Bible Study Intensive

It is time to visit more of the happenings of the Southern kingdom. After the death of Josiah altars to idols and false worship was again resumed. 

Difficult study sheet to create, because the news for God’s people is not the kind of news that we want to hear. However, I know we need to learn from those uncomfortable times. So here goes!!

I have to admit, because I have studied this section of scripture, I feel a reluctance to go there again. I would rather stay focused on David’s kingdom, before his children rebelled. My mind says that wouldn’t be fair, but my heart still does not want to see what happens next. Let’s go there together. God has a message.

The second half of I Samuel focuses on Saul’s demise as king and his relentless pursuit of David. David, even when he has the power and the opportunity to take Saul’s life and the throne, does not fall into that trap. The Philistines struck down Jonathan, and wounded Saul so that Saul fell on his sword and died.

The rest of the story. We know from last week Saul’s days are numbered. The people had rejected God as their king and now God has rejected Saul as the people’s king. The last question last week showed us that God was looking for someone after His own heart to be king. 

Israel had gone from the very heights of victory and success as they came to the land God had promised to Abraham. As we saw last week time passed and the land was in chaos. This is no surprise to God.

This story takes place in the time of the judges before a king was in place to rule over the nation. The Talmud speculates that Samuel wrote the book, but there is no author named so we can say that for certain.

The name of the book comes from the 12 leaders whose leadership was from the time of Joshua to Samuel. We will look at the book as a series of snapshots taken over a period of 200-300 years. None of the judges ruled over the entire nation, but each of the 12 judges ruled over a geographic area for a period of time.

The next series of books we will be digging in are the historical books. We don’t know who wrote the book of Joshua, but it was someone who knew his exploits before and mentions the memorials after his death. The book of Joshua provides the means by which God fulfilled His part of the covenant. 

We ended our last lesson with grumbling by the people and seeing this is a consequence for their disbelief. We will start to see what is further revealed by the Lord.

The Hebrew title of this book is “In the Wilderness”. When the book was translated into Greek it was changed to numbers, because that is what the first chapters describe, census taking. Interesting in what we will learn about Jesus in this book.

By this time you know what we are digging to find, glimpses of Jesus. Guess what?!! By studying this book, that is often ignored by Christians, we will see in the images of Leviticus, the person of Jesus and His role. Put on your Indiana Jones hat and let’s go digging!!

**We will use the same study sheet for weeks 13 & 14 ** God, through the Holy Spirit, directed Moses in the Genesis Chapter 1 to spend 31 verses and 3 verses in Chapter 2 to describe the creation of the world. Starting in Exodus Chapter 25 through 31 God explained to Moses the way in which the tabernacle was to be constructed. Then in Chapters 35 through 40 the actual construction was described. I...

**We will use the same study sheet for the next two weeks** God, through the Holy Spirit, directed Moses in the Genesis Chapter 1 to spend 31 verses and 3 verses in Chapter 2 to describe the creation of the world. Starting in Exodus Chapter 25 through 31 God explained to Moses the way in which the tabernacle was to be constructed. Then in Chapters 35 through 40 the actual construction was describe...

As we left the class that people had stated their desire to do everything the Lord has commanded. End of Story, Huh?!!?? In Chapter 19 the people agreed to accept the terms of the covenant. In Chapters 20-23 the terms of the covenant are written out. Next comes the ratification in Exodus 24.

God’s people who were once slaves are now free and starting on their journey. Will they see God and catch glimpses of Jesus as they begin their long walk to the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

From the time of Moses up to the time of Jesus and beyond, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. In the Last supper Jesus presented new meaning to this ancient feast of deliverance.

At the end of last week we observed the plagues and the ramifications of a hardened heart like Pharoah’s. This week, we see God’s answer for the hardened heart: the ultimate picture of Jesus in the Old Testament.

We are just beginning digging into Exodus last week. Thought this was going to be about Moses, but guess what it’s not about him, it’s about God. The very real story of God’s people suffering and being freed by a loving God who sends a Savior is a story told throughout the rest of the Old Testament. Jesus is the One.

Digging in the Old Testament and Finding Jesus - Exodus

It felt like we stopped last week’s lesson at a very critical juncture. We left Jacob anticipating the events that will transpire as he reunites with his brother Esau the next day.

Last week a beautiful picture was painted for us regarding Abraham and his son. We saw Abraham was more afraid of losing his relationship with God than he was surrendering his most precious possession. The whole scene points to God offering His most precious Son for us. Realize what God was willing to do for you.

Faith that saves is not merely faith that believes in God, or tries hard to obey His commands. Saving faith is putting all our hopes in what God has promised, specifically His Son, Jesus Christ. His life, death, resurrection. Abraham rejoiced as he had this faith. Don’t you think that should also be our attitude also?

From last week’s lesson, we learned that all those who have hidden themselves in the ark of Jesus Christ will be protected from the coming destruction just as Noah and his family were protected from the flood. Our Savior will safely deliver us to a new heaven and earth. On to another digging expedition!

What happened in the garden regarding the serpent is critical for us to understand. We begin this week to analyze this relating the fulfillment as seen in the New Testament.