Lessons

Old Testament Study – Part 15. The passage in 2 Chronicles 36:14-21 is the last page in the Hebrew canon and covers the period 70 years before the post-exile to that little bit of time between the pre-exile and exile. This passage is the last page of the Hebrew bible (It is not Malachi as it is for us in the Old Testament.) We learn from this passage that there was no remedy for the Nation of Israel. The Babylonians were brought by God to wipe out His people. This series has covered the Old Testament scriptures so we can learn the lessons and build our faith which gives us a perspective of God. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and we should build our faith by familiarizing ourselves with scripture. God takes care of those that respond to Him. He may not pull you out of whatever trouble you are in but He will give you faith and hope while you are in it. Without faith it is impossible to please God. The one thing that is important is who you know. You can’t get to know God unless you are saved and set your mind to read the scriptures and be faithful to what He has called you to do. Now, previously we learned that Ezra came first, then Nehemiah, chronologically speaking. The last date found in Ezra is 403 BC so the time from Malachi to Matthew was 400 years when God was silent towards Israel until He sent His son. Israel is left without a home, without a Temple, and without a City. The great splendor they had under Solomon is gone. The Medo-Persians come in and wipe out the Babylonians. Then after the Persians, the Greeks come in and conquer with Alexander around 336 BC. Around 285 BC Egypt takes over and sets up places for the Jews to live and this is when the Septugent was written. Then the Syrians come in and do some terrible things and that gives rise to the Maccabees (this is part of the Apocrypha with 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees). Then about 100 years later the Romans come in and establish rule. Rome conquers Judah, and Jerusalem and under the leadership of Pompea, he appoints Antipas to be the procurator of Jerusalem. These are Edomites. Antipas has a son named Antipater who has a boy named Herod which brings us to about 40 BC is ruling during this time period. The Jew during this time period, doesn’t have a place to worship to they invent Synagogs because on Sabbath they meet together and read what scriptures they have and pray. During this time the scribes begin to write the Rabbinical law which contains the traditions and customs collected over the last 400 years. The Lord ran into these during Matthew 15. We find groups like the Pharisees and Sadducees arise. When Christ was born in Matthew chapter 1, you will find genealogy taking Christ back to David. We learn in Galatians 4:4-5 ”But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” The “we” in this passage is the Jew. The lesson on June 25, 2006 continues the series on the Old Testament and ends talking about Elijah coming back to Israel to restore them to the New Covenant.