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OLD TESTAMENT 1

BG of OT

LESSON 1 (Intro to OT)

 

Overview

  • Bible is a revelation, there are somethings that unless God reveals / tells us, we will never know. How do I approach Scripture? It’s not to enjoy scripture but understand what God is revealing to us.

  • From first to last book, Scripture was given to Israel for them to recognise Christ, All the titles and prophecies were fulfilled in ONE. (like watching a mystery movie, all the scenes are a piece of the mystery which was revealed in Christ, we must watch to the end to get it. OT is not meant to teach us morals in every story, don’t look for the wrong things. Don’t read narratives like how we read letters or listen to sermons)

  • Our understanding of God cannot be built solely on NT, it was built on OT. (the apostles read the OT to write the NT, they called it Scripture.)

  • Nobody in ancient world waste words. Everything to the smallest detail was done accordingly and copied in Exodus to show a precision that cannot be expressed in 7 words “they did exactly as Moses told them”.

 

Testament

  • Testament means ‘covenant’, it was a problem with translating. THey wanted to call it Hebrew Bible and Greek Bible.

  • OT has an old covenant but it’s not old covenant. Noah, Abraham, David covenant were fulfilled in Christ. The Mosaic covenant was described as obsolete but not the book.

 

Division of OT (Protestant)

LESSON 2 (Pentateuch - Genesis, Exodus)

Overview

  • First 5 books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy)

  • Moses is the ‘author’ except for Deuteronomy which narrates his death. (he is the primary inspired source, basic structure was established under his supervision, composition was between Joshua and Solomon’s time)

  • Lord = adonai (sir, master)

  • LORD = Yahweh (YHWH - never put vowels so that they won’t accidentally misuse the name of God)

 

GENESIS

  • What happens when you rebel

  • Genealogies are a literary marker (next chapter starting)

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Audience, theme and Purpose:

  • A generation of Israelites who were delivered from Egypt at the foot of mount Sinai. (why was this book written? What would an Israelite at the foot of Mount Sinai ask - they grew up as slaves for 400 years, they would be asking ‘why me?’

  • All major themes of the Bible have their origin from this Book while central theme remains the origin of God’s redemptive plan.

  • Key beginnings (creation, mankind, human sin, fall of mankind, covenant, chosen nation, marriage, family, work, sacrifice, races, languages, civilization, sabbath, first attempt at a united nation)

  • In Genesis 3 we see that the world is cursed. The Norm is not blessing. Through Abraham, blessing will be restored.

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Creation - God as the Creator

  • Creation in 2 parts (God’s perspective & Men’s perspective, how i relate to God, to animals etc)

  • God is not dealing with science, it’s not trying to tell you how things are done. (Day 1 light = Day 4 sun,moon,star. Day 2 Sky = Day 5 sea creature, sky creature, Day 3 Land = Day 6 land creatures) God is creating with order, system, PURPOSE. Prepare world, fill it up, sustain it, intro humanity. Alot of culture, their most powerful god is the creator god. And alot of times, their creation story is by accident. “Empty & formless” is not vacuum but there’s no meaning.

  • In ancient culture RARELY got atheism. They presuppose got God/gods. Genesis is not to tell them got God. but God vs gods. (it’s not about numbers, but the concept of god)

  • Who, Now How? (

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In His Image

  • Why did Genesis start with the creation of the world, instead of starting with Israel’s story? What does it mean to be created in the ‘image of God’ and what implications are there

  • We don’t know what it really means, but we know what it does - it sets us apart from all creation (free choice, interact and build community, rule over creation) TBH. We’re made from dust, our fingers, skin doesn’t really set us apart from monkeys, but there’s something different about us that looks more like God. (animals largely function by instincts, humans can fast etc)

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The Fall - Origin and spread of Sin

  • Ancient Jews never knew the snake was satan, they just thought is talking snake. Only in Revelation then we know. ‘That ancient serpent’

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus

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  • What makes us think that we can question God like that. The potter can easily throw the clay away.

  • Temptation is questioning your perception of how God treats you. Satan only give you half the consequences, the ones that you want to hear. Satan was telling eve that ‘God is withholding something good from you” Trust in the intention behind God’s words.

  • The snake did not force, he deceived and questioned.

  1. Did God really say? (questions our content of God’s words. We get tricked when we are not sure. Just because we know scripture say doesn't mean we know what it really says - Satan also quote scripture to tempt Jesus. A book or a website with a bible verse in it does not guarantee that it is Christian)

  2. Question whether we believe God’s word. (not just content. When it comes to something we don’t prefer, do we just reason ourselves out of God’s words)

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Sin

  • The normal state is we live forever, no need to decide between good and evil. But that means i have to depend on God to tell me so. (we naturally react against that)

  • Ungodliness = know there’s a God but reject God - result in sin

  • Unrighteousness = Do what’s not right before God.

  • Rebelliousness can’t be seen until there’s a law. WIthout rules, the rebellion can’t be counted. The law was given to turn ungodliness into unrighteousness.

  • God is omnipresent but Hell is the absence of God. God allows for choice because He is loving. He cannot fill space so much such that His presence dominates everywhere such that you cannot run away from His presence - even if you choose to. That’s why He limites His omnipresence “Only this place, I will make sure I don’t go in, so that I give you a choice how you want to live”

  • The end goal is not Genesis 1 & 2. But Revelation 21 & 22 where we willingly choose to be in the presence of God. (there’s work before the fall, but because of sin, work is not efficient)

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The Flood - Judgement & Grace of God

  • Key theological lesson is that God cannot leave the sin and rebellion of mankind unpunished, but will now prepare a way for the redemption of fallen humanity back to Himself.

  • God regretted? (when Genesis was written, they didn’t know God the way we know God but they can relate with regret. “You have hopes on ppl but they turn away” - it’s only when we see Christ & revelation then we know God knew all along)

  • How to deal with sin? (destruction of the sinner or redemption - which at Genesis we still dk about this)

  • Noah’s covenant (made to Noah for all of humanity. Nothing changed about sin but this epi showed us that there’s a consequence to sin)

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Tower of Babel - Origin of Nations

  • God commanded them to fill the earth (9:1) but they chose to gather in one place to build a city.

  • Tower is not merely about man’s self confidence but also man’s misconception of God. THe Tower of Babel is a ziggurat which is a representation of stairways that is used for the gods and their messengers to come down. It represents a system which the gods have needs. The bible shows that men can know God only because God reveals Himself. (Gen 11:4 - they wanted to build a name for themselves. Gen 12:2 - God will make Abraham’s name great)

  • God chose Abraham as an act of grace, not to save him but to reveal Himself to the world through him. (covenant of Abraham fulfilled in Christ, Paul write about it in Galatians)

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Joseph

  • Second half of Genesis we were led to think that Joseph was the main character (Joseph got double portion etc)

  • Gen 38 - bible talks about the sin of the 4 sons, Judah is the dubious one, suggest don’t kill Joseph but sell. After Genesis 38, Judah became the spokesperson, changed (forfeited cause of sin but repented) God doesn’t need you to be spectacular, but repentant

  • Joseph got the double portion inheritance from Jacob but Judah took over the leadership of hte family. .

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Exodus

  • What does it mean to be set apart (how)

  • Mercy is you deserve to be punished but don’t punish you. Grace is above mercy.

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Audience, theme

  • Deliverance & Tabernacle

  • Foundational theology where God reveals His name, His attributes, His redemption, His law and how He is to be worshipped.

  • During the 400 years in Egypt, Jacob’s family grew from 70 to 2-3 million.

  • Shows how God prepared the Jews to understand what’s going to happen (foreshadowing - righteous sufferers - those who had faith but never got what they prayed for, atoning lamb, deliverance - trapped in something, God come and deliver)

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Moses

  • First prophet. Exodus 2 demonstrates how God works in history and through people to accomplish His purpose. (how Moses was born and abandoned and found and called by God)

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Moses and his excuses

  1. I am not worthy (3:11. God’s reply to this is “I will be with you”. The answer to Moses’ unworthiness is the presence of God)

  2. I do not know enough about God (3:13 “and they will ask me, What’s his name..”. In those days, to know the name is to know about the character of the person. Moses felt that he did not know enough about God to go and tell the Isralites. God replied “I am who I am”

  3. The people will not believe me (4:1 “what if they do not believe me”. Moses fear could be due to his first failure to lead the people out of Egypt, especially his previous attempt to save a Hebrew. God’s response to him is that he will give him 3 signs. (btw. Jeremiah preached for 60 years and only got 1 disciple. Fruitless but faithful)

  4. I cannot speak in public. (4:10. God’s response to Moses’ sense of inadequacy is that He will personally equip him)

  5. Send someone else (4:13. Moses ran out of excuses and ask God to send someone else. But God’s response is that He will send Aaron to assist Moses.) Hey, you can’t out talk God.

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The Plagues

  • Both natural (frogs, locusts, gnats etc from natural elements) and supernatural (those that only affected Egyptians and not Israelites - death of firstborn).

  • The plagues seemed to be targeted at a specific god in Egypt. To the people is like Egypt god fight Israel’s God. (the israelites didn’t know there were no other gods. God only revealed that in Isaiah.)

  • Can God harden our hearts? If Pharaoh’s heart was hardened why was he still judged? (it’s english issue. Active and passive voice. I beat you vs I was beaten by you. Active: I wash. Passive: I was washed. Middle voice: I wash myself. Heb and greek go no “myself”)

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The Passover

  • Don’t take these rituals as trival. Do it when you understand it so that it is sacred.

  • John say Jesus died on passover, Matthew Mark and Luke say Jesus died after passover (Jews and hellenistic Jews got slightly different calendars)

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Mosaic Covenant

  • In the Abrahamic covenant, God places himself under the oath bound by irrevocable promises to Abraham.

  • In the Mosaic covenant, Israel takes the oath and the obligation is obedience to the covenant.

  • “If you obey me fully” - what if the Israelites said no? “Those that don’t want, cut out.”.

  • Deut 4:5 explained why got all these laws and decrees. Most people can’t see a God that is different but they can see YOU. If they don’t do this well, the Gentiles will not recognise God.

  • We are not Israel, not Moses and not God. So we are not bounded by the law (Galatians)

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10 Comandments

Govern personal life particularly how they relate to God (20:1-26)

Judgements

Govern social lives, how they related to each other (21: 1 - 24: 11)

Ordinances

Govern religious lives so people know how to approach God on His terms (24:12 - 31:18)

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The Tabernacle

  • God purposely limit how He reveal His presence. These are symbols to show God is there but will have barriers (smoke, Cloud, darkness etc)

  • Why Holy of Holies is use curtain not wall? God wants to be with us, the problem is not God OCD and we will contaminate Him. But it’s to protect me because God too holy I will die. Cause curtain can open, got ways to open (idea of gospel already given)

  • Main idea: God is present but there are barriers into His presence.

  • God is the one who initiated and suggested a tabernacle and ask Moses to build it right in the middle of camp. (normal civilization put their temple on high places or outside camps)

  • When they made the golden calf, they called it Yahweh. You can’t just say you worship Jesus, the Jesus you worship must be the Jesus the Bible say.

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Reflection Points

  • God created. This is the most basic affirmation of Genesis. The difficulty comes in part because we tend to ask questions that Scripture never intended to address.

  • Respect the image of God. How do you treat a fellow person?

  • The flood reminds us that God will not hesitate to judge humanity for the rebellion and sin but yet is patient with us. How sure are you of God’s judgement or is that which is out of “sight” also out of mind? ( is my righteousness before God really that important? Would I rather die righteous or find ways to survive so that I can serve God. Start thinking and reasoning now because things can change quickly. Eg. Is 50 cents worth your integrity before God? Then what can’t you do? 50 million? What’s your limit?)

  • Moses had 5 excuses to not go back to Egypt and deliver the people. How many of these excuses have I used?

  • God is not just concerned with your salvation. If He is, save you then just take you back to heaven, the reason why you’re still here is because you’re now a channel of Salvation.

  • Are Christians being myopic, must Jesus be the only way? It’s not my choice, God only give one way. I can’t come to God by my way, I can only go by the way He gives.

  • Our understanding of a near God must be built on understanding of God from the OT. So holy, so perfect, He cannot appear in my house one. THen when he show up, we’re caught by grace. “Why are you here?!

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LESSON 3 (Pentateuch - Formation of Israel, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

 

Leviticus

 

BG & Theme

  • In exodus, Israel is redeemed and established as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation

  • In Leviticus, they are taught how to fulfill their priestly call.

  • From redemption to service, from deliverance to dedication.

  • Designed to teach Israel through these object lessons how to worship God and how the nation fulfill its calling as a nation of priests. (HOLINESS)

  • Holiness means ‘set apart’, not a moral position. But we happen to be following a morally upright God when we’re set apart. (Israelites were not righteous but they were set apart)

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Holiness

  • My motivation to be holy is cause God is holy

  • The purpose is because it draws unbelievers in.

  • Laws are requirements for the Israelites but revelation for us. As Gentiles, look at the laws and ask ourselves what does this say about God?

  • Go into God’s presence with a sense of Reverence.

  • Unclean does not mean it’s sinful.​​

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  • Teaching the discernment between holy and the common, between clean and unclean.

  • Everything in life was either holy or common for the Hebrews. Those that were common were divided into clean and unclean.

  • Clean things might become holy through sanctification or unclean through pollution.

  • Holy things could be profaned and become common or unclean.

  • Unclean things could be cleansed and then consecrated or sanctified to be made holy.

  • Ceremonial cleanliness - clean still must go give sacrifice. What is ‘clean’ in modern day context? Behaving well? Walking right? Sin starts from within, sometimes it manifests.

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Levitical Offerings

  • Idea of sacrifice was not unique to the Hebrews in the ancient world, cause it was common in the religious cults

  • The difference is that, they sacrifice as something that the gods needed, but Israelites sacrificed as something that the people needed.​​

Numbers

  • God uses senses to teach lessons also.

  • Leviticus 17:11, Life is represented in the blood, this shedding of blood represents death. Since the penalty of sin is death, blood upon the altar was nexassary to symbolise cleansing of God’s presence.

  • Dietary laws: requirement for holiness, some animals is cause they are not acceptable for sacrifice, that’s why also don’t eat. Some were considered unclean cause of their association with pagan cults.

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Idea of Atonement

  • The role of the offering of sacrifices is for forgiveness of sin. It’s for the believer’s sanctification rather than justification.

  • Like the confession of sins in (1 John 1:9), to preserve relationships that had been established. What was critical was the heart attitude of the worshipper.

  • Not to save people from sins or get them to heaven (Heb 9) but to preserve the holiness of God’s presence and a healthy rs between ppl and God.

  • Taught us - God’s holiness, human sinfulness, substitutionary death as a response to human transgression and need for repentance.

  • They bring 2 goats (one to substitute for my sin, sacrificed like when Jesus died for me. Another one for cleansing, to decide for myself that i would not sin anymore)

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Fellowship

  • Tension within God who loves to fellowship with us but can’t because we are sinful.

  • Behind all these strict regulations is a GOd who longs for the fellowship of His people.

  • God’s holiness will be able to regulate and direct every area of human activity. (not just ethical and moral but involves purely spiritual attributes).

 

Numbers

 

BG & Theme

  • 2 Census (at the start of the wilderness at Mount Sinai and right before entering the promised land)

  • Complex story of unfaithfulness, rebelion, apostasy and frustration set against the background of God’s faithfulness and forbearance.

  • Theme of divine judgement on unbelief. Theme of God’s presence, guidance and care for His people.

  • A journey that should’ve lasted 11 days became a 38 year agony simply because of their disbelief and disobedience.

  • The heart of Israel’s rebellion reflects mankind’s heart. Their doubts and fears are valid. Despite of that, God wants us to respond in faith. God always initiates first, that’s why He can demand faith.

  • God guided through pillar of fire and cloud, miraculously supplied their needs, love and forgave them despite of their complaints and rebellion.

  • In Numbers 20. The grumbling generation died, even in the purge God fed them and the 2nd gen faced the consequences of their parent’s decision.

  • One thing this new gen learnt is that they saw how their parents behaved and realised that trust is essential. God saw that this was so important, he took 38 years to teach them that. “I promised you, yet you did not trust me” - Numbers 32:4-13 and Numbers 32:25​

Deuteronomy

Outline

  • Prep old Gen (Numbers 1- 10)

  • Failure of old Gen (NUmbers 11 - 25)

  • Prep New Gen (Numbers 26 - 36)


 

Organisation of the people of God

  • Tabernacle right in the middle of camp.

  • Ark of covenant right at the front when they march or move (GOd is so confident that He put the ark in front - context is if you lose your religious article is like checkmate)

Unbelief and Disobedience

  • God tested the Israelites in the wilderness to humble them so they learn to have total dependence on him, teach them to obey and show them the true conditions of their hearts

  • God tests us to REVEAL OUR FAITH & MATURE OUR FAITH. (no one is spared from testing)

  • Acts 7:39 talked about how they failed because they rejected the counsel of two faithful spies. They never really came out of Egypt in their hearts. (compare Num 11 & 14 vs Num 20 & 21)



 

Deuteronomy

 

BG & Theme

  • Audiences are 2nd Gen, not pagans. But they weren’t there when Moses gave the 10 commandments. Moses needed to let them know the significance of this covenant.

  • Renewal of God’s covenant with Israel, Moses reviewed, expanded and enlarged the covenant through 3 sermons.

  • Key phrase was ‘lest they forget”. Instill something within them to make them want to follow law.

 

  • A new gen had arisen

  • New land was filled with gross religious corruption and dangers

  • New prospects for settlement at last in a homeland, new challenges (military, economical and spiritually)

  • New duties from semi nomadic to agricultural

  • New leader

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Outline

  • First sermon (historical 1 - 4:43)

  • Second sermon (Legal 4:44 - 26:19)

  • Third Sermon (Prophetic 27:1 - 34:12)

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Law of Grace

  • We are used to drawing a sharp contrast between law and grace but this would’ve puzzled the ancient Israelite becuase giving of the law is God’s grace to them. (in ancient east, worshippers had to guess what might please or displease their gods)

  • God chose to reveal himself and to tell them plainly what he expected of them. The law was viewed as delight and freedom.

  • It was a relieve to the Israelites that they know exactly what to do (doesn’t change, maintains their relationship)

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The Jewish Shema

  • Deut 6:4-5. “Love GOd with whole being”. All other laws found their basis in this inward motivation as merely outward expression of one’s love for God.

 

V6: Is your love for God internalised? No point doing things outwardly

V7: Are you expressing your commitment to God? (do you talk about it)

V8: Is it lived out, is your commitment to God consistent (am i able to be 100% consistently committed to God?)

Identity of the chosen people

  • Divinely elected (10:14-15), to act as His agent (7:6-8).

  • Divided loyalty is not loyalty at all. Because the moment you reject God, you confirm won’t follow the rest. Sin starts at ungodliness, not unrighteousness.

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History as Theology

  • History is God in action, not just random, but revelation and requires response.

  • What’s my personal history? Did God not move in my life? Think about it and reflect.

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The Spirit of the Torah (law)

  • Attitude of heart is more important than the external acts, inward dispositions of love and gratitude are the basis.

  • Faith on the inside will lead to action on the outside (James)

  • Forgetfulness as the root of sin? Moses warns them against hte danger of forgetfulness because it leads to arrogance and disobedience. What are somethings Israel had to remember to ward off the four dangers? What do I need to remember today in order to stay faithful to God

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6:12 (Deliverer)

8:2-5 (Disciplines those he loves)
8:18 (faithful to His word)

9:4-6 (Holy)

11:2&7 (powerful and mighty)

 

10 Commandments

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Reflection Points

  • Law is not legalism. Legalism is the spirit of doing things to earn favour. (as they dragged their animals to the tabernacle, they are reflecting. THinking of what sin they committed and at the altar they just need to have faith that this system God gave can atone their sins) The God that gave them these object lessons is my God now. What’s my heart attitude when I come before God, how do i treat sins?

  • Forgiveness for intentional sin? (not talking about struggling - we got HS, community, help them understand that they’re not helpless and hopeless). Intentional sin is “Jesus died for me, but so what” Hebrews 10:26 - 31 & Num 15: 27 - 31 (no point bringing your sacrifices to God if you don't want to repent)

  • Roman 12:1-2, we’re living sacrifice. Help them see sin so that they can repent.

  • What’s my heart condition, am I still stuck in Egypt?

  • God’s covenant is NOT an equal partnership. Don’t forget who’s master and who’s servant.

  • Money and God can be telling us the same thing, eg. “work hard” thats why we can focus on both at the same time. (but it doesn't mean they are the same master)  But there will come a time our attention needs to shift.

  • What’s the big deal about idolatory? (gods vs God. Does God become one of the many gods in our life? Achievements, children, money etc)

LESSON 4  (Historical books - Joshua, Judges, Ruth)

Intro

  • Books from Joshua to Nehemiah are known as historical books (700 years of history - show how the nation was fully prepared for God’s redemptive mission)

  • Historical books but similar sotries back to back to drive a point

  • Not telling us to be like the bible characters (ie gideon, david etc). LOOK FOR GOD. (eg. we’re not like david going to fight Goliath. We’re chickens and we need someone like David to stand infront and fight for us) .

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Chronicles
Joshua
Judge
Ruh
Samuel
Kings

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Joshua

 

BG & Theme

  • Victory comes through faith in God and obedience to His word, rather than through numerical or military superiority.

  • God keeps his promises.

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Joshua foreshadowing Christ

  • His name is Yeshua (hebrew equivalent of Christ)

  • His role of triumphantly leading people to possess the land (Jesus bring many sons to glory Heb 2:10)

  • Commander of the Lord’s army that Joshua met was a pre incarnate appearance of Christ ( Josh 5:13 - 15)

  • Scarlet cord that provided safety for Rahab and house symbolizes safety through the blood of Jesus. (Josh 2 :17 & Heb 9 : 19 -22)

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Covenant & the Promised Land

  • The land is tied to their identity as people of God.

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Divine Warrior & Sovereign Involvement

  • Josh 10:14 “are you for me or against me”. WRONG QUESTION> I’m not sovereign. I should ask myself if im for God or against God.

  • God engage in combat on behalf of the Israelites.

  • God sovereignly acts in history in order to execute his plan and carry out his promise. (described in historical books, projected further by prophetic books and climax in the birth, life and death of Christ)

 

Reflection Points

  • God’s suggestions can sound stupid to me. Cross Jordan at high tide, circumcise infront of enemy camp, walk around enemy camp. But my business is to follow, not to figure it out, my role is to obey and know that God keeps His word. Just know that it’s from God and go. Just tahan, go back heaven then complain. Give God an opportunity to prove Himself faithful.

  • Does the way I form opinions or conclusions about matters in my life from a commitment to the Scriptures?

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Judges

 

BG & theme

  • Priest tell you the law, King hold you accountable.

  • No longer about Mosaic covenant but point to Davidic King (Judges, Ruth, Samuel and King likely written after David already King.)

  • A judge means a military commander, not our modern day kinda judge.

  • Written to justify why we need a king. (Laws by themselves don’t work, you need someone to keep it accountable)

 

Theme: God is faithful through discipline and deliverance.

  • See how judge after judge God forgives. (Everytime you repent, God will forgive. Everytime God forgive, you’ll still sin) - nature of God and nature of man.

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Charismatic Judge

  • Judges weren’t easy to define because they were not elected or appointed in any official way nor were they anointed.

  • Spontaneously took leadership roles when the need arose, which often involved military tasks.

God filling us to do something without a position appointed. It doesn’t mean alot to you if you need an appointed role to do it.

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Spirit of the Lord

  • Spirit came upon them, judge rise up and do something.

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Israel’s Apostasy

  • How could israel have gone so wrong after what God done for them in Egypt, bring them through wilderness and lead them into Canaan. (it was only at Sinai that the Israelites were first presented with the implication of monotheism. The switch was more than just number of gods to worship. But a change in worldview about who God is in relation to the rest of creation and His nature)

  • Changing from many gods to one god is easy. But we’re all struggling to claim God as GOD and not god. (we spend our whole life understanding this)

  • Don’t trivialize and underestimate the power of sin. If you can’t understand how Israel can sin, high chances we will fail. If sin so easy to overcome, need Christ for what.

 

Ruth

 

BG & Theme

  • Ruth is a Moabite. They are not supposed to be counted as Israelite because they’re cursed (they led Israelites astray). When David became King, ppl were questioning if he legit.

  • Ruth is the great grandmother of David and so in the genealogical line of Christ.

  • Ruth is written to Justify the King (he deserves to be king even though got Moabite blood)

  • It was written in a way so that readers root for Ruth the Moab. Then btw, she’s great grandmother of David.

  • Sparkles against the dark days of the book of Judges. It is the story of loyalty, purity, love when selfishness and depravity were rampant.

  • Illustrates the truths of Kinsman - Redeemer (only a relative can redeem you - part of you. That’s why Jesus needed to come as man)

  • Shows presence of godly remnant even in times of great apostasy

  • Ruth and Boaz demonstrates loving kindness

  • God’s faithfulness and providence to those who will walk with Him by faith

  • God’s desire to bring Gentile into family of God


 

Reflection Points

  • When the community faced a serious need, God raised up a charismatic but still flawed leader from the community to act on His behalf. This was not a positional leadership, but a God driven, Spirit empowered type of leadership. Is there a “judge” within you?

  • Like Paul, if you give me a chance i rather go back to heaven. I’m only struggling here cause got things unfinished for me.

  • “There was no king, everyone did as they seem fit” In this postmodern era people largely believe in ‘doing as they see fit’. How should the christian respond? What determines the values that you hold, and what part can you play in the transmission of godly values in the community? (come to a posture where we’re a creature trying to understand the creator. Scripture is to draw 2 lines, so we know God but we can’t grasp how loving hor merciful God is - like bowling alley)

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LESSON 5  (Historical books: Rise & Fall of Monarchy - 1 / 2 Samuel & 1 / 2 Kings)

  • Theocracy (ruled by invisible God) & Monarchy (ruled by human king) & Messianic Kingdom (ruled by Christ who is also God). Democracy is just to even out the extreme bad cases of an evil ruler.

  • Shows the failures of the king (every king measured against David)

 

1 & 2 Samuel

Theme & BG

  • Transition from judges to kings. (Samuel helped this transition when he appointed Saul)

  • But Samuel already died in 1 Sam 25. In Chron 29:29, Nathan and Gad also wrote about the events in Samuel.

  • Israel wanted to be like the other nations and demanded a King. God intended to give them a king (Gen 49:10) but they insisted on the king of their choice, Under God’s direction Sameul anointed Saul as first king. But Saul was rejected by God because of his disobedience.

  • What’s the type of king that God wanted? David - a man after God’s own heart.

  • 1 Sam talks about the conflict between Saul and David and Philistines.

  • 2 Sam starts with Saul’s death and David’s reign. (including his victories and tragedies)

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Kingship

  • Function of king is to maintain justice (domestic and international aka military)

  • The Israelites then saw kingship as a permanent office that would eliminate the need to wait for the Lord to raise up a deliverer. That’s why God was angry.

  • 1 Cor 15 (Christ will rule until He bring everything under His Kingdom) then Rev 21 , 22 (no more kingdom)

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Davidic Covenant

  • 2 Sam 7:9 - 11 similar to what God promised Abrahm in Gen 12 : 2- 3.

  • God also promised that David’s descendent would be established on the throne after him. (unconditional because it relates to David and not his descendants)

  • 2 Sam 7:12 - 16 (when they see their kings all cui, they start to think there must be another king. Every book tells you where is the last son of David)

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Ark of Covenant

  • Most important religious artifact in Israel. (Built in Sinai under Moses, it represented God’s presence

  • Installing it successfully at the beginning of David’s reign is not a ritual but to show God’s approval and favour.

  • 1 Sam 4-6 shows that Israelites tried to manipulate the Presence of God by bringing the Ark into battlefield. It was captured.

 

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Reflection Points

  • Who do we look to when we are faced with a situation in need of intervention? Isit wrong to look to humans as the avenue for help? When would it become wrong? Conversely, in what ways could it be wrong when we are providing help?

  • Are there times we presume that we do something, just cause we are sincere that means God must do it? He will only do what He wants to do. In modern times, how do we manipulate the Presence of God? What are some things we do that seem to suggest that we can ‘control’ the presence of God.

 

1 & 2 Kings

BG

  • Start with death of David and moves through Solomon’s rule, division of kingdom, reigns of Kings, capture of Northern Israel by Assyria and capture of Southern Judah by Babylon.

  • Book ends on a hopeful, forward looking note with the release of David’s royal descendant Jehoiachin from captivity (2 Kings 25:27 - 30)

 

United Kingdom (112 years. 1043 - 931 BC)

Northern Israel (209 years. 931 - 722 BC)

Southern Judah (345 years. 931 - 586 BC)

During this period there were great shifts of world power. Egyptian and Assyrian over Palestine. Assyria rose but ultimately captured by Babylon.

 

  • Israel rose to peak of her glory under Solomon, constructed the temple and Palace in Jerusalem. But Solomon drifted cause of his pagan wives. The king with a divided heart left behind a divided kingdom.

  • In kings the central theme: how disobedience and unfaithfulness of kings led to disruption of kingdom and captivity. (Good kings are harder to come by. Good king or bad king next is impossible to tell)

  • Prophets played a prominent role as God used them to remind kings of their covenantal responsibilities.

  • 1 Kings starts with blessings and 2 Kings starts with consequences of sin

 

Answering:

The fall of Jerusalem and the events that followed was a devastating blow to the Israelites.

  • Houses and royal palace destroyed

  • City’s defenses pulled down

  • TEMPLE was dismantled.

  • Many many killed and deported to Babylon to work, including their leaders.

 

Their pain and grief could be seen in Lamentations 1:1

  • What did it all mean

  • Was Israel’s God not in fact in control of nature and history as Mosiac religion claimed?

  • Were there other, more powerful gods in Babylon who had engineered the Babylonian victory over Israel?

  • If God of Moses did exist, and was good and all powerful, how was it that God’s chosen city and temple had been destroyed, and how was it that God’s chosen royal line had all but come to and end.

 

Book wants to show readers that God is indeed in control of nature and history. There are no other more powerful gods anywhere. God himself overseen the destruction of his chosen city and his temple and the exile to Babylon (because of Israel’s great sinfulness and did not obey God or heeded his word through the prophets from Solomon onwards)

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Themes

  1. Yahweh is the only true God

(the other gods are simply human creations, powerless and futile entities. Utterly distinct from the world he created, neither truly in the ark nor in the temple)

 

  1. Yahweh controls history

(seen by how the prophets described the future before God brings it to past. Nothing can hinder the fulfillment of this prophetic word though God in His own freedom and override its fulfillment for His own purposes.

 

3. Yahweh demands exclusive worship

(He refuses to take place alongside the gods, or be confused with any part of the created order. He alone will be worshipped, by Israelite and foreigner alike)

 

4. The content and place of true worship

(must neither involve idols nor images or reflect any aspect of the fertility and other cults.)

 

5. The consequences of false worship

(moral wrongs that inevitably accompany false worship. Worship of something other than God inevitably leads to some kind of mistreatment of fellow morals in the eyes of God. True worship is accompanied by wholehearted obedience.)

 

6. Yahweh the just and gracious Lawgiver.

(Lord executes justice on wrongdoers- whether king or prophet or normal Israelite.)

 

7. Yahweh as promise giver

(to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - descendants and everlasting possesion of the land of Canaan. And to David - eternal dynasty)

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Kings of Israel & Judah

  • Kingship associated with Judah is called “dynastic succession’, model of royal rule. (pass throne down to eldest son)

  • Kingship in Israel is combine dynastic succession with charismatic leadership model. I.e. God will appoint new king up from dust to lead if the king cui.

  • 19 consecutive evil kings ruled in Israel while Judah had some godly kings who tried to reform the evils.

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Example of Bad Kings

  • Jeroboam 1 (1 Kings 12:25-29. Made two golden calves for them to worship because he didn't want people to give their allegiance to Rehoboam. He also built shrines and appointed priests who were not Levites)

  • Ahab (1 Kings 16:32. Worst of all kings, besides his evil deeds he also formally intro worship of Baal into Israel)

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Example of Good kings

  • Jehoshaphat (1 kings 22:41 - 50, 2 Chronicles 17, 19 - 20. Appointed judges and officials to teach book of the law. He led the nation to defeat Moab and Ammon with praise and worship. His downfall came when he made alliance with Ahaziah, wicked king of Israel)

  • Hezekiah (2 Kings 18 - 20; 2 Chron 29 - 31. Purify temple and re initiate Passover celebration for the nation. Out of pride he showed Babylonian King his treasures in the Palace and Isaiah prophesied that all those wealth will be taken away by Babylonians)

  • Josiah (2 Kings 22:1-23:30, 2 Chron 34 - 35. One of the best king from Judah. There was no king before or after him that was obedient to the Law of Moses 2 Kings 23:25. Initiated many reforms including purifying the land and repairing temple. Killed when he went to battle in disguise.

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Preclassical & Classical Prophecy

  • Non writing (records of these prophets tend to be preserved in story form, accounts of their miraculous signs confirming divine authority)

  • Writing (Hosea, Amos, Isaiah) preserved in oracle form.

  • Elijah (God’s mouthpiece. His objective is to remind ppl that Yahweh alone is God.)

  • Elisha (Elijah’s successor, called kings to repentance, anointed kings, prophesied regarding military matters. )

 

Reflection Points

  • Manasseh was such a evil king but the nation prospered. So bad that God on account of him guaranteed an exile. Just because a nation is prosperous, doesn’t mean it is righteous.

  • Prophecy has more to do with life of the prophet than merely what comes out from his or her lips. How would this affect the way you evaluate the prophecies that you encounter?

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LESSON 6  (Historical books: Return from Exile. 1 / 2 Chronicles. Ezra - Nehemiah, Esther)

  • Written when they are already back in promised land, looking back at what happened to them

  • Kings is written probably when they were in exile, looking at their promised land.

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1 & 2 Chronicles

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Theme & BG

  • Already back in promised land. Traced human history to reccount God’s faithfulness (they have book of moses and samuel and kings. Purposely copy)

  • When we have books that are super similar, it’s the best to learn theology (what they change, why they change) - written from a priestly perspective

  • Theme is God’s faithfulness to the Davidic covenant.

  • Remind exiles that they came from the royal kingdom of David and they are God’s chosen people.

  • Starts with outline of history from Adam to Saul, reign of king David and ended with edict of Cyrus of Persia ordering the rebuilding of temple.

  • From here on Northern Israel is never mentioned again. Only talk about Southern Juah.

  • Emphasises on role of Law, priesthood and temple. After the exile, Israel never again worshipped foreign gods (learnt from their history - apostasy, intermarriage with gentiles, lack of unity)

Worship in the OT

  • During the exile, they didn’t have the Temple to worship. They developed the idea of Synagogue (gather along rivers for prayer and search scripture to find out what’s going to happen to them). This auto purged out people who were not interested to have their identities as Israelites.

  • Exile purged out idolatry, prepare people to be waiting for the Messiah.

  • In Kings, worship was centered around temple (like catholic, sacrifice of the lamb). In chronicles, worship was centered around the Word.

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Heart of Worship

  • True worship was motivated both by fear of the Lord and love for God with whole heart (2 Chr 6:31, 33 and 1 Chr 28:9; 2 Chro 19:9).

  • There was an emphasis on ‘repentance’. God forgave those who returned. (even Manasseh 2 Chr 33:12 -14)

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Post Exilic Priesthood

  • No king (cause under Persian), no prophets (ended at Malachi), left with Priests (started to have alot of power)

  • Like full time church workers, supported by offerings and votive gifts of the people.

  • Saw the importance of the priests but realised their priests also cmi.

 

Reflection Points

  • Compare endings of Samuel - Kings and Chronicles. Why did Chronicles end this way. What was the author trying to impress upon the readers by the way he ended the book?

  • Chronicle is to assure them that you’ve already repented, God receives. Especially for backsliders, i’m already back in promised land but does God wants me back? (it doesnt matter who you are, you repent, you’ll be saved)

  • King, Priests and Prophet. How does these leadership roles relate to one another in Israel’s history? Which is more important, what happens when one fails its’ role? (Jesus is all 3 in 1)

 

Ezra

Theme & BG

  • Fun fact this is the same time when buddha, confucius and socrates started.

  • God did not just bring people back, He received their worship.

  • Start to see God move more BTS. If we’re not reflective we only see it as coincidence (eg. how he make things happen to allow for rebuilding)

  • Sovereignty protect His people in the midst of captivity, prospered in their exile, raised pagan rulers who were sympathetic, spoke and encourage His people through prophets, provided leaders to direct the return.

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