Lesson #07

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Biblical Perspectives

September 21, 2015

Biblical Perspectives

September 21, 2015

Syllabus

February 12, 2010

RETURN TO HOW TO STUDY…SYLLABUS

Bible Perspectives: How to Study the Bible for Yourself – Part II
Lesson #07
“The Small Telescope Sees the End of the Beginning”

• Daily Spiritual Diary Discussion
• Personal Concordance Discussion
• Homework Discussion:

• #

9 Comprehensive Book Analysis: Chapter Analysis #E & #F – Jonah 1(to go to homework answers for the teacher – an example)

• Class Lesson: Words of Prophecy through the small telescope of the Minor Prophets.
• Amos

[To Bear a Load]
• This small book was written just before the Babylonian Captivity and directed to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
• Key Characters:

• Amos
• Major Highlights:

• This book explains God’s judgment on sin.
• There are 8 burdens, 3 services, and 5 visions.
• Christ is the plumb line (the standard) whereby a foundation is built. (Amo 7:5-7)
• Christ in the Book of Amos:

• Christ is our burden bearer who intercedes for us.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

Just as Amos bore the burden of the people and Christ bore our burden of sin, the believer in Jesus Christ must bear the burdens of others in order to minister to them and intercede for them.

• Obadiah

[Servant or Worshiper of the Lord]

• This small book was written just before the Babylonian Captivity and directed to the area east of the Dead Sea that was called Edom. In other words, it was written to Gentiles.
• Key Characters:

• Obadiah
• Major Highlights:

• The people of Edom (Arabs) were descendants of Esau and under the condemnation of God because of hatred between them and the Jews ever since the brotherly struggle between Esau and Jacob in Gen 25.
• The book describes the poetic justice of treachery.
• Christ in the Book of Obadiah:

• The Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior.
• Man cannot get to God through the efforts of the fleshly nature as Esau learned. Christ is the only way.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• The believer must judge the flesh and crucify it spiritually (denying our own self-will and fleshly desires) in order to live the Christian life in the Spirit.
• Jonah

[dove]

• This book was written just before the Babylonian Captivity and directed to the Kingdom of Assyria that would conquer the Northern Kingdom of Israel and take them captive. In other words, it was written to the Gentiles.
• Key Characters:

• Jonah
• Major Highlights:

• The people of Nineveh, Assyria were enemies of the Jews. Yet, God desired to see them saved even though they were Gentiles.
• Jonah is the reluctant prophet chosen to preach to these Gentiles.
• Christ in the Book of Jonah:

• Jesus Christ is the great missionary who seeks far and wide for those who will be saved, even breaking down the walls between the Jews and the Gentiles to bring peace. Christ spares those that repent.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• Just as Jonah learned the importance of obedience to God, so must we. We cannot reach the lost unless we first humble ourselves to be obedient and to surrender ourselves to minister even to those we do not necessarily love.
• Micah
[Who is Like the Lord]

• This book was written just before the Babylonian Captivity and directed to the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms of Israel. He was contemporary with Isaiah.
• Key Characters:

• Micah
• Major Highlights:

• The sovereignty of God.
• A day in the courtroom of heaven.
• The first and the second coming of Christ.
• Present judgment but future blessing.
• Christ in the book of Micah:

• Jesus Christ is the Judge.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• If we do not judge our own lives and straighten them out, Christ will one day be our judge at the Judgment Seat of Christ for believers and at the Great White Throne Judgment for the non-believer.
• Nahum

[Comfort of God]

• This book was written just before the Babylonian Captivity to Nineveh, Assyria, the nation that took the Northern Kingdom captive. In other words, it was written to the Gentiles.
• Key Characters:

• Nahum, the prophet.
• Major Highlights:

• The pending destruction of the city of Nineveh.
• Judgment comes like a flood.
• This book is a sequel to the book of Jonah. Therefore, the message is that you cannot mock God and not pay for it.
• Prophecies about the Anti-Christ
• Christ in the book of Nahum:

• Jesus Christ is our Avenger.
• The significance to the Christian life:

• This book represents the comfort of God when society all around you is falling apart.
• Habakkuk

[Embrace]

• This book was written just before the Babylonian Captivity about the Southern Kingdom. However, it was written to Babylon and the Gentiles.
• Major Highlights:

• There is not a prophecy to the people. Instead it is the prophet talking to God in order to understand his world.
• The just shall live by faith.
• The providence of God
• The prophet on the watchtower.
• Christ in the Book of Habakkuk:

• Christ is the evangelist pleading for revival.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• Moving from doubt to faith during perplexing world conditions.
• Zephaniah
[Hides or Protects]

• This book was written before the Babylonian Captivity to the Southern Kingdom.
• Key Characters:

• Zephaniah
• Major Highlights:

• God avenges abused privilege.
• The Day of the Lord (Judgment day)
• Christ in the book of Zephaniah:

• Christ is the Lord, Mighty to Save.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• God hides and protects His people during judgment on the world.
• Haggai
[Festive]

• This book was written after the Babylonian Captivity about the rebuilding the temple. It coordinates with the book of Ezra.
• It was written to the remnant that returned to the land after the captivity.
• Key Characters:

• Haggai
• Major Highlights:

• This book contains messages of rebuke followed by messages of encouragement. These messages fall into alternating cycles of rebuke for sin and encouragement to remain faithful to the Lord.
• Christ in the Book of Haggai:

• Christ is the Restorer of Lost Heritage.
• Significance to the Christian Life:

• You are encouraged to grow in your Christian relationship because God restores lost blessings.
• Zechariah

[The Lord Remembers]

• This book was written after the Babylonian Captivity and coordinates with the book of Ezra. It was written to the remnant that returned to the Promised Land after the captivity.
• Key Characters:

• Zechariah
• Major Highlights:

• The first and the second comings of the Lord.
• God’s new mysteries. (a 7-fold vision with a 4-fold message.)
• Christ in the Book of Zechariah:

• Christ is the open fountain to the Jews for salvation.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• You are encouraged that the Lord will not forget to save you.
• Malachi
[My Messenger]

• This book was written after the Babylonian Captivity. It coordinates with the book of Nehemiah. It was written to the remnant that returned to the Promised Land after the captivity.
• Key Characters:

• Malachi
• Major Highlights:

• A formal religious tradition is rebuked.
• Hypocritical religion is rebuked.
• Christ in the Book of Malachi:

• Christ is the Son of Righteousness rising with healing in His wings.
• The Significance to the Christian Life:

• A challenge and an appeal to the person that attends church, that he must have a “personal” relationship with the Lord.
• A challenge and an appeal of renewal to the one that is sliding away from the Lord
• The book of Malachi represents the end of the beginning. There are 400 years of silence before the beginning of the New Testament.
• Types of Bible Study Methods:
• #9 Comprehensive Book Analysis: Chapter Analysis

Sheet #C and #D – Jonah 2
• This is part 2 of the Comprehensive Book Analysis. It looks at the book of Jonah chapter by chapter. We used this same study in chapter 1 of Jonah, and now you will use it for Chapter 2.
• Homework:
• Work on your Spiritual Diary for 15 minutes for 6 days.
• Don’t let it get dull and routine with no life. Remember that the Lord is alive and working in your life
• Don’t forget to add to your Personal Concordance.
• Use the Comprehensive Book Analysis: Chapter Analysis sheets #C and #D –

Jonah 2

• Day 1 = Read the whole book of Jonah.
• Day 2 = Read chapter 2. Work on the “Chapter Analysis” on page #C.
• “Passage Description”
• Summarize the chapter in your own words. Do not interpret what is being said here or why. Only state the facts.
• Day 3 = Read Jonah chapter 2 through and meditate on it verse by verse. Write on a separate piece of paper any outstanding observations.
• Day 4 = Read Jonah chapter 2. Complete the two left hand columns on sheet #D using the notes you wrote 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 2. Fill out the two right hand 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 2. Finish any area of this study that needs more work.

Homework Page #C

#9 Comprehensive Book Analysis
Chapter Analysis

Date:

Passage: Jonah 2

Passage Description:

Homework Page #D

#9 Comprehensive Book Analysis

Chapter Analysis: Jonah 2

Verse:	Observations:	Verse:	Questions and Answers: