Series 2 – Introduction/Review of the Old Testament                     "Amazing Grace"

Jan. 23, 2002

 Opening Prayer

Gracious god, help us to remember that we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from you.  Make us hungry to eat the bread of your word daily that we may pass from blindness to sight, having been sought out and found by your grace.  In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.

1.  Make sure everyone knows everyone else’s name.

Sing Verse three only of “Amazing Grace.” 

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come

Twas grace that brought me safe thus far

And grace shall lead me home

2.  This history section

What is the purpose of retelling history?  What benefits come to us from reflecting on our own, personal, history?  The Bible is not a single narrative written by one person from end to end, but is a compilation of a variety of different viewpoints, historical situations and experiences of God.

3.  Use the timeline and go through the major events and themes here.  Plug in the favorite stories too.  Use today’s ‘life application diagram’ as you see fit, either throughout the lesson or after the content has been presented and before the integrative activity.  Using the chart, note that struggles with God are more temporary and may presuppose contact with God and perhaps minor in comparison to ‘exile’ which is major and includes the sense that God has abandoned us, or God is back in that land and we are here.

 Books that make up this block of literature

 4.  Joshua – Story of the entrance into and conquest of the Promised Land

Favorite stories from this section:  Joshua & Jericho (Ch 6)

Other stories here:  Rahab the harlot (Ch. 2);  Covenant Renewal Decision (Ch. 24)

5.  Judges – Loose-knit gathering of the stories of the charismatic leaders of Israel during the time of the 12 tribes.

Favorite stories from this section:  Gideon (Ch. 6-8); Samson & Delilah (Ch. 14-16)

Other stories here:  Deborah (Ch. 4-5)

6.  Ruth – A charming story set in the time of the Judges.

7.  I & II Samuel – The story of the transition of Israel from the time of the confederacy of the twelve tribes to the rule of the first two kings, Saul and David.

Favorite stories from this section:  David & Goliath (Ch. 17)

Other stories from this section: 

I Samuel:  Birth & calling of Samuel (Ch. 1-3);  Israel’s desire for a King (Ch. 8);  David’s anointing (Ch. 16).  Chapters 18 through 31 (the rest of the book) tell of the struggles between Saul & David.

II Samuel – the dramatic stories of David’s kingship, Ch. 1-10;  David & Bathsheba (Ch. 11-12);  the rest of this book details the plots and intrigues against David, the best known of which is that of Absalom (Chs. 13-19)

8.  I & II Kings – Begins with the rule of Solomon.  Then the subsequent division into two kingdoms and the history of those two kingdoms.  The northern kingdom is conquered by Assyria and the southern kingdom is carried into exile by Babylon.

Stories of Interest here:  Solomon’s rule & empire building (I K 1-11);  The division into Northern & Southern kingdoms (I K 12);  the prophet Elijah (I K 17 through 2 Kings 2); Elisha (2K 2-13); Northern Kingdom crushed (2 K 17); Hezekiah & Isaiah (2 K 19-20);  Discovery of book of Deuteronomy (2 K 22);  Fall of Jerusalem (2 K 24-25)

 9.  I & II Chronicles – a retelling of various stories from I & II Samuel and Kings.

Compare the census in 2 Sam 24:1 & I Chron 21:1

Chronicles deletes the scandal around David & Bathsheba(2 Sam 11-12), out of bias towards the Southern Kingdom and an idealized David.  

10.  Ezra & Nehemiah – The story of the return from exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem & the Temple.

Compare Ezra 9, the denunciation of mixed marriages.  The books of Ruth, Jonah and Isaiah 40-55 may have been included in response to such a drastic attitude towards outsiders.

11.  Esther – Story of a Jewish girl who becomes queen, set in the time of the Persians.

Favorite stories from this section:  Esther

Esther 9:20-28, the establishment of the festival of Purim.

 (Life applications chart?)

12.  Integrative activity:  using markers or pen and paper, draw a shape that for you represents the history of Israel’s relationship with God, as we have seen in the historical books.  Then do the same exercise representing YOUR history with God.  If time allows, share your drawings with others in the class.

13.  Pray & Sing V. 2 of “Amazing Grace.”  (Words on handout for this day.)