The Amazing Bible. Book Club

In today's lesson we learned that Prophets of God hear from the Lord and they are called to relay His message to God's people. Sometimes it was a foretelling - something that will happen in the future, and sometimes it is forthtelling, calling the people to "come forth and repent." Classical Prophets are prophets that have a book of the Bible named after them. This is the time...

We discover that there are different ways to interpret the Song of Solomon. With the literal approach we discovered that there were some who think that it is not just a love song with Solomon and the Maiden, but that it may be a love triangle with a male  Shepherd. We see some lessons to learn from this love song are that marriage is between a man and a woman, the Bible celebrates marriage, physic...

As we end the book of Ecclesiastes, Qoheleth, the teacher, reminds us that death comes to all people, so we should enjoy life and the lot given to us, we are to work with all our might, and since we don't know when we will die, we are to live it to the fullest. This section has various proverbs in it which compare wisdom and folly and how our mouth usually shows which category we are in. We a...

Qoheleth, the assembler, the lecturer, the teacher, begins this section with how we are to approach God. We are to (1) guard our steps, (2) draw near to listen, (3) do not be hasty with our words, (4) if you make a vow to the Lord, keep it, and (5) Fear God. We also see folly in riches, in being too religious, and wayward women. He teaches that the "Retribution Principle" does not always...

Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Vanity is the key word for Ecclesiastes. It means "breath of breaths," or "All is utter emptiness" (KJ Study Bible). In this section, Solomon looks at the futility of wisdom, pleasure, possessions, folly, work/labor, oppression, and aloneness. It is all striving after the wind, yet he does acknowledge God in heaven and His plan from the beginn...

The men that are listed in Proverbs 30 and 31 are not listed anywhere else in Scripture, there is great speculation as to who they are, but the truth is we do not know. Proverbs 30 starts with questions with answers, and then with various proverbs. There is a grouping of numerical proverbs where he lists 3 - no 4- items with most of them. Proverbs 31 starts of with the mother of King Lemuel giving...

This section of Proverbs were included with the men of King Hezekiah about 250 years after Solomon. These passages were still included during the time of Jesus, because they are quoted in the New Testament in Romans 12 and in James 4. We also see a form of proverbs called comparative meaning, and the word "like" is used. Sometimes these are two lines, and sometimes it goes beyond two. On...

These Proverbs are separated into different sections. Chapters 10-18 are described as Contrast the Upright and the Wicked. Chapters 19-22a are Proverbs on Life and Conduct. Chapters 22b starting with verse 17 through 23 are Sayings of the Wise, and chapter 24 Gives Precepts and Warnings. These Proverbs cover our treatment with various people groups such as the poor, angry people, our enemies, and...

In these Proverbs, Solomon is speaking to his sons in chapters 1b-7, and then to people in chapters 8-9. Wisdom is personified as a woman, and she gives instruction about our speech, the harlot and infidelity, the sluggard or lazy person, and it's worth is beyond silver, gold, or jewels. We also see that a person that has wisdom has life. We are encouraged to guard our hearts for from it come...

In Proverbs 1:1-7 we see the purpose of King Solomon's Proverbs. They are written so we will know, discern, receive, give, & understand: wisdom, instruction, sayings of understanding, prudence (so we won't be naive,) knowledge, discretion, learning, and wise counsel. Verse 7 sums it up, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.&qu...

The Book of Psalms ends with 5 grand Psalms of Praise. Each of these Psalms begins and ends with Praise the Lord, or in Hebrew, Hallelujah! In Psalm 146 we trust not in princes or people, but in the Lord. We find in Psalm 147, that "The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness," and not in the strength of horses or in the legs of man. With Psalm 148 we see th...

In these Psalms, we see the last Psalms of David. Many of the songs are praise and celebration of what God has done, and some are laments and imprecatory, asking God to take care of a situation. In the ups and downs of life, the Psalmists always cry out to God. A few times these Psalms point out that God will judge the wicked, but he will save those that love Him.

These Psalms of Ascent were sung as the Israelites traveled up to Jerusalem in order to worship the Lord. They reminded the people of God's past faithfulness and of His future promises. 

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. It is an acrostic as well as a lament that focuses on the law of the Lord, and in that the Psalmist finds hope and peace.

Psalm 108-110 are of King David. David praises the Lord, cries out to the Lord, and sings in triumph because of the Lord. These Psalms are referenced in the New Testament of Jesus. Psalm 111 & 112 are both anonymous and both are acrostics with the Hebrew Alphabet. The first praises the Lord and says that a person who follows the Lord's ways are wise, and then the second describes the wise...

In this Psalm of Thanksgiving, we see four stories of people with four different struggles, "Then they each cry out to the Lord in their troubles (vv. 6a, 13a, 19a, and 28a). The Lord provides their specific needs, and then the stories end with, "Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness and for His wonders to the sons of men (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31). The most used word in this...

As we end Book 4 of the Psalms, these are full of praise unto the Lord because of what God has done in the past with His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Psalmist cries out for God to continue his unfailing love to His people of his day, and for the ones yet to be born. 

Psalm 101 is a Psalm of David. He's going through a tough time, but he chooses to live a life of integrity, and to surround himself and his kingdom with people of integrity. Psalm 102 is a prayer for help. He also is going through a tough time which God has allowed, but in the midst of that the Psalmist looks at God's creation and God's endurance, sameness, and eternalness, and know...

These Psalms all reference worship in one way or another. As believers, we are to pray, sing, shout, serve, give thanks, worship, bow down, kneel, bless, declare, rejoice, love, remember, tremble, exalt, and obey! Why? Because God is Amazing!

As we start Book 4 of the Psalms, we see a hope that God was faithful in the past, and He is at work in the present, so we can be comforted for the future. Psalm 90 is "A Prayer of Moses, The Man of God," and he focuses on the fact that our human lives are short. In Psalm 91 we see God is our refuge. With Psalm 92, "A Song for the Sabbath Day," we see that in our rest God is at...

Book 3 ends with two laments. The first is personal with no hint of hope, and the second is corporate. With Psalm 89 there is hope because of God's steadfast love to Israel, especially with the king, but then the king sins, and God brings judgement. The Psalmist does not see the Lord's steadfast love, and he cries out, "How long?" "Remember" Yet, the Psalmist ends wit...

In this section the majority of the Psalms are of the Sons of Korah. The story of who Korah is can be found in Numbers chapter 16. The Sons of Korah were Levites who were responsible in part to the music in the tabernacle/temple. We also have the only Psalm of David found in Book 3, Psalm 86. We see the lovingkindness of the Lord, and that His lovingkindness extends to all the nations of the earth...

These are the last of the Psalms of Asaph. Most of these are cries unto God as to how long will He be silent, how long will the wicked prosper, and how long will we suffer? The answer is "Oh, that My people would listen to Me that Israel would walk in My ways," then God would satisfy them as with the richest of foods.

In these two Psalms of crisis, we see that Jesus fulfills these Psalms by telling parables, and by taking upon Himself the wrath of God, so that we may experience the grace of God. We are also encouraged to tell the next generation of the wonders of God.

We are starting Book 3 of the Psalms. These Psalms all have to do with a crisis of faith either personally or corporately, yet God is faithful and gracious. He is also the just judge.