Description of each book

Genesis –Beginnings God as creator, His fellowship with man, His desire for man’s best.

Sin – its consequences, death and exile. God’s continued care of man.

Pre-flood expansion of sin.

Cleansing flood. Limitation of man’s lifespan.

Covenant of promise with Noah

Abram/Abraham Covenant of promise Faith and righteousness

Abraham’s descendants

Into Egypt

Exodus – Slavery. Redemption. Mount Sinai. Covenant of the Law

Leviticus – Priesthood, Holiness, sacrifices

Numbers – (Hebrew – “in the desert”) One generation’s failure to walk by the faith of Abraham results in their loss of Abraham’s inheritance. Their faith is tried repeatedly, the old generation dies out, the new learns to walk with God. Two censuses, at the beginning and end of this time reveal that the same number of people take the land as had refused it a generation earlier. (But the proportions of the tribes is different! God’s judgments were aimed at the unfaithful among them and were not random. e.g. the tribe of Simeon (see judgment of Baal Peor) went from 59,300 to 22,200 and the tribe of Manasseh went from 32,200 to 52,700)

Deuteronomy – traditionally the reiteration of the law to the new generation. Moses last words. Confirmation of God’s love to the new generation. Anointing of Eleazar, Aaron’s son as high priest. Joshua appointed leader in Moses stead.

Joshua – The first book of “history”. Fulfillment of God’s promise to the extent that the people trust and obey.

Judges -- the period when Israel was ruled by “judges”. Repeated cycle of apostasy on the part of the people, judgment by God using foreign nations, deliverance of the people through a “judge”, who trusts God for deliverance. Not all of the land of Israel was necessarily affected in each instance. Repeated point: Everyone did what was right in their own eyes because there was no king in Israel. (Author making point in favor of monarchy?)

Ruth – takes place during the time of the Judges. Story of the unwavering devotion to God and family in the unlikely person of a Moabitess, a foreigner and outcast. (see Deut. 23:3) Her faith is richly rewarded. The idea of the kinsman/redeemer well illustrated. These are David’s ancestors.

I Samuel -- Begins during the time of the judges. Samuel is the “last judge”. A corrupt priesthood results in the loss of Israel’s glory, the ark of the covenant, symbol of God’s presence among them. The people demand a king. God grant’s them a covenantal monarchy (like a “constitutional monarchy). This is a radical departure from the kingdoms surrounding them. Unlike the neighboring kingdoms, Israel’s king is NOT a king/priest or a demi-god or an avatar. Israel’s king does not have absolute power, but is subject, like his brethren, to God through the covenant. He must be attentive to and submitted to God who speaks through His prophets and priests. Saul, the first king, fails miserably to understand this concept or adhere to it. David is anointed and goes through a period of severe testing at the hands of Saul. But he emerges as totally dedicated to God.

II Samuel – Begins after the death of Saul and records David’s monarchy. He brings back the ark (the glory of Israel, God’s presence among them), militarily subdues the area

I & II Kings – This history begins with Solomon’s reign and continues to the Babylonian captivity. Most likely to have been written to encourage the exiles in Babylon. It’s theme revolves around the faithfulness (or unfaithfulness) of God’s people and the consequences. The gradual deterioration of the national trust in God is documented to demonstrate that the Babylonian captivity is the direct result of the failure of God’s people, not the result of God’s inability to defend them. II Kings ends with King Jehoiachin restored to some honor even in the land of captivity. God is still with them in spite of their failures.

I Chronicles – covers much of the same history as Samuel and Kings, with a view to encouraging the Israelites who have returned from captivity. A recurrent theme is the condition of the temple as an indication of the condition of the faithfulness of the people. Genealogies are included to give a sense of continuity to a people who had been shattered by captivity, a sense of God’s faithfulness to preserve them as a people. The royal line and the line of the high priest are recorded in depth. Other families are recorded more briefly. I Chronicles ends with David who has acquired the plans for the temple by the Spirit, has collected materials for the temple, and has arranged the duties of the priests and Levites for serving in a temple, charging Solomon to build it.

II Chronicles –Solomon builds and dedicates the temple. The covenant is renewed after the apostasy during Atheliah’s reign at the temple. The temple is repaired. Uzziah enters the temple and becomes a leper. Hezekiah opens the doors of the temple and purifies it. He is spared the Assyrian captivity. Josiah repairs the temple,(receives the book from the temple??) II Chronicles ends with the decree of Cyrus releasing the Israelites to rebuild their temple.

Ezra – (Same author as I & II Chron? May be part of same book as Nehemiah) In addition to Ezra’s personal memoirs, copies of official documents or letters are included, written in their original language. Including 1) Cyrus’ original decree, 2) official accusation against the Jews 3) Reply of Artaxerxes 4) governor’s report 5) decree of Darius 6) letter of Artaxerxes 7) list of returned articles 8) list of returned exiles, list of mixed marriages genealogy of Ezra and clan chiefs.

Shows God’s sovereignty over the nations and foreign kings, Documents for future generations the validity of those serving as priests, documents the “Jewishness” of the returned exiles. The role of “mixed marriages” in blocking God’s blessings because they adopted the idolatry of their spouses as well. Consider this issue not in terms of racism, but in terms of the spiritual principle of compromise with idolatry. Consider the focus on the temple not as concern for a building, but as concern for a spiritual temple of which we as God’s people are living stones. If the state of the body of Christ was such that the individual members had no connection with others to create a habitation of God in the spirit, it would become a strong priority for the restoration of God’s people.

Nehemiah – building of the wall

Esther – Institution of Purim. Victory in the age old conflict with the Amalekites. Shows God’s control over seemingly insignificant events and over the hearts of great kings. Shows His faithfulness to His people when they seek His face, even when they are living in captivity.

Job – The first of the “wisdom” books. Examines the question of “why do the righteous suffer”.

Psalms – a collection of songs and poetry. Some date from the time of Moses, most are later. David wrote some but by no means all or even “most” of the psalms. They include prayers, individual and corporate, praise and thanksgiving for help in need, praise of the majesty of God, confessions of faith, pilgrimage songs, royal songs (for coronations or royal weddings) and songs for teaching. Keep in mind that Hebrew poetry involves repetition, simile, metaphor, parallelism, alliteration and wordplays more than rhyme and meter (the mainstays of our poetry). Beware of trying to find too much theological significance in a play on words.

Proverbs – Practical instruction on living based on the “fear of the Lord”, presented in “sound bites”

Ecclesiastes – Apart from God, life has no meaning. Wisdom, reason, money, power, pleasure are not enough to satisfy the human heart. Only a life lived in humble trust and obedience to God is worth living.

Song of Solomon – Love’s journey to maturity

Isaiah – The first of the major prophets (called “major” because of the size of the book, not the relative importance) Events recorded take place during the rise of the Assyrian Empire and the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel. Isaiah and Hezekiah keep Jerusalem tracking with the Lord during this pivotal time, saving it from being conquered. As the world moves into a time of large empires and away from the little kingdoms that prevailed during most of Israel’s history, the prophets begin to unveil a larger vision for God’s people. Prophecies about the Messiah and the role of spiritual role of Israel in the latter days become more prominent than in earlier writings.

Jeremiah – Jeremiah’s ministry begins before the Babylonians conquer Jerusalem and continues after it. His is the unenviable task of proclaiming that surrender to a foreign power is now the will of God as judgment for a disobedient and idolatrous Israel. He is viewed by most of his contemporaries as a traitor. But he also prophesies about the restoration of Israel after her time of judgment, declares the time limit set by God (70 years) and promises of help during captivity. He even buys a piece of property as a sign that they will be restored. There is often a double meaning in his prophecy. There is the promise of a literal restoration and the promises concerning the ultimate establishment of the kingdom of God.

Lamentations -- Poetic lament over the destruction of Jerusalem. Documents the horrors of that time and rightly reveals it as judgment from God. But recalls the faithfulness and goodness of the Lord to restore.

Ezekiel – a young man of priestly descent unable to serve as priest during the Babylonian captivity is called to another ministry, that of prophet. His prophecies are filled with temple images. The magnificent vision of the Lord’s glory when he is called to the ministry is the living embodiment of the Holy of Holies complete with cherubim and mercy seat. His graphic vision of the sins of Judah and the withdrawal of the presence of God center around the temple. His vision of ultimate restoration is a plan for an incredible temple. As with Chronicles and Ezra, consider the focus on the temple not just as a brick and mortar physical place, but as a habitation of God in the Spirit composed of His people as living stones.

Daniel – A young man’s devotion to God in spite of his circumstances allows him to be used by God to minister to the most powerful men in the world, the emperors of Babylon and Persia, challenging them to humility before God. Reveals God’s sovereignty over the nations and history. Prophecies about the Messiah and about the time of the end.

Hosea – a book about covenant faithfulness in the face of unfaithfulness. Hosea’s experience of the infidelity of his wife and the burden of raising children who are not his own, mirrors God’s experience of the unfaithfulness of Israel. His faithful obedience to the Lord in this humiliating experience allows him to speak with authority about the grace of God.

Joel – not dated-- Judgment and imminent destruction calls for repentance. So it will also be in the end. Prophecy about the outpouring of the Spirit and the signs of the end.

Amos – Judgment on the nations surrounding Israel. Judgment on Israel. She will be exiled to be sifted among the Gentiles. Eventual restoration after exile.

Obadiah – prophecy is exclusively about Edom and not about Israel at all. Total annihilation is promised. Remember that the nation of Edom are the descendants of Esau, who had so little regard for God and the things of God that he sold his birthright for a bowl of lentils. Hebrews 12 calls him “godless” and “profane”.

Jonah – Less than half a century before Assyria took the northern kingdom into captivity, Jonah was called to preach repentance to its capital city, Nineveh! Astonishing to the Israelite mind of the time is that God would care about a heathen nation, warn them of their sin and impending judgment and accept their repentance!

Micah – Judgment is promised to Israel for social injustice. Both the Assyrian and the Babylonian invasions are mentioned. Bethlehem Ephrata will be the source of the promised ruler (Messiah). Futility of sacrifice without repentance demonstrated by work. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Nahum – More than half a century after Assyria took the northern kingdom into captivity, Nahum prophesies the downfall of Nineveh for its savagery against God’s people.

Habakkuk – this book takes the form of a dialogue between Habakkuk and God, like a journal of his devotional life. He first asks God how He can let the injustices in Judah continue without judgment. God’s answer is that He will shortly bring Babylon against them. Then Habakkuk asks God how a holy and pure God can use an ungodly nation like Babylon to judge His people. God’s answer is that the Babylonians will be judged in their turn and the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk’s concluding prayer and worship is about humble trust in God even in the worst of circumstances.

Zephaniah – A fourth generation descendant of Hezekiah prophesies about the “Day of the Lord” as a day of judgment, a fire to consume every living thing on the planet. There will be a time of cleansing, removing the unfaithful and eventually restoring the humble.

Haggai – The returned exiles need to rebuild the temple although it seems a daunting impossibility. God promises that their rebuilt temple will surpass the glory of Solomon’s temple and that they will be blessed materially for their contributions out of their poverty.

Zechariah – During the time of the restoration, Zechariah sees eight visions which are very similar to the Revelation shown to John. A number of his Messianic prophecies are quoted in the gospels (esp. Matthew) such as the king coming on a donkey, the thirty pieces of silver, striking the shepherd and scattering the sheep. The eventual acceptance of the Messiah by the Jewish people is prophesied when they mourn for the “one whom they pierced”. Living water will flow from Jerusalem. The high priest Joshua (Jesus) is crowned as a symbol of the Priest/King who will build the temple of God and who will have a place to stand in heaven to plead for his people.

Malachi – The returned exiles, discouraged, lose sight of God’s hand in their lives. (“Where is the God of justice?” and “It is futile to serve God”) Their worship becomes an empty formality as shown by their “sacrifice” of animals that were useless. Their lives are marked with compromise with the world as shown by their divorces and “mixed marriages”. Malachi speaks of the purifying day of judgment and the protection and blessing of those who remain faithful to God.