Old Testament Survey II A Christ-Centered Approach to Studying Jesus’ Bible • student’s workbook • Old Testament Survey II A Christ-Centered Approach to Studying Jesus’ Bible Student’s Workbook Bethlehem College & Seminary 720 13th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55415 612.455.3420 | 612.338.6901 [email protected] | bcsmn.edu Copyright © 2016 by Bethlehem College & Seminary All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, modified, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. • Old Testament Survey II A Christ-Centered Approach to Studying Jesus' Bible Student’s Workbook Table of Contents Course Syllabus 1 Lesson 1 Review of Law and Former Prophets and Intro to Latter Prophets 5 Lesson 2 Jeremiah 19 Lesson 3 Ezekiel 41 Lesson 4 Isaiah 65 Lesson 5 The Twelve— Part 1 91 Lesson 6 The Twelve— Part 2 117 Lesson 7 Ruth, Psalms 141 Lesson 8 Job, Proverbs 165 Lesson 9 Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations 187 Lesson 10 Daniel, Esther 211 Lesson 11 Ezra-Nehemiah 231 Lesson 12 1–2 Chronicles 253 Appendix A: Key Chapters for Bible Reading 275 • Old Testament Survey II Essentials of Christian Doctrine syllabus • Course Description The Old Testament Survey II: A Christ-Centered Approach to Studying Jesus’ Bible is intended to survey the message of the Old Testament, both at the individual book level and at the canonical level. That is, students will not only grasp the main message of each individual book of the Old Testament, but they will understand how that message contributes to the overall message of the Bible. Emphasis will be given to tracing the flow of redemptive history from the beginning of time until the inter-testamental period, showing how the entire Old Testament points to, prepares the way for, and is fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah. This will be accomplished by reading What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About in its entirety and the majority of Dominion and Dynasty, as well as by first-hand study of some of the key biblical passages throughout the Old Testament. Please note: This course assumes the completion of Old Testament Survey I: A Christ-Centered Approach to Studying Jesus’ Bible. It is not recommended for students to take this course without first completing Part 1 of the curriculum. Part 1 covers Genesis–2 Kings (Law and Former Prophets), while this curriculum covers Jeremiah–2 Chronicles (Latter Prophets and Writings). • Objectives This course is designed to accomplish specific objectives. A student successfully completing this course should be able to: ▷ Articulate the flow of redemptive history from Genesis–2 Chronicles. ▷ Explain the central message of the books Jeremiah–2 Chronicles. ▷ Explain how each book contributes to the overall message of the Bible. syllabus 1 ▷ Understand how key biblical passages from the Old Testament fit into the storyline of redemptive history. Every lesson will compel the student to read and meditate on the Word. Our desire is to encourage students to be Bereans (cf. Acts 17:11). ▷ Understand how the entire Old Testament points to, prepares the way for, and is fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah. ▷ Discuss and apply the biblical truth that is presented in the curriculum to his/her own life. ▷ Magnify the worth of God in a more meaningful and personal way by treasuring him in their heart above all else. We recognize that this, the ultimate objective of the course, is impossible apart from the grace of God in the working of the Holy Spirit, who exalts the risen Lord, Jesus Christ. • Required books (Textbooks) ▷ An English version of the Bible (all quotes in this curriculum will come from the English Standard Version [ESV] unless otherwise noted). ▷ Jason DeRouchie, ed., What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic & Professional, 2013). (abbreviated: WOTARCA) ▷ Stephen Dempster, Dominion and Dynasty: A Theology of the Hebrew Bible (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2003). (abbreviated: DD) • Requirements Students are expected to prepare for Lessons 2-12 by completing the lesson pages in a sequential order. Therefore, for each lesson a student should read the Introduction and the Lesson Objectives. Then the student should read the remainder of the lesson, answer the 20 questions contained therein, and complete all the required reading and the integrative assignment. The student may then review the discussion questions and record their own discussion question(s). Each lesson’s workload has been divided into five daily assignments for the convenience of the student. Though not required, a student may choose to read the book of the Bible that corresponds to each week’s lesson. Another option is to read only the “Key Chapters for Bible Reading” that correspond to each week’s lesson (~1–2 Chs./ day). These may be found in Appendix A. Students will pass this course if they attend at least 10 class sessions and complete all the assignments. Please contact the instructor with any problems or concerns. 2 Old Testament Survey II • Schedule Lesson Date Lesson Title 1 Review of Law and Former Prophets and Intro to Latter Prophets 2 Jeremiah 3 Ezekiel 4 Isaiah 5 The Twelve —Part 1 6 The Twelve —Part 2 7 Ruth, Psalms 8 Job, Proverbs 9 Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations 10 Daniel, Esther 11 Ezra-Nehemiah 12 1 –2 Chronicles syllabus 3 4 Old Testament Survey II Review of Law and Former Prophets and Intro to Latter 1 Prophets • Introduction In Old Testament Survey 1: A Christ-Centered Approach to Studying Jesus’ Bible the importance of the Old Testament for Christians today was demonstrated. What we now call the Old Testament was the only Bible Jesus and the apostles ever read or preached from, and it was this body of Scripture that Paul said is breathed out by God and profitable for believers living under the new covenant (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15–17). The primary reason the Old Testament is so important is because it speaks about Jesus and his kingdom. In fact, this message comprised the majority of Jesus’ teaching after his resurrection (Luke 24:24–27, 44–47; Acts 1:1–3) and it was also the central message of Paul’s preaching during the apostolic era (Acts 26:22–23; 28:23, 30–31). The kingdom of God is one of the central themes in all of Scripture and this curriculum follows its progression through redemptive history. Old Testament Survey 1: A Christ-Centered Approach to Studying Jesus’ Bible followed its development from Genesis through 2 Kings; this curriculum, Old Testament Survey 2: A Christ-Centered Approach to Studying Jesus’ Bible continues surveying the kingdom of God through the rest of the Old Testament (Jeremiah–Chronicles). • Lesson Objectives After completing this lesson, the student should be able to ▷ summarize the redemptive storyline from Genesis–2 Kings. ▷ understand the context for the next section of the Hebrew Bible: the Latter Prophets. Review of Law and Former Prophets and Intro to Latter Prophets 5 6 Old Testament Survey II • Study Guide Genesis–2 Kings Before launching into the latter half of the Tanakh (which, you’ll remember from Old Testament Survey 1, is the Jewish ordering of the Old Testament books, comprised of the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings), it is helpful to recall God’s story of redemption that took place in the first half. The Pattern of the Kingdom (Genesis 1–2): In the beginning, God created the world and everything in it. As creator, God necessarily is King and therefore he sets the rules. The most significant part of his creation was mankind, whom he created in his image to rule over the world, reflecting God’s glory for all to see and worship him as a result. When God’s people dwelt in God’s land under God’s rule, then blessing abounded and God’s kingdom flourished. This is what the Bible calls shalom, and it can only take place in the context of a covenant relationship in which all members (God, people, land) function the way God intends. In the beginning, shalom abounded and everything was exactly the way it was supposed to be. Genesis 1:31 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. 1. In your opinion, what is the most striking feature of The Pattern of the Kingdom? Does the church today reflect The Pattern of the Kingdom? Why or why not? Review of Law and Former Prophets and Intro to Latter Prophets 7 The Perished Kingdom (Genesis 3–11): Soon after God created this perfect kingdom, mankind rebelled against his rule and the kingdom was dismantled, demonstrating that human autonomy produces only anarchy. When this covenantal relationship was broken, everything in the world went wrong. Shalom, which once characterized the world, was no longer the dominant feature; sin, death, and curse was. Genesis 6:6 6 Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 2. If the rebellion of God’s people against God’s authority caused the kingdom to fall, what will cause the kingdom to be re-established? Who do you think is capable of this? What promise did God give in Genesis 3:15 that provided hope that the kingdom would one day be restored? The Promised Kingdom (Genesis 12–50): God set out to make things right.