Lesson #05e

Bible Perspectives: How to Study the Bible for Yourself – Part II
Lesson #05
“Free at Last to Live in Growing Fields”

• Daily Spiritual Diary Discussion
• Personal Concordance Discussion
• Homework Discussion:
• #9 Comprehensive Book Analysis #A & #B – Jonah (to go to homework answers for the teacher – an example)

• Class Lesson: Return from Captivity
• Ezra

[Aid]

• The Theme:
• In the Hebrew Bible, Ezra and Nehemiah were one book to demonstrate how the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah were fulfilled.
• After the 70 year Babylonian captivity, Israel returned to the Promised Land to rebuild the temple. They were free at last. Now they must learn how to grow.
• Key Characters:

• Ezra and Zerrubbabel
• Major Highlights:

• The rebuilding of the temple prefigures the spirit of man that needs rebuilding by establishing the Word of God in the life of a redeemed people.
• Christ in the Book of Ezra:

• Christ is our faithful scribe and teacher.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• As you establish the Word of God in your life as a priority, you will come out of worldly bondages and truly begin to worship God.
• Nehemiah
[Comforter]
• The Theme:
• After rebuilding the temple, the people rebuilt the walls of the city of Jerusalem.
• Key Characters:

• Nehemiah, Sanballat
• Major Highlights:

• The rebuilding the walls of the city prefigures the regenerated soul of man through Christ.
• Christ in the Book of Nehemiah:

• Christ, the rebuilder of broken lives
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• When we begin to worship God, he desires that we build up our soul and begin to make faith choices.
• Esther

[Star]

• The Theme:
• This book goes backward in time to when the Jews were still in the Babylonian Captivity.
• The Key Characters:

• Mordecai, Esther, Haman, Artaxerxes
• Major Highlights:

• The name of God does not appear openly in this book. Therefore, it prefigures the body of man.
• The over-riding sovereignty of God to accomplish His will is a strong theme.
• We also see God’s providential care.
• Christ in the Book of Esther:

• Christ is our Deliverer.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• The body is the last to come under subjection to Christ. When the body is submitted to Christ, God brings victory. (Rom 12:1-2)
• Job
[Sovereignty]
• The Theme:
• At this point in the Bible, you experience God in the present looking back to what God did in the past through the history of Israel as well as looking forward to what God will do in the future through prophecy.
• Job is the oldest book in the Bible and takes place in history around the time of Abraham. However, it is placed in the Bible with what is called “Wisdom Literature”.
• Key Characters:

• Job, Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad, Elihu
• Major Highlights:

• The book presents the problem of suffering from a divine viewpoint.
• We clearly see relationships between God and man.
• The theme is the death of the self-life.
• Christ in the Book of Job:

• Christ is our ever-living Redeemer (Job 19:25)
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• Step #1 –The death of selfish desires is the first step in the spiritual progress of a believer’s life.
• The Christian’s recognition of God’s sovereignty prompts worship.
• Psalms
[Songs/Worship]
• The Theme:
• This book was written in 5 sections primarily by King David, with a few by other authors, in the form of songs of praise, worship, prayer, and petition.
• Key Characters:
• The Lord and David , the king.
• Major Highlights:

• Prayer to God.
• Praise to God.
• Christ in the Book of Psalms:

• Christ is the victorious shepherd-king (Psa 21)
• Christ is the suffering shepherd (Psa 22)
• Christ is the Lord our good shepherd (Psa 23)
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• Step #2 – In the spiritual progress of a believer’s life, worship from the Psalms leads to fear (an awesome respect) of the Lord in Proverbs.
• Proverbs

[Wisdom]

• The Theme:
• This book was written by King Solomon in the form of proverbs or saying. Proverbs are sequential probabilities. (If you do this, that will probably happen.)
• Major Highlights:

• The book contains discipline, advice, reproof, teaching, instruction, precepts, commands.
• We learn how to live according to positive probabilities.
• Christ in the Book of Proverbs:

• Christ is wisdom personified.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• Step #3 – In the spiritual progress of a believer’s life, fear of the Lord in Proverbs is the beginning of wisdom in Ecclesiastes.
• Ecclesiastes

[Vanities] [Preacher]

• The Theme:
• This book was also written by Solomon, containing meditations and sermons. It deals with the values of the world.
• Major Highlights:

• Worldly treasures are worthless trash.
• Christ in the book of Ecclesiastes:

• Christ is the only wisdom.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• Step #4 – In the spiritual progress of a believer’s life, God’s wisdom in proverbs results in right values that overcome the vanities of life in Ecclesiastes.
• A balanced Christian life means that you control your intellect.
• Song of Solomon

[Love Song]

• The Theme:
• Written by King Solomon to one of his wives whom he loved, this book is a metaphor of love between Christ and the church.
• Key Characters:

• King Solomon.
• Major Highlights:

• The metaphor presents the sweet intimacy of divine love.
• How to have an intimate love-relationship in marriage.
• Christ in the book of Ecclesiastes:

• Christ is our lover and bridegroom.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• Step #5 – In the spiritual progress of a believer’s life, overcoming the vanities of life in Ecclesiastes results in an intimate relationship with the Lord in Song of Solomon.
• A balanced Christian life means that you control your emotions by walking by faith.
• Types of Bible Study Methods:
• #9 Comprehensive Book Analysis

: Chapter Analysis Sheet #C & #D

–Jonah 1

• This is Part 2 of our Comprehensive Book Analysis. It begins to examine the book chapter by chapter.
• Homework:
• Work on your Daily Spiritual Diary 15 min. each day for 6 days.
• Do not permit it to get dull and routine. Remember the Word is alive and working in your life.
• Remember to add to your Personal Concordance.
• Use the Comprehensive Book Analysis sheets #C and #D for Jonah 1.
• Day 1 = Read the whole book of Jonah
• Day 2 = Read Jonah chapter 1. Write the “Chapter Analysis” on page #C.
• “Passage Description”:
• Summarize the chapter in your own words. Do not interpret what is being said. Only state the facts.
• Day 3 = Read Jonah chapter 1 meditating on it verse by verse. Write on a separate piece of paper any outstanding observations.
• Day 4 = Read Jonah chapter 1. Fill out the two left columns on sheet #D using your notes from the previous day.
• Notice that in the left two columns, one is titled “Verse”. This is the verse that relates to the observation you made.
• Day 5 = Read Jonah chapter 1. Complete the right two columns on sheet #D.
• Notice that in the right two columns one is titled “Verse”. This is the verse that prompts any questions or problems that occur.
• Day 6 = Read Jonah chapter 1. Finish any area of this study that needs more work.

Homework Sheet #C

#9 Comprehensive Book Analysis

Chapter Analysis

Date:

Passage: Jonah 1

Passage Description:

Homework Sheet #D

#9 Comprehensive Book Analysis

Chapter Analysis: Jonah 1

Verse:	Observations:	Verse:	Questions and Answers: