How Well do you Know Biblical History? A recap

How Well do you Know Biblical History? A recap (Part one of two)

How Well do you Know Biblical History? A recap (Part two of two)

What Happened to the Disciples of Jesus?

2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 36

2 Kings 24

Jehoiakim Reigns in Judah

Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah

Jerusalem Captured

Zedekiah Reigns in Judah

2 Kings 25

Fall and Captivity of Judah

Gedaliah Made Governor of Judah

Jehoiachin Released from Prison

2 Chronicles 36

Judah's Decline

Jerusalem Captured and Burned

The Proclamation of Cyrus

Ecclesiastes Introduction

 Introduction to Ecclesiastes

What is the meaning of life? Ecclesiastes asks this and other difficult questions but is unique in the way it answers them. The author of Ecclesiastes aims to show us how vain life "under the sun" is, despite anyone's most lofty attempts to make it meaningful. The only solution Ecclesiastes offers us comes from above the sun - namely from God. Only when we see how God brings meaning into our lives through the revelation of Jesus can we interact with this world in a way that escapes vanity and builds meaning.

Psalm 62

 Psalm 62

True Happiness

This psalm expresses confidence in the king and offers prayer for him. The king rests in God despite his difficulties. Although his deceptive and powerful adversaries push hard against him, he remains undaunted. He encourages himself and his people to trust in God and to see their human adversaries from God’s perspective, where they appear frail, fleeting, and deceptive (62:9).

62:1 my soul waits in silence Rather than continually crying out to God (compare 22:2), the psalmist quietly waits for Him, confident that He will bring salvation.
62:2 Only he Asserts trust in God alone-He is the only one who can deliver the psalmist and provide him with safety and security.
is my rock The Hebrew word used here, tsur, describes a secure location and emphasizes Yahweh's protection.
my salvation The Hebrew word used here, yeshu'ah-which may be rendered "salvation" or "deliverance"-refers to the liberation God provides from hazards and problems.
my high stronghold The Hebrew word used here, misgav, describes a high wall or rocky fortress. It emphasizes the stable protection God provides for those in need.
I shall not be greatly shaken The Hebrew verb used here, mot, expresses a lack of security and safety.
62:3 How long will you attack a man? All of you The psalmist addresses his enemies. He describes them as relentlessly attacking him, trying to bring him down as if he were a leaning wall. The enemies desire to topple the king with lies and cunning.
62:4 they are pleased with deception Emphasizes the deceit and hypocrisy of the wicked. Not only are they deceitful, but they enjoy falsehood. They hypocritically pretend to bless people when they are actually cursing them. My high position refers to the royal throne.
62:5-6 The psalmist repeats his opening words (vv. 1-2), declaring his trust in God nearly verbatim. The psalmist encourages himself and others to place their hope in God.
62:7 my glory The Hebrew word here, kavod, can refer to honor or reputation. The psalmist stakes his reputation, as well as his salvation, on his trust in God.
62:8 Trust him at all times, O people The psalmist encourages people in general to trust God at all times. Since God is their refuge, they can be confident as they trust Him.
62:9–12 Unlike God, humans are transient beings. Even when they thrive, their prosperity is fleeting.
62:9 In Hebrew, this verse includes two phrases meaning "sons of man"-bene-adam and bene ish. Many translations understand these to mean two different types of men. However, both phrases could be understood as synonyms, referring to humankind in general. not what they appear to be: People often try to look stronger and better than they are.
Only a vapor are men of low degree Demonstrates the folly of trusting in people, who are all fleeting.
a deception are The Hebrew word used here, kazav, is also used in v. 4 to describe falsehood.
62:10 do not set your heart on it The psalmist warns against trusting in wealth-especially wealth gained illegally by extortion or robbery. The crime of extortion means using intimidation and threats to make others give up what is theirs, while stealing is taking what belongs to others.
62:11 Once God has spoken The psalmist uses a numerical saying-a literary device common in Wisdom Literature-as he looks to God's promises. Strength and unfailing love remain in balance only in God. He cares for his people by ridding the world of evildoers.
strength belongs to God This emphasizes God's power to protect or save.
62:12 you will render to each The psalmist upholds God's justice. He trusts that God will give to each person what they deserve, based on their deeds-and by extension, based on whether or not they repent and turn to God. This type of divine retribution is common in Wisdom Literature (see Prov 24:12; Job 34:11).

Psalm 1 and 2

 Psalm 1  Blessed Is the Man!

• v. 1 Blessed is to be obtained in 2 Ways.
• Negatively
• Positively
• v. 3 The Rewards of the Blessed Man
• v. 4 The Contrast to the Blessed Man

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BLESSED? (32:1)

To be blessed is to be happy or full of joy. It is much more than a feeling, however; it is a joyous position resulting from a right relationship with God.

SHOULD WE MEDITATE ON GOD’S LAW? (1:2)

When we meditate by wrapping our hearts and minds around God’s revelation of himself in his Word (law), we find spiritual stability, depth of character and divine blessing. See the article Isn’t meditation used by other religions? (77:12).

DOES FOLLOWING GOD BRING SUCCESS? (1:3–4)

This psalm offers a principle, not a guarantee of success. The ancient Hebrews did not limit their definition of success to the purely financial aspect of life. They valued other factors as well, including a positive reputation and community respect. For the righteous, success is measured not in the accumulation of wealth but in the experience of God’s blessing on their words and deeds. See the article Are proverbs ironclad promises? (Pr 3:1–4).

WHAT IS CHAFF? (1:4)

After wheat is harvested, the chaff (stems, leaves, husks and dust) is separated from the grain in a process called winnowing. Chaff is carried away by the lightest wind, and its removal brings about cleansing by removing the unwanted seed coverings and debris from the grain. In this verse, the worthless chaff symbolizes the wicked, who will be separated from the righteous at judgment.

Psalm 2 "Thou Art My Son!"

• The Determined Hate of the People (v.1-3)
• The Divine Tranquility (v. 4-6)
• Messiah's Manifesto (v. 7-9)
• Overtures and Counsels of Peace (v. 12)

Psalm 16

Trusting God

Psalm 16

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DAVID’S LAMENTS

David’s hymns of praise were associated with the time when David rejoiced before the ark of the covenant (see “The Book of Psalms” at Ps. 8). The other major category of psalms is laments, in which the singer complains to God and asks for help. Related to the lament is the song of trust, in which the singer expresses faith in God’s ability to deliver.

Several of the psalms associated with specific points in David’s life are laments or songs of trust. For example, Ps. 57 and 142 reflect David’s days of hiding in caves from Saul, while Ps. 3 and 7 reflect his flight from Jerusalem. All of these psalms are laments. Many other laments and songs of trust, however, are attributed to David, but provide no historical context. Nevertheless, these psalms can be read in light of this time in David’s life.

The arrangement of psalms in the Bible shows a movement from lament to praise (see “The Book of Psalms” at Ps. 8). If we read David’s laments according to the five “Books” of the psalms, we see the concentration of laments in Books I and II. In Book I (Ps. 1–41) itself are 22 more laments associated with David.

• Psalms 4–6; 9–14; 16; 17; 22; 25–28; 31; 35; 36; 38; 40; 41

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Deuteronomy 11-13

Deuteronomy 8-10

Deuteronomy 5-7

Deuteronomy 3-4

Deuteronomy 1-2

Deuteronomy Introduction

Deuteronomy tells the story of Israel's inability to obey God's Law. This disobedience leads to death, exile, and hopelessness. But since Jesus keeps the whole Law for us, we can be free from death and enter into eternal life with him. Beyond this, Jesus writes the Law on our hearts by his Spirit. This enables us to finally be Law keepers instead of Law breakers.

Numbers 35-36

Numbers 33-34

Numbers 31-32

Numbers 28-30

Numbers 26-27

Numbers 23-25

Numbers 21-22

Numbers 18-20

Numbers 16-17

Psalm 90

 

Numbers 14-15

Numbers 11-13

Numbers 8-10

Numbers 7

Numbers 5-6

Numbers 3-4

Numbers 1-2

Numbers Introduction

Numbers shows us what it looks like to get trapped in the cycle of sin. Whether it was Israel in the wilderness or ourselves in the city, we all disobey and are headed toward punishment. Only Jesus can break the cycle of sin, intercede for us, and bring us out of the wilderness to himself.

Leviticus 26-27

Leviticus 24-25

Leviticus 22-23

Leviticus 19-21

Leviticus 16-18

Leviticus 14-15

Leviticus 11-13

Leviticus 8-10

Leviticus 5-7

Leviticus 4-5:13

Leviticus Introduction

How can we live in God’s presence? The answer is given to us in the book of Leviticus. If we are ever to dwell with God we must become like God, we must be holy as he is holy. Atonement provided a temporary way to take our darkness and make it light, but we needed a more permanent solution. That is why Jesus, who is God's light itself, took on our darkness to make us holy like him.

Leviticus 1-4

Song of Songs - Introduction

 Introduction to Song of Songs

Song of Songs tells a story about love, longing, passion, and waiting through a collection of songs about a bride and a groom. People often think this book is only about sexual intimacy or only a metaphor for our relationship with God. The beauty of this song, and why it is the called the greatest song ever written, is that it is about both. Only when we are intimate with God can we be properly intimate with anyone else. Only when we give holy love to others are we truly living in God's holy love for us.

Ultimately, though, Song of Songs is about absence and longing. There are constant warnings to not awaken love until the proper time mixed with seasons of the groom's absence that leave the bride desperate and alone. This longing is meant to frame what is our common experience of God's presence. Yes, there are times of beautiful intimacy where we feel close to God. But there are also seasons that seem to interrupt that intimacy with doubt, absence, and a sense of longing.

We hope this introduction to Song of Songs helps you understand and appreciate this important book. We also hope it validates your sense of longing and feelings of absence, showing you that God knows they exist and is drawing near to you to bring healing and satisfaction in the person of Jesus.

Isaiah Introduction

 Introduction to Isaiah

Isaiah prophesied during a pivotal point in Israel's history. Because of their sin, God sent Babylon to judge Israel. But Isaiah's ministry held out hope that God would save them through judgement. Isaiah told Israel that she needed to trust God more than she trusted false gods and other kingdoms. Though Israel refused to heed Isaiah's warning, God still chose to save her. And God saved Israel, not through judging them, but by the suffering and judgment Jesus experienced on the cross.

Psalms Introduction

 Introduction of Psalms

The Psalms are songs for a people waiting in exile. They spring from Israel's history, when people like King David wrote inspired songs giving thanks, repenting of sin, affirming God's promises, or asking for help. The Psalms have been a source of hope, a guide for honest prayer, and a treasury of prophetic promises for God's people throughout generations. Now, Jesus has fulfilled these Psalms and given them to his church, providing us with songs to sing while we wait in this earthly exile for his return.

Kevin's Komment - Introduction

This is Kevin's online commentary of God's Word. In many cases, it is a collection of my thoughts, items from my filing cabinet that I have collected over the years, things I have written over 40 years of ministry, and things others have shared with me.