I. Semester Overview II. Job
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY SEMESTER 2, WEEK 1
I.
Semester Overview
WEEK
TITLE, BOOKS
MAJOR THEMES, POINTS
1
Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes
Wisdom Books
2
Psalms, Song of Solomon, Lamentations
Poetry Books
3
Isaiah
Major Prophet – Pre Exile - Messianic
4
Jeremiah
Major Prophet – Fall of Judah
5
Ezekiel, Daniel,
Major Prophets – In Exile
6
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Minor Prophets – Pre Exile
7
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Minor Prophets – Post Exile
II.
Job
A. Background 1. Lived sometime before Moses. 2. Recognized as a superb example of ancient poetry 3. Suffered tremendous loss of all his children, possessions, and health
B. Theme: Wrestles with big questions 1. Why do the righteous suffer? 2. How is this suffering reconciled with the infinite goodness of God? 3. Also contains amazing observations of nature
C. Job’s 3 “Comforters” Answer: suffering is always the outcome of sin. 1. Sat in silence with Job for 7 days until Job speaks 2. Job desperately asserts his innocence 3. Back and forth arguments for much of the book 4. The comforters are eventually rebuked by God
D. Fourth Friend – Elihu’s Answer 1. Suffering are often the means of refining the righteous; the chastisements of a Father who loves his children 2. Not responded to by Job or rebuked by God
E. God’s Answer (Chapters 38-41) 1. Questions Job with unanswerable questions about God’s greatness and wisdom 2. Job is humbled and repents. Receives restoration.
F. Applications 1. Attitude toward possessions Job 1:21; Luke 12:15 2. O.T. mention of bodily resurrection Job 19:25, 26 3. Example of patience and suffering for the Christian James 5:11 4. Jesus’ warning against wrong ideas about suffering Luke 13: 4,5 5. Biblical view of suffering: Contrary to “Karma”
III.
Proverbs
A. Background 1. Authorship: Solomon (Chapters 10-22) & others 2. 31 Chapters, nearly every verse or two can stand alone. 3. Theme: Practical teaching of moral & ethical principles for daily living
B. Teaching Styles 1. Teaching by contrasts: “but” (e.g. Prov. 15:1) 2. Teaching by analogy (e.g. Prov. 11:22) 3. Negative examples: “Fool/Foolish” (vs. the wise)
C. Warnings 1. Adultery – e.g. Chap 6: 32, Chapter 7 2. Dishonesty – e.g. Chap. 11:1 3. Cruelty – e.g. Chap. 12:10 4. Anger – e.g. Chap. 22:24 5. Laziness: e.g. Chap. 26:14 6. Busybody – e.g. Chap. 26:17 “ Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.”
D. Suggestion: Chapter of Proverbs a day (31 chapters)
IV.
Ecclesiastes
A. Background 1. Authorship: probably Solomon
B. Theme: Meaninglessness of an earthly perspective on life 1. Death comes to everyone: good & bad, foolish and wise, man and beast, etc. 2. Some verses are favorites at weddings (Chap. 4:9,10) 3. Shows from personal experience that all earthly goals and blessings, when pursued as ends in themselves, lead to emptiness. Chap. 9:7; Chap. 9: 9,10
C. Conclusion 1. Highest good in life lies in reverencing and obeying God and in enjoying life while one can. 2. Falls short on perspective of being born of the Spirit and enjoying eternal fellowship and worship of God.
D. New Testament Perspective 1. Eternal Life and Resurrection John 6:27; 2 Cor. 4:18; 1 Corinthians 15:32; 2 Cor. 5:1
I.
Semester Overview
WEEK
TITLE, BOOKS
MAJOR THEMES, POINTS
1
Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes
Wisdom Books
2
Psalms, Song of Solomon, Lamentations
Poetry Books
3
Isaiah
Major Prophet – Pre Exile - Messianic
4
Jeremiah
Major Prophet – Fall of Judah
5
Ezekiel, Daniel,
Major Prophets – In Exile
6
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Minor Prophets – Pre Exile
7
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Minor Prophets – Post Exile
II.
Job
A. Background 1. Lived sometime before Moses. 2. Recognized as a superb example of ancient poetry 3. Suffered tremendous loss of all his children, possessions, and health
B. Theme: Wrestles with big questions 1. Why do the righteous suffer? 2. How is this suffering reconciled with the infinite goodness of God? 3. Also contains amazing observations of nature
C. Job’s 3 “Comforters” Answer: suffering is always the outcome of sin. 1. Sat in silence with Job for 7 days until Job speaks 2. Job desperately asserts his innocence 3. Back and forth arguments for much of the book 4. The comforters are eventually rebuked by God
D. Fourth Friend – Elihu’s Answer 1. Suffering are often the means of refining the righteous; the chastisements of a Father who loves his children 2. Not responded to by Job or rebuked by God
E. God’s Answer (Chapters 38-41) 1. Questions Job with unanswerable questions about God’s greatness and wisdom 2. Job is humbled and repents. Receives restoration.
F. Applications 1. Attitude toward possessions Job 1:21; Luke 12:15 2. O.T. mention of bodily resurrection Job 19:25, 26 3. Example of patience and suffering for the Christian James 5:11 4. Jesus’ warning against wrong ideas about suffering Luke 13: 4,5 5. Biblical view of suffering: Contrary to “Karma”
III.
Proverbs
A. Background 1. Authorship: Solomon (Chapters 10-22) & others 2. 31 Chapters, nearly every verse or two can stand alone. 3. Theme: Practical teaching of moral & ethical principles for daily living
B. Teaching Styles 1. Teaching by contrasts: “but” (e.g. Prov. 15:1) 2. Teaching by analogy (e.g. Prov. 11:22) 3. Negative examples: “Fool/Foolish” (vs. the wise)
C. Warnings 1. Adultery – e.g. Chap 6: 32, Chapter 7 2. Dishonesty – e.g. Chap. 11:1 3. Cruelty – e.g. Chap. 12:10 4. Anger – e.g. Chap. 22:24 5. Laziness: e.g. Chap. 26:14 6. Busybody – e.g. Chap. 26:17 “ Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.”
D. Suggestion: Chapter of Proverbs a day (31 chapters)
IV.
Ecclesiastes
A. Background 1. Authorship: probably Solomon
B. Theme: Meaninglessness of an earthly perspective on life 1. Death comes to everyone: good & bad, foolish and wise, man and beast, etc. 2. Some verses are favorites at weddings (Chap. 4:9,10) 3. Shows from personal experience that all earthly goals and blessings, when pursued as ends in themselves, lead to emptiness. Chap. 9:7; Chap. 9: 9,10
C. Conclusion 1. Highest good in life lies in reverencing and obeying God and in enjoying life while one can. 2. Falls short on perspective of being born of the Spirit and enjoying eternal fellowship and worship of God.
D. New Testament Perspective 1. Eternal Life and Resurrection John 6:27; 2 Cor. 4:18; 1 Corinthians 15:32; 2 Cor. 5:1
