9:00 AM Sunday School
OLD TESTAMENT
Book By Book
By Jerry Schmoyer Copyright Ó 1998
252 W. State Street , Doylestown , PA 18901
215-348-8086 – jerry@schmoyer.net
ECCLESIASTES: life without God is empty
LAMENTATIONS: sin brings sorrow
AMOS: accountability
(HARD COPIES OF THIS ARE AVAILABLE. THEY INCLUDE CHARTS, DIAGRAMS AND PICTORAL OUTLINES OF THE BOOKS. WRITE TO ME AND REQUEST A COPY IF YOU WANT ONE.)
TITLE: Greek for “Beginnings”
AUTHOR: Moses
DATE of WRITING: About 1440 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Desert wilderness
TIME COVERED: Creation to 1804 BC
RECIPIENTS: Jews
KEY VERSE: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15
KEY WORD: “Generations” (19 times)
PURPOSE: To show the beginnings of all things, especially Israel.
THEME: The origin of all things.
Several years ago a man named Alex Haley wrote a book called “Roots” which captured the attention of the entire nation. It was about his search for his background, where he came from. “Roots” was an appropriate title. We all need roots. Knowing where we came from can help us understand where we are and where we’re going.
BEGINNINGS: Moses wrote a book that also could have been called “Roots.” Instead it’s called “Genesis.” Genesis is the Greek title, taken from the first words of the book in Greek: “In the beginning.” Genesis is a book of beginnings. In it we see the beginning of the universe, life, revelation of God and the Trinity, grace, man, Sabbath, marriage, home, sin, temptation, confession, forgiveness, pride, Satan, Christ, election, prophecy, faith, judgment, suffering, murder, family, worship, rewards, prayer, eternal security, witnessing, stewardship, capital punishment, love, sin nature, and so much more. Virtually everything has its beginning in Genesis. The only beginning that isn’t told about is the beginning of God, for He has no beginning.
Because Genesis is so important, it is attacked quite heavily. Any book gets most wear and tear on its exposed sides: front and back. Those pages take the most abuse. That is true in the Bible, too. The first three chapters of Genesis (creation) and the last three of Revelation (Jesus’ return and eternity) take the most abuse, too. That is where Satan attacks. If he can discredit either of those the truth of the rest of the book is undermined.
TWO BOOKS IN ONE Genesis is really two books in one. The first 11 chapters talk about the beginning of the universe and nations on earth. Chapters 12 - 50 deal with the nation Israel. In 11 short chapters 2,300 years of history are covered. Major events that have shaped our world are covered quickly: creation, fall, flood and Babel. The rest of the book covers only 300 years and focuses on four men: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. In the first 11 chapters God sets the stage for what He really wants to get to: Abraham and the start of Israel. It’s like seeing a movie which starts with a panoramic view of the countryside with a village in the difference. The camera pans across it all, focusing in on the town until focusing on a man walking down the street. The camera then zooms in on him and follows him down the street and into a house. The story slows down and follows events in the man’s life. That’s how Genesis is. God isn’t trying to give all the details we’d like to have about creation and the fall. He just records it’s happening then moves on.
HISTORY & SCIENCE Genesis contains a lot about science, and all it includes is true. However Genesis isn’t a science book because it doesn’t try to cover all areas of science or answer all questions that come up. The same is true of history. Genesis contains a lot about history, and all it includes is true. But it isn’t a history book because it leaves out so much history. God’s purpose isn’t to give a detailed account of science or history, but to set the background for Abraham and Israel. The focus of the book of Genesis, like the whole Bible, is redemption. Genesis 1 - 11 show man’s need of redemption, but 12 - 50 show the beginning of God’s provision of redemption through Israel in the person of Jesus the Messiah.
IMPORTANCE OF GENESIS The opening chapter of any book is important for it sets the stage for what is to come. The background information is crucial to understand the rest of the book. To skip the first chapter and start elsewhere makes one always wonder what is missing, what has been revealed which the reader doesn’t know. It’s important to pay closer attention to the first chapter, then the rest of the book makes more sense. The same is true with the Bible. Genesis, the first ‘chapter’ in the book, is very important. Make sure you really understand the book of Genesis before going on to the rest of the book.
ROOTS By the way, where are YOUR roots? I don’t mean physically, I mean spiritually. Are you rooted and grounded in Jesus? That’s the only foundation that will last, that won’t wash away. Make sure your roots are firmly embedded in Jesus!
TITLE: Greek for “Depart, Exit, Way Out”
AUTHOR: Moses
DATE of WRITING: About 1440 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Desert wilderness
TIME COVERED: 1875 BC to 1444 BC
RECIPIENTS: Jews
KEY VERSE: So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey-- the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Exodus 3:8
KEY WORD: “Redeem, Deliver” (10 times)
PURPOSE: To show how Israel got out of Egypt (fulfill Gen 15:12-16) and received God’s law
THEME: Redemption of the believer pictured by the exodus
A few years ago a boy made a model sailboat out of wood. He worked hard at carving, sanding and painting it. He loved to sail it on a stream near his home. One day it got away from him, though, and was carried downstream. He tried to retrieve it but wasn’t able. He went home very sad over the loss. Several days later, while walking through town, he saw his sailboat in a toy store window with a price attached to it. He quickly got some odd jobs and worked hard until he was able to save enough money to buy back his own boat. What that boy did is what the Bible word “redeem” refers to. It means to “buy back” something that was originally yours. The word was originally used of a slave owner who had to buy back his runaway slave . That is a perfect picture of what God has done for us. We are his by creation but rebelled and ran away in sin, so He had to pay the price (Jesus on the cross) to buy us back (“redeem” us).
GENESIS & EXODUS Genesis shows man’s failure. Genesis starts with man walking and talking with God, but sin enters and by the end of the book man is in bondage to Pharaoh (a picture of Satan) in Egypt (a picture of the world system without God). In Exodus we see God coming to man’s rescue, to bring him out of bondage, to “redeem” him. It is done by blood (Passover lamb) and power (Red Sea deliverance).
THE PASSOVER LAMB Just as Genesis 12 is the key chapter in the book of Genesis (telling about Abraham being chosen, leaving all to follow God, and listing God’s eternal promises to him and his descendants), so Exodus 12 is the key chapter in the book of Exodus. It explains about the Passover lamb, the innocent blood shed to bring redemption. This is a beautiful picture of Jesus, the fulfillment of this picture (I Peter 1:18-19; John 1:29,36; I Cor. 5:7). The lamb had to be perfect and unblemished, a male in the prime of life. It died as a substitute for the people on the 14th of Nisan, about 3 in the afternoon (the exact day and time Jesus died on the cross). The blood was then applied to the doorpost of the homes of those who believed. The lamb’s death didn’t deliver unless it was personally accepted and applied. Those who were inside were safe from judgment. The blood on the doorposts, top of the frame, and sill (where the lamb was killed) was in the shape of a cross. Inside they ate the meat of the lamb (nourishment from Christ).
When the angel of death saw the blood he passed over for it was a picture that death had already come. The substitute died in the place of the guilty people. Thus they were “redeemed” by the blood of the lamb. God bought back with a price of infinite value that which was originally His by creation. In the early days of this country the pioneers were often destroyed by great prairie fires that would sweep across the plains miles across and destroy everything and everyone in its path. From the Indians they learned that when they realized such a fire was approaching they should set fire to all the grass around their homestead. Thus when the main fire came roaring through they were safe because, as the Indians said, “Where the fire has been the fire cannot come.” That is true of God’s judgment. When we accept Jesus as our Savior we are eternally safe from any judgment by God (Romans 8:1).
LEAVEN Because there wasn’t time to let bread rise, they quickly cooked bread without leaven and ate it. Leaven is used as a picture of sin in the Bible (Mt. 6:6,11-12; I Cor. 5:6-8; Gal 5:9). For centuries the Jews have celebrated this deliverance from Egypt by drinking the juice of the grape (a picture of the blood of the lamb) and eating matzo (unleavened bread). This was a reminder of God’s great deliverance of them, the key miracle in the Old Testament. Genesis 1 to Exodus 11 point to this and from Exodus 13 to the end of Malachi the Old Testament looks back to this event as the highlight of God’s work for His people.
In the New Testament Jesus takes this juice from the grape and unleavened blood and says that it no longer stands for physical deliverance but for spiritual deliverance form sin and Satan. Jesus teaches that the real fulfillment of these was in His very own body and blood, and that we are to now celebrate this as the Lord’s Supper, a reminder of God’s greatest of all deliverances.
THE TABERNACLE The other great teaching tool in the book of Exodus is the Tabernacle. It, too, shows all about Jesus (see series of articles on “The Tabernacle” by Jerry Schmoyer).
TITLE: Greek “Pertaining to the Levites”
AUTHOR: Moses
DATE of WRITING: 1444 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Mt. Sinai
TIME COVERED: A few weeks in 1444 BC
RECIPIENTS: Jews, especially the Levites
KEY VERSE: You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own. Lev. 20:26
KEY WORDS: Holy/Sanctify (131x); Sacrifice (300x); Clean/unclean (200x); Atonement (36x)
PURPOSE: To instruct Israel in how to live a holy life but teaching the Levites how to serve.
THEME: A holy people worshipping a holy God in the spirit of holiness.
I have a cartoon that shows a boy looking seriously at the Bible, with a girl anxiously looking over her shoulder. Finally he says, “You can relax. There’s not a thing in the entire book of Leviticus against wearing contact lenses!”
He’s right -- but if any book would contain such restrictions the book of Leviticus would be it! Reading Leviticus is an awfully like reading the ordinances, building code, and laws of your local municipality. Sound exciting? Genesis is good reading, and Exodus starts off exciting, but by the time people get to Leviticus they often bog down and never finish reading the Bible. What a shame. Laws aren’t exciting reading, but where would we be without them?
GENESIS, EXODUS AND LEVITICUS Genesis shows the problem: man is sinful and that separates him from God. Exodus shows the solution: God provides redemption by innocent blood being shed on his behalf. hen what? If the Bible ended after Exodus 12 we would assume, and correctly so, that salvation was the end of things. We accept Jesus as our Savior and that is all there is. However the Bible doesn’t end there. There is MUCH more, and that is living a holy life for God. After man sees his need (Genesis) and accepts God’s provision (Exodus) then he is to life a holy life for God (Leviticus). We are to worship and serve God in everything we do. The rest of the Bible gives instructions in how to do that. Leviticus taught the redeemed Jews how to live holy lives of godly service.
SACRIFICE The Old Testament sacrificial system was God’s reminder that sin had to be paid for by innocent blood being shed. This is true of the once-for-all acceptance of salvation (applying the blood of the Lamb) and then the daily need for cleansing from acts of sin after salvation (sacrifices). These sacrifices also pictured Jesus in that they were innocent and perfect. One important truth to note: there was no provision of forgiveness for intentional, knowing, willful sin. The sacrifices were for sins of ignorance only. God would forgive other sin, but only by his mercy. Today we are guarenteed forgiveness (I Jn 1:9).
PRIESTHOOD The priest was a go-between for God and man (another picture of Jesus). All his garments and colors taught about Jesus, as did the Tabernacle. The duties and functions of the priests are detailed in Leviticus.
DAY OF ATONEMENT The Day of Atonement, Exodus 16, is the key chapter in the book. “Atonement” means to cover, take away, remove. On this day the sins of the nation were forgiven by God. Two goats were taken, one killed and its blood collected. Some of the blood was taken into the Holy of Holies by the high priest, with a rope around his ankle so they could pull him out if God didn’t accept the sacrifice and struck him dead. When we enter God’s presence we enter with assurance He will hear and accept us because of what Jesus did on the cross (Hebrews 10:19). The rest of the blood was sprinkled on the second goat, which was sent away into the wilderness. This ‘scape goat’ pictured sins being carried away.
LAWS, LAWS AND MORE LAWS The book of Leviticus is fill of all kinds of laws to govern the people’s relationships with each other and with God. Sexual regulations, capital punishment, cleanliness (sanitation and health concerns), and other laws are all for the benefit of the people themselves. Laws are for their protection and pleasure, not to make life harder and take away ‘fun.’
Weekly and yearly feasts were also part of God’s way of teaching His truths to His people. They all show how important it is to live holy, committed lives in obedience to God. We today live under grace, not the law, but God still requires holiness and obedience from His people.
TITLE: From the Census (start & end of bk.)
AUTHOR: Moses
DATE of WRITING: About 1405 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Moab
TIME COVERED: 39 years (1440-1405)
RECIPIENTS: Jews
KEY VERSE: Num 10:29 Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are setting out for the place about which the LORD said, `I will give it to you.' Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel."
KEY WORD: “Wilderness” (45 times)
PURPOSE: To record what happened when the Jews left Mt Sinai and how they died in the desert because of their unbelief.
THEME: God’s faithfulness despite man’s faithlessness. Man is to walk by faith.
Too often the Old Testament is viewed as just history -- a bunch of old stories that have no relevancy for today. That’s not true. God kept the Old Testament as part of our Bible today because it is invaluable in many ways. For one thing, all the historical stories do relate to today and teach lessons to us. Paul himself said that the events in Exodus and Numbers were recorded as examples for us today to learn from (I Cor. 10:1-12, esp v 6 & 11). If we miss the lesson we are bound to make the same mistake ourselves.
I. THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD (chap 1-12) Numbers starts with a census of the people. The purpose is to see raise an army of fighting men. for warfare is coming. Genesis shows man’s sin and helplessness (he can’t fight sin). Exodus reveals God fighting for man to provide redemption (we can’t attain our own salvation). Leviticus teaches how to live a holy life (preparation for the fight). Numbers shows the battle has begun. We are in a battle with sin. We are to go on as in “Onward Christian Soldiers.”
God assigned responsibility to the people (chap 2-4). God is organized. Each one of God’s people is given an assignment, and if they don’t do their duty others suffer, too.
Then the people are cleansed (chap 5) and consecrated (chap 6 - 10), ready to leave. However on the way to the promised land they start complaining again (chap 11-12). God hated it (Psalm 95:10-11). How could anyone complain when rescued from slavery and given health, food and a promised home? We have it even better, how God must hate it when we complain! That just shows lack of appreciation, selfishness, self-centeredness and sin!
II. FAILURE OF MAN (chap 13-20:13) Not comes the big test - trust God to give them the land He has promised. Their fear of the giants (who certainly aren’t bigger than God) keep them from trusting God and entering the land. What ‘giants’ in your life keep you from trusting and obeying God? Are they bigger than God?
The Jews feared, disobeyed, rebelled, tried to kill Moses & Aaron, and chose new leaders to take them back into the land. In his disgust, God said they’d not be able to enter the land. Actually, it was only God’s mercy at Moses’ pleading that kept Him from destroying the whole nation. They had to wonder aimlessly until all the adults (those over 40) who came out of Egypt died off and the children grew up. God would then give them a chance to decide for themselves. It was a waste of 40 years and millions of lives, all because of disobedience!
Moses himself didn’t fare much better. A life-long problem with anger culminated with him again acting in anger (chap 20) and not being able to enter the Promised Land, either. Anger that isn’t controlled brings terrible consequences, as the life of Moses shows.
III. GOD’S PROVISION FOR MAN’S FAILURE Despite man’s continual failure, God remained faithful. He defended the Jews from Edom, Arad, Shion and Og (chap 20-21). He protected them from unknown danger (Balaam - chap 22-26). After another census preparing the new generation for their turn at warfare (chap 26) and instructions in how to divide the land (chap 26, 31-34) Joshua is promoted to leadership, replacing Moses (chap 27). Moses will have some final sermons to this new generation, reviewing what has happened to the first and challenging them to not make the same mistakes. That is the book of Deuteronomy.
TITLE: “Second Law” (Greek)
AUTHOR: Moses (1:1-6)
DATE of WRITING: About 1405 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Moab
TIME COVERED: 2 months in 1405 BC (Reviews last 39 years)
RECIPIENTS: Israel
KEY VERSE: Deut 10:12-13 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
KEY WORDS: “Hear” (50 times); “Do, Keep, Observe” (177 times); “Love” (21 times)
PURPOSE: The old generation is gone. Moses will soon die. He instructs the new generation to remember God’s faithfulness and learn from past failures so they will obey God in love.
THEME: Obey God motivated by love because of His faithfulness in the past.
Which is your favorite book in the Bible? Usually we choose Psalms, Proverbs, John, Ephesians, Revelation or some such book. If you’d have asked Jesus, though, you might have gotten an entirely different answer. He may have said “Deuteronomy!” After all, He knew large portions of it by heart. When tempted by Satan He quoted from the book of Deuteronomy -- three times! When was the last time you quoted Deuteronomy to have victory over temptation?
MOSES’ LAST WORDS Because of his sins of anger and disobedience, Moses cannot enter the promised land with the other Jews. Before he dies and they enter the land under Joshua, God gives Moses the opportunity to give a series of addresses to the people. Basically he tells them that, because God has always been faithful to them (even when they weren’t faithful to Him), the Jews should obey Him in love. History can be a great teacher, with much wisdom to share, if we but listen and learn. That is what Moses wanted this generation to do. He encouraged them to learn from the mistakes of their parents and obey God. God’s laws are for our own good. They are like signs pointing out mines in a mine-field. God knows what can damage and destroy, and warns His people to avoid these things.
While obedience is for our own benefit and brings blessing instead of calamity, Moses wants the people to obey because of love for God (6:5). For a child to say he loves his parents is one thing, to show it by obedience is quite another. The same is true with God’s children.
Moses reviews the law God gave on Mt. Sinai, for this generation has been living in disobedience to God for the last 39 years. The people agree to keep the law and obey God in love. They want to learn from the past and not make the same mistakes themselves.
Moses also gives some new laws covering situations and circumstances that have come up, which aren’t addressed by other laws. He not only tells them what to do but why to do it. Then God takes Moses home to heaven with him. Satan tried to get his body (Jude 9) but Michael hid it. Perhaps Satan would let the Jews find it and worship Moses’ body instead of Moses’ God. Moses appears to Jesus at the Transfiguration in his resurrection body, and that’s how we’ll see him when we join him in heaven.
What about your obedience to God? Do you learn from past mistakes of your own and others? Do you obey in love? Adam and Eve didn’t always obey. Abel did. Cain didn’t. Noah did. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did and didn’t. Joseph did. the Jews didn’t. Aaron didn’t. Miriam didn’t. Joshua and Caleb did. What will God say about your life? It’s up to you now. Make obedience based on love the main goal of you live and you can’t go wrong!
TITLE: Named after author, main character
AUTHOR: Joshua
DATE of WRITING: About 1375 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Canaan (Palestine)
TIME COVERED: About 30 years
RECIPIENTS: Jews, second generation of those who left Egypt
KEY VERSE: Josh 1:2-3 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-- to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
KEY WORDS: Possess/Possessions (22 times); Inherit/Inheritance (63 times)
PURPOSE: To show how God’s promises were fulfilled ingiving Canaan to Israel (23:14) but how Israel failed to fully possess the land (18:3), setting groundwork for future troubles.
THEME: Conquest and division of Canaan.
Have you ever been in a position where you had to replace someone who did an outstanding job? Maybe it was at work, or even at church. You didn’t seem to have the skills and natural ability your predecessor did, but now it was your responsibility. With God’s help it all worked out fine. That is the position Joshua finds himself in. He was only average in ability, but above average in availability. He wasn’t the gifted, natural leader Moses was, but he trusted God and God used him to lead the Jews into their Promised Land.
Joshua was born a slave in Egypt . He assisted Moses and was trained by Moses since the Jews left Egypt . He was the general who led the soldiers against the Amalekites while Moses prayed (Exodus 17). Joshua and Caleb were the only spies who trusted that God could defeat the giants and give them the land. Now he is a man of about 80 or 90, full of wisdom and confidence in God. Naturally he was a fearful man, but when he trusted in God he had courage and strength for his tasks (Joshua 1:6-9). Joshua in many ways is a picture (type) of Jesus. His name (Hebrew) and Jesus (Greek) both mean “the LORD is salvation.” In the Old Testament Joshua leads the Jews to victory over physical enemies (Canaanites). In the New Testament it is Jesus who leads his people to victory over spiritual enemies (sin, Satan, the flesh and the world). Victory isn’t given, it must be won. However behind Joshua/Jesus it CAN be won! If people follow Joshua/Jesus, God gives victory!
I. INTO THE LAND The first half of the book talks about the Jews claiming (chap. 1-5) and conquering (chap. 6-12) the land God had long ago promised them to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. After Joshua is commissioned (chap. 1), Jericho is canvassed (chap. 2). While Joshua knows to trust in God, he also knows his part is to use common sense and plan ahead. He trusted completely and planned completely, a good example to us today.
Jericho was the key city in entering the land, for it was virtually impregnable. The outer walls were 30 by 6 foot. After a 15 foot space the inner wall was 30 by 12 foot. They were joined at the top and surrounded by a deep moat with a smooth, vertical surface. Arrows and swords could never conquer such a place. Without God’s help it would be impossible. The spies sent were saved by a prostitute names Rahab, who gave her heart to God. She was a fine woman of faith (Heb 11:31 ; James 2:25 ) who was the great-great-grandmother of David (mother of Boaz), an ancestor of Jesus.
After crossing the Jordan (chap 3-4) by stepping into the water before it parted (unlike the Red Sea crossing where it separated first -- God expects more from our faith as we grow and mature in Him), they recommitted themselves by circumcision (chap 5) which they neglected while wandering. God expects His people to be holy and 100% obedient to Him.
After defeating Jericho by a crazy, far-out battle plan from God (which actually worked - the large walls fell into the moat so it was smooth walking into town) (chap. 6), the Jews are defeated at Ai (chap 7) because of Achan’s sin. The sin of one can affect a whole family, church or nation! God hates sin and judges it wherever it is. The Canaanites were being removed because of their awful sin, but the Jews, too, had to keep from all sin. How awful sin is can be seen by Jesus’ crucifixion!
Joshua’s campaign was to ‘divide and conquer,” separate the various tribes before they could unite. Moshe Dyan, in 1967, studied and followed Joshua’s strategy in defeating the Arabs in 6 days despite being outnumbered 60 to 1!
The closest to recorded sin by Joshua is his omission of prayer about a treaty he signed with the Gibeonites (chap. 9-10). Assuming they were from far away, he promised to help them and soon found himself fighting other tribes defending them! God gave the victory by yet another miracle in the life of Joshua -- the sun stood still so darkness wouldn’t aid the enemy.
After defeating the other Canaanite tribes, peace came. However the Jews didn’t remove every Canaanite, and they would be a sword in their side from then on, leading them into intermarriage and idolatry until that caused the Jews to again be removed from Palestine . It is so very important to obey God 100% and remove every sin, no matter how ‘small.”
II. IN THE LAND The second half of the book deals with the colonizing of the land (chap. 13-21) and consecrating of the land (chap. 22-24). The land is divided among the 12 tribes. The highlight of this section is Caleb’s faith in taking on the giants with just his family and defeating them! Despite his age and wasting 40 years of his life because of someone else’s sin, and despite being passed over for leadership when Joshua was chosen, he always stayed faithful to God, even raising a faithful family who also served God (Judges 1:12-15).
TITLE: People God used to deliver Israel
AUTHOR: Unknown (possibly Samuel)
DATE of WRITING: About 1045 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Canaan
TIME COVERED: 1375 - 1049 BC
RECIPIENTS: Jews
KEY VERSE: Judg 2:11-19 They provoked the LORD to anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. ... The LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. ... They were in great distress. Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. ... Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. ... But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshipping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
KEY WORDS: “did evil” (14 times); “judges” (22 times)
PURPOSE: To show the history of Israel from Joshua to Samuel and to show the sinfulness of man and what happens when people turn from God.
THEME: Failure Through Compromise
We all know the story of the prodigal son and how he was forgiven and restored when he returned. It is a heart-warming story with a good ending. What we don’t know is what happened after he returned. Suppose we found out that a little later he again took what his father would give him and left, only to again fail and return. Then he did it again, and again, and again -- for the rest of his life! That would certainly change your opinion of the story and the son. That is exactly what the book of Judges is about. God is the father, and the nation Israel is the prodigal son.
DOOM AND GLOOM While Joshua was a book of joy and victory, Judges is full of gloom and defeat. Joshua teaches that faithfulness brings freedom, but Judges shows that faithlessness brings servitude. The appendix at the end of the book (chapters 17-21) give two examples of how spiritually perverted and morally polluted God’s people can get when they aren’t living close to Him! Its a great book to read on a cold, rainy night when you are down and depressed -- the book will fit your mood perfectly!
SEVEN CYCLES OF SIN The book of judges is structured around seven cycles of sin, summarized in 2:11 -19. The people disobey God and turn to false gods and idolatry. God withdraws His blessing and they end up in bondage to an enemy. When they hit bottom they have no place else to turn so they call out to God who hears them and provides a judge to lead them to deliverance. These judges are not like we think of judges, but more like patriotic evangelists (Joan of Arc types) who lead the people in repentance and then war against their oppressors. After a period of peace and rest they stop depending on God and start to drift into sin again, and the cycle repeats itself. Actually these are downward spirals, for they don’t reach as high but do sink lower each time. This happens seven times in the book of Judges, as shown on the outline (chapters 3 - 16).
You might also recognize this pattern in your own life or in the lives of those around you. We all have a tendency to be closer to God when things are tough, then drift on our own when everything seems to be all right. God allows pressure to stay on us to keep us close to Him.
SEX: SATAN’S BEST TRAP BAIT Living in a sex-saturated society isn’t anything new to us. Satan has used that repeatedly through the ages, and why not -- it produces the results he wants! The Jews were gradually lured from God by sexual compromises. It started off with their not killing all the Canaanites when they conquered the land under Joshua. Although few and used as slaves, the Canaanites increased in number and the Jews started intermarrying with them. The Canaanites brought their old gods to their family and taught their worship to their children. Frankly, it was much more appealing to the flesh than serving and submitting to God. Baal and Ashtoreth were worshipped in immorality, for they were fertility gods. Ashtoreth, the female consort of Baal, was worshipped by religious prostitution (in Europe the “A” changed to “E” and she was Eshtoreth, then Esther, symbolized by rabbits, eggs and other symbols of fertility). The Jews didn’t jump right into this sin, but gradually slid in. Like land eroding at a river bank or curtains fading in a living room, a gradual change is harder to notice than a quick change. Notice the programs and talk on TV now compared to 20 years ago and you’ll see just how this works.
Although specially chosen and gifted by God, Samson was destroyed by his preoccupation with sex. He had great physical strength, but no moral strength, a common description of many people today. Sexual temptation ruled his life and destroyed him, as it has done and continues to do with so many others today. It’s natural that Satan would bait his trap with something that was created to be so fine and beautiful. Watch for his trap in your life!
TITLE: Names after the heroine, Ruth
AUTHOR: Possibly Samuel
DATE of WRITING: During reign of David
PLACE of WRITING: Canaan
TIME COVERED: About 10 years during time of Judges. Ruth & Boaz married about 1120 BC
RECIPIENTS: Jews
KEY VERSE: Ruth 1:15-16 "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her." But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
KEY WORDS: “Kinsman” (14 times); “Redeemer” (9 times)
PURPOSE: To show there is a faithful remnant during times of apostasy (Judges) as well as how a Moabite woman became the great-grandmother of David and an ancestor of Jesus
THEME: Redemption illustrated by the example of the kinsman-redeemer.
Many great novels have a story within as story. Dr. Zivago, for example, has a tender love story within a setting of violence and brutality. The same is true of the story of Ruth. Set in the time of the judges (actually the last four chapters in the book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible), the book of Ruth shows a story of love and faithfulness in a time of sin and apostasy.
RUTH’S RESOLVE (chapter 1) Because of a famine in the land, Elimelech and Naomi took their sons, Mahlon and Chilion, and moved to the land of Moab. There the boys married Gentile girls, Orpah and Ruth. Both moving to Gentile land and marrying Gentile women were disobedient to God (Deut. 7:1-3). Because of this God removed the father first, then the sons. This was God’s discipline of death because of their continuing in sin (I John 5:16-17; I Cor 9:11-30; Acts 5). Since the women have no way to support themselves and their resources have run out, Naomi decides to return home. This signifies an inner turning back to God, too (1:20-21). Orpah returns home, but Ruth commits herself to stay with Naomi. Her love and loyalty to Naomi as well as to God motivate her. She refers to God as YHWH, showing a personal relationship with Him (1:15-16). She decides to stay with God as well as Naomi.
RUTH’S RIGHTS (chapter 2) God made provision for poor Jews to work for food by commanding landowners to leave some grain standing around the edges of their fields which could be gathered by the needy. In this time of apostasy and greed, very few Jews let any grain stand, but a godly man named Boaz did. Ruth ended up in his field, gathering left-over grain for Naomi and herself. Her sacrificial hard work so impressed Boaz that he made sure she was safe and her needs were met. Perhaps the fact that Boaz’s mother was a Gentile, Rahab (Matthew 1:5), made him more sympathetic to Ruth’s plight. Instead of running after a husband, Ruth took care of aged Naomi. Because she put others first, God took care of her.
RUTH’S REQUEST (chapter 3) Realizing they cannot continue on indefinitely in this manner, Naomi encourages Ruth to request Boaz to come to their aid and redeem their property which had been sold for money on which to live. God established the law of the kinsman-redeemer in which a near relative could take the place of the one in need by paying the price to redeem that which was lost. “Redeem” means “to buy back” and is used of a slave owner who must purchase back a slave that was his but ran away. This is a picture of Jesus, who became one of us at the incarnation so He could do what we couldn’t do -- free us from our debt to sin. We were His by creation, then we got into sin so He had to pay the price for us on the cross.
Why didn’t Boaz voluntarily do this? Why did he have to be asked? He knew there was a closer relative, he didn’t consider that a young woman like Ruth would be interested in marrying an older man like him, and the practice all but forgotten for it wasn’t used much in those days.
RUTH’S REWARD (chapter 4) As it turned out, the closer relative was interested in getting the land for himself, but when he realized Ruth came with it and therefore any proceeds would go to her and any children she might have, he turned it down. Greed was his motive. Therefore Boaz was free to buy back Naomi’s inheritance as well as marry Ruth and provide a home for her and Naomi. They had a son named Obed, who had a son named Jesse, who had a son named David. This made Naomi the great-grandmother of David and an ancestor of Jesus. This is a beautiful example of how God gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him! If Ruth had gotten bitter at God over the death of her husband or sought to meet her own needs by trying to catch a husband, it would not have turned out as nice for her. How much blessing do you and I miss by impatiently taking things into our hands and trying to meet our own needs?
TITLE: After Samuel (“I Kings” to Jews)
AUTHOR: Unknown (Gad or Nathan?)
DATE of WRITING: Time of Solomon
PLACE of WRITING: Israel
TIME COVERED: 56 years (1067-1011 BC)
RECIPIENTS: Jews
KEY VERSE: 1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
KEY WORDS: “Anoint” “Reject” (7 times each)
PURPOSE: Continue history of Israel after the judges and to show the origin of the Kingdom.
THEME: Contrast internal godliness with external worldliness.
The poinsettia is a popular flower, especially around Christmas time. However, most people don’t realize that it is really a fake. Those are red leaves, not flowers. In fact, the real flower is insignificant and unattractive. It contains no nectar or useful fruit. Ingestion can make one ill. It looks great, but is really a fake! Many people are like that, too. We call them hypocrites. Outwardly they seem great, but inside they are empty, hollow, ungodly. In our day and age outer appearance is greatly emphasized, to the exclusion of inner beauty. Jesus says inner beauty is more important than outer, though (John 7:24; I Peter 3:3-4). Its what’s inside that counts! I Samuel contains many good examples of this!
HANNAH Because she didn’t have a son, Hannah poured out her heart to God in prayer. Eli, the high priest, was watching her pray. By her outer appearance he thought she was drunk and reprimanded her, but he was wrong! God saw her heart, answered her prayer, and gave her a fine son - Samuel. Samuel grew up in the tabernacle under the guidance of Eli.
ELI Although a fine man of God himself, Eli let his sons go through the outer motions of being priests while inside their hearts were full of greed, lust and rebellion against God. Because they were this way, and Eli didn’t work to change them, they all lost their lives and ministries!
THE NATION Because there were no godly priests to lead them, the people asked God for a king. They wanted to be like everyone else, for all the nations around them had a king. They thought this looked impressive. Being concerned only with externals, they thought this was the end of their problems. God gave them a king, knowing that they would have to learn the hard way. They should have followed Him as their King but didn’t.
SAUL Saul was tall, dark and handsome with an outgoing personality, so the Jews thought he was the man for the job of being king! Inside, though, he was self-centered, insecure, and prideful. He disobeyed God by offering sacrifices (13), giving a rash order 914) and not killing all the Amalekites (15). Then he tried to kill David. Eventually God removed him.
DAVID God’s choice for a replacement king was a shepherd boy named David. Outwardly he wasn’t striking as Saul was, but God passed over his good-looking big brothers in favor of David’s inner beauty (16:7). David relied on inner strength, not outer, in defeating Goliath. By all outer appearances, it wasn’t even a close match -- but outer appearances can be deceiving!
JONATHAN David’s faithful friend, Jonathan, gave up his own claim to the throne to help his friend David. The inner love and commitment they had for each other was very strong!
MICHAL & ABIGAIL David’s first wife, Michal, was outwardly beautiful and a princess. Inside, though, she was selfish, narrow and unconcerned about godly things. Abigail, while beautiful, was known for her wisdom and humility. Her inner strength helped David through hard years of hiding from Saul, while Michal deserted him and took another husband.
REVIVAL! There was one brief period when the nation turned back to God, focusing on their inner relationship with Him. They had a real desire to be close to God (7:1-2), turned from their sin (7:3-4) and gathered together to worship God while learning the Bible (7:5). They were serious about having a deep inner, personal relationship with God (7:6). God used Samuel to lead this revival (7-8). God allowed their new faith to be tested by letting the Philistines attack them during this revival, but they passed the test by calling out to God for help (7:9). He gave them victory and blessed them (7:10-11) and they thanked and worshipped Him (7:12).
A young officer who was blinded during the war met and later married one of the nurses who took care of him in an army hospital. One day he overheard someone speaking about himself and his wife: “It was lucky for her that he was blind since he never would have married such a homely woman if he had sight!” He rose to his feet and walked toward the voices, saying, “I overheard what you said, and I thank God from the depths of my heart for blindness of eyes that might have kept me from seeing the marvelous worth of the soul of this woman who is my wife. She is the most noble character I have ever known; if the shape of her features is such that it might have masked her inward beauty to my soul, than I am the greater gainer by having lost my sight.” Make sure you, too, focus on inner beauty and not outer beauty (Prov 31:30).
TITLE: Continuation of I Samuel
AUTHOR: Unknown (Gad or Nathan)
DATE of WRITING: Time of Solomon
PLACE of WRITING: Israel
TIME COVERED: 40 years (1011 - 971 BC)
RECIPIENTS: Jews
KEY VERSE: 2 Sam 11:27b But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.
KEY WORD: “David” 280 times
PURPOSE: To explain about David’s reign (it’s ups and downs) and to continue the history of Israel from Saul to Solomon
THEME: Effects of sin
When Leonardo da Vinci was painting his masterpiece The Last Supper, he sought long for a model for his Christ. At last he located a chorister in one of the churches of Rome who was lovely in life and features, a young man named Pietro Bandinelli. Years passed, and the painting was still unfinished. All the disciples had been portrayed save one -- Judas Iscariot. Now he started to find a man whose face was hardened and distorted by sin -- and at last he found a beggar on the streets of Rome with a face so villainous; he shuddered when he looked at him. He hired the man to sit for him as he painted the face of Judas on his canvas. When he was about to dismiss the man, he said, "I have not yet found out your name." "I am Pietro Bandinelli," he replied, "I also sat for you as your model of Christ." What had happened? Sin happened. The consequences and effects of sin are awful. Man reaps what he sows (Gal 6:7; Col. 3:25; Job 4:8; Hosea 8:7). The life of David shows that same truth. Even a “man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22; I Sam 13:14; I Ki 15:3)” must suffer the consequences of sin. II Samuel is a prime example of that.
TRIUMPH The first half of the book (chapters 1 - 10) shows David’s triumph. He becomes ruler over the nation Israel and captures Jerusalem (still called the “City of David”), making it his capital. He expands the nation from 6,000 square miles to 60,000. He shows mercy to Mephibosheth. God blesses everything he does. He is greatly successful and prosperous. He is very rich, popular, and tremendously used by God. Unfortunately that sets him up for defeat, for it is when things are going well that we neglect our spiritual disciplines and Satan attacks.
TRANSGRESSION Half way through his 40 year reign David decides to stay home from war because things are going so well for his army (1 Samuel 11:1). When we neglect our God-given duties and responsibilities we are sitting ducks for Satan’s attacks. If David has been doing what he should have been doing, leading his army, his sin wouldn’t have happened.
A late-night walk on the roof of the highest building in Jerusalem led to a chance glance at Bathsheba bathing herself in the privacy of her own home (v. 2). Instead of looking away and removing the picture from his mind, David fed the thought until it became an action (v. 3). While secure against his enemies without, David’s greatest enemy was within. He couldn’t help the first look, and temptation isn’t sin (we don’t have to confess being tempted, just when we give in to it mentally or physically). It was the lust that he let build from the look that was sin, as Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:28. He should have fled, as Joseph did from Pharaoh’s wife (Genesis 39:1-13). God always provides a way out (I Cor. 10:13) if we flee, but not a way through if we keep going ahead. Satan baits his traps with something that appeals to us. With David it was a woman, a “beautiful” woman (to make it that much more tempting). Watch out!
Remember that this wasn’t just a one-time sin on David’s part. Satan had been building this trap for him for almost 30 years. David had a weakness for women, a lust for them, as evidenced in his several wives & concubines (I Sam 27:3; 30:5). This was magnified in his son Solomon who had almost 1000 wives and concubines (I Kings 11:3). David was a sensual person, Satan used that to set a trap for him. He tries that with everyone. It may be a lust or greed, or it may be a mental attitude sin like anger (which kept Moses out of the Promised Land), fear or bitterness. He doesn’t care what sin it is as long as it works! Make sure you know what ‘little’ sin Satan is working on in your life. God’s plan is for you to have peace and joy and to grow spiritually. Satan’s plan is to keep those from you. He can’t take away your salvation but he can take away your witness and peace.
TRIALS Everyone knows how the story of David and Bathsheba concluded (II Samuel 11 - 12). David resorts to lying and deceit to cover up his sin (11:5-7), even to drunkenness (v. 8-13). When none of that works he uses murder (14-17), thinking he has covered over his sin. But God knew (v. 27), and so did those in his household. Before long his enemies knew and it became a terrible testimony to them (12:14). Eventually David does repent (12:1-12; Psalm 51), after a year of misery (Psalm 32). Still, the consequences continue: the baby died, he who took another’s wife has his wives taken, his children follow his example with lust, rape, murder, death and deception common in his family, and the whole nation weakened. Enemies begin to prosper against Israel. He was forgiven, but had to reap what he sowed. Watch out for Stan’s traps in your lives. He has one going against each of us. Only be always staying close to Jesus and quickly fleeing every tempting thought that comes into our minds will be safe from such devastating consequences in our lives. Prov 28:13 says that “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
TITLE: After Israel’s Kings (III Kings to Jews)
AUTHOR: Unknown (Jeremiah?)
DATE of WRITING: Over many years
PLACE of WRITING: Israel - Judah
TIME COVERED: 130 years (791-841 BC)
RECIPIENTS: Jews
KEY VERSE: I King 11:1-8 King Solomon ... had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.
KEY WORD: “King” 250 times; “Prophet” 43 times
PURPOSE: To show the history of Israel from David through the split
THEME: The results of turning from God to idolatry.
There used to be a TV commercial that began with a close-up of a man most didn’t know. “You probably don’t know me,” he says. “I created the muppets.” Then the background suddenly comes alive with fuzzy little creatures who say in unison, “Big deal!” The man continues, “Everyone knows them, but nobody knows me.” That’s why wherever I go I carry my American Express credit card.” At that point “Jim Henson” is visually typed on the card.
What was true there is also true today. God created man and the whole world, yet He hardly gets the credit or recognition He deserves. We know the creation better than the creator. When the creation gets more recognition than the creator this is idolatry! Whatever we put before God becomes an idol: money, things, happiness, family, sex, popularity, food, education, music, love, etc. I Kings is a serious warning against this!
SOLOMON’S SUCCESS After his sin, David went downhill fast. Solomon replaced him as king of Israel when he was just 20. David advised Solomon to stay close to God. David had been very close to God and very far from God, and he certainly knew close was better! Unfortunately, man rarely takes advice from his parents. We don’t seem to learn from the mistakes of the previous generation. Solomon didn’t, either.
Solomon started off very well. When God told Solomon he could have anything he wanted Solomon didn’t ask for money or popularity or power but wisdom to properly lead God’s people. As a result God gave him riches and popularity along with the wisdom.
Solomon had the privilege of building the temple which David had designed. This was the highpoint of Israel spiritually. You know, it is naturally build into man to worship something or someone. Everyone worships something. We all have something we live for, put our trust in, turn to for satisfaction and meaning, and look to for solace and comfort. Unfortunately most people have replaced the Creator with what he has created. That is idolatry.
During Solomon’s reign the nation of Israel got very rich. Trade with many parts of the world made them strong and prosperous. There weren’t wars to enlarge Israel, but the armies kept all the territory David had conquered. This was a time of peace and prosperity such as Israel never had before or since. However, the seeds of destruction were being sowed.
SOLOMON’S SEDUCTION Instead of trusting God to keep the peace with other nations Solomon resorted to the common treaty-making practices of the day where daughters were given as wives to others kings to assure peace. David accumulated 700 wives and 300 mistresses. David’s appetite for women and having more than one wife set the groundwork for Solomon to take this to the extreme. Worst of all, these women weren’t believers in Jehovah. They brought their foreign gods with them, continued their idolatrous worship, taught their children the same pagan practices, and slowly but surely influenced Solomon into idolatry and immorality (for that is the form their worship took).
SOLOMON’S SORROW By the time Solomon turned 60 (Saul, David and Solomon all ruled for 40 years) his life and kingdom was falling apart. The man who wrote the Song of Solomon about faithfully loving one wife when he was a young man has changed. The wisdom of Proverbs written in his mature years warned against idolatry and immorality, but he didn’t take his own advice. Ecclesiastes, showing how empty life is without God, even if there is power and money, expressed what had happened to Solomon. What a sad end to a fine life! While Saul had no heart for God and David had a whole heart for God, Solomon only had a half heart.
CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY After Solomon’s death the nation of Israel split into two over greed for money and power -- idols which still destroy people today. The northern 10 tribes, Israel, went headlong into gross idolatry and immorality, building two golden calves to worship. The southern 2 tribes, Judah, had the temple but weren’t much better. Despite a revival during the time of Elijah, the nation continued its downward slide from God, all because they put the creation before the creator.
What is first in YOUR life: the creator or some part of His creation? God’s warning is clear, worship the Creator only, keep from idols (I John 5:21).
TITLE: About the Kings of Judah & Israel
AUTHOR: Unknown (Jeremiah?)
DATE of WRITING: Over many years
PLACE of WRITING: In Judah and Israel
TIME COVERED: 267 years (853 - 586 BC)
RECIPIENTS: Jews
KEY VERSE: II Ki 17:7-8, 18-23 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God. .... They worshipped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, and even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.
KEY WORD: “King” 340 times; “Prophet” 31 times
PURPOSE: To show how and why Judah and Israel went into captivity.
THEME: God judges sin.
Every year thousands of taxpayers receive a letter beginning: “Dear taxpayer, in processing your return, we need more information about certain items.” People think they won’t get caught, so they can ‘get away’ with something. But some times their sins catch up with them. That’s not how it is with God. There is no statute of limitations, and NO ONE gets away with sin. A person can get away with things from the IRS, but not from God!
TRAGEDY (chapters 1 - 17) Because of their sin, God warns his people of coming judgment and calls them to repentance. Elijah was one such man. He had ministered for 50 years and then was taken to heaven in a flaming chariot.
Elisha replaced Elijah as God’s main messenger (chapter 2 - 8). He, too, performed many miracles (including bringing a dead boy back to life). Both Elijah and Elisha ministered to the northern kingdom, Israel. Of their 19 kings, none followed God. In the south, Judah, 8 or the 20 kings followed God for at least part of their reigns.
Jehu (chapter 9-10) started off all right, under Elisha’s influence, and cleansed the land from Ahab’s family and influence, but then fell into idolatry himself. Ahab’s removal is another example that we all will ”reap what we sow” (Gal 6:7). “Be sure your sins will find you out” (Num. 32:23) is exemplified by Ahab & Jezebel, who died an awful death (chapter 9).
Long ago there was a famous black smith who was put into a prison dungeon. He began to examine the chain that bound him looking for a flaw so he could escape. His hope was in vain for he found his own mark upon it -- he had made it and it had been his boast that none could break a chain that he had forged. Ahab had forged his own chains of sin and was caught in them. They, too, were unbreakable.
Under Joash Judah returned to God (chapter 11), but soon relapsed (chapter 12). Israel, meanwhile, turned further from God (chapter 13). Uzziah brought Judah back to God, but then fell to pride (chapter 14-16). Finally Israel was removed (chapter 17). The godly remnant from Israel had all moved to Judah, so the twelve tribes continued on in Judah.
TRAVAIL (chapters 18 - 25) Judah continued for abut 150 years after Israel fell. Between two of the worst kings was one of the best - Hezekiah (chapters 18 - 20). His son, Manasseh, offered his children as sacrifices (chapter 21). Josiah, his son, was the opposite again, being one of the most godly kings (chapter 22), but the final kinds of Judah all did evil (chapter 24). Finally Judah, too, was removed, taken into captivity by Babylon (chapter 24 - 25).
Some years ago in the mountainous region of Europe an avalanche of snow came down from the mountain and damned up the river. Water couldn’t flow so it formed a lake behind the snow, threatening to burst through snow and ice and ruin villages below. It held a long time, and people were lulled into false security. The longer wait, though, just meant more destruction when it did burst, and that is what happened. Sin works the same way.
TRUTH The Bible clearly says that God will judge sin. Gal 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Prov 1:31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. Prov 5:22-23 The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. Prov 22:8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble.
God’s people especially must turn from sin. We are not exempt, instead we are more accountable (Matthew 3:9-10). “Judgment begins at the house of God” (I Peter 4:17). Luke 12:47-48 says "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” We can’t lose salvation (Rom 8:1), but that is no excuse to sin.
One day in Colorado a great stalwart tree fell down. It was four hundred years old. It was a sapling when Columbus landed at San Salvador. It had been struck by lightning fourteen times. It had braved undaunted the storms of four hundred years. It had defied earthquakes and hurricanes. It had laughed in scorn at the winter's blasts and blizzards that would have destroyed it. But in the end the tiny little beetles killed it. They bored under the bark, dug into its heart, ate away its mighty fiber and one day down came the mighty king of the forest.
TITLE: Latin Vulgate title (all 1 book to Jews)
AUTHOR: Many, compiled by Ezra
DATE of WRITING: After return from Babylon
PLACE of WRITING: Judah
TIME COVERED: Adam to Cyrus (536 BC)
RECIPIENTS: Jews back from Babylon
KEY VERSE: 1 Chr 17:10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. "`I declare to you that the LORD ill build a house for you:
KEY WORD: David (180 times, Temple & House of God (148 times), priest (80 times)
PURPOSE: to show the history of Israel from a spiritual point of view, showing the importance of the temple and of being faithful to God who has always been faithful to them.
THEME: Faithfulness of God
Faithfulness to others is not seen as an important virtue today. Everything teaches us to be loyal only to ourselves, to put our needs and wants first, to make selfishness and self-centeredness a virtue. Faithfulness to mate, family, job, country, favorite sports team, etc., only seems to last as long as it is profitable. When things get hard people seem to move on quickly. Fortunately God isn’t that way. I & II Chronicles proves that.
Originally one book in the Hebrew canon, Chronicles covers basically the same information as I & II Samuel and I & II Kings, but from a different perspective. While they show the civil and political happenings from a human viewpoint, Chronicles shows it from God’s view point. For example, I Samuel 31 tells of the death of Saul from man’s viewpoint - how he died. I Chronicles 10 tells the same story, but from the divine perspective - how and why God removed him. I & II Samuel and I & II Kings shows how man is unfaithful, but I & II Chronicles shows how God is faithful, no matter how man is (similar to the theme of Deuteronomy).
CHRONOLOGY OF JUDAH’S KINGS (I Chron. 1 - 9) traces the genealogy from Adam to the Babylonian captivity. It shows the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Messiah from the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:14-15) as God promised. He sets the groundwork to prove that Jesus is that Messiah (Matthew 1, Luke 3). Especially this section shows the faithfulness of God to Abraham (many nations did come from him), to David (whose descendants did rule Judah) and to everyone, for God knows and remembers all by name.
CHRONICLES OF JUDAH’S KINGS (I Chron 10 - II Chron 36) hits some highlights of the kings in David’s line, especially the godly ones.
This section starts with David returning the ark to Jerusalem and all the praise and worship that came with it (I Chron 10-16). David’s sin with Bathsheba isn’t mentioned in Chronicles, it is forgiven and gone. The focus is on God’s faithfulness, not man’s unfaithfulness. God’s promises are reaffirmed to David, stating that God would faithfully keep His promise to have David’s descendants as the kingly line, right up to the Messiah (I Chron 17-21). David’s preparations for the temple are elaborated, too (I Chron 22-27), and so is Solomon’s building of the temple (II Chron 1-9). There is so much about the temple in these chapters because it is the people’s link with God. It reminds them that all they have comes from God and it isn’t anything they earned or deserve. The temple calls man to be faithful to God in response to His faithfulness to man. It’s not just a building, it’s a way of life!
When the nation splits, Chronicles only follows the kings of the southern tribe, Judah. The unfaithful north is ignored. True believers from there moved down to the south, so the southern kingdom had the godly remnant, the representatives of all 12 tribes. God’s faithfulness to Judah is seen in his enabling Abijah to defeat Jeroboam (II Chron 13), Asa defeat the Ethiopians (14), Jehosophat defeating the Moabites (20) and Hezekiah’s deliverance form Sennacherib (31). The Jews response of revival (15) and repairing the temple and returning to God every time an evil king led them astray (23-24, 30, 35) shows their response of faithfulness to Him. Unfortunately their times of unfaithfulness were greater and eventually God let the Babylonians take them into captivity. Still God was faithful, preserving a remnant and giving promises of future deliverance and restoration.
“Old Faithful” is a famous geyser in Yellowstone National Park. It shoots 10 to 12 thousand gallons of boiling water 150 feet into the air. There are other geysers who send out more water, and send it higher. Why, then, is this one more famous and more visited? It’s because of it’s ‘faithfulness’ -- every 65.5 minutes it erupts. It can be counted on. No one knows when the others will erupt. God is like that -- totally dependable and consistent. We can always count on Him. He is the original “Old Faithful.” God wants us to respond to His faithfulness to us by our being faithful to Him in return. Thank God for His faithfulness to you Be faithful to Him. “It is required that a man be found FAITHFUL” (I Cor 4:2).
TITLE: After the chief character, Ezra
AUTHOR: Ezra (priest)
DATE of WRITING: 456 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Jerusalem
TIME COVERED: 81 years (538 - 457 BC)
RECIPIENTS: Jews after the captivity
KEY VERSE: Ezra 7:6-10 This Ezra came up from Babylon . He was a teacher well versed in the Law of
Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel .
KEY WORD: “Go Up/Went Up” “Jerusalem” (47 times)
PURPOSE: To show the history of Israel as they return from captivity and get re-established.
THEME: The importance of returning to God when away from Him.
King Richard III went out walking one night among his army. There he found a guard fast asleep at his post. Promptly he took a knife and stabbed him in the heart. He pinned a note to him which said,: I found him asleep and I left him so.” It’s a good thing our King doesn’t do that to His subjects when they fall asleep spiritually! He tries to bring them back to alertness. The book of Ezra illustrates this spiritual truth.
RESTORATION The book opens with the Jews in captivity for their idolatry. Still God is faithfully working for them. This discipline has kept them from every returning to idolatry since then. God blessed them materially. Previous to this time they were farmers and shepherds, but in Babylon they learned to be business men and bankers, trades they still excel in. God was working in the hearts of godly leaders as well as in King Cyrus to allow them to return. Like the father of the prodigal son, He lovingly looks for their return. He is the ‘God of the Second Chance’.
When Zerubbabel sent out a call to return to the land, only 50,000 Jews answered. This was a very small percentage of those in Babylon. The majority didn’t want to leave their newly-found prosperity. It was God’s will for His people to live in the land He gave them, but they chose staying in the world. Only a very committed godly minority returned. Out of all mankind, it is always only a small minority which accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation. And it is only a small minority of that group that then go on to put Jesus first in daily life and live as a disciple of His.
Upon arriving back in the land, Zerubbabel started rebuilding the temple. The Samaritans opposed this, so the work stopped for 15 years. Haggai and Zechariah preached during this time. When the temple finally was rebuilt it was so inferior to Solomon’s Temple that those who remembered the former wept.
ESTHER Between Ezra 6 and 7 is a gap of 58 years, during which the events in the book of Esther took place.
REFORMATION Eighty years after Zerubbabel, Ezra came on the scene. He lead a second group back to the land. Ezra was a priest and scribe (copied the Bible by hand). He reputedly knew the whole Old Testament by heard and was a very committed believer. He founded the Sanhedrin to decide cases and give guidance to the Jews worldwide. He instituted the synagogue system which held the Jews together while away from the temple. It was a place of teaching, worship, fellowship and community activities. The church today is based on the synagogue. Ezra also wrote I & II Chronicles, Ezra and Psalm 119. He edited the whole Old Testament, gathering the inspired books and forming them into the Old Testament as we have it today. He made sure all was perfect, in groups and order, edited and updated. In doing so he replaced the old Hebrew script with the newer, square Assyrian characters, which are still in use today. God chose Ezra because of His deep Bible knowledge. He studied, practiced and taught it (Ezra 7:10). The Bible is the key to returning to God, not emotional appeals, guilt, etc. When God’s people no longer have an appetite for God’s Word, it is a sign that revival is needed. Loss of appetite is a sign of sickness. Ezra fed himself and others a good, balanced diet of God’s Word.
Only 1,514 able men volunteered to return with him. After 4 months of travel they arrived at Jerusalem, only to find the people had again turned from God. The sin of intermarrying unbelievers led the people from God. The unbelieving wives had to be sent home. Then the people turned back to God. Sin brings sorrow!
TITLE: After the main character
AUTHOR: Nehemiah
DATE of WRITING: About 420 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Jerusalem
TIME COVERED: 30 years (445-415 BC)
RECIPIENTS: Returned Jews
KEY VERSE: 1:1-7 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem . They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
KEY WORD: Walls (32 times) Build (23 times)
PURPOSE: Tell how the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt under Nehemiah
THEME: Steps to Renewal/revival
What comes to mind when someone uses the word “revival”? Do you think of a series of special meetings, of loud and emotional preaching? Websters says it is the stirring of religious faith among the indifferent characterized by public confession of sin and profession of renewed faith. Basically, revival means to bring back to life. “Re” means to do again, “vive” means life. It refers to bringing something BACK to life which had been alive. Therefore revival basically refers to bringing God’s people who have drifted back to a fresh closeness to Him. It is different than evangelism which appeals to unbelievers to make a first-time commitment. Salvation can’t be lost, but we can become cold and in need of renewing. Periodically through history God has sparked revivals which have brought His people back to Him. One was during the time of Nehemiah.
BACKGROUND Ezra had led a small remnant of Jews back to their homeland, the majority preferring to stay in the opulence of Babylon . Fifteen years later word came to Nehemiah that things were still in bad shape in the land (Neh 1). It wasn’t his fault, and there didn’t seem to be anything he could do from 1500 miles away. Still...
1. Revival begins with one devoted believer. Nehemiah turned to God in prayer and fasting and sincerely called upon the Lord. He confessed his sin and the sins of his people. He totally committed himself to God to be used in any way necessary. God worked in Artaxertes’ heart to let him return and give him needed supplies. Nehemiah was allowed to return to Jerusalem .
2. Revival spreads to a few ready ones first. Any good fire needs two things: a hot spark and then some kindling ready to catch fire. Nehemiah was the spark, and the first thing he did in Jerusalem was to find a few good men who were open and ready for God to work. He surveyed the situation and gathered facts before acting, then spread his vision to a few he felt were ready. You can’t expect all the green wood to catch right away, only wood that is dry and ready catches right away. It takes a good core group to start a revival, then the spark spreads. Pretty soon others caught the vision and before long they were rebuilding the walls.
3. There must be unity among believers for revival to spread. Nehemiah organized the people to work on the walls, each one working near his own home. However, as is to be expected, enemies opposed. The people pulled together, though. Unity is important for a revival to spread. Disunity, unforgiveness, bitterness, jealousy, etc., can pour water on a revival fire before it really gets going.
4. Revival must be based on knowing God’s Word. Nehemiah got the people together and Ezra read and taught God’s word all morning. They liked it so much they asked if he’d do that in the afternoon, too. As a result they humbled themselves and worshipped God. They wanted to come back the next day for more! An appetite for God’s Word is a necessary sign for revival. Not only did they learn it, but they obeyed it, putting into practice what they learned.
5. Revival means confessing sins in prayer. The people automatically prayed and confessed their sins (Neh. 9), acknowledging His majesty and past help for them. Prayer, starting with confession of sin, is a must for revival.
6. Revival leads to publicly showing a renewed commitment. The people responded to Ezra’s teaching by ratifying their covenant with God. They officially promised to follow God only. Publicly the Jews promised (Neh 10) to not marry unbelievers, worship God on the Sabbath, pay their tithes and help provide for the temple and its priests and Levites.
7. Revival results in changed lives. As a result of this people moved back into Jerusalem and it as well as other cities thrived and prospered. The walls and city of Jerusalem were dedicated to God. Malachi ministered during this time, too.
8. To be the real thing, the results must be lasting. For 12 years things continued well under Nehemiah and Ezra’s leadership. Then Nehemiah had to return to Babylon and, when he returned a year later, the promises they made had been broken. They had married unbelieving wives and weren’t properly caring for God’s temple. Before long they again responded to Nehemiah’s and Ezra’s call to renewal and revival came again.
This ended Old Testament history. After 400 silent (no Bible books were written, but the Maccabees lived during this time) John the Baptist came on the scene, preparing the way for the Messiah. With that the New Testament began -- and another call to revival. Where do you stand? Are you in need of renewing? Is your spiritual life on fire and vibrant, or does it need to be revived? Follow the steps Nehemiah and, if God wills, you’ll have revival beginning in those around you.
TITLE: After the main character
AUTHOR: Unknown (possibly Mordecai)
DATE of WRITING: About 473 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Shushan, Babylon
TIME COVERED: 10 years (483 - 473 BC)
RECIPIENTS: Jews dispersed in Persian Empire.
KEY VERSE: 4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
KEY WORD: The Jews (51 times); also Jew and Feast
PURPOSE: To study how all the Jews were saved from extermination by Esther
THEME: God’s providential care
One day a Christian man had an orchard of thousands of trees. His whole family depended on it for food. One morning he found half-grown apples being destroyed by strange worms. Every tree was affected. The family gathered and prayed, then spent the whole day picking off worms, but they multiplied far faster than they could be picked. Weary from working all day at top speed and desperate, they prayed and went to sleep. Early the next morning they started to see hundreds of strange birds landing on the trees. They stayed all day eating worms but never hurt the trees or apples. They spent three days there, then left. All the worms were gone and the crop was saved. Coincidence? No way. Our sovereign God was in control of the whole thing. He cares for and provides for His own. Unfortunately we forget about that. When we do, we should read the book of Esther!
DANGER TO GOD’S PEOPLE (Esther 1 - 3) A sordid story unfolds (Esther 1) in the first chapter of Esther. The scene is the great Persian city of Shushan . After a series of banquets (really great drunken orgies) King Ahasuerus (Xerxes in secular history) commands his queen, Vashti, to provide the entertainment for the grand finale. Because of her own standards of modesty, she refused and was banished from the kingdom forever. Therefore the king began a world-wide search for a new queen.
A Jew named Mordecai, who had a minor job at the palace, entered his cousin (who he was raising) in the contest and she won! Now it must be noted that the Jews were not to remain in Persia . They should have returned with Ezra or Nehemiah, but didn’t want to leave the prosperity and fine living in Persia for the poverty and difficulties of Jerusalem . Thus they were out of God’s will. As a result there is no mention of God’s name, prayer or sacrifices in the book of Esther. Still, God keeps His promises to protect His people.
After Esther is made queen Mordecai overheard a plot to kill the king, told Esther, and she reported it (Est 3). The plot was stopped and the king saved. That’s all part of God’s plan.
The plot thickens when Haman, the prime minister and favorite of the king, pushes through legislation to have all the Jews in the kingdom killed. His hatred for Mordecai, who won’t bow to him, makes him miserable. That sets the scene for God’s deliverance. He uses Esther to save her race and influence her stepson Artaxerxes to allow Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls.
DELIVERANCE OF GOD’S PEOPLE (Esther 4 - 10) When Mordecai hears about the plot to destroy all Jews he is really upset and sends word to Esther, asking her to intercede for her people, even though it may mean her death. To speak out to the king was forbidden, and to reveal that she was a Jew could also mean her death. However she courageously does so, inviting the king and Haman to a banquet she would have just for them (Esther 5).
Meanwhile Haman is miserable because of his hatred of Mordecai. His wife says he will feel better if he builds a large scaffold and anticipates his killing of Mordecai, so he has it built.
One night the king had a hard time sleeping (one of those little things that God uses in a big way). He read from his histories and discovered Mordecai’s work in saving his life, and the next day finds out that Mordecai was never rewarded for it. He determines to take care of this.
When prideful, self-centered Haman comes to work the next day the king asks he which he thinks the king should do to honor a man he deeply appreciates. Thinking the king is referring to him, Haman lays out his own prideful dreams of glory and honor, only to find out the king meant it for his enemy Mordecai -- and he had to be the one to honor Mordecai! Talk about a bad day at the office!
Later that day, when Haman showed up for the banquet with Esther and the king, she revealed his legislation to destroy all Jews. The king was furious at how he was tricked and left the room to get control of his anger. Haman fell upon Esther begging her for mercy, and when the king entered he thought Haman was attacking Esther. He had Haman killed immediately on his own gallows! Not only that, but the Jews were allowed to kill those who wanted to destroy them. In addition, Mordecai was elevated to Haman’s job as top advisor to the king! Talk about a happy ending!
Even today the Jews celebrate this important deliverance as the Feast of Purim. They give gifts, eat together, and children reenact the events in the book of Esther (similar to the way we celebrate Christmas). Truly this is a wonderful reminder of God’s sovereignty and His providential care of His people, even those who are out of His will. What a great God we have!
TITLE: After the main character
AUTHOR: Job ( 19:23 -34) or Moses
DATE: 2000 BC (time of Abraham)
DATE of WRITING: About 2000 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Uz ( Middle East )
TIME COVERED: Later part of Job’s life
RECIPIENTS: Unknown
KEY VERSE: 1:21 "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
KEY WORDS: “Affliction” (11 times); “righteous” (21 times); “Answered and said” (32 times)
PURPOSE: To come to grips with the question: “Why do the righteous suffer?”
THEME: Reasons for and purposes of suffering.
I grew up with a sister (no brothers) who grew into a very special woman. She was a woman of faith in Jesus and was very friendly and loving. She did much good for all she knew. She had two little boys and a fine husband who needed her. But she got cancer and died when she was 33. Everyone kept asking: “Why Judy?” They tried to come up with an answer to help them better understand what God was doing, but there is no answer to the “Why?” question. Only God knows that answer -- and He keeps silent. Even asking the question can be wrong when we ask with accusation or rebellion in our attitude, as if challenging God and thinking He is wrong in what He does. Why do bad things happen to people? That’s a universal question, and an old one. It’s no surprise that the oldest book in the Bible, the first one written, deals with this question. Why DO good people suffer?
CONFLICTS OF JOB The story of this “Magnificent Man of Misery” begins with a thumb-nail sketch of Job as a very rich, well-known and respected, and godly man. He is pictured as the outstanding man of his day (Job 1:1-5). However Satan, who accuses God’s people whenever he can find something to tattle about ( Rev 12:10 ; root meaning of the name ‘Devil’), accuses Job of only serving God because God is giving him such a pleasant and prosperous life (1:6-11). For the sake of His honor and glory, God allows Satan to attack Job ( 1:12 ), thus proving his love is sincere and not self-seeking. Note that Satan can’t do anything to God’s people without His approval. Every trial we face is “Father-filtered.”
Anyway, Satan takes away all Job’s riches and possessions ( 1:13 -17) and even the lives of his children, whom he deeply loves and cares about (1:4-5, 18-19). Job realizes that everything he had came from God and that God has the right to take it all back without any explanation to Job ( 1:20 -22). This is a stirring testimony to true faith and right perspective in life. Remember, Job had no idea WHY this was happening. He trusted and loved God as much when He gave blessings as when He took them away. I think the key for us here is to remember that what we have isn’t ours but is God’s instead.
Still Satan wasn’t done, and accused Job of not really caring about those things because as long ‘as long as you have your health you have everything’ (2:1-5). Again God allowed Satan to test Job, this time causing physical pain in his life (2:6). Satan caused the most painful afflictions he could, so that poor Job just sat in ashes, scratching open his puss-pockets to gain some minor relief (2:7-8). Even his wife, who may have been left alive for just this purpose, encouraged him to curse God so God would kill him and put him out of his misery (2:9). Still, he stayed faithful in his love and devotion to God ( 2:10 ).
COUNSELORS OF JOB The majority of the book of Job, chapters 3-37, is poetical (which is why Job is placed with the other poetical books in the Bible). Three friends of Job’s come and try to force him to admit that he wouldn’t be suffering this way if he hadn’t really sinned. Then a fourth comes and semi-defends him, but not entirely. This MUST be God’s punishment of him, they insist. Imagine your home has just exploded, destroying every possession you have. Everyone in the family was killed but you and you are in the hospital, wracked with pain, tubes coming out of you everywhere. The pastor and a couple friends show up and stay for several weeks trying to force you to admit God did this because you are such a rotten sinner. How much comfort would their visit bring you?
Job defends his innocence, knowing that God doesn’t punish His people (Romans 8:1). Often today we, too, think that when we or someone we know is going through a hard time it is because God is punishing us. That is not true. God does discipline us when we won’t turn from sin (Hebrews 12:5-11) but he also allows trials to come into our lives when we are faithful so that we will trust Him more and become even more faithful (John 15). He doesn’t tell us why these things happen now but when we get to heaven we will see that He knew and did what was best and right (John 13:7). Now we must trust Him (Romans 8:28 ). As a young child doesn’t know why a loving parent would allow a doctor to stick or cut him, so we don’t know why God allows things to happen to us. Just because we don’t know the reason doesn’t mean there isn’t one, though. We do know that God will abundantly bless and reward us for faithfully trusting Him through the valleys in life, though (II Cor 4:16 -17; Rom 8:18 ). That may or may not happen in this life, but certainly will in heaven.
CONFIDENCE OF JOB It’s so easy to get bogged down in the endless dialogue of Job and his three friends that we miss the stirring conclusion to the book. First, God interrupts and, in a voice dripping with sarcasm, shows them they have no business trying to second-guess Him (read Job 38-41 when you start wondering if God knows what He is doing, they will really help set you straight). God tells Job’s counselors they have to come to Job and ask him to pray for them or they will feel the full fury of God’s wrath (42:7-9). This must have really humbled them! Then God returned all Job’s possessions, doubled (42:10-16). He even replaced his children. He didn’t have to double them, for his other children were still living in heaven. Thus in effect he did have double the number of children, too.
Job never does know WHY God did this, and neither do we today. Perhaps bad things happen to good people to show Satan they love God for the right reasons, perhaps it is to learn to trust God more or depend on His grace more completely (as was the case with Paul’s thorn in the flesh -- II Cor. 12:7), or for God’s glory when we and others see His provision and deliverance, or maybe it’s to make us more sensitive to others who suffer (II Cor 1:3-24). Whatever the reason might be, we know God is Sovereign and loves us deeply (Rom 8). All He does is for His glory and our benefit.
TITLE: “Songs Sung to the Accompaniment of a Stringed Instrument”
AUTHOR: Various (see outline)
DATE of WRITING: From 1410 - 430 BC
PLACE of WRITING: Mostly in Palestine
TIME COVERED: From Creation to 430 BC
RECIPIENTS: Some Psalms to individuals, others to Israel nation, many to mankind in general
KEY VERSE: 33:1-4 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
KEY WORDS: “Praise” 176 times; “bless” 92 times
PURPOSE: Israel’s inspired book of prayer & praise to God
THEME: Worshipping God
Why do you go to church? Honestly. Not why SHOULD you go, but why DO you go? What motivates you to go? What do you think about as you sit awaiting the start of church?
In all truthfulness, people go to church for many reasons. The best reason, though, is to go to worship God. He wants our minds occupied with Who and what He is. He wants our hearts full of love and thankfulness and praise.
Martin Luther said two things were needed to have a church service: a Bible and a hymn book. God speaks to us through His Word. We speak to Him in music and song. That’s how we express our love and thankfulness and praise. The Bible and the hymn book.
The book of Psalms was the Jewish hymn book. Actually it was an accumulation of five hymn books put together. Most churches have favorite hymns they love and sing often. They also have some praise songs they like us use. In addition there may be some choruses or contemporary Christian music. We may come across another song book that had music in it we like and use. Take the best from all these sources and put them into one and you have an accumulation similar to the book of Psalms.
HEBREW POETRY In our music today most songs have words that rhyme. Jewish poetry never rhymed words (or it would be lost in translation into English) but rhymed thoughts. Some thing would be said and then repeated in different words to reinforce the thought (Synonymous Parallelism; 24:1-3). The opposite was sometimes done, with the second line being in in contrast to the first to emphasize the truth being stated (Antithetic Parallelism; 1:6; 37:9). Another form of poetry was to have the second line add to and explain the first line (Synthetic Parallelism; 19:7-9). To see what kind of poetry is being used, see how the second line relates to the first. This will help you interpret the Psalms better.
Actually this doesn’t apply just to the psalms but to all Hebrew poetry. This includes Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, and many parts of other Old Testament books. All in all nearly 50% of the Old Testament was written in poetic style, but much of that has been lost in translation to English.
TYPES OF PSALMS Praise singing is quite popular in many churches today, supplementing the standard hymns which are known mostly for teaching. Other songs are good for expressing our trials and sufferings in life. Psalms contains songs about all these subjects, too.
Praise songs are the most prevalent. Some are an individual praising God (18, 30, 34, 40, 106, 116, 138) while others are written for the whole nation to worship God together (33, 36, 105, 111, 113, 117, 135, 136, 146, 147). Each of these follow the same pattern: the reason for praising God is given then the praise itself.
Lament songs are also quite common. The trial or problem is described followed by a profession of trust in God and a request for deliverance. Then comes a closing declaration of faith in God. These, too, are either by individuals (6, 12, 13, 26, 28, 52, 58, 59, 69, 109, 140, 142) or the nation as a whole (13, 44, 60, 74, 80, 83).
Psalms about the Messiah abound as well. Some are Messianic Psalms, about the Messiah’s first coming, death, burial, resurrection and ascension (16, 22, 45, 69, 72, 8