SEASON TWO

NEVI’IM:VOICES OF

THE SHEPHERD

Nevi’im: The ProphetsNevi’im: The ProphetsWHO WERE THEY?WHO WERE THEY?

The Early Prophets:The Early Prophets:

Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, ElishaElisha

The Three Major Prophets:The Three Major Prophets:

Isaiah, Jeremiah, EzekielIsaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel

The 12 Minor/Later The 12 Minor/Later Prophets:Prophets:

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi Zechariah, Malachi

WHAT WERE THEY?

+ Protectors of the faith

evaluating social, political and economic activities from God’s point of view

+ Guardians of the TORAH

admonishing and counseling rulers an leaders about fidelity to

the TORAH

+ Spokespersons for God , in the interest of His people

Nevi’im: Nevi’im: The The

ProphetsProphets

We begin this study of the Prophets by We begin this study of the Prophets by first looking at the historical context first looking at the historical context

that made them necessary:that made them necessary:The Israelites’ conquest of Canaan, the The Israelites’ conquest of Canaan, the organization of the early settlements in organization of the early settlements in the Promised Land, and their gradual the Promised Land, and their gradual

growth into a strong and united nation, growth into a strong and united nation, as promised and fulfilled by God as promised and fulfilled by God

through His chosen heroes. through His chosen heroes.

EPISODE 7EPISODE 7A Land of Our OwnA Land of Our Own

Joshua and the JudgesJoshua and the Judges

Champions of the Early SettlementsChampions of the Early Settlements

In the Promised LandIn the Promised Land

THE BOOK OF JOSHUATHE BOOK OF JOSHUANAME: Named after its hero and central character: JOSHUA

DATE: The book reads like an eye-witness account of a military campaign, but it was written long after the events it recounts, probably after 586 B.C.E.

AUTHOR: Traditionally perceived to be Joshua himself, but contemporary opinions claim the book was written by an unknown hand long after it’s hero’s death.

THE BOOK OF JOSHUATHE BOOK OF JOSHUASUMMARY

An account of the three military campaigns by which God’s chosen people subdue their enemies and claim their promised possession: a land they can call their own, on which they can build their own nation, turning the land of Canaan into the nation Israel.

The book is a prophetical witness to God’s determination to give the land of Canaan to His people, in fulfillment of the promise He made in the covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:7).

THE BOOK OF JOSHUATHE BOOK OF JOSHUAWhile readers may get distracted with issues of ethics and morality (e.g. war and its accompanying issues, military strategy and tactics, political sovereignty and land ownership issues), the book’s persistent focus is God’s fidelity to His promises and His people’s struggles to keep their own fidelity unbroken in the midst of violent opposition and seductive persuasion presented by the Canaanites.

The renewal of the people’s dedication to God at the end of the conquest offers a message of hope: they who serve the Lord will eventually be triumphant.

HIGHLIGHTS :HIGHLIGHTS :HOLY WARHOLY WAR

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Perhaps the most interesting feature of the book is its realistic presentation of Joshua’s book is its realistic presentation of Joshua’s

military strategy – a divide-and-conquer military strategy – a divide-and-conquer approach. But the challenging question to all approach. But the challenging question to all

this is: why would a loving God order the this is: why would a loving God order the wholesale extermination of the non-Israelite wholesale extermination of the non-Israelite nations living in the promised land? There is nations living in the promised land? There is no simple answer to this. One thing for sure: no simple answer to this. One thing for sure:

it happened in a very specific period and it happened in a very specific period and context of history, and therefore it cannot be context of history, and therefore it cannot be

used to validate similar actions people do used to validate similar actions people do today.today.

WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER? Point for reflection WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER? Point for reflection #1.#1.

HIGHLIGHTS :HIGHLIGHTS :RAHAB THE HARLOTRAHAB THE HARLOT

The account of Rahab the harlot (Chapters 2 & 6) The account of Rahab the harlot (Chapters 2 & 6) profoundly illustrates salvation by grace through profoundly illustrates salvation by grace through

faith. So thoroughly was she converted that she was faith. So thoroughly was she converted that she was considered an Israelite and became a biological considered an Israelite and became a biological

ancestor of Jesus (Joshua 6:25; Matthew 1:5; ancestor of Jesus (Joshua 6:25; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:13) Despite the predominantly-military Hebrews 11:13) Despite the predominantly-military

theme of the Book of Joshua, Rahab’s story theme of the Book of Joshua, Rahab’s story emphasizes the fact that salvation– of whatever emphasizes the fact that salvation– of whatever

kind– comes only from God’s hands.kind– comes only from God’s hands.

GOD CALLS AND CHOOSES, THEN HE QUALIFIES.GOD CALLS AND CHOOSES, THEN HE QUALIFIES.What do you thin of Rahab and similar women in What do you thin of Rahab and similar women in

the Bible?the Bible?Point for reflection #2. Point for reflection #2.

HIGHLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: JOSHUAJOSHUA

Anointed successor of Moses, leader of the conquest of Canaan.

Moses changed his original name Hosea (meaning: Salvation)

to Yehoshua (meaning: The Lord is

salvation).

This Hebrew name is translated in Greek as

“Jesus”.

JOSHUAJOSHUA

Like all Old Testament figures, JOSHUA

plays a role in God’s plan:

In his life time, through his

leadership, God fulfills His promise to His

people for a land of their own.

Beyond his lifetime,he is one of many Old Testament characters who foreshadow the figure of JESUS, the

Messiah.

THE BOOK OF JUDGESTHE BOOK OF JUDGES

NAME

The name translates the Hebrew title Shofetim, which could also be rendered “Leaders” or “Chieftains”. It refers to the style of government in Israel from the time of Joshua’s death to Saul’s kingship. The book is so-called since it relates the stories of the 12 judges who acted as Israel’s temporary “national” leaders after the conquest of Canaan. They did not preserve over courts, as the English term might suggest; rather they were called to protect and defend hard-won footholds in the Promised Land which was not actually fully ridden of non-Israelite civilizations and cultures.

THE BOOK OF JUDGESTHE BOOK OF JUDGES

DATE

The incidents narrated occur between the death of Joshua and the rise of the monarchy. It could hardly have been completed until after all the events it narrates. The repeated refrain: “in those days there was no king in Israel” (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25) suggests that the author wrote at a time when there was already a king.

THE BOOK OF JUDGESTHE BOOK OF JUDGES

AUTHOR

Jewish tradition identified the prophet Samuel as the author. While he may have had a hand in fashioning traditions behind this book, it was actually written much later.

THE BOOK OF JUDGESTHE BOOK OF JUDGES

SUMMARY

The Book of Judges tells the repeated cycle of how the Israelites fall into apostasy, so God delivers them to their political enemies. Then after they cry out to God, He raises up a leader who delivers them from their oppressors. In both situations, God is the one who delivers His people because He is the ultimate Judge. For the people, it is a lesson re-learned over and over again: Faithlessness leads to defeat, repentance guarantees victory.

HIGHLIGHTSHIGHLIGHTS: : GOD’S CHOICEGOD’S CHOICE

Most of the judges were seriously-flawed heroes: GIDEON, JEPHTHAH and SAMSON, for example. One was a woman: DEBORAH. This is a striking confirmation of the power of God’s choice, turning weakness into strength, errors into redeeming opportunities– and demonstrating once more that it is God who saves, not the worthiness of power of any human.

Still questioning God’s power to save?Still doubting if you yourself can be called by God for His saving work? Pray over it!

HOMEWORK #1

HIGHLIGHTSHIGHLIGHTS: : HUMAN HUMAN FICKLENESSFICKLENESS

THE BOOK OF JUDGES captured for a later generation the story of earlier national failure. It was perhaps prompted by the need to give a long historical explanation to the question first asked by Gideon: “If the Lord is with us, why has all these happened?” (Judges 6:13) Some scholars believe this book originated as a long prophetic sermon.

Come to think of it: could our own national, communal or personal failures come from our own unfaithfulness to God or our hard-heartedness to do His will? Try to look around you and inside you for answers.

HOMEWORK #2.