the story of the old testament session 9: book of the twelve & course conclusion (future...

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The Story of the Old TestamentSession 9: Book of the Twelve & Course Conclusion (Future Fulfillment)

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Introduction to the Prophets

General Placement of Prophets in Storyline of Old Testament

After the division and during decline and exileThree prophets are “post-exilic” (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi)

General Message & Role of ProphetsExpose spiritual condition of the peopleDescribe the impending judgment resulting from the spiritual condition of the peopleSet forth a future day of fulfillment of the Lord’s promises

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Introduction to the Prophets

As we encounter each book, we will examine:

Unique Placement of Book in Storyline of OTGeneral Structure of the BookUnique Message & Role of the Book in the OTUnique Way the Book Points to Jesus

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The Book of the Twelve

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The Twelve: Unique Message & RolePreliminary Notes

“Minor” does not mean less important

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

Trace themes throughout rather than examine each book individually

Condition, coming judgment, promised salvation

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The Twelve: Unique Message & RoleCondition of the Lord’s People

Hosea – marriage to Gomer picture of people’s spiritual adultery“There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land” (4:1)Contrast with description of new creation – “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)

Amos – basked in abundance and external observance of Law but oppressed the poor

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Micah – idolatry, coveting, stealing, oppressing the poor, perverted justice, spurned kindness, and were proudHabakkuk – violent and full of iniquity, destruction, strife, and contentionZephaniah – the people refused to listen to instruction and rebuke and failed to trust and draw near to the LordHaggai – failed to walk in the fear of the Lord by making him supreme (own houses rather than the Temple)

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Malachi – failed to honor and fear the Lord (1:6)Bottom line, the picture was of a people who were not acting like the Lord’s people (line of restoration)The return from the exile did not bring about the promised restoration and fulfillment – pointed to a time of future fulfillment

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The Twelve: Unique Message & RoleJudgment of the Lord’s People (Future & Past)

Basis of judgment – Lev. 26 & Deut. 28Hosea – expose true condition, end empty religious ceremonies, and bring judgment because his people went after their “lovers and forgot me, declares the Lord.” (2:11-13)Joel – judgment described as the “day of the Lord” (common phrase through The Twelve)The “day of the Lord” points beyond the intermediate judgments imposed upon Israel (e.g., exile in 586 BC) to the ultimate day of judgment (& salvation)

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One of the main problems of the Lord’s people was that they incorrectly thought the “day of the Lord” would be a day of salvation despite their rejection of the LordAmos – makes this point: “Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light . . . .” (5:18)Zephaniah – scope of judgment is beyond the Lord’s people: “I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth . . . .

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I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and fish of the sea . . . .” (1:2-3)Haggai – judgment continues after return from exile (fulfillment has not yet come in its fullness)

The people are not walking in the fear of the Lord (placing him as supreme) because they care about the building of own dwellings more than the TempleAs a result, they experience covenant curses (1:6-11)

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The Twelve: Unique Message & RolePromise of Salvation for the Lord’s People

The “day of the Lord” will also be a day of salvation for those who return to him, seek him, and find refuge in himThe people are called upon to “return” to the Lord 19 times and to “seek” the Lord 10 times in The TwelveHosea – the Lord will “allure” his people and betroth them to himself “in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.” (2:14, 19-20)

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Joel – speaks of a great time of restoration: “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten . . . . You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.” (2:25-27)

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Joel – like Ezekiel emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in the coming salvation: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh . . . . And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (2:28-32)Peter quotes this passage in Acts 2 after PentecostAmos & Micah – points to the coming Davidic King that will bring about the coming salvation (Amos 9:11-12; Micah 5:2-5)

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Amos also paints a beautiful picture of the coming kingdom - “Mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them.” (9:13-15)

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Micah also points to the Suffering Servant: “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.” (7:18-20)

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Zechariah also powerfully points to the Suffering Servant: “I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him they have pierced, they shall mourn for him.” (12:10)The gospel of John makes it clear this verse speaks of Jesus, who was pierced (John 19:37)“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin . . . .” (13:1)

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Zephaniah points to the worldwide scope of the coming salvation – “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers . . . shall bring my offering.” (3:9-10)Jonah also points to the worldwide scope of the coming salvation with the repentance of Nineveh

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The Twelve: Unique Way Point to Jesus

Jesus, the promised Davidic King, brings about the coming salvationJesus, the Suffering Servant, brings about the coming salvationThe salvation brought about by the Davidic King and Suffering Servant, Jesus, is for those from every peoples who respond to the Lord in repentance and faithJesus, as the mediator of the New Covenant, brings about the New Creation

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ConclusionConclude our time through a review of our learning objectivesAccurately Identify and Summarize the Big-Picture Story of the Old Testament (Covenants & Relationship)

The progressive fulfillment of God’s redemptive promises

Adam created in covenant relationship with the Lord (Adamic Covenant #1)

Broke the covenant by eating the fruit

Curses captured in Genesis 3 & promise of restoration recorded in Genesis 3:15

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ConclusionThe rest of the story traces the fulfillment of the promise in Genesis 3:15 that the offspring of the woman would crush the head of the serpent

The Noahic Covenant (#2) makes it clear that the all of creation would be restored and that the world would not be destroyed before the promised restoration comes about

The promises made within the context of the Abrahamic Covenant (#3) of land, numerous offspring, and worldwide blessing further explain how the promised restoration in Genesis 3:15 will come about

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ConclusionThe Abrahamic Promises passed from Abraham to Isaac, to Jacob (Israel)

Jacob had twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel

Judah was chosen as the tribe from whom a king would come and bring about the restoration promised in Genesis 3:15

Israel became enslaved in Egypt for around 400 years and cried out to the Lord

The Lord delivered his people through Moses’ leadership and entered into a covenant with them called the Mosaic Covenant (#4)

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ConclusionThe restoration promised in Genesis 3:15 and Abrahamic Covenant could potentially come about through the Mosaic Covenant if Israel lived lives of grateful obedience to the LawThe people of Israel would be in the Promised Land, as a Numerous People, and would mediate the presence/blessing of the Lord by being a kingdom of priests and a holy notionAll 3 Abrahamic Promises fulfilled!BUT . . . . Israel was not able to live lives of grateful obedience

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ConclusionThe failure of the people to live lives of obedience pointed to the need for a king who would guide them in obedienceThe Lord made a covenant with David (Davidic Covenant #5) through which he promised that one of his sons would be an eternal king over an eternal kingdom through which all the promised restoration and fulfillment would come aboutBut, as the Old Testament closed, the promised Davidic King had not yet come and the Old Testament saints kept waiting for the king

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ConclusionThe leadership of the people was not the only problem, for the people’s hearts were not able to obey the LordSomething “new” was needed - a new work in the people’s hearts birthed from the full and complete forgiveness of the people’s sinsThe Lord promised that there would be a future time when he would enter into a “New Covenant” where he would fix their heart problem and fill them with the Holy Spirit so that they could love the Lord with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength

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Recap Of Covenants#1 Adamic CovenantGenesis 2

#2Noahic CovenantGenesis 9

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Recap of Covenants#3 Abrahamic CovenantGenesis 12, 15, 17

#4Mosaic CovenantExodus 19-24

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Recap Of Covenants#5 Davidic Covenant2 Samuel 7

#6New CovenantJeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32 (hints before this – e.g., Deut. 30:6)

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How the Covenants Ultimately Find Fulfillment in Christ

Timothy Keller – True & Better Sermon JamJesus is the promised offspring of Genesis 3:15Jesus brings about the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Promises

Land – new heaven and earth Numerous offspring – worship among the countless multitudes around the throne of the LordWorldwide blessing – people from every tribe, every tongue, and every nation around the throne of the Lord

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Jesus fulfills the perfect requirements of the Mosaic Covenant and is the Lord’s treasured possession who becomes the perfect high priest mediating the Lord’s presence to all the nationsJesus is the promised son of David who is an eternal king over an eternal kingdom of fulfillment and restorationJesus is the Suffering Servant who bears the sins of the people and brings about the promised New Exodus, New Covenant, and New Creation where the Spirit fills his people and they can love and obey

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Jesus is the good shepherd who will seek the lost, heal the wounded, help the weak, and father the scattered; andJesus is the Son of Man who will reign forever and ever!

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How We Properly Understand and Apply the Old Testament

As we have noted, Jesus made clear in the gospel of Luke that all of the Old Testament spoke of him:

“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)“Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” ( Luke 24:44-45)

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We properly understand and apply the OT in light of its pointing to Jesus and Jesus’ fulfillment of the OTThis is not an easy task – but, it is a worthwhile taskAs we encounter each OT passage, we need to know what covenant was governing at the time of its writing and how that covenant is ultimately fulfilled by the person and work of Jesus ChristThen we can understand how the particular passage points to Jesus and finds proper application to us as the Lord’s people under the New Covenant

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Thank You For Hanging In There To the End!

Any Questions?

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