Priests , Judges , Kings , Prophets…

…prepare the Way!

Jesus is the “Way”

“Scriptures testify / bear witness to me.” John 5:39

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” John 14:6

Jesus fulfills Old Testament

“I have come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets..” (Mat 5:17)

...beginning with Moses and the Prophets, he(Jesus) explained to them the passages of Scripture about Himself. (Luke 24:27)

The Transfiguration - Luke 9:28-36

LawLaw ProphetsProphets

People Land Kingdom Split Exile

The Exodus: Moses

Israel moans; God answers (Ex 2:23)

Pharoah opresses the Israelites. (Ex 1:10)

I Am Who I Am (Ex 3:14)

The Paschal Lamb (Ex 12:3)

A year old lamb, without blemish, on the 10th day to the 14ht day, slaughtered at twilight, roasted only, eaten whole without leftover, eaten with bitter herbs and unleavened bread.

6

The Passover

The Ark of the Covenant…you shall be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation… (Ex 19:6)

8

The Decalogue

Mat 22:36-40Mark 12:28-34Luke 10:25-28

Israel 40 Years in the Wilderness Why..?

...Because of lack of faith: “We cannot attack these people, they are too strong for us.” (Num 13:31)

Israel complains; God gives ‘Bread from Heaven’ (Ex 16)

Joshua; Conquest of Canaan

Joshua 5:15 Joshua 6:3

The 12 Judges…

Othniel Ehud Shamgar

Deborah & Barak Gideon

Tola Jair Jephthah

Ibzan Elon Abdon

Samson

Judges & Ruth; Faithless VS Faithful

People sinned

God punished them (delivered

to hands of oppressors)

People cried out to YahwehYahweh sent

“deliverer” Judge

People experience

peace

Judge dies, People revert to sin

13

The story of Ruth…

Elimelech & NoamiTwo sons: Mahlon & Chilion, with their two Moabite wives: Orpah & Ruth… Elimelech & both sons die… Noami returns to Judah: “…the Lord has extended His hand against me.” (Ruth 1:13)

14

The faith of Ruth!

Ruth to Noami: “…for wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge, I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God, my God… if naught but death separates me from you.” (Ruth 1:16-17)

Ruth marries Boaz of Judah (Ruth 4)

King David

A man after God’s Own Heart (1 Sam 13:14 / Act 13:22 )

God’s promise to David

..that the Lord will make you a house.. I will raise up thy seed after thee..He shall build a house to my name.. his kingdom forever.. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son…” (2 Sam 7:11-14)

Wise Solomon builds the Temple

Solomon builds the Temple (1 Kings 5:15- 7:51)

Solomon’s wisdom(1 Kings 3:16-28)

Rehoboam causes the

Divided Kingdom

Two regionstwo dynastiestwo different lines of Kings.

Northern Israel / EphraimSouthern Israel called Judah

1 Kings 12; onwards…

The Books of Kings

and

Prophetic Books;

‘read side by side’

ProphetsProphets

Kingdom Split Exile

Prophet Elijah

Showdown at Mt Carmel.(1 Kings 18:20)

Meeting God at Horeb(1 Kings 19)

The Spirit of Elijah

“Please, may there be a double portion of your spirit upon me!” 2 Kings 2:9

“Elijah ascended in a wind storm to heaven!”2 Kings 2:11

“The spirit of Elijah is at rest on Elisha!” 2 Kings 2:15

God’s Prophet’s triple concerntowards the Kingdom

Correct worship

Social concern

The coming Messiah

Unheeded Prophet’s warning of Exile 1

722 BCAs a result, during the ninth year of the reign of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and took the Israelites off to Assyria.. 2 Kings 17:6

Isaiah; the Virgin birth.

Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Watch! The young woman is conceiving a child, and will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel.”

605 BC ..Nebuchadnezzar sent away into exile allof Jerusalem.. 2 Kings 24:14 He sent Jehoiachin into exile to Babylon. 2 Kings 24:15

597 BC They executed Zedekiah's sons in hispresence, blinded Zedekiah, bound himwith bronze chains, and transported him toBabylon. 2 Kings 25:7

Unheeded Prophet’s warning of Exile 2

The Babylonian Exile

The Ark of the Covenant is lost.

The Temple is destroyed.

The Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament is put together during this period...

Jeremiah; The New Covenant (The Eucharist)

"Look, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I'll make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Jer 31:31

The Restoration after 70 years

Under Persia; Cyrus the Great of Persia (538 BC)

Nehemiah rebuilds the wall, Ezra the priest restores the temple worship. The Southern Israelites are called: Jews. (Samaritans in the North.)

The Greeks enemies; Books of Maccabees,etc.

Ezekiel; New Life (Sacraments/Baptism)

The LORD laid his hand on me and brought meout by the Spirit of the LORD to the middle of avalley that was filled with bones. Eze: 37:1

So I prophesied as I had been ordered, breathentered them, and they began to live. Theystood on their own feet as a vast, united army. Eze: 37:10

LawLaw ProphetsProphets

People Land Kingdom Split Exile

The End

CLOSING PRAYER

Hallelujah.

I will praise the Lord with all my heartIn the assemble of the upright

And in the congregation

The works of the Lord are greatStudied by all who have

pleasure in them

Your work is honorable and gloriousAnd Your righteousness endures forever

You have made Your wonderful works to be remembered

O’ Lord, You are gracious and full of compassion

You have given food to those who fear You

You do not forget Your covenant

You showed powerful deeds to Your people

You gave them the lands of the nations

The works of Your hands are right and true

All Your precepts are true

Established forever and everto be observed with loyalty and care

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

The prudent live by this!

Your praise endures forever

Amen