Tag: Old Testament

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First and Second Kings

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Author

Unknown. Some traditions hold that Jeremiah was the author who wrote down the narratives passed through oral tradition. Most scholars simply ascribe authorship to an unknown Jewish captive in Babylon.

Date

Likely written between 562B.C. (when the Jehoiachin, the last king written about was released from prison) and 536B.C. (when the exiles returned from captivity). The two books cover the period of history from about 970 to 562B.C.

Audience and Purpose

Written to the Jewish exiles living in Babylon, 1 & 2 Kings (originally a single book that was divided in two for the sake of scroll lengths) picks up the story of the Kingship of God’s people where 2 Samuel left off. The book is written from the prophetic perspective of the nation, with God’s judgement continually in mind.

Major Themes

  • Spiritual Offices: Prophet, Priest, and King. These topics are continued from 1 & 2 Samuel.
  • God’s Justice.
  • God’s Faithfulness or His “Steadfast Love”. Based on His nature and His promise, God proves over and over again that He does not treat His people according to their sins. Rather, he continually shows mercy and grace.
  • Morality.

Key Scriptures in 1 Kings

  • 1 Kings 2:3 — (David to Solomon) “…and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn…”
  • 1 Kings 8:23 — “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart…”
  • 1 Kings 11:35-36 — “But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and will give it to you, ten tribes. Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name.”

Key Scriptures in 2 Kings

  • 2 Kings 17:22-23 — “The people of Israel walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. They did not depart from them, until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had spoken by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day.”

Outline of 1 Kings

  • 1 Kings 1:1-11:43 — Reign of King Solomon
  • 1 Kings 12:1-14:31 — Divided Kingdom
  • 1 Kings 15:1-24 — Reigns of Abijam to Asa in Judah
  • 1 Kings 15:25-16:34 — Reigns of Nadab to Ahab in Israel
  • 1 Kings 17:1-22:40 — Elijah the Prophet vs. Ahab
  • 1 Kings 22:41-50 — Reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah
  • 1 Kings 22:51-53 — Reign of Ahaziah (son of Ahab) in Israel

Outline of 2 Kings

  • 2 Kings 1:1-18 — Elijah the Prophet vs. Ahaziah
  • 2 Kings 2:1-8:15 — Elisha the Prophet
  • 2 Kings 8:16-29 — Reigns of Jehoram and Ahaziah (son of Jehoram) in Judah and Joram in Israel
  • 2 Kings 9:1-10:27 — Jehu kills Ahaziah, Joram and Jezebel
  • 2 Kings 10:28-35 — Reign of Jehu in Israel
  • 2 Kings 11:1-12:21 — Reign of Joash (also spelled Jehoash) in Judah
  • 2 Kings 13:1-25 — Reigns of Jehoahaz in Israel
  • 2 Kings 14:1-15:7 — Reigns of Amaziah and Azariah in Judah; Jeroboam II in Israel
  • 2 Kings 15:8-31 — Final Kings of Israel
  • 2 Kings 15:32-16:20 — Reigns of Jotham and Ahaz in Judah
  • 2 Kings 17:1-41 — Destruction of Israel
  • 2 Kings 18:1-20:21 — Reign of Hezekiah in Judah and the Prophet Isaiah
  • 2 Kings 21:1-23:30 — Reigns of Manasseh, Amon and Josiah in Judah
  • 2 Kings 23:31-25:30 — Final Kings and Destruction of Judah

Gospel Summary

God’s continual faithfulness in the books of Kings is overwhelming at times. Though the people continue to sin and work for their own passions and desires, God continually shows grace. He does this, “for the sake of my servant David,” as stated in 1 Kings 11:11-13, 32, 34, and in 2 Kings 8:19 and 19:34. This statement should point our attention directly to Jesus, who is the offspring of David, and the one who would fulfill God’s promise of an eternal Kingdom.

Despite the fact that their sin did lead to times of cursing, destruction, and even exile, God continually showed them grace so that the promise of the coming King could be fulfilled. This is such a beautiful picture of the faithfulness of God because this King who would come, would be the one to extend God’s grace beyond the nation of Israel, to the whole world. Because of Jesus, God still does not deal with us as our sin deserves.

Once again, we see Jesus typified as our great Prophet and King by Elijah, Elisha, David, and Solomon.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

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First and Second Samuel

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Author

Unknown. Some have suggested that 1 & 2 Samuel were compiled by various authors, of which many have proposed Abiathar, one of David’s servants; Nathan and Gad; or a group of students from Samuel’s school of prophets.

Date

Unknown. The detailed accounts of events do insist on first-person witnesses to the events, rather than being written down from oral histories at a later date.

Audience and Purpose

The books of 1 & 2 Samuel, originally written as a single book, continue to give a history of the nation of Israel for later generations of God’s people. They take us from the days immediately following the period of Judges, through the rise of Samuel as Prophet, and the Kingships of Saul and David.

Major Themes

  • Anointings and Spiritual Offices: Prophet, Priest, and King. Each of these offices play a role throughout the two books. The Prophet, Samuel, is the directing voice of the Lord. The Priests are the ones who mediate the law and sacrifices on behalf of the people. The King is the one who would lead the nation, hopefully, to righteousness and obedience to God’s commands. All three of these offices of the Old Testament are fulfilled by Jesus in the New Testament.
  • Theocracy. As opposed to a democracy, which is government chosen by the people, a theocracy is a government led by God. When the people demand an earthly King, they are refusing to live under the government of God. (1 Samuel 8:4-9).

Key Scriptures in 1 Samuel

  • 1 Samuel 8:4-7 — “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.’”
  • 1 Samuel 16:7 — “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”

Key Scriptures in 2 Samuel

  • 2 Samuel 7:12-16 — (Nathan the Prophet to David) “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son….And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”

Outline of 1 Samuel

  • 1 Samuel 1:1-7:17 — Samuel the Prophet
  • 1 Samuel 8:1-22 — Israel Demands a King
  • 1 Samuel 9:1-15:35 — Reign of King Saul
  • 1 Samuel 16:1-31:13 — Saul and David

Outline of 2 Samuel

  • 2 Samuel 1:1-24:25 — Reign of King David

Gospel Summary

Through the books of 1 & 2 Samuel, we see Israel’s first Kings, Saul and David. Their reigns stand in stark contrast to one another. One, Saul, has the stature and grandeur of a man, is respected by all, and he lives and leads from ego and ambition, just as the kings of other nations. The second, David, is a humble shepherd, who is overlooked by all, yet his love for the Lord and reputation as “a man after God’s own heart,” is elevated before men, and promised a kingdom that is without end. Both of these kings are sinners, yet, one of them embraces sin and selfishness while the other one looks to God for help and guidance.

The promise to David, that his kingdom will be without end, adds another layer to God’s existing promises to Abraham and to Adam, and gets us another step closer to the revelation of Jesus. Jesus would not only be the promised Savior who would crush the head of the serpent. He would not only be the seed of Abraham who would bless all nations. He would also be the perfect, matchless Prophet, Priest and King, who’s rule would be without end.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

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Ruth

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Author

Unknown.

Date

The book was likely written sometime during the reign of King David, as his name is listed in the genealogies of chapter 4, while Solomon, his successor, is not mentioned. This would be sometime between 1011 and 971 B.C.

Audience and Purpose

The audience of the book was the people of Israel in general, but the original purpose is unclear. Many scholars believe the book to be a real-life parable, teaching the need for the people of God to take care of one another, especially in times of great trial and need. It cannot be overlooked, however, that Boaz gives us a clear picture of the greater Savior to come.

Major Themes

  • The Kinsman-Redeemer. Based in the Jewish traditions that if a man were to lose his land out of financial burden, his closest relative must step in to purchase the land, in order to maintain the family’s name and inheritance from God. Ultimately, this points to Jesus, who, after mankind was lost to God through sin, stepped in as our kinsman to purchase us back into the family.
  • The Genealogy of the Messiah. The book concludes with giving the genealogical line of King David, whose line the Messiah would come from. The inclusion of Ruth, a non-Jewish person in this lineage is a major point of interest tho those of us outsiders who have also been grafted into God’s promise through Jesus.

Key Scriptures

  • Ruth 1:16-17 — “…where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
  • Ruth 4:14 — “Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!’”

Outline

  • Ruth 1:1-5 — Naomi’s Family Dies
  • Ruth 1:6-22 — Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem
  • Ruth 2:1-23 — Ruth Meets Boaz
  • Ruth 3:1-18 — Ruth Proposes Marriage to Boaz
  • Ruth 4:1-12 — Boaz Redeems Naomi and Ruth
  • Ruth 4:13-17 — Boaz and Ruth Begin a Family
  • Ruth 4:18-22 — Genealogy of Ruth to David

Gospel Summary

The book of Ruth gives us a glimpse into Jewish life and customs, which included a familial responsibility to take care of their own, as well as being welcoming to outsiders who would join with them. The story of Ruth gives us a picture into the people whose lineage would give us the Messiah, while also giving us a typological picture of the redemption that Messiah would bring. Jesus is the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, who as a man, paid the price for the redemption of those lost to sin, and in the process, took for Himself a bride.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

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Judges

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Author

Unknown. Some traditions say the book was compiled by Samuel.

Date

Unknown. Most of the book was probably written and compiled shortly after the death of Samson, who was the final judge. This would have been around 1050B.C.

Audience and Purpose

The book serves as a historical record to God’s people of the time between Joshua’s death and Samuel’s arrival as a prophet. It record’s God’s continual leadership to a people who had no desire to be led.

Major Themes

  • Godly Leadership. The book begins by asking who would take leadership after Joshua (1:1) and ends with the lack of leadership in the land “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (21:25). Throughout every trial of Israel, God raised a leader among the people to act as a deliverer and judge. These leaders themselves are continually tested in keeping their own faithfulness to God above their self-serving desires.  
    • One other point to note on leadership is that in the Book of Judges, God does not limit this governing authority to men. Deborah, a woman and a wife, is a prophetess and the fourth Judge of Israel (see Judges 4:4).
  • Idolatry and Culture. Throughout the book of Judges, the people of God are continually pulled into the worship of the pagan gods of the nations, and reject the Lord and His commands.
  • The Need for a Savior. Every story in the book of Judges points to the fact that humanity cannot overcome our sinful nature, and need a Savior to save us.

Key Scriptures

  • Judges 3:1,4-6 — “Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them… They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods.”
  • Judges 21:25 — “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Outline

  • Judges 1:1-3:6 — The Roots of Unfaithfulness
  • Judges 3:7-16:31 — The Spread of Unfaithfulness
  • Judges 17:1-21:25 — The Depths of Unfaithfulness

Gospel Summary

The book of Judges shows Israel’s weakness in remaining faithful to God and His law. Their failure to drive out all of the pagan nations, has now introduced them to a compromised life, where the culture of those nations overtakes the commands of God. A lack of leadership, as the nation previously had in Moses and Joshua, leads to a cycle of faithfulness, laxity, compromise, and sin, until God raises someone to judge the nation and restore righteousness once again. This progression is broken when the people finally reject God as  the ultimate judge and King, and demand a king over them, like the other nations (in 1 Samuel 8).

The ESV Gospel Transformation Bible states, in it’s introduction to Joshua, “The failure of both people and judges are so signifiant that they urge us to long for the hero who will never fail… Israel in Judges is in bad shape, but a new day is dawning when God will provide, from the line of David, King Jesus, the King of His choosing.”

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this post.
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

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Joshua

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Author

Unknown. Jewish tradition says that Joshua was the author, although it is possible that the majority of the book was written by another eyewitness to the events written about. Some passages are specifically ascribed to Joshua, though we cannot be certain of the author for the entire book.

Date

The book of Joshua recounts a period of 24 years, ending around 1400B.C. The book was written a short time after the events occurred by an eyewitness to the events.

Audience and Purpose

The author was writing as a testimony of God’s work to future generations of His people. At the time, this would have been future generations of Jews, but it also includes those of us who are children of Abraham through faith.

The book covers the history of the nation of Israel from about 1451B.C. to 1427B.C. at the death of Joshua.

Major Themes

  • God Fights Our Battles. Even the name “Joshua” means, “God Saves.” As the Jews come into their promised land, they quickly learn that they cannot win any battle on their own. Yet, God, in His infinite power and wisdom, has a plan for every battle that will come to win the battle for Israel. Victory is always dependent on Him, rather than the people. The supernatural downfall of Jericho is the first example (see Joshua 6), yet many more follow.
  • Obedience to God’s Commands. Though God was continually ready to fight for Israel, there were many occurrences where He relented in the battle because of the people’s own disobedience. The plundering of Jericho and the subsequent defeat at Ai is the first example in Joshua (see chapter 7).
  • Judgement on Idolatry. One the the biggest, modern criticisms of the Bible is that “God commanded the slaughter of millions of innocent people.” However, the Bible makes clear that the timing of Joshua’s conquest was determined by the determination of when God would judge the sin of those people (see Genesis 15:16). These nations are recorded as practicing incest, child sacrifice, religious prostitution, and other abhorrent sins.
  • Inheritance. After all the promises made concerning the land, the people finally make their home there. Much of the book deals with the distribution of the land by tribe.

Key Scriptures

  • Joshua 1:8-9 — “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
  • Joshua 21:44-45 — “And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.”
  • Joshua 24:14-15 — “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Outline

  • Joshua 1:1-5:15 — Crossing the Jordan
  • Joshua 6:1-12:24 — Conquest of the Land
  • Joshua 13:1-22:34 — Dividing the Inheritance
  • Joshua 23:1-24:33 — Renewed Commitment to Faithfulness

Gospel Summary

The book of Joshua is about God’s people and His promise. His people have been brought from bondage and are becoming a nation identified by God. The land that this nation is coming to inherit, has been promised by God for centuries. The challenges the people now face become the opportunity for God to prove Himself powerful over the false God’s of the nations. The book of Joshua is the climax of the books of Moses, and yet it is also the commencement of a new era for Israel. Joshua tells us of the turning point, where God finally gives the people their inheritance, and in the process, brings judgement on all the unbelieving nations who are cast out. (Note, it is likely a preincarnate appearance of Jesus as “the commander of the army of the Lord,” in 5:15.)

As it applies to the gospel, Tremper Longman writes in The Case for Spiritual Continuity, “The war against the Canaanites was simply an earlier phase of the battle that comes to its climax on the cross and its completion at the final judgment. The object of warfare moves from the Canaanites, who are the object of God’s wrath for their sin, to the spiritual powers and principalities, and then finally to the utter destruction of all evil, human and spiritual.”

Jesus will still be the judge of the unfaithful. He is giving them time and an opportunity to repent (as did Rahab), but the day will come when He removes them in the final judgement and giving the world as an inheritance to His people, the church.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this site. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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Deuteronomy

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Author

Moses was most likely the author of Chapters 1-33. Another writer, possibly Joshua, must have added chapter 34, which records Moses’ death.

Date

Unknown. Moses must have written the book shortly after giving this final address to the people.

Audience and Purpose

As the time in the wilderness (and Moses’ life) came to an end, and the people prepared themselves to go into the Promised Land, Moses stood before the whole congregation of Israel, again, to declare the law of God to them, and to charge them to remain faithful to everything God has commanded.

Major Themes

  • Testimony. Remembering what God has done in the past, gives us hope of what He will do in the future.
  • Blessings through Obedience. God has promised so much good to His people, but over and over again Moses tells the people that a failure to obey and remain faithful to Him will nullify those blessings.
  • Multi-Generational Covenant. This generation of God’s people are one link in the chain to both the history and future of God’s promise to the world.

Key Scriptures

  • Deuteronomy 6:4-9 — “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
  • Deuteronomy 30:19 — “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life…”

Gospel Outline

  • Deuteronomy 1:1-5 — Introduction
  • Deuteronomy 1:6-4:43 — Moses’ First Speech Recapping History
  • Deuteronomy 4:44-26:19 — Moses’ Second Speech
    • Deuteronomy 4:44-11:32 — General Requirements of the Covenant
    • Deuteronomy 12:1-26:19 — Specific Requirements of the Covenant
  • Deuteronomy 27:1-30:20 — Moses’ Third Speech
    • Deuteronomy 27:1-28:68 — Blessings and Curses
    • Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20 — Moses’ Final Charge
  • Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12 — Joshua Commissioned to Replace Moses

Gospel Summary

As Moses’ ministry comes to a close, it is fitting that he takes time to remember all that God has done in the past and through his own leadership, to instruct the people on their way into the future with the next generation of leaders. God’s promise of a Savior and complete restoration of all things back to the Garden of Eden cannot be fulfilled in one man or in one generation. Moses, therefore, as he finished his life, commissions the next generation to take their place as faithful followers of God in their own lives, and to pass that faithfulness on to the next generation. He also prophesies that God will, one day, raise up another like Him, to lead Israel (Leviticus 18:15-22).

We understand that all of the promises of God find their fulfillment in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20), yet even in our own generation, the global realization of God’s promise is incomplete. We too must look to the past, and remember the testimonies of all God has done in history and in our lives. We must continue, daily, to remain faithful to Him, and be diligent to pass our faith and hope on to the next generation. Moses’ charge at the end of Deuteronomy, should also remind us of our charge in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), to remain faithful and help others become faithful as well.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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Numbers

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Author

Moses. (See Luke 24:27 and John 5:46.)

Date

Unknown. It is believed Moses wrote the book of Numbers when he was at Moab, towards the end of his life.

Audience and Purpose

Number is the continuation of the book of Exodus, and records the history of the time God’s people spent wandering in the wilderness. It picks up the story of the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai, after the law (Leviticus) had been given, and the tabernacle had been built. It follows the people of Israel through the rest of their wilderness journey, all the way to the banks of the Jordan River.

Major Themes

  • Faith and Perseverance. The people of God must look beyond their present circumstances, and continue to persevere in the hope of God’s promise to come.
  • God’s Provision. The people of Israel, who had been living full lives in Egypt, must come to fully trust in God’s provision of their needs: manna from heaven, water from a rock, protection from enemies, and more. The life of faith depends on His provision in everything. 
  • Human Rebellion. From murmurings agains Moses, to the 10 spies unwillingness to take the land by faith, we see the deep heart of humanity that lacks trust in God. God’s response to this rebellion is severe.

Key Scriptures

  • Numbers 6:22-27 — “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’ So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
  • Numbers 14:18 — “‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Outline

  • Numbers 1:1-10:10 — Preparing to Leave Sinai and Take the Land
  • Numbers 10:11-12:16 — From Sinai to Kadesh
  • Numbers 13:1-19:22 — Remaining at Kadesh (almost 40 years)
  • Numbers 20:1-21:35 — From Kadesh to Moab
  • Numbers 22:1-36:13 — Remaining at Moab

Gospel Summary

The time God’s people spent in the wilderness was not a test of God’s faithfulness to them. Rather it proved His faithfulness in the face of the people’s continual rebellion and unrest. God proves Himself to them over and over again with His power, signs and miracles. Had it not been for God’s grace, continually at work to bring the people through the wilderness, none of them would have entered the promised land.

Once again, this story parallels the life of the Christian, that though we have been brought out of bondage to sin, death, and the devil, we have not yet fully “entered God’s rest.” Day by day, we are learning not to trust out own experience and abilities, and learning to trust Him as our Guide, Provider, Protector, Healer, and more.

Christ is revealed symbolically, many times in Numbers. He is the Rock that gives water (see 1 Corinthians 10:4). He is seen in Moses raising the serpent to give life to all who gazed upon it (see John 3:14-15). He is prophesied as the star rising out of Jacob and a scepter out of Israel.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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Leviticus

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Author

Moses. (See Luke 24:27 and John 5:46.)

Date

The message of Leviticus was preached during the first month of the second year after the exodus, when the people camped at Mount Sinai. It is unknown when Moses wrote the message down.

Audience and Purpose

After God dictated all the law to Moses on the mountaintop and in the tabernacle, Moses was commanded to delivered the law to the people of Israel (Leviticus 1:1-2). The book of Leviticus is the written record of the teaching Moses gave to the people at Mount Sinai in the wilderness.

Major Themes

  • Priesthood. The name of the book comes from the term “Levites,” one of the tribes of the nation of Israel who would be set apart as the priesthood for the Jewish people. A priest was an earthly mediator who offered sacrifices in order to bring sinful people back to their Holy God. In the New Testament, Jesus is the considered the “great High Priest” who makes an eternal sacrifice to reconcile God and man. Afterward, He would say the church is now a holy priesthood bringing the grace of God to those who have not yet received salvation.
  • Holiness.
  • Atonement.

Key Scriptures

  • Leviticus 19:1-2 — “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.’”
  • Leviticus 17:11 — “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”

Outline

  • Leviticus 1:1-6:7 — The Five Offerings
  • Leviticus 6:8-7:38 — How the Offerings Should Be Handled
  • Leviticus 8:1-10:20 — The Priesthood
  • Leviticus 11:1-15:33 — Laws Regarding What is Clean and Unclean
  • Leviticus 16:1-34 — The Day of Atonement
  • Leviticus 17:1-16 — The Blood of the Lamb
  • Leviticus 18:1-22:33 — The Call to Holiness
  • Leviticus 23:1-25:55 — Feasts and Fasts
  • Leviticus 26:1-46 — Blessings and Curses
  • Leviticus 27:1-34 — The Nation Vows to Follow the Law

Gospel Summary

The core message of the book of Leviticus is that God is perfectly holy, while man, due to his sin, is not holy at all. Mankind has been separated from God. In order to be restored to God, mankind must return to holiness, which requires perfectly keeping the laws of God or making the appropriate blood sacrifice, according to the law, in order to (temporarily) be made clean. The blood sacrifices of spotless animals made atonement for the sins of man, once per year, and reset each individual’s standing with God, but remaining sinless for the rest of the year was a major challenge in fulfilling the law.

In Jesus, our great High Priest, we see all of the legal demands set forth in Leviticus perfectly kept. Leviticus if full of types and symbols which Jesus would fulfill. Specifically, when Jesus died on the cross, He took the place of the spotless lamb and became the sinless sacrifice to cover the unrighteousness of mankind.

Since Jesus was God in the flesh, the atonement of His blood is permanent, never needing to be repeated, and all those who put their faith in Him have been made holy and blameless before God.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using certain links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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Exodus

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Author

Moses. (See Luke 24:27 and John 5:46.)

Date

The date of writing is unknown, although the most common view is that the Exodus event took place around 1446B.C. and that the Tabernacle was completed in 1444B.C.

Audience and Purpose

The book was written for future generations of God’s people, recalling the history of God’s people from their time in Egypt until the tabernacle was completed at Mount Sinai. The purpose was to reveal God as the Great Redeemer who will never abandon His people.

Major Themes

  • Salvation, Deliverance and Redemption. The word “exodus” comes from a Greek word meaning “coming out” or “the way out.” The book describes how God delivered His people, Israel, from a life of slavery in Egypt. It becomes the model for how God would one day redeem humanity from our greater slavery to sin.
  • Covenant. Exodus opens with God remembering His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), and His promise to return His people from captivity to the Promised Land (Genesis 15:13-14).
  • Judgement and Grace. The plagues show God’s judgment on those who refuse to obey Him (Exodus 7:8-10:29). The Passover reveals God’s grace on those who may not be perfect, but who are humble enough to obey (Exodus 11:1-13:16).

Key Scriptures

  • Exodus 3:4-6 — “When the Lord saw that (Moses) turned aside to see [the burning bush], God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ And he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”
  • Exodus 3:13-14 — “Then Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
  • Exodus 20:1-3 — “And God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.’”

Outline

  • Exodus 1:1-2:25 — God remembers His covenant.
  • Exodus 3:1-4:17 — God Comes Down, Appoints a Deliverer.
  • Exodus 4:18-15:21 — God Redeems His People
    • Exodus 4:18-7:7 —Redemption through Promise
    • Exodus 7:8-10:29 — Redemption through Plagues
    • Exodus 11:1-13:16 — Redemption through Passover
    • Exodus 13:17-15:21 — Redemption through Power
  • Exodus 15:22-18:27 — God Leads
  • Exodus 19:1-40:38 — God Instructs
    • Exodus 19:1-20:17 — Legal Instructions
    • Exodus 20:18-24:11 — Covenant Instructions
    • Exodus 24:12-40:38 — Tabernacle Instructions

Gospel Summary

Before Jesus died on the cross in the Gospels, the story of Exodus was the greatest story of God’s redemption and deliverance to mankind. It paints a picture of hope for a greater exodus, when God would deliver/save His people from bondage to sin, death and the devil. The Exodus stories frame our own story of salvation in Christ. In Jesus, God remembers His covenant and comes down. Jesus becomes our Deliverer. The Holy Spirit is our pillar of cloud and fire, and we are the tabernacle of God’s presence.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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Timeline of the Bible

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Before we begin to look at each book individually, it is helpful to get a general timeline of the periods in which the biblical authors were writing. Remember, the Bible was not written in the order we read it today, and many of the books overlap one another.

Please note, that some of my placements of certain books on this timeline are controversial and contested. For this project, I have chosen to go with the general scholarly consensus and those with the most historical evidence and support; though I will not argue conclusively regarding some. For my own purposes, this is the timeline I have developed and use. If you disagree, that is fine, and I’d love to discuss! (Please also note, that as I continue to study and work through this handbook, I may make updates to the timeline included here. If this occurs, I will note those changes and give reason below.)

Timeline of the Old Testament

The Old Testament was written from around 1450 B.C. to just before 400 B.C., yet it covers a time period even longer. The following two charts give us a general timeline showing the approximate dates of when the historical events of each book happened. (The dates depicted are not exact.)

Timeline of Old Testament Prophets

As you may have noticed, the Prophets are not shown on the first chart. This is because all of the prophets were writing in a much smaller period, between around 800BC to 415BC.

The next chart zooms in, and shows the approximate times in which they wrote their books, relative to the kings ruling in their respective nations. (Some of the minor kings are left off the timeline.)

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Timeline of the New Testament

Between the Old Testament finishing with Malachi and the New Testament beginning with the birth of Jesus, there is a silent period of around 400 years, in which there is no written record of God’s prophetically inspired Word. Although there are other historical and apocryphal books written during this time, recounting Jewish life in Israel and even miraculous works of God, since the earliest church tradition these books have been excluded from being considered as scripture inspired by God.

The New Testament was written between 35AD and 90AD, covering as far back as the events leading up to Jesus’ birth. Here is an estimated timeline of which time periods are covered in each book.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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