) Tells of the Messiah’s birthplace - But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2) Concludes with words of God’s love for His children
Zephaniah
Prophet to Judah (640-620 B.C.) Ministered during reign of King Josiah Helped restore the Law of Moses Spoke of future restoration
Habakkuk
Prophet to Judah (609-606 B.C.) Last of prophets to Judah The “doubting Thomas” of prophets the Lord answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end — it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. 4 "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. (Hab 2:2-4) He sees a manifestation of God’s power
The Captivity Stage
Israel fell to Assyria in 721 B.C. Judah was defeated by Babylon in 606 B.C. – it became a vassal nation to Babylon. Jerusalem - destroyed by Babylon in 586 B.C. Two major prophets during the Babylonian captivity – Ezekiel and Daniel
Ezekiel
Born in 623 B.C. Priestly heritage – father named Buzi He was taken captive to Babylon in 597 B.C. – during the second forced “exodus” He lived in Telbib – 50 miles south of Babylon He was called, via a beautiful vision, into his ministry in 592 B.C. (Ezekiel 1:25-28)
Ezekiel’s Vision
…the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. (Ezek 1:1) As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings.(Ezek 1:4-6)
ď ˝
Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13Â As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14Â And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning. (Ezek 1:12-14)
Ezekiel’s Vision cont.
And he said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you." 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' (Ezek 2:1-4) He responds with the typical response… understandably
Ministry objectives – remind the Jews of the cause of their captivity and their future hope God used a variety of means to get His point across through Ezekiel Ezekiel’s duty is to spread the message… it was the people’s duty to respond properly Ezekiel 3:18-19
Ezekiel’s Responsibility
If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul . (Ezek 3:18-19) God controls Ezekiel’s voice for a time
Ezekiel’s Symbolic Acts
Twelve “skits” to demonstrate God’s truths Ezekiel’s beard Boiling water and choice meats His wife’s death The point of Ezekiel’s demonstrations? The fate of the false prophets was death Those exiles would be protected by God Ezekiel 11:16-20
Ezekiel’s Parables
Ezekiel also brought God’s message to the people through direct speech as well as via parables – here are six examples of his parables “The Fruitless Vine” “Adopted Girl becomes a Harlot” “Two Eagles and a Tree” “The Tender Twig” “Lioness and Her Cubs” “Two Harlot Sisters”
We are all accountable…
The sins of the father… are the sins of the father – not the son’s "Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise:….. he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live. 18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.” (Ezek 18: 14,17-18) God will forgive all sins!
ď ˝
Again, though I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, 15Â if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 16Â None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live. (Ezek 33:14-16)
However…
Judah will not repent God’s judgment on the nations - Moab, Ammon, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt
God Speaks of Israel’s Future
God will someday personally save His “flock” "Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep… 22 I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken. (Ezek 34:20, 22-24)
Ezekiel 34 cont.
"I will make with them a covenant of peace (Ezek 34:25) And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God. 31 And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God." (Ezek 34:30-31) Note what Samuel had written 500 years earlier…
2 Samuel 7:10-16
“And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.' " (2 Sam 7:10-16)
Valley of Dry Bones
Valley of Dry Bones – Ezekiel 37 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord God, you know." 4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
Valley of Dry Bones cont.
5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord." (Ezek 37:1-6)
These bones are the whole house of Israel
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. (Ezek 37:9-12)
David Shall be King
"My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. 25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore." (Ezek 37:24-28)
Wrap up of Ezekiel
Israel returns to “life” God will be their sanctuary while they are in captivity… and scattered throughout the earth Ezekiel ends with many end-times prophesies
Daniel
A bright young man taken captive in 605 B.C. Born into nobility Trained for service to King Nebuchadnezzar Friends – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego His new name was Belteshazzar Daniel’s diet was better than the King’s The four youths are “A” students Daniel served the Babylonian kings for 7 decades
Dreams in the Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is replete with very important prophetic dreams Nebuchadnezzar’s dream The king’s astrologers could not reveal the dream nor its interpretation. the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. (Dan 2:19) Daniel told the king that only the one true God could reveal his dream…
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
"You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth . (Dan 2:31-35)
The Interpretation…
You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold . 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay.
And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure." (Dan 2:37-45) The King “worships” Daniel
ď ˝
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47Â The king answered and said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery." 48Â Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon. (Dan 2:46-48)
The Burning Furnace Daniel 3:17-25 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a burning furnace as penalty for not worshipping the false image set up by the king. It was their belief that… If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Dan 3:17-18
Of course, as most know the ending of this true story, God saved them from the fire as He sent a fourth “man”, probably Jesus himself, into the fire to protect them. I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods. (Dan 3:25)
The King’s “Tree” Dream A great, beautiful tree that was suddenly cut down. Its stump was chained and allowed to remain in the ground. Daniel was summoned and sadly told the king that the tree represented him. He would become mad and be driven into the fields where he would live with the wild animals. This would be as judgment for his sins and pride for not worshipping God. Given one year to repent, the king did not. Nebuchadnezzar goes “mad” (Daniel 4:30-33)
“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses." That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws .” (Dan 4:30-33)
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And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation. (Dan 4:34-35) Apparently, Nebuchadnezzar ended his life as a follower of our Lord‌ and his.
The later years of Daniel’s ministry: The “Writing on the Wall” came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. (Dan 5:5) Daniel was promised great power and glory and riches if he would only interpret the dream. Yet, Belshazzar was not humbled he to God and therefore this is what the writing said: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end; TEKEL; thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Dan 5:26-28) The king’s word was good and although he had just been given this terrible news, he commanded that Daniel become the third highest ruler in Babylon! Unfortunately, for the king, he was slain that very night and Darius the Mede took over his kingdom!
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
King Darius takes the crown. He was tricked into declaring that all of his subjects were to pray only to him for thirty days. Daniel could not do this and was therefore sentenced to be thrown into the Lion’s Den. Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. (Dan 6:16-17) Daniel in the Lion’s Den
The next morning, the king went to the Den… My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me. Dan 6:21 The king was also in an unforgiving mood toward those men who had deviously planned this trap for Daniel.
End-time events
Daniel 7-12 are mostly concerned with endtime events Chapter 7 – Daniel’s vision of the four beasts – analogous to Nebuchadnezzar’s vision.
Daniel 7
Daniel declared, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. (Dan 7:2-3) These beasts were… a Lion, a Bear, a Leopard, and finally, a terrifying beast with ten horns. there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Dan 7:8) As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames. (Dan 7:9)
as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. (Dan 7:11) behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him ; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away… (Dan 7:13-14)
Daniel 8
Chapter 8 – Daniel’s vision of the ram & goat The ram has two horns representing Media and Persia. The goat stands for the King of Greece… at first, Alexander the Great. The goat has a great horn that is able to ram and conquer the ram. Then, however, at the height of his power, this ram had his horn break off – Alexander died. Four new horns came out of this one great horn… these represent the four kingdoms that followed Alexander.
The Seventy Weeks of Weeks
Chapter 9 – The vision of the Seventy Weeks delivered by Gabriel. "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks
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"And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. Â Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." (Dan 9:20-27)
Summary of Daniel 9
Referring back to Daniel 9:20-27, here is a list of a few of the events foretold: The actual timing of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ! The time for the rebuilding of the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem The coming tribulation, including mention of the Antichrist and his abomination of the Temple The length of the tribulation When the Antichrist will desecrate the newly rebuilt Temple
Persian and Greek Empires
Chapter 10-12 – The vision of Persian and Greek Empires and their relationship to Israel. The final three chapters of Daniel (10-12) contain very detailed prophesies concerning the interaction between Israel and the MediaPersian and Greek empires. Throughout these chapters, there are also prophetic insights given about the end-times… i.e. the last week of the seventy weeks described in chapter 7 (the tribulation period).
The Return Stage
Ezra, Zachariah and Haggai Ezra – a priest, scribe and teacher of the Law Returned to Jerusalem in 457 B.C. His writing detailed the first return (in 536 B.C.) and those that followed over 75 years later (457 and 445 when Nehemiah returned) The first return – the decree of King Cyrus The return began in 536 B.C. – Zerubbabel leads the way
God “speaks” to King Cyrus
The promise the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah was about to come true in Cyrus' first year as king of Persia. The Lord inspired the king to make this announcement throughout his whole kingdom and then to put it in writing. This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the world. Then he ordered me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem (which is in Judah). May God be with all of you who are His people. You may go to Jerusalem (which is in Judah) and build a temple for the Lord God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem. All who choose to remain behind, wherever they may be living, should provide the people who are leaving with silver, gold, supplies, livestock, and freewill offerings to be used in God's temple in Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:1-4)
The Return Begins ď ˝
Recall that 200 years earlier, Isaiah had predicted that a king named Cyrus would do just that! Cyrus had taken over Babylon in October 539 B.C. and issued this decree in 538 B.C. so those Jews who desired, could return to their homeland. Approximately 50,000 did return under the leadership of Zerubbabel (the grandson of Jehoiachin) beginning in 536 B.C.
The Rebuilding of the Temple
Jeshua serves as the High Priest An altar is built - sacrificial feasts are reinstituted – 536-537 B.C. The Temple work begins – 536 B.C. The people react – the youth rejoice … the aged shed tears Foreigners frustrate the project (535-531 B.C.) New King Artaxerxes (who took over for Cyrus) stopped the work on the project from 530-520 B.C.
Second Temple
Beginning in 520 B.C., prophets Zechariah and Haggai encouraged the people to finish their work on the Temple Tattenai writes to King Darius in an attempt to, once again, halt the construction. However, Darius confirmed Cyrus’ decree! Darius ordered help for the Jewish project! He also added that anyone who hindered the project would be put to death! The Temple was completed and dedicated in ~516 B.C.
Haggai
A prophet of God during these times Haggai – encouraged the building of the Temple God spoke to Haggai in August 520 B.C. The message – it was time to build God’s House… do not delay any longer After completion, blessings would follow
Haggai’s Prophecy
On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Lord spoke his word through the prophet Haggai. He said, “Now, speak to Zerubbabel (who is the son of Shealtiel and is governor of Judah), the chief priest Joshua (aka Jeshua - who is the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon. Ask them, ‘Is there anyone among the faithful few who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn't it seem like nothing to you?' “But now, Zerubbabel, be strong,” declares the Lord. “Chief Priest Joshua (son of Jehozadak), be strong. Everyone in the land, be strong,” declares the Lord. “Work, because I am with you,” declares the Lord of Armies. “This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains with you. Don't be afraid. (Hag 2:1-5)
Zechariah
A prophet and a priest – also encouraged the building of the Temple His grandfather was Iddo – priest who returned with Zerubbabel Martyred later in life (Matthew 23:35) Prophesies spanned at least 40 years His emphasis was on the Messiah – the fact that He was coming some day to occupy and use the Temple Most Messianic book in the Old Testament
Zechariah was given eight visions (chapter 1-6) These visions were to comfort the returning exiles as they dealt with God’s future “positive” dealings with Israel The coronation of Joshua the High Priest – a “type” of Christ (Zechariah 6:9-15) Change the fasts to feasts (Zechariah 8:19) Many words describing the Messiah – his first and second advents (Zechariah 9-14)
Rejoice with all your heart, people of Zion! Shout in triumph, people of Jerusalem! Look! Your King is coming to you: He is righteous and victorious. He is humble and rides on a donkey , on a colt, a young pack animal. He will make sure there are no chariots in Ephraim or war horses in Jerusalem. There will be no battle bows. He will announce peace to the nations. He will rule from sea to sea and from the {Euphrates} River to the ends of the earth. I will set your captives free from the waterless pit because of the blood that sealed my promise to you. (Zech 9:911)
Esther
Was taken as queen by King Xerxes 1 (aka King Ahasuerus) in 478 B.C. After much royal intrigue, she was able to save her people, the Jews, from destruction Here is a summary of these events: The Grand Banquet – 482 B.C. – Queen Vashti loses her position as the queen War follows… and defeat. A contest for a new queen
Esther continued…
Mordecai warns of a plot to kill the king. Mordecai vs. Haman Haman gets permission to kill all of the Jews. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the massacre would occur. Mordecai speaks to Esther Esther receives the faith needed (from God) to speak to the King. Esther makes a difficult request… The King grants her request
Haman Gets a Surprise
Esther invites Haman to a banquet Haman readies the gallows for Mordecai The King’s insomnia – God’s providence at work King Xerxes realized that Mordecai had saved his life a few years earlier. The banquet… Haman gets a rude surprise! The Jews are saved … i.e. save themselves Festival of Purim celebrates that 473 B.C. victory
Ezra goes to Jerusalem
King Artaxerxes (Esther’s stepson) allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem in 457 B.C. Much help is supplied. Ezra rounds up many Levites. Ezra arrives and begins his work…
King’s Letter
Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Jehovah, and of his statutes to Israel: Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee…… and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, and all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem. (Ezra 7:11-16)
Nehemiah
Nehemiah hears from his brother, Hanani, that the walls of Jerusalem still are in shambles. After much prayer, Nehemiah is convinced that God wants him to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls of the city. Nehemiah’s meeting with King Artaxerxes… He is allowed to return to Jerusalem Work begins on the wall… The city wall was completed in just 52 days!!! Ezra and Nehemiah are quite the team!
Ezra - conclusion‌ ď ˝
Ezra taught the people and Nehemiah served as a Godly governor. So began the next stage of Jewish history. The Temple was now available for worship and the traditional feasts were re-instituted, the city was completed and protected and there was once again Godly governance and teaching.
Malachi
The last book in the Old Testament John the Baptist will be next on the scene… “I'm going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way ahead of me. Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the promise will come. He is the one you want,” says the Lord of Armies. (Mal 3:1) [this verse points to John the Baptist] Then… the Messiah!!!
The Book of Job
A discussion between God and Satan Satan doubts mankind’s love for God God proposes a test case … Job Satan “attacks” Job Job’s response… "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. (Job 1:21-22) Things go from bad to worse Job 2:7-10
Satan Afflicts Job’s Body
Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!" But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:7-10) Job now gets very depressed Job 3:11-13
Job’s Questions…
"Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb? Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse? For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; Then I would have been at rest. (Job 3:11-13)
Job’s three friends
Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar arrive At first, they sit in silence… “they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.” (Job 2:12-13) They make weak attempts to comfort Job Job wants an arbiter “For He is not a man like myself, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in judgment. Would that there were an arbiter between us, who could lay his hand upon us both and withdraw His rod from me.” (Job 9:32-33) Job talks to his friends
The Questioning Continues
Job takes his case to God “Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.” (Job 13:3) “Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.” (Job 13:13) “Though He slay me, yet will I trust (hope) in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him (I will surely defend my ways to His face).” (Job 13:15) Rounds 2 & 3 with his friends - no better results (Job 16:1,4-5,11) Job keeps asking God “Why?” Job sees a future salvation (Job 19:23-27)
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For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. (Job 19:23-27) The youngster Elihu brashly comes onto the scene but is of no help to Job.
God speaks!
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know!” (Job 38:1-5) Job gets the point! (Job 40:2-3 & 42:1-6)
Job finally understands
Then Job answered the Lord and said: "Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further." (Job 40:2-5) Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:1-6) Remember what we need to have in order to please God… Faith
Proverbs
Short insights into the wisdom needed to live a proper, moral life Proverbs is divided into seven sections: Wisdom (chapters 1-9) Proverbs of Solomon (chapter 10:1-22:16) Thirty Sayings of the Wise (chap. 22:17-24:34) King Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s Proverbs (chapters 25-29) The Proverbs of Agur (chapter 30) The Proverbs of Lemuel (chapter 31:1-9) The Proverbs of the Worthy Woman (chapter 31:10-31)
Reasons for these Proverbs
Solomon gives his reasons for these Proverbs: “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov 1:2-7) Wisdom and how to get it… Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Prov 3:5-6)
Writers of the Proverbs
Solomon’s proverbs… typically short and snappy. [e.g. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Prov 14:12) Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Prov 16:18)] King Hezekiah’s collection…(e.g. Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. (Prov 27:1-2) Those of Agur… (Chapter 30) Proverbs describing a wise king and an excellent wife – (Prov. 31)
The Psalms
The Psalms can be divided into five sections: Book One (ch. 1-41) Around the time of David [Man – Genesis] Book Two (ch. 42-72) Around the time of David [Deliverance – Exodus] [Book Three (ch. 73-89) After Israel’s fall Sanctuary – Leviticus] Book Four (ch. 90-106) After Israel’s fall [Wandering - Numbers] Book Five (ch. 107-150) After the return from exile [Word of God – Deuteronomy]
Writers of the Psalms
Various people wrote the Psalms: David authored about half of them; Asaph approx. 12 more; Moses wrote Psalm 90; Solomon wrote Psalm 72 & 127; Korah’s descendants wrote Psalms 42-49, 84-87, 88; Hezekiah wrote a few as well; Thirty-four Psalms have no known author. A topical breakdown follows…
Topical Breakdown of the Psalms
Attributes of God (Glory, Holiness, Justice, Mercy, Love, Eternality, Omnipotence, etc.) Messianic Psalms (ex. Resurrection, Ascension, Millennium reign, death, etc.) Relationship Psalms (Shepherd and His flock plus the Son and His Father, etc.) Events in Israel’s history (ex. Babylonian captivity, Destruction of Jerusalem, etc.) Events in David’s life (ex. Fleeing Saul, Sin with Bathsheba, Coronation of Solomon…) Future Events (tribulation, Millennium) Imprecatory (crying out for God to punish the wicked) Confessional Worship Praise and Thanksgiving
Psalms has the most Messianic passages of any Old Testament book. It is quoted often in the New Testament. In fact, it is quoted second only to Isaiah. Many Messianic messages Some favorite chapters in the Psalms: 2224,19,32,33,52,91,100,107,119,121,148
Ecclesiastes
King Solomon tried it all… There is a time for everything: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.” (Eccl 3:1-8)
The Inevitability of Age…
The young and the old: In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows grow dim; When the doors are shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low; Also they are afraid of height, and of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, and desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity." (Eccl 12:3-8)
What is the Answer?
There is nothing new under the sun… (Eccl 1:9) Conclusion – so what is the answer? Follow God: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” (Eccl 12:13-14)
Song of Solomon
Blossoming love This book describes the love of Solomon for a Shulamite girl. This is one of the 1005 songs that he composed. It was probably written in 950 B.C. or thereabouts. The king comes for his bride The bride tells of her wonderful groom The honeymoon So this is a picture of a beautiful courtship and marriage of a man and a woman. Some theologians believe that it may be a “type” of the marriage that the Church has with Jesus Christ. That is a matter of opinion.
Summary
Creation The Fall Noah and the Ark – God starts again with eight Godly people (Noah’s sons – Ham, Shem, Japeth) The Tower of Babel Abram called out of Ur of the Chaldees (The Abrahamic Covenant) (birth > 2166 B.C.) Abraham > Isaac > Jacob > 12 tribes of Israel Abraham > Ishmael (+Esau) > Arabs
Sojourn into Egypt – 430 years ending in slavery (approximately 1876-1446 B.C.) God, through Moses, leads His people out of Egypt The Law is given Lack of Faith leads to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness Finally… entry into the Promised Land The time of the Judges (approx. 300 years)
The United Kingdom (Saul>David>Solomon) 120 years (1050-930 B.C.) The Divided Kingdom (Israel and Judah) Israel falls to Assyria in 722 B.C. Judah falls to Babylon in 606 B.C. – Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed in 586 B.C. 70 years of captivity The return to Jerusalem – the Temple, the story of Esther, then the walls of the city are rebuilt Waiting for the coming of the Messiah…
history:
Important family trees in early Bible
Adam/Eve --- Cain and Abel and Seth Seth > Enos > Cainan> Jared> Enoch> Methuselah> Lamech> Noah Noah > Shem & Ham & Japheth (sons of Noah) Then came the Great Worldwide Flood……. Ham and Japheth went out after the Tower of Babel to establish many great nations over the millennia Shem > Abraham/Sarah > Ishmael and Isaac Ishmael > progeny yielded Arab nation (combined with Esau’s progeny) Isaac/Rebecca > Jacob (later changed to Israel) & Esau Esau > combined with Ishmael to yield Edom and Arab nations Jacob/Leah > 6 sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar) Jacob/ Zilpah> 2 sons (Gad, Asher) Jacob/Rachel > 2 sons (Joseph, Benjamin) Jacob/Bilhah 2 sons (Dan, Naphtali)
ll Samuel
Gideon Israel
Philosophical Proofs
Moral Argument Teleological Argument Cosmological Argument
Scientific Evidence for God
Universe had a beginning – “Big Bang” Universe is amazingly “fine-tuned” anthropic principle Origin of Life – not reproducible Macro-evolution – statistical impossibility
Irreducibly complex system Molecular biological complexity of the living cell No missing links after 150 years! Cambrian explosion
Second Law of Thermodynamics