OT Final

Isaiah

"YHWH is salvation" Lived during the reign of FOUR JUDEAN KINGS, received a spectacular call from God in the temple, When called he expresses both humility and willingness. Given the message to teach but also told that people would not accept it. wrote in rich and beautiful poetic language; most quoted O.T. prophet First Isaiah (chapter 1-39) and Deutero Isaiah (chapter 40-66) = more dramatic Ch. 1 - Lord's lawsuit and accusation rebellion. initial judgment - desolation and destruction. final judgment - promise of pardon for repentant Judgment and future hope - the millenial jerusalem and its temple, millennial peace, the proud will be humbled before God, Jerusalem's proud women will be humbled, Messianic hope, the stem/stump of Jesse, the rod/branch, a marvelous work and a wonder Structure and themes of "deutero-Isaiah" Foreshadowing of Christ's coming and of latter-day restoration, messiah - suffering servant, second coming, millenium, new heaven and new earth Dualistic themes - covenant/judgment, apostasy/repentance, destruction and restoration, scattering/gathering, messiah Messages of hope and comfort - the return from exile in 539 confirms God's covenant promises, the Lord gives strength, fear not, the Lord does not forget his children, THe Lord gives help, comfort, and joy Chapter 53 - the righteous suffering servant Eschatology: the end - Jesus claims to be the anointed one from Isiah, the Lord will come again, Millennial renewal and peace

Psalms

1/3 of OT is poetry and 40% is historical narrative, with the remaining legal material Categories of OT poetry: psalms, lamentations, other songs, wisdom lit., prophetic lit. Formulated in LINES as in western poetry No regular meter (patttern of sound) or Rhyme as in western poetry, but parallelism Parallelism (though rhyme instead of sound rhyme). An idea is emphasized in at least 2 or 3 lines. The repetition adds power and nuance and is valued as such 1. Synonymous: repetition of same or similar thought 2. Antithetics: "opposite", a thought that denies or provides exception to the preceding line 3. Synthetics: the second line adds to and advances the thought of the first line 4. Inverted or chiastic: thoughts reiterated in reverse order LDS scriptures containing psalms - Joseph's prayer at liberty jail in D&C 121 and 2 Nephi 4 Nephi's pslam The psalms are more to be felt in the heart than to be thought through, like a prayer Praying the psalms - using them as prayers, as additions to prayers or memorized portions Writing in psalm-like language (or writing your own personal psalm) Psalms = Praises (Hebrew), Songs of praise (Greek) Psalter = harp (hebrew), Stringed instrument (greek) Most likely sung and used for worship in the temple Selah = unknown meaning but most likely musical direction for "pause" Psalms is the third longest OT book and one of the three most quoted OT books in NT Jesus quoted them extensively (both messianic and suffering/lament psalms) Who wrote? 2/3 have superscriptions but not all are necessarily reliable (the rest are anonymous). 73 (about half) are attributed to David but some in his name seem to date to before his time Pslams divided into 5 sections. Psalms 1 (delight of reflecting on God's word) and 2 (a reflection in the context of a fallen world) intro and Psalm 150 conclusion Each section concludes with a doxology (greek doxa = glory) 1. Hyms of praise 2. Thanksgiving 3. Lament 4. Wisdom 5. Messianic expectations/kingship 6. Confidence Themes - the law and the messiah, faith and hope in a fallen world Unique psalm - 119 (An Acrostic meaning each section begins with a different Hebrew letter)

King David

1st Samuel builds Davis up as a hero and 2nd Samuel brings him down with his flaws 2nd Samuel is the golden age of Israel with military power and political power Archeology found a stone that says house of david as evidence The common israelite sin David is never guilty of is idolatry/disloyalty to God David is loyal to the Lord's anointed and his family (murderers of Saul and of his son Ishbosheth, who ruled in the north for two years, are executed. Mephibosheth, Jonathan's lame son, is taken care of David king of Judah ruling from Hebron (7 years) - Civil war between generals Abner (north) and Joab (south). In later peace time Joab kills Abner Who is joab? David's nephew, commander of his army, influential, revengeful, bold, ruthless David king over the whole of Israel (33 years) Jerusalem is conquered from the Jebusites and established as a political and religious capital Ark of the covenant - UZZAH Don't touch (music and dancing) David desires to build a house of the Lord - through the prophet Nathan God responds: No or at least Not Yet! But, God establishes a royal house (dynasty) for David and his posterity forever Ammonites and Syrians are taken under control and the political golden era of Israel begins Anatomy of sin (if not reversed, Sin spreads) 1. David's idleness (wrong place at the wrong time) 2. David keeps looking and lets his desire grow (I'm the king, I can get what I want) 3. David commits adultery (bathsheba's pregnancy) 4. First cover-up attempt (David sends Uriah home to try to make it look like a normal pregnancy) 5. Second cover-up attempt: Murder (sends command to Joab to have Uriah killed) God's voice of truth through the prophet Nathan "You are that man" David condemns himself (it is usually much easier to see sin in others than in ourselves) David ruined a family (Uriah and Bathsheba) through deciet, sexual immorality, unrighteous dominion, violence and death. His own family would be ruined by the same means David and Bathsheba's child dies but their second child (solomon) will be anointed Family comes apart - Amnon, David's oldest son, rapes his half-sister TAMAR through deceit (counting on her good will to help him) and then rejects and despise her Absalom, Tamar's full brother, kills Amnon (in revenge through deceit) David had not punishsed his first-born son Amnon Absalom's takes control (after his return from a brief exile) He desires David's power and steals the hearts of the people. Seizes power in Hebron and enters Jerusalem, David flees. Ahitophel (David's counselor) joins the conspiracy. Absalom publicly takes his father's concubines (a claim over the throne) BUT the kingdom is not taken from David since Hushai, David's spy, facilitates Absalom's defeat. Joab kills Absalom nothwithstanding David's request to spare him. David, a sorry figure, cursed and caught in a web of power. Mourns the deaths of his sons (at least 3). Joab maneuvers the kingdom exerting influence over the king.

The end of the northern kingdom, hezekiah and jonah

Assyria closes in Tiglath-pileser III [Pul] initiates miliatary and administrative reforms; Neo-Assyrian empire becomes a formidable force Israel - King Pekah breaks vassal relationship with Assyria and attacks Judah with Syria to force it into an anti-assyrian coalition Judah - King Ahaz calls for the help of Assyria. TPIII marches his forces to the area and the kingdom of Israel is subjugated Hoshea chosen as last king of Israel (puppet king who must pay tribute to Assyria). A number of Israelites (from high and middle classes) deported, some flee to the south (Lehi in Jeru) End of Israel - Hoshea rebels and Shalmaneser V of Assyria lays siege to the cpital of Israel, Samaria Sargon II (sucessor of SHV) destroys Samaria and exiles much of the population replacing it with other peoples in 722 BC Ten tribes become "lost" and lose their identity (assimilated) as a people (not in samaritan view). Foreign people who are resettled to Samaria intermarry with remaining population giving rise to the Samaritans (considered by Jews to be of mixed blood at best, with illegitimate priesthood and practices). Samaritans have their own Pentateuch and claim that Mount Gerizim was the original sanctuary chosen by God. Today there are only about 800 Samaritans left. Why was Israel Destroyed? Idolatry Isaiah speaks to Ahaz - king of Judah: - God's message: Do not call on Assyria, Don't worry about Syria and Israel. A virgin shall concieve a son Immanuel. Isaiah shall father Mahel-shalal-hash-baz Ahaz - makes a treaty with Assyria. Because of this Judah has to pay tribute to Assyria. Judah absorbs religious practices from Assyria. Under Ahaz's son, Hezekiah, large parts of Judah are destroyed and jerusalem is barely spared Hezekiah, son of Ahaz - a very good king, paid tribute to assyria but violated the vassal treaty. Sennacherib invaded Judah and destroyed a number of cities, including lachish. Jerusalem under siege, Rab-Shakeh's taunt. Miraculous deliverance by angel of the Lord. Judah continues as vassal of Assyria - Sennacherib's prism. Evaluating Hezekiah's rebellion - The author of 2 Kings presents it as YHWH's victory (sennacherib is assasinated, there are jews today but no Assyrians) BUT Jews develop a false sense of security that Jerusalem CANNOT be destroyed. Hezekiah built the tunnel and a broad wall, was rewarded for his faith BUT was foolish in showing the temple treasures to the Babylonians Jonah and Nineveh: Northern prophet likely during the reign of Jeroboam II. Called to preach to the great Assyrian city of Nineveh (capital city of the Assyrian empire; it ruins today lie just outside the city of Iraq). Jonah's tomb, believed to be in ninevah was destroyed by Isis. Jonah DID NOT like the Assyrians, probably for good reasons. IRONY: the point is made through events that defy all expectations SATIRE: Jonah is made to look ridiculous as is the reader through his/her identification with Jonah Historical details are overall insignificant; the message transcends tie and place Reversals (from exepected good to bad): runs in opposite direction of where he's called to go, shows little contrition or desire to repent, shows no concern for the people he is called to warn, gets angry and argues with God, wants to die Reversals (from expected bad to good): Non-Israelite sailors fear YHWH and don't want to throw Jonah overboard. They pray and sacrifice to Jehovah. The king of Nineveh and the people repent immediately. The ninevites fast and humble themselves. INTERESTING DETAILS •Casting of lots as only legitimate form of divination in the Bible (and BoM) •Jonah goes to a cold, dark place (Sheol, the OT hell) twice (down into the ship, the fish's belly) •Jonah is thrown out (or vomited) twice: from the ship and from the fish •Prophecy is that Nineveh will be overthrown; it is overthrown through repentance •God creates both the protection (gourd) for Jonah and its removal (through the worm) Mirror in Jonah - How do we respond to the Lord's call? Do we ever fill like running in the opposite direction or doing the very minimum? Do we look down on those who are not of our faith/ethnic group/nation/etc. and consider them inferior or deserving of their challenges and misfortunes? Are we OK with God loving our "enemies" or are we jealous of His love? Do we cry foul if someone else seems to be forgiven too quickly? Do we quickly recognize our fault and humbly try to change our behavior? Do we ever experience Schadenfreude (joy in the misfortune of others)? Do we want justice for others but mercy for ourselves? Are we easily irritated by inconveniences in our own lives but ignore or diminish other people's problems?

Daniel

Babylonian exile Hebrew - language of God's people and Aramaic - primary language of commercy and diplomacy in the babylonian empire Third person accounts, first person apocalyptic visions Strength and hope while in exile (not a call to repentance), overall theme - the doxology (pssalm of praise), God's soverignty over human powers, God's soverignty over history Famous stories: Dietary laws (refuse food and wine and ask for water and legumes instead) Idolatry (refuse to prostrate before the statue of a fasle god and are thrown in a hot furnace because of it) Prayer (continues to pray 3 times a day toward Jerusalem although a decree forbids it and thrown to lions Nebuchadnezzar's dream - political powers replace each other but God's kingdom will ultimately prevail. The stone is the gospel Daniel's dream - four beasts are four kingdoms that fight against God's kingdom. A pre-second coming meeting Nebuchadnezzar - BEASTYLY king - insanity and restoration Balshazzar - "writing on the wall" Cyrus of Persia - expands and conquers babylon End of persian empire - conquered by Alexander the great

Ezra and Nehemiah

Cyrus allowed all captive peoples to return to their lands (Cyrus' cylinder) First return (some choose to return but many (perhaps most) choose to stay in Babylon Important individuals - Joshua (high priest), Sheshbazzar (prince of Judah), Zerubbabel (Sheshbazzar's son/nephew and governor) Early efforts toward temple construction/repair. Altar constructed for offerings, initial repairs ("foundation laid"), bitter-sweet celebration (some weep thinking about how the temple used to be), work halts •Temple is completed in five years, in 515 BC Ezra leading the second return: Priest and scribe (scholar of the law), royal support by artzxexes "a blank check" and travels to jeru with so much money but no military guard, never described as. a prophet. Beautifies temple with vessels brought from babylon Learns about marriages with non-Jews, mourns and prays for forgiveness. Protection of religious identitty against assimilation to a wider culture. Ezra will lead the people in several reforms. Nehemiah (The lord comforts) Cup bearer - trustworhy, receives report from jeru that city and people need help and he cares deeply. Returns to jeru with blessing and support of king. Decides to rebuild walls but encounters opposition from neighboring governers but the wall is completed Ezra reads the law to the people, which is interpreted into aramaic, celebration of the feast of tabernacles, day of penitence and Ezra's prayer of confession, people RECOVENANT

King Solomon and the Temple

Deuteronomistic history: a unit of narrative with common themes, concerns, and terminology If you are righteous you will prosper, if wicked you'll be destoryed, loyalty should be to God alone, Idolatry will result in destruction and scattering, Jeru temple is only authorized place for sacrifices David is an aging king Solomon is anointed king by Zadok at Gihon spring David's final message and requests (keep God's commandments and Don't forget those who have caused me trouble) Adonijah (seeks power too) asks for a royal concubine Deaths of adonijah, joab, and shimei Gibeon: location of tabernacle (ark of covnenat in city of David) Solomon's dream and request ("ask for whatever you want me to give you") Wisdom - the baby and two mothers, the visit of the queen of sheba (answered all questions) "golden age" of united monarchy - Land (fullest geographical extent of dominion), Security (independence, a standing army, a new capital), Infrastructure and Building (state income from foreign tribute), Trade/wealth (international visitors and merchants) Temple (house of God, model of heaven, holy place, place of revelation, law, covenants, ordinances) Solomon's temple built in 7 and 1/2 years. Solomon second vision (negative side of the covenant) Ch. 1-10 (good), ch. 11 (bad) - chiastic strucutre in each chapter Solomon's sins - many foreign wives and concubines - extent of sinfulness unclear. worshipped the gods of his foreign wives. Took 15 years to build his own palace Promise of a divided kingdom (jeroboam and alijah - rips garment into 12 pieces. Jeroboam takes 10 pieces to David's dynasty)

Elisha

Elisha = My God is Salvation (Passing of mantle elisha is the new elijah) Elisha asks and receives a double portion of elijah's spirit Double portion was given to the firstborn (a sort of spiritual birthright). Double the miracles from Elisha (14) 14 miracles: 1. Jordan river is divded 2. waters of jericho are purified 3. Bears come to destroy the mockers at Bethel 4. Water looks like blood to moabites who lose the battle 5. Oil of the widow is multiplied in jars 6. The Shunnamite woman is given a son 7. Her son is raised from the dead 8. A pot of stew is purified 9. Bread is multiplied and 100 men are fed 10. Naaaman is cured of leprosy and Gehazi is cursed with it 11. The iron axe head is made to float 12. The eyes of Elisha's servant are opened 13. The syrians are smitten with blindness; their sight is restored 14. A dead man is revived after contact with the corpse of elisha Israel (Jehu ends the third ruling dynasty. Assassination of Joram (Israel) and his nephew Ahaziah (Judah) The black obelisk of Shalmaneser III of Assyria - earliest artistic representation of an Isralite king (Jehu paying tribute). Jehu steps out of alliance with Judah and Syria and becomes a vassal of Assyria Joash (Israel) reigns when Elisha dies (the arrows incident) Judah (athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel - Israel, married to Joram (judah) influences her son Ahaziah to introduce idolatrous practices. After his death she usurps the throne for 7 years. Relative hides baby Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, to protect him from the queen when he reigns he restores the proper worship of yahweh and repairs the temple

A prophet in exile: ezekiel

Ezekiel = priest "God will strengthen" Exile means struggle and raises questions about identity and faith in a context of low morale Ezekiel provides not only warnings but also comfort - 1. God still speaks to prophets. 2. Promises of the exodus are repeated. 3. Temple will be rebuilt and people will return VISIONARY MAN - much apocalyptic symbolism First vision - Four living creatures (in the likeness of a man), each with four faces & four wings The two faces on the right are of a man and lion, on the left of an ox and eagle In Christian iconography they symbolize the four gospels: Matthew (man), Mark (lion), Luke (ox), and John (eagle) Each has a wheel moving in all four directions and rims full of eyes: they move in unison Above them a throne with a human form sitting on it. Fire, light, splendor, striking sounds! The glory of God, the Shekinah (Divine presence) speaks, Ezekiel prostrates in reverence First commission - message: warn this rebellious people and don't be afraid of them. People will NOT listen to you. The scroll: Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey Symbolic prophecies/the turning point: brick with drawing of Jerusalem and iron plate, lie on left side 390 days and right side 40 days, mixed grain cake, baked with fire of dung (rationed with water), cut hair, divided into three pieces. Ezekiel bread - 6 grains and legumes Turning point was the news of Jerusalem's fall New message of hope - restoration of the Davidic kingship, land, the Lord's presence and soverignty, the house of Israel The righteousness of your ancestors won't save you, we have responsibility for our actions and some responsibility for how they affect others Ezekiel bears responsibility as a watchman, people bear responsibility to heed the watchman, consequences are not permanent, we can change in the positive or negative Visions of restoration/gathering Israel - dry bones Restoration of kingdoms - the two sticks, prophecies of the Messiah's coming and millenium New temple and new land divisions - an extended apocalyptic vision, God's glory returns to the new temple, water flows from the temple to heal the dead sea

Preaching in the North: Hosea and Amos

Hosea - one of the twelve "minor" prophets (first and longest book of the 12) Minor in terms of quantity (shorter books), not value Twelve separate books in Christian Bibles at the end of the O.T. One scroll, one book in the Hebrew Bible (in the middle "prophets" section after the "aw" and before the "writings") Hosea's place and time: Northern Kingdom and end of Jeroboam II's reign. Palestine caught between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Assyria was expanding and to contrast this expansion, Israel, Judah, and Syria established an alliance. jehu broke the Aliance and made Israel a "vassal" kingdom in Assyria. Assyrian empire building effort slowed down and Judah and Israel meet in battle and Israel wins. Judah is vassal of Israel. Prosperity during the regin of jeroboam II - conquests in Aram and Judah Hosea "means salvation" Hosea was the original name of Joshua but Moses changed it Are the wife and children to be taken literally or only figuratively? Perhaps Gomer wasn't literally a prostitute but part of a society of whoredom Wife: Gomer Three Children: Jezreel = "god will sow" destruction (For jehu's murders in Jezreel). Lo Ruhamah "no mercy" the time of 'no mercy' will come to Israel. Lo Ammi "not my people" Hosea and Gomer compared to (God and Israel) - Hosea marries Gomer (covenant at sinai like a marraige) - Gomer is unfaithful and leaves Hosea, he plans her punishment: public shaming (Israel turns to idolatry, Lord punishes them by destruction - Reconciliation: hosea decides to take her back - to be together in love (Lord, in his mercy, to take Israel back - no divorce!) Key message of Hosea - The Lord is HARD on sin (persistent sin leads to destruction) BUT the Lord is SOFT on the sinner (true repentance is always welcome) The world is often HARD on the sinner and SOFT on many real sins, exactly opposite to God's approach If we want to follow in God's path we need to be quick to forgive, to give second chances, and to never give permanent condemnation BUT we also cannot deny or excuse sin in any of its manifestations Shame (I'm worthless) is from the accuser (Satan) but GUILT (I did wront), when properly experienced can lead to God We cannot lead people to God by eliminating the need for repentance. Some of the strongest expressions of God's love will emerge as manifestations of forgiveness. Amos - earliest of the twelve prophets Herdsman and gatherer of sycamore fruit, surprised by the Lord's call Originally from the Southern kingdom, preached in the north during hte reign of Jeroboam II Book organized chiastically may center in chap. 5 Key insight: universalism - God cares for all the nations Israel's sins: neglect and oppression of the poor, selfishness and individualism, idolatry, hipocrisy

The Problem of Suffering

Job Focuses of different wisdom books: 1. Proverbs: optimistic message - follow the rules and everything will go well 2. Ecclesiastes: pessimistic message: even if you follow the rules, you may not prosper and even if you prosper you may not be happy 3. Job: exploration of a very difficult problem: when REALLY BAD things happen to REALLY GOOD people Challenge to reader: poetry, emotional upheavals and changes, not clear where the author is going, length Outline of Job: Job's righteousness, testing (first family and possessions, second health), arrival of Job's friends. Job's lament, first through third cycle of speeches. Final discourse, Elihu takes up the argument, God responds to Job. God rebukes Job's friends, and job's prosperity restored. Job = "afflicted, persecuted" Interesting prologue: mysterious - land (UZ), name (Job), setting (sons of God and Satan) Satan means "accuser, adversary" NOT a name (used to reference both humans and angels to describe this function) Would God negotiate with Satan? POINT - historical details DON'T matter, the story is the means to achieve the writer's main objective, it is the context to explore the books' big question IS GOD TRULY JUST Answer - we are not capable of even asking this question of Him. We ultimately lack the means for this kind of evaluation in our present human context Job - perfect, patient and meek, depressed, defensive, angry and confused, reptentant Job struggles honestly while his friends have it all figured out Elihu provides a more nuanced perspetive (mysteriously appears and disappears) emphasis on God's overall goodness. Suffering as a warning, a tool for growth in character, and to develop dependence on God Job is a mediator for foolish friends Ultimate answer to suffering - TRUST AND FATIH. Our perspective is limited but we can still find MEANING in suffering within the context of our faith Job comprehends that he can speak to God with reason and honesty Job recognizes the veil between him and God Job realizes that his trials have a transforming value and will bring him forth as "gold" redemption from evil and suffering What are we learning in our afflictions?

The Last of the Prophets: Malachi

Malachi = "my messenger" Last prophet Apostasy was widespread Themes: call to repentance, promise of restoration Disputations Prophecies with multiple fulfillments 1.I have loved you How? (people say the lord doesn't love them anymore) I have protected you from edom, your enemy, and have chosen Jacob for my covenant. I will continue to preserve you from your enemies 2.Priests, you despise my name How? (priests say they have been keeping the law and the commandments) You have been offering polluted offerings: sick, blind, lame animals 3.You have married the daughter of a strange god How? (people claim they don't understand) You have been marrying outside the covenant, committing adultery, and divorcing the wives of your youth to take new wives 4.You have wearied the lord with your words How have we done this? (People shift the burden of proof on god) With constant questions like "Where is God's justice" or statements like "The evil and wicked continue to prosper" 5.You are robbing me How have we done this? By not paying full tithes and offerings. If you do, I will pour out blessings on you like rain 6.You have spoken harsh words against me What have we said? You say "It's useless to serve God, we are not getting anything from it." But I will not forget the righteous because I have a book of remembrance. They are my jewels ("segullah"). "unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings...And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet." 4:2-3 Other malachi teachings: the messengers (malachi, john the baptist, moroni), messenger of the covenant - Jesus Chrsit. Elijah (mount of transfiguration and kirtland temple - sealing power), the sealing power is to make a differenc ein our families on earth (not only in the afterlife) Chronicles - end of Hebrew Bible. Originally one book. Exclusive focus on the kingdom of judah. Centers around the temple as the foundation of Jewish identity

The end of the southern kingdom and the words of jeremiah

Manasseh - the Worst king but not really Josiah - after two-year reign of Amon, wicked son of Manasseh. Most righteous king. Comissioned repairs of the temple. the "book of the law" found in the temple, was read to him. Huldah, the prophetess, condemnation of Judah, blessing of Josiah Gathered all the people and had the Book of the Law read unto them, covenanted with God, deposed idolatrous priests, destroyed idols and altars, defiled high places, put away mediums, wizards, commanded the observance of passover, pulled down altar and high places in Bethel and Samaria. Babylon defeated Assyria at the battle of ninevah, babylon defeated the remaining Assyrian army and its ally, the egyptian army, at the battle of Carchemish - Josiah dies at megiddo while opposing the egyptians JUDAH BECOMES A VASSAL OF BABYLON Jehoiakim (son of Josiah) broke the treaty with Babylon First Babylonian sack of jerusalem - Jehoiakim died - his son Jehoiachin/Jeconiah became the new king Jerusalem and temple pillaged but not destroyed. First exile - possibly 8-10k taken to Babylon (including daniel and ezekiel) Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jehoiachin and exiled him as political prisoner N. installed a puppet king in Judah - Zedekiah (son of Josiah). Lehi's departure in "the first year of the reign of Zedekiah." Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon and made an alliance with Egypt SECOND BABYLONIAN SACK AND DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM - temple and city razed to the ground Second exile - most of the population (except the poorest) taken to babylon zedekiah captured and blinded, sons killed Jew gedaliah made governor over the land and remaining population assasinated by a group of nationalists Deuteronomistic history ends in hope in davidic line, kings begins with building of temple and ends with its destruction Jeremiah - The weeping prophet, son of the priest, called to ministry while young, ministered for 40 years and told by God not to marry and have children. Foreordination. God's call, Jeremiah's response and God's rejoinder Almond rod, seething boiling pot, a realisitic assesment, broken cisterns (symbolism) Recurrring problems - Judah's sins, the queen of heaven, the cursed path vs. blessed path Object lessons - the linen girdle, the potter's wheel, the earthen jug, the yoke True prophet - jeremiah and message of submission to babylonian False prophet - hananniah and message of rebellion against babylonian Jeremiah's message to the exiled - build for 70 years A prophet's trials - opposition, imprisonment, death threats Jeremiah's emotions - depressed lament, the fire within, continuing faith Last prophecy and future restoration - leaders do not listen, hope in a new covenant

Divided Kingdom and Elijah

Vanity of two kings A new king after solomon - northern people feel the burden of excessive taxation and labor (King Rehoboam responds: you'll get even more) Northern tribes rebel and set up a separate kingdom under Jeroboam - end of united monarchy Jeroboam's sins - golden calves, new centers of worship in Dan and Bethel, Appointment of priests who aren't levites Observance of feasts (tabernacle) a month off from Biblical calendar Rehoboam allows Israel to seceded with no fight. House of Omri (third dynasty) 1 Kings focuses on his son AHAB and wife JEZEBEL Mesha inscription/Moabite stone (ahab and jezebel worship BAAL and ASHERA) Idolatry - setting another diety or power before or alongside God. Often associated with immoral behavior. Kinds of OT prophets - Patriarchs and leaders (adam, abraham, moses) Former, pre-classical, or popular prophets (Joshua, judges, samuel kings) - accounts and stories transmitted by followers, associated with groups that follow, emphasis on miracles and mustical experiences Later, classical, or literary prophets (Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah) - later and oracles recorded in books called by their names (no prophetic guilds), focused on ethical monotheism over rituals and ceremonies and more sober and universalistic in their teachings Elijah = My God is Jehovah ("Tishibite"). One of the two great OT prophets, appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration and in Kirtland temple God's power at the center of Elijah's ministry through 7 miracles: 1. Elijah seals the heavens for 3 years and is fed by the ravens 2. Elijah multiplies oil and grain for the widow of Zarephath 3. Elijah raised the widow's son (First account of the resurrection in the Bible) 4. Elijah calls fire from heaven on the soaked altar 5. The rain returns 6. Elijah brings down fire on Ahaziah's soldiers twice 7. Elijah parts the river jordan Elijah escapes discouraged to Mt. horeb (Sinai), following Jezebel's death order and fasts 40 days and nights and meets the Lord in the Still Small Voice Story of Micaiah? Ahab (Israel) & Jehoshaphat (Judah) want to take Ramoth-gilead from Aram (Syria) Ahab's prophets give their approval, but Jehoshaphat asks for a prophet of YHWH Micaiah is summoned and pressured to give a positive response He tells the truth (don't go!) against 400 false prophets Imprisoned The text never tells us whether Micaiah is vindicated for teaching the truth. We don't know what happens to him

Wisdom Literature

Wisdom: living a good, happy and productive life Practical application of principles not derived from theory or revelation but from experience and the accumulated learning of the past. Wisdom contrasted to foolishness Main theme: IF you are respectful, diligent, humble, fear God.. THEN you will have happiness, longevity, prosperity, success Personified as a lady (also in the BOM) Wisdom books: proverbs, job, ecclesiastes, SofSolomon; and wisdom psalms Book of Proverbs: a collection or anthology attributed to Solomon or his tradition Method: overstatement of truth to make a general point Pearls of proverbs ("comparison") Ecclesiastes - the preacher/teacher Obedience does NOT always lead to success Success does NOT always lead to happiness Two great equalizers (time and death) make everything Hevel = smoke, air, vanity There is nothing new "under the sun" (in mortality) same cycle Message is to wake up to the reality of your mortal condition. How much time and energy do we spend in meaningless worries and pursuits? Enjoy the present moment and accpet the reality of time Live life with an eternal perspective God should se the boundaries of your action sin life "It is time to enjoy happiness with those we love and to realize that we are at a time in our lives when enjoying today means more than worrying about tomorrow."