Category: Books of the Old Testament

Background “The day of the Lord” is repeated five times in this short book (see 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14). This is a common phrase used in the Old Testament and refers to a time when God will do whatever He has planned out to do. In the book of Joel it referred to God’s impending judgment (in the form of a locust plague). In other parts of the Bible it could refer to an event such as the destruction of Jerusalem or the final period of history when God will defeat all the forces of evil. When God’s time has arrived, His actions move swiftly Joel 1:5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from…

Background Zephaniah lived during the time of the evil king Manasseh and his son, Amon. He was surrounded by idolatry, child sacrifice, and killings. The book of Zephaniah talks about God’s judgment on all people for their sin followed by the restoration when they repent. Zephaniah’s primary target for God’s message of judgment, the nation of Judah, had fallen into grievous sin under the reign of their king, Manasseh and his son Amon. Key Verse Zephaniah 2 Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation, 2 before the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger    comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you. 3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what…

Background Judges relates important episodes in the period of Israel's settlement in Canaan between the death of Joshua and the advent of Samuel. Israel would forsake Yahweh and follow after other gods, and Yahweh would give them into the hand of an oppressor. Israel would cry out for deliverance, Yahweh would send a deliverer, and Israel would be obedient to Yahweh until the death of the deliverer, when the cycle would begin again. The deliverers were called "Judges." The term had a broader connotation than "judge" does today in the English-speaking world. A "judge," was a military leader, civil administrator, and decider of cases at law. Individual Judges A. Othniel (3:7-11) B. Ehud delivers from Moab (3:12-30). C. Shamgar (3:31) D. Deborah (and Barak) deliver from the Canaanites (4:1-5:31). E.…

Background When Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah led the Jews to their homeland, many more were reluctant to leave Persia. The story of Esther takes place in this Persian background. Esther is the story of a Jewish orphan girl raised by her uncle, Mordecai who became queen of Persia. Haman the prime minister plotted against Mordecai and the Jews because Modecai would not pay homage to him. Esther revealed to the king Haman's plot to destroy the Jews. Haman was hanged and Mordecai promoted. Quiz In this book, it was Esther and Mordecai who delivered God's people from danger. Can you name other people in the Bible who have also delivered God's people? Answer: 1. Joseph (Genesis 45:6-7 NIV) For two years now there has been famine in the land, and…

Background This book records the reign of King David, Israel's greatest king. After the death of King Saul, Judah crowned David as king. This was followed by war with the northern kingdom of Israel which also fell to David. He therefore became the first king to unite the northern and southern kingdoms. David later sinned against the Lord. He spied Bathsheba bathing, desired her, and engineered the death of her faithful warrior husband, after committing adultery with her (2 Sam. 11). Nathan, the prophet, confronted David with his sin, and David confessed his wrongdoing. The newborn child of David and Bathsheba died. Bathsheba conceived again, bearing Solomon (2 Sam. 12:1-25). David's kingdom was restored, but the hints of division between Judah and Israel remained (2 Sam. 19:40-43). David had to…

Background 2 Kings 1-13 preserves the details of Elisha's ministry which ranged from about 850-800 B.C. Elisha is the successor of the prophet Elijah. There are more miracles by this prophet than anyone else in the Old Testament. His miracles serve as a reminder that God is interested in the minor details in our lives and continues to work miracles even in "insignificant" things. 2 Kings continues with the history of Israel which has been divided and the two kingdoms fall into idolatry. The book relates the story of 12 kings of the Northern Kingdom (called Israel) and 16 kings of the Southern Kingdom (called Judah). Of these kings, only two - Hezekiah and Josiah - are called good. The evil kings thought that they could control their nation's destiny…

Background The book of Obadiah is a prophesy concerning judgment against the Edomites, who descended from Esau and were blood relatives of the Israelites. When the Philistines and the Arabians invaded Jerusalem, the Edomites ambushed those fleeing from the invaders so that they too might benefit from plundering their neighbors in Jerusalem. Beware of Pride Edom was the region that included the rock city of Petra discovered by archeologists a few decades ago. It was a city that was carved into rocks and was thought to be impenetrable. As a result, the people were overconfident and proud. God had to humble them. 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can…

Background The book of Malachi was written to warn the people who have lost their fear of the Lord. In every chapter there is mention of fearing God’s name (1:14, 2:5, 3:16, 4:2). Those that fear the Lord became a small remnant. The people had lost their fear of the Lord. Even when God put forth as many as six accusations against them, the people denied every single one. The people of Judah were exiled from the Promised Land in 605 BC, returning from Babylon only seventy years later. When Malachi wrote this book of the Bible, the people had been back in the land for more than a hundred years. They were expecting to receive blessings from the Lord. However, they had lost their passion and fear of the…

Background Genesis is the book about beginnings. It starts off by describing how God created the entire universe and every living thing in it. The focus narrows from creation of the universe to creation of the first family (1:1-2:25). Trust in a wily serpent rather than in God brings sin into the world and shows God's judgment on sin. Thus human life is lived out in the suffering, pain, and frustration of the world we know (ch. 3). Humans multiply their race but sank deeper and deeper into their sin. Through the flood, God eliminates all humanity except the family of Noah, but human sin continues, bringing necessary divine punishment of the nations at the tower of Babel (9:18-11:9). In spite of man's sinfulness, God reveals His plan to redeem…

Background Micah prophesied during the years surrounding the fall of Israel to the Assyrian Empire in 722 BC. The book deals with two significant predictions: one of judgment on Israel and Judah, the other of the restoration of God’s people in the millennial kingdom. Among the areas that God judged was the topic of wealth and how the people had wrong attitudes regarding wealth. Don’t let it preoccupy you Micah 2:2 They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. Micah was addressing a bunch of rich people. While these people are rich, they were preoccupied with getting richer and they covet for more and more. But this is not a problem only with rich people. Poor people could also be preoccupied about getting rich. The Bible warns…