tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88620521719709788092024-02-20T23:28:23.809-08:00Set The SailsViews & News from M. Scott BashoorM. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-28484623008400460982023-12-19T11:43:00.000-08:002023-12-24T21:09:26.808-08:00Merry Christmas 2023 from the Bashoor's <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0v6azp199p36bqKrnG1Xcky2h7mb0xVILoS-dKXVlzsrCXl2XAWNLtfVYxpqO1TwR0tDGNsPmkUuTUtv6ClLE1GwfPickLsOaOtLXvpAiNHnr7GkI3Zhm9jmW0Yah0aMEPknoxHt1Ro0YLVPQXX2t3wQ8dY_-y6GkAu0LQTL5mgmu-9TWNp-406ucUk/s1600/Resized_Resized_20231218_172218_1703016570530_1703016574444.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0v6azp199p36bqKrnG1Xcky2h7mb0xVILoS-dKXVlzsrCXl2XAWNLtfVYxpqO1TwR0tDGNsPmkUuTUtv6ClLE1GwfPickLsOaOtLXvpAiNHnr7GkI3Zhm9jmW0Yah0aMEPknoxHt1Ro0YLVPQXX2t3wQ8dY_-y6GkAu0LQTL5mgmu-9TWNp-406ucUk/s320/Resized_Resized_20231218_172218_1703016570530_1703016574444.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Merry Christmas from the Bashoor's of California!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What a year 2023 has been! Full of ministry, teaching and homeschooling, amazing trips, and a busy Fall schedule.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>MEMORABLE TRIPS</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two of the great highlights of our year were some extended family trips we were blessed to take. The first trip was in early June when we flew to Montana for a family gathering. John (Scott's bro.) and his wife, Terri, and their son, Zack, invited all the Bashoor brothers' families to Zach's home in Montana for a meetup. Beforehand we toured Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and saw amazing wildlife. In Montana, Zach was a great host, showing us around some great sites. Rebekah got to drive a quad for the first time, and Hannah almost got to see a moose. The deer, antelope, bison, elk, and bears would have to suffice. Scott scored a new western hat, and Heidi got to enjoy some real down time. After our time in Montana, we caravaned with John and Terri to spend a few days at their home near Spokane. All in all, we visited 4 states and even got to spend 4 hours in Canada. Not bad, eh?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our next trip spanned late July and early August. Scott was invited to present a week of lectures at the Fiji Bible College which is led by our dear friend, Premend Choy. This was Scott's third ministry trip to Fiji, Heidi's second, and the girls' first. In addition to interacting with students, we were able to minister in a couple churches. Scott preached to two congregations, Heidi held a discipleship time for key for ladies, and she and the girls helped to run a children's outreach for the village church plant. Our friends, the Choys, were very gracious hosts, taking us to see many ministry locations as well as fun points of interest. We stayed for a week in the flats at the Bible college, and had several nights in some hotels as we drove around the perimeter of the main island. (Thanks to potholes, that journey of 290 miles takes over 9 hours!) At the end of our stay, we were blessed by a gift that enabled to stay on an outer island for a few nights. What an unforgettable place. In addition to the beautiful scenery, we visited the nearest village (a 25 minute walk over the ridge to the other shore). It was a somewhat primitive place, but the people were very friendly. And we were encouraged to learn that the village chief is a graduate of Fiji Bible College and that a current villager is currently a student there, too. What a small world. While were gone, Charlene, the Choy's daughter who stays with us as she's going through college, took great care of our dog, cats, and chickens.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One treat that Rebekah had with Heidi as a getaway to celebrate her 13th birthday. She chose to go to Catalina Island where she and Heidi enjoyed a few days of reading, drawing, and resting. It was great mother-daughter time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>THE DAILY GRIND</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most of the rest of the year was full of day-to-day work, ministry, and school. In November, Scott marked his 24th year of pastoral ministry. He's been preaching through the books of Samuel and the Psalms at Community Bible Church where he co-pastors, and he's working on another book of Bible charts. He continues to teach courses at The Master's Seminary and online for The Master's University. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Heidi is extremely busy helping in ministry, homeschooling the girls, and tutoring in our homeschool co-op, Classical Conversations, where she teaches weekly classes in Latin, pre-algebra, geometry, logic, and science for junior-highers. R</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">ebekah is in Heidi's sessions and is learning a lot. Hannah's been making good strides in composition and rhetoric. In the Spring she gave a major first-person portrayal on "Lady Jane Grey" for her "Faces of History" presentation. For music studies, the girls go to weekly rehearsals with Orange Coast Musical Arts. This year the marching band played in several parades, the most notable being the annual Seal Beach Christmas Parade. At Christmas, all four Bashoor's played instruments together in our church Christmas concert. Two flutes, a violin, and a trombone sounded out "Carol of the Bells."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This newsletter will be update further. Check back again later :)</span></p>M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-52073377483671001512022-12-13T15:48:00.009-08:002022-12-25T00:34:06.545-08:002022 Bashoor Christmas Report <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnP3LdWFYSHswhDbTohhDrKnkZKnDy7ohVbt5-n6YwgELiNuCYuvG4AKPtQMsx8F7D_I8dnhGkhUdeelA455ANLLi0JmgOkqrbI7Mh9wPrZES6UrWYnqO8UjfW2YWpjscgHZAXLTNfwBPEF-K6xK2yl78eg98jbgvZiqhww4k65JLbeoQ7XFo57qF/s4000/family%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnP3LdWFYSHswhDbTohhDrKnkZKnDy7ohVbt5-n6YwgELiNuCYuvG4AKPtQMsx8F7D_I8dnhGkhUdeelA455ANLLi0JmgOkqrbI7Mh9wPrZES6UrWYnqO8UjfW2YWpjscgHZAXLTNfwBPEF-K6xK2yl78eg98jbgvZiqhww4k65JLbeoQ7XFo57qF/w478-h358/family%201.jpg" width="478" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">God has been good to us this year despite great sadness early on. We thank Him for His sustaining grace. Here is a sketch of our lives this past year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>WINTER</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The New Year unloaded on us with a great grief. Scott's mother, Judy Bashoor, passed away on Jan. 10th near Tampa, Florida. Judy, 82, had been diagnosed with heart disease just a couple months before, and she declined rapidly. Scott flew out to be with her and his brothers, John & Marc. Marc lives in that area and bore that brunt of medical and financial decisions. John flew in from Spokane, and together with some of the grandkids, we all had a poignant and prolonged goodbye with Mom as she slipped into hospice. We greatly miss her, but we rejoice that she is in the Savior's presence.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In February, all four of us flew back to Tampa for her memorial service. Scott preached the sermon while Heidi and the girls prepared a Scripture recitation of Mom's favorite passage. She was laid to rest in Sarasota, near Marc's home. Fortunately, her estate settled without much difficulty as Marc did a fantastic job negotiating all those affairs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We brought home from Florida a few treasures from Mom's. It's no replacement for her, but we're thankful for some keepsakes from her and her family, including the wooden rocker of Scott's great-grandmother.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meanwhile, ministry and school occupied most of our time, as usual. Scott continues to co-pastor at Community Bible Church (Anaheim), and Heidi homeschools our girls using the </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Classical Conversations </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">curriculum. The girls are excelling in history and geography, and they're being exposed to Latin as well as more traditional subjects. Each Tuesday they meet with other CC students for group classes, and Heidi serves there as a teaching tutor. It's a paid position that requires hours of preparation, but she's enjoying the experience.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Wednesdays, the girls take several hours of music classes with Orange Coast Musical Arts. Rebekah has gotten quite good on flute and violin, and Hannah is learning flute as well. Sometimes Rebekah plays violin with a worship team at church. OCMA presents concerts at least twice a year as well as other opportunities including marching band.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We marked our 2nd anniversary in our lovely home. We're so thankful for this peaceful community and our good neighbors. Heidi loves going for jogs in nearby La Mirada Creek Park. Here she trained for a half-marathon she ran later in the Fall, and she's hoping to run a full marathon in 2023. Her running routine includes memorizing large amounts of Scripture, and she's on a quest to memorize 66 key chapters, one from each Bible book. She has 30-40 more to go.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scott has been hitting the mountain bike trails here and in nearby Coyote Hills. His bike has suffered a lot of incidents, though. Since May, he's had one cracked frame, a snapped chain, and 15 flat tires (yes, he's checked the inner walls). It's been a vicious cycle. :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>SPRING</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scott co-pastors with a good friend, and they take turns in the Sunday pulpit, trading off every couple months. Scott's sermons take us through the books of Samuel. Heidi is a co-teacher in the children's ministry, presenting lessons geared for kids on hermeneutics (the art and science of interpretation) and hymnology.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scott </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">continues teaching a couple Hebrew classes each semester at The Master's Seminary as well as recurring online classes for The Master's University.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scott's doctoral studies were stalled this semester due to his mom's passing, but he continued to prod a little in his own research.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In March, the girls delivered major presentations in CC's, "Faces of History." Each student writes a speech in the words of a historical character, creates a costume, and delivers the monologue from memory before the whole campus. Rebekah presented biblical "Jael," the woman who had a point to share with a pagan's temple. Hannah presented her biblical namesake, "Hannah," the mother of Samuel. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Heidi and Scott celebrated their 15th anniversary on April 24th. We were very busy, but we enjoyed a night at a lovely seaside hotel near Laguna Beach. We're so thankful for the Lord's bringing us together and growing our love.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">SUMMER</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With the winddown of school, we were able to travel and receive some company. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">In mid-June, Scott's brother and sister-in-law, John and Terri, flew down from Spokane to stay with us for about a week. It was Terri's first visit to SoCal, so we tried to do some special things. We spent a couple nights at a lovely inn-style Air-B-and-B off the central coast where we saw sea otters, elephant seals, and parts of famed Big Sur. During their time with us, Scott turned 50, and we had a great time of mourning. Despite that, i</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">t was wonderful having them with us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In late June, we drove to </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Albuquerque, NM, for the annual convention of our fellowship of churches (IFCA International). Scott presented a seminar, and we enjoyed a rich time with friends and made new contacts. On the way there, we visited the Grand Canyon after taking a train ride through the roof of Arizona. Further east in the more arid climes, we bought some petrified wood for sale near a Native American community. On the way back, we drove through Roswell, just in time for the 75th anniversary of the alleged UFO sighting. Strange place. Neat, but strange. We had hoped to visit Carlsbad Caverns, but the girls were not feeling well. Really not well, it turned out. On the last day of our drive home from Tuscon, we discovered they had Covid. Fortunately, their cases were somewhat mild, and neither Scott nor Heidi got it. Rebekah had some lingering brain fog, and it has occasionally</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> recurred.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our church hosted a great VBS program this year, and our whole family was involved. Attendance was the best in a long time. A number of other outreach ministries have popped up throughout the year, giving us opportunity to try new things as well as refine proven programs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In August, we received a long-term guest into our home. Charlene Choy is the adult daughter of dear missionary friends of ours in Fiji. She's in the States working on a college degree, and it's working out very well having her stay with us. Her maturity and sweet spirit is such a good example for our girls.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All throughout the year, our church has enjoyed a steady flow of new and returning visitors. We received over two dozen new members this year, so we are encouraged by the growth we've been praying for since our church merger 4 years ago. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">FALL</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's always surprising how busy the Fall gets. Church events, holiday related rehearsals and concerts, and the holidays themselves on top of the regular work and school is pretty demanding.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In addition to that, Rebekah joined a YMCA basketball league where she had weekly practices and games. It was a fun, low key experience which she's set up to do again at another center this winter. Hannah has been taking gymnastics classes once a week and really enjoys the activity and learning new skills.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scott began his 21st year of teaching classes at the seminary, and late in Fall reached his 23rd year of pastoring. He's in a dash to complete some PhD research before the next semester gets underway--please pray for him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanksgiving brought time to reflect and enjoy time with family, including Heidi's parents. In 2021, they suffered some very major health challenges. We're happy that they're more stable now, but we'd appreciate your prayers for them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hannah turned 11--can you believe it? And Rebekah is set to become a full-fledged teenager soon--pray for us :). Both of them are growing in their talents and interests. Hannah is a great show-and-tell person, ready to take on roles and parts, or just put on a good show. Rebekah is flourishing as a budding artist, and her abilities have really sharpened since this time last year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">December came in like a flood with concerts at school and church and other year end events. The girls did great in their OCMA concerts, and all 4 of us were involved in our church's major Christmas productions.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Christmas falls on a Sunday this year--the last time it will do so for another 11 years. Scott will be preaching, and his text is an unusual one--the story in Revelation 12 of the Dragon trying to eat baby Jesus. This chapter is like a parable of the spiritual realities surrounding Jesus' infancy and beyond--definitely not visions you see reproduced in Christmas cards! In conjunction with the message, Scott conceived of an image that Heidi drew and turned into an ornament that shows the Dragon falling from heaven at the sight of the Christmas star. It's an impression of the passage that we'd like to share with you. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBMG_IgL-d86pfeEYN8jPqU3KF-YoE-iyxHd3iuwXmbbhemm_US9MkTkpFlZWsUyHrrxnae_W3-ftzT_4hN-HwG-VMtjxbBxBDJ1uJ9mUsM1uf7DxOi53tRdqPQ2zLodryqFdPBeX6RP5mTIQO7v-TDacJwPGm7tuRLTdXl5dtkL1LTRSMTnXin-F/s1008/2022%20Xmas%20Dragon%20Ornament%20Pic2%20color.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="979" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBMG_IgL-d86pfeEYN8jPqU3KF-YoE-iyxHd3iuwXmbbhemm_US9MkTkpFlZWsUyHrrxnae_W3-ftzT_4hN-HwG-VMtjxbBxBDJ1uJ9mUsM1uf7DxOi53tRdqPQ2zLodryqFdPBeX6RP5mTIQO7v-TDacJwPGm7tuRLTdXl5dtkL1LTRSMTnXin-F/s320/2022%20Xmas%20Dragon%20Ornament%20Pic2%20color.jpeg" width="311" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(c) 2022 Heidi Danielle Bashoor</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">May this Christmas bring you the peace and joy that only Jesus, the Victor over sin, death, and Hell, can bring.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Merry Christmas and Happy New Year</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scott, Heidi, Rebekah, and Hannah</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">SOCIAL MEDIA & ONLINE LINKS</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CBCanaheim">Community Bible Church</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@heidibashoor6872/videos">Heidi's Bible Memory channel</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VOCNT: <a href="https://www.bibleprism.com/default.asp?sec_id=180020443">Landing Page for Scott's Book</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-67795111768860237062021-12-18T11:22:00.010-08:002022-12-13T15:50:30.725-08:00Christmas 2021 - The Bashoor's Report<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b> BASHOOR'S 2021 CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Year in Reverse</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjo1efit7hehXWVMSQsJs8-XHCdxynhzPo3xk1unoActkBK6aL5F3_5Pmd8QG648E_DrTlyfMu2Hwh4l3mM9X1nl7R1S49cu-6ngHYPdE-fBJ_UWHMzqMt1DkxZ9NWJmTMR1PAMJK5LVCtEOh4XbVp6NJpN4HZviukMm6O28Fjzo0ieENOB6hyufBi3=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjo1efit7hehXWVMSQsJs8-XHCdxynhzPo3xk1unoActkBK6aL5F3_5Pmd8QG648E_DrTlyfMu2Hwh4l3mM9X1nl7R1S49cu-6ngHYPdE-fBJ_UWHMzqMt1DkxZ9NWJmTMR1PAMJK5LVCtEOh4XbVp6NJpN4HZviukMm6O28Fjzo0ieENOB6hyufBi3=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>DECEMBER & FALL</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This year is ending with a blur of activity, as yours probably is, too. At Community Bible Church, we've had a Christmas concert, a Christmas musical by the youth, a Christmas dinner, and a Christmas Eve service to come! Our whole family was involved in the concert, and Rebekah and Hannah participated in the musical. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The girls' musical instruction association, Orange Coast Musical Arts (OCMA), hosted numerous concerts in which they were a part, including the Seal Beach Christmas Parade (for marching band), an orchestra concert (for Rebekah), and symphonic band (for both). We're very proud to see them grow in their musicianship and to be using their gifts to God's glory. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Another joy this season has been growth at our church. Over a dozen people have expressed in membership and are in the process of joining.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After Christmas we'll spend a few nights in the Central Coast, around San Luis Obispo--one of our favorite getaways. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">At the end of the year, Rebekah will turn 12--one last year of pre-tween life.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What a busy Fall it was. In September another round of classes began for everyone. Scott began teaching his 17th year of courses for The Master's Seminary as well as another round of online classes for The Master's University. Heidi began teaching another semester with our weekly homeschool co-op, Classical Conversations, and music lessons at OCMA. In reality, homeschooling goes on all the time, not just on co-op and music class days. The girls are doing well in their studies. Both are growing more proficient in creative writing as well as math, history, and the like. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Our extended families faced some challenges this Fall. Heidi's dad suffered a broken back early in the Fall, and Heidi and some of her siblings took turns caring for him and their mom while he recovered. God gave everyone grace during a couple months of being stretched. Fortunately, he's improved somewhat though there are still challenges to face. In December, Scott's mom began having some heart conditions that resulted in her being hospitalized for a couple weeks. She's currently in a rehab center regaining her strength, and she may be there for the holidays. Scott's very glad for his brother, Marc, and for family friends who are local and able to check on things and care for her needs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In October, our church hosted a FunFair outreach event for local kids, and we got to meet a number of new families in our neighborhood. Scott coordinated the event but went down with a cold a couple days before. Everyone pulled together and the Lord gave us one of the most fruitful outreach events of the year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">At home we started having "open house" on select Thursday nights, inviting friends from the neighborhood and church to us for a light dinner (soups, salads, etc.) and a little singing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Around Thanksgiving Hannah turned 10, and we celebrated with a horse-themed party.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>SUMMER</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In August we flew to Florida to visit Scott's mom. It was great to stay with her for several days, and to spend time with other family members. Afterwards we spent a couple days in Orlando and Coco Beach. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In July we held at VBS at church, bringing together of wonderful team of volunteers and good gospel ministry. Unfortunately, we had an unwanted intruder--COVID. A number of kids and adults contracted it. Fortunately, everyone came through it OK, and church got back on track with regular meetings after a couple weeks. In our home Heidi contracted it, but Scott and the kids kept testing negative and showed no signs. Heidi's case was relatively mild, but it certainly packed a punch, even with vaccination.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>SPRING</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">These months were busy with school for everyone. Scott was given a partial sabbatical at church and for the first time in a long time was able to make some progress on his PhD studies. He presented his first colloquium to the faculty (a defense of his topic), and they approved his project. It will be important to make steady progress over the next few years.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Near the end of Spring, Scott's colleague at church, Pastor Ed, suffered a heart attack, apparently brought on by shingles. In God's time, Scott had just finished his sabbatical and we more free to pick up some of the slack in the teaching ministry that he and Pastor Ed share. We rejoice that Ed is doing very well and most related complications have dissipated.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>WINTER</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The year began with contractors finally completed the repairs to our home related to a plumbing failure in June 2020. It was a great ordeal, but the Lord brought us through it. The last repairs related to damage incurred during previous repairs. We're thankful our insurance company and the contractors were agreeable with what needed to be done. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We continue to be so thankful for our (first) home, and we're blessed by good and growing relationships with our neighbors. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In March Scott and Heidi celebrated 13 years of marriage.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We'd love to hear from you and how God has blessed and helped you this year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Merry Christmas,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Scott, Heidi, Rebekah, and Hannah</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-10538430601076413412017-12-15T10:30:00.000-08:002018-01-05T15:29:35.357-08:00<div align="center">
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BASHOORS </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2017 REVIEW IN REVERSE</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o_xkMFcylYRDu_1darpx5beiKpctdzxR7cDsnbsxzQD5dOf4rfMe5Zt9VXGk45Je417UIU3IktwJMM5RC5Gneu-TB4EXIJ8P7dkpp9N6EWYG2Byv9jP8QwKQY-coYgDlBGjrPERBTA4/s1600/Christmas+Family+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o_xkMFcylYRDu_1darpx5beiKpctdzxR7cDsnbsxzQD5dOf4rfMe5Zt9VXGk45Je417UIU3IktwJMM5RC5Gneu-TB4EXIJ8P7dkpp9N6EWYG2Byv9jP8QwKQY-coYgDlBGjrPERBTA4/s320/Christmas+Family+2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Scott's book, after a year of being available for digital purchase, was finally published in <b>paperback</b>: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1981512810/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Visual Outline Charts of the New Testament: </a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1981512810/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Special Print Edition</a></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heidi was the featured artist at the "Bell Tea" for Downey First Baptist. This annual event always sells out to a crowd of about 300. Heidi did a live painting of an original piece of art while she sang, quoted extensive portions of scripture, and intermittently shared a devotional message. She also prepared inspirational jewelry and prints for purchase. You can watch it here on Heidi's YouTube channel: "Love Came Down: The Bell Tea at Downey First Baptist."</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At church we've been encouraged to see some growth and a good spirit of service. We received 10 new members in December. All this despite losing our steeple to termites! A replacement campaign is underway.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rebekah and Hannah both performed very well in various concerts for the Orange County Music Association and at church. Hannah turned 6 shortly after Thanksgiving, and Rebekah will turn 8 before the year turns.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In addition to teaching Art at Village Bible Academy, Heidi also began teaching a course in Bible Memorization.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the middle of the semester, Scott began to teach an online course (undergraduate) for The Master's University. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Early in the Fall we were encouraged by some new attenders who began working on our church's social media platforms. We now have a <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> better footprint on Facebook and a </span>YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH9P-ylv_z-gJ7wK59uRJjg</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">SUMMER</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_RuOMkP3vRN5Ob-r6l27yAwGneejQkKg3CmEOh8SCYXwzD5tFteY6W-iduBAO9C0rWk9EyKNCLAGLr5uyMLXEDSEi5DNaGN1qD0EW-wRSYZRwHqQA7H7LWjpSNzSVd6PSIin0AzLMQY/s1600/sethjessica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_RuOMkP3vRN5Ob-r6l27yAwGneejQkKg3CmEOh8SCYXwzD5tFteY6W-iduBAO9C0rWk9EyKNCLAGLr5uyMLXEDSEi5DNaGN1qD0EW-wRSYZRwHqQA7H7LWjpSNzSVd6PSIin0AzLMQY/s320/sethjessica.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In June we traveled to Sacramento for the wedding of Seth (Heidi's nephew) and Jessica. It was a beautiful wedding on a hot day. We spent a few days in the delta basin before driving down to Morrow Bay on the central coast where we stayed for a few relaxing days.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">SPRING</span></h3>
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<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In April Heidi and Scott traveled to Fiji to minister at the Easter Convention for the Fellowship of Bible Churches. Scott had been to Fiji for a conference in 2013, but this was Heidi's first time. Scott spoke 5 times in the 4 day conference, and Heidi spoke each day to one of the kids' sessions and once to a combined ladies' meeting. After the convention, we enjoyed a few days seaside as we belatedly celebrated our 10 year anniversary (Mar 24, 2007). It was wonderful to spend good quality time with our friends, the Choys. We were thankful for family & friends who watched the girls and Shadow during our 9 days away.</span></div>
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WINTER</span></h3>
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<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The year began with a flurry of new activity</span></div>
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<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heidi began leading the girls in another semester of homeschooling</span></div>
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<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They join with other students on Tuesdays for classes such as Art (which Heidi teaches for the co-op).</span></div>
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<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Wednesday they took music classes, and Thursdays they took dance classes.</span></div>
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<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Scott began another busy semester of teaching at the seminary, and at church he began a new preaching series in the book of 2 Peter.</span></div>
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<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Scott's book was published digitally at the end of 2016, and a big sales push in mid-January was very successful. Another edition of it will be worked on for the future. Read more about the book at the landing page, www.BiblePrism.com.</span></div>
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M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-59673307084338967522013-05-27T13:17:00.002-07:002013-05-27T13:22:01.034-07:00Overview of the Old TestamentI recently taught a 4 part overview of the Old Testament, describing most OT books in 3-6 sentences. Some folks found this quite informative and edifying. The discussion is arranged mostly in the order of books as found in the Hebrew Bible: The Torah, The Prophets, and The Writings. The highlights in the text represent places where the handout that was distributed had blanks.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Review of the Old Testament </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">M. Scott Bashoor (c) 2013</span></b><span style="color: #4a442a; font-family: Playbill; font-variant: small-caps;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">I.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Old Testament reveals God’s workings in the world, primarily through his chosen
nation Israel, in preparation for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">comings</span></u></b> of Christ
as Lord and Savior of the world.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l8 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Old Testament was written over a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">1000</span></u></b> year period.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
oldest portion of the Old Testament is the Torah, written by Moses around <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">1400</span></u></b> BC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l8 level6 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Now,
the Torah begins by recounting the creation and many other events long before
Moses’ day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l8 level6 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But
the material was written to the generation of Israelites poised to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">enter</span></u></b> the Promised Land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
book of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Job</span></u></b> describes earlier events, but it may
well have been written much later (perhaps by Solomon).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
last book written was probably Chronicles, written as late as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">400</span></u></b> BC. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l8 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
term “Testament” is another word for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">covenant</span></u></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
OT speaks of several different covenants, but the one looming largest over it is
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Mosaic</span></u></b> Covenant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Not
all OT books & passages are about the Mosaic Cov-enant, but all of them were
written under its shadow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l8 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
title “Old Testament” is a distinctly <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Christian</span></u></b> one because
it implies there is an inspired New Testament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Jewish</span></u></b> community generally rejects this
title or uses it only when in dialogue with Christians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Most
Jews today prefer the title <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Tanakh</span></u></b>, an
acronym for the three traditional portions of their Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l8 level6 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">T</span></u></b>” stands to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Torah</i>, the Hebrew term for “Law.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">N</span></u></b>” stands for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nebi’im</i>, the Hebrew word for “Prophets.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">K</span></u></b>” stands for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kethubim</i>, the Hebrew word for “Writings.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="right">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: currentColor; margin: auto auto auto 8.8pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="4" style="background: black; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-background-themecolor: text1; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 339.5pt;" valign="top" width="453"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Stucture of the Hebrew Bible<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td colspan="4" style="background: rgb(95, 73, 122); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext; border-style: none solid; border-width: 0px 1pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 339.5pt;" valign="top" width="453"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">THE TORAH<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.65pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td colspan="2" style="background: rgb(178, 161, 199); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 22.65pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 160.7pt;" valign="top" width="214"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">THE PROPHETS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: rgb(229, 184, 183); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 22.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178.8pt;" valign="top" width="238"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">THE WRITINGS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</tr>
<tr style="height: 16.6pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td rowspan="2" style="background: rgb(204, 192, 217); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 16.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.7pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Former Prophets</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: rgb(198, 217, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 16.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Latter Prophets</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 16.6pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Psalms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 16.6pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.95pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Lamentations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 4.9pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 4.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Job<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 4.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.95pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Esther<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 192, 217); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.7pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Joshua<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(198, 217, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isaiah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Proverbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.95pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Daniel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 192, 217); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.7pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Judges<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(198, 217, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Jeremiah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ruth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.95pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ezra/ Nehemiah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 192, 217); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.7pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Samuel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(198, 217, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ezekiel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Song of Sol.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.9pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 192, 217); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 14.9pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.7pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Kings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(198, 217, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 14.9pt; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Twelve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 14.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ecclesiastes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 14.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.95pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Chronicles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l8 level6 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Some
Jews simply refer to it as the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Hebrew</span></u></b> Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">In
politically correct academia, it is common to hear the labels “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">First</span></u></b> Testament” and “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Second</span></u></b>
Testament.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l8 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
arrangement of the Old Testament books in the order in which Christians know it
is due to the Septuagint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Septuagint (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">LXX</span></u></b>), a project begun around 200
BC, was the first translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Because
it was written for Hellenized Jews, it sought to arrange the books according to
a more Greek-type <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">logic</span></u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Protestant,
Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles generally follow the order of the LXX, but
Protestant Bibles follow the Heb. tradition in excluding the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Apocrypha</span></u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l8 level3 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
order of the books within each section <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">generally</span></u></b> follows
a chronological order, but only within sections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: currentColor; margin: auto auto auto -33.65pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><td colspan="2" style="background: rgb(84, 141, 212); border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 339.55pt;" valign="top" width="453"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-themecolor: background1;">PROTESTANT OLD TESTAMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><td style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.1pt;" valign="top" width="89"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Law<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 272.45pt;" valign="top" width="363"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 31pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><td style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 31pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.1pt;" valign="top" width="89"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">History<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 31pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 272.45pt;" valign="top" width="363"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"><td style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.1pt;" valign="top" width="89"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Poetry<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 272.45pt;" valign="top" width="363"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 41.35pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.1pt;" valign="top" width="89"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Prophecy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 41.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 272.45pt;" valign="top" width="363"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Isaiah, Jeremiah,</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l8 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">E.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Each
book and section of the OT has a unique contribution to the story of God’s work
in the world before Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sometimes
the same lessons are stressed again and again over the centuries, often highlighting
man’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">brokenness</span></u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But
each book has a unique purpose for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">original</span></u></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">recipients</span></u></b> that should be appreciated for
all its worth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Old Testament will now be reviewed, generally following the order in the Hebrew
Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.25in; mso-list: l35 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">II.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Review of the Torah.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Torah
is primarily about how God called the nation Israel to be a kingdom of priests
through whom he would make His presence, blessing, & <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">kingdom</span></u></b>
known to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
five books of Moses were originally one long book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">GENESIS:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An extended <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">introduction</span></u></b>
to the Mosaic Covenant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l29 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It
explains how the world came to be, how it became so corrupt, and how God set
out to restore blessing in the earth through <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">chosen</span></u></b>
people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l29 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
first covenant mentioned in the Bible is the one made with Noah (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 8-10</b>). In this covenant God reveals
that He has a disposition of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">grace</span></u></b> toward the
fallen world which is nonetheless liable to judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l29 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">In
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Abrahamic</span></u></b> covenant, God promises to one
man that He will use his offspring to bring even greater blessing to the world
than what was promised to the creation in Noah’s day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l29 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Many
of the stories in the book highlight how God is faithful to His Word even
though Abraham’s off-spring find themselves in all kinds of trouble and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">sin</span></u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">EXODUS</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">: Explains how God
brought Abraham’s chosen descendants out of profound slavery and established
them as a covenant <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">nation</span></u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-themecolor: text1;">Moses</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">
is raised up by God through unusual circumstances to be God’s mouthpiece and
leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
people are saved from national and historical bondage, but not necessarily <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">spiritual</span></u></b> bondage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">At
Mount Sinai, God reveals Himself in spectacular form, announcing that His
mighty presence will be with them perpetually, provided they keep the terms of
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Mosaic</span></u></b> covenant he makes with them there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
book ends with the laws governing the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Tabernacle</span></u></b>, the
mobile temple in which God’s presence would reside with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">LEVITICUS: Detailed discussion of the
sacrifices, rituals, and regulations to govern worship and everyday life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l29 level2 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Specifies
that God requires sacrifices and rituals for the nation to continue to enjoy
His <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">presence</span></u></b>. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1-10</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l29 level2 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Highlights
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">holiness</span></u></b> of God & sinfulness of man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l29 level2 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Establishes
the scheme of clean/unclean that impacts all of life; symbolizes the need for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">purity</span></u></b>. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10-15)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l29 level2 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Instates
the Day of Atonement when all sins can be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">ritually</span></u></b> dealt
with, maintaining God’s presence. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">16</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l29 level2 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Legislates
against moral, religious, and symbolic sins which the nation must be on guard
against. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">17-27</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">NUMBERS: Shows God’s mercy in not eliminating
Israel for their gross covenant unfaithfulness before they even entered the
Promised Land.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo9; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Israel
leaves Sinai as an organized, obedient nation of about <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">2</span></u></b>
million people. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1-12</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo9; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
obedience was short-lived (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">5</span></u></b> months). After
the spies give their report, Israel decides the exodus was a mistake & they
should return to Egypt. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">12-14</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo9; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">God
is furious but relents in destroying them all. He allows most of the first
generation to die off somewhat naturally over <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">40</span></u></b>
years. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">15-19</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo9; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
2<sup>nd</sup> generation prepares to enter the land (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">20-36</b>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happily, 2<sup>nd</sup>
census is almost as high as the 1<sup>st</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo9; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Unfortunately,
they are no less <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">degenerate</span></u></b> than
their parents. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">25</b>). But God keeps
His promise to make them a great nation to use them for blessing. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">22-24</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">DEUTERONOMY: Moses’ last <u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">5</span></u> speeches to the 2<sup>nd</sup>
generation of Israel in his last month of ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l27 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Speech
1 (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1-4</b>): Remembers God’s goodness to
Israel, especially in revealing Himself in a world of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">idolatry</span></u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l27 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Speech
2 (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4-28</b>): <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Repeats</span></u></b>
the 10 Commandments and clarifies/specifies many other points of Law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l29 level4 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">All Mosaic Laws somehow connect to those 10.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l29 level4 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ends with the promise of blessings &
curses (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">28</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l27 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Speech
3 (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">29-30</b>): Moses <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">prophesies</span></u></b> that Israel will break the
covenant, forfeit God’s presence, and be exiled. But God will restore them and
one day make a new covenant with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l27 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Speech
4 (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">31-32</b>): The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Song</span></u></b>
of Moses. Prophecies about Israel’s apostasy & God’s glorious redemption.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l27 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Speech
5 (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">33-34</b>): A prophecy foretelling
God’s bless-ing on the nation, tribe by tribe (cf. Gn 49). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.25in; mso-list: l35 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">III.</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Review of the Former and Latter Prophets<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="right">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: currentColor; margin: auto auto auto 8.8pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="4" style="background: rgb(95, 73, 122); border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 339.5pt;" valign="top" width="453"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">THE TORAH<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22.65pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td colspan="2" style="background: rgb(178, 161, 199); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 22.65pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 153; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 160.7pt;" valign="top" width="214"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">THE PROPHETS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: rgb(229, 184, 183); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 22.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 178.8pt;" valign="top" width="238"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">THE WRITINGS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 16.6pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td rowspan="2" style="background: rgb(204, 192, 217); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 16.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.7pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Former Prophets</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: rgb(198, 217, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 16.6pt; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Latter Prophets</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 16.6pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Psalms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 16.6pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.95pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Lamentations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 4.9pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 4.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Job<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 4.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.95pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Esther<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 192, 217); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.7pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Joshua<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<td style="background: rgb(198, 217, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isaiah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Proverbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.95pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Daniel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 192, 217); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.7pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Judges<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background: rgb(198, 217, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Jeremiah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ruth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.95pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ezra/ Nehemiah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 192, 217); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.7pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Samuel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(198, 217, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ezekiel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Song of Sol.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.9pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 192, 217); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 14.9pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.7pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Kings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(198, 217, 241); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 14.9pt; mso-background-themecolor: text2; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Twelve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 14.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 87.85pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ecclesiastes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(242, 219, 219); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 14.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.95pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Chronicles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">In the Hebrew tradition, many of the books we
regard as historical books are considered to be prophetic books. They are
prophetic not because they foretell events but because they provide an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">inspired</span></u></b> perspective on Israel’s history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Each of the four Former Prophets is a logical
extension of Deuteronomy, showing how Israel experienced either the blessings
or the curses promised in Deut. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">28</span></u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l31 level1 lfo12; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">JOSHUA: Describes how God led Israel to take
the land of Canaan as He promised Abraham in the Torah.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l20 level1 lfo13; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Joshua
is charged to be a man of Torah (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1</b>)
and God miraculously enables Israel to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">enter</span></u></b> the land (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1-5</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l20 level1 lfo13; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">God
enables miraculous victory (when Israel is obedient) thru <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">3</span></u></b>
national military campaigns in the Center, South, and North. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6-12</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l18 level1 lfo14; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Joshua
divides the land amongst the tribes; tells them <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">each</span></u></b>
to complete the conquest of their land. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">13-21</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l18 level1 lfo14; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
tribes <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">sin</span></u></b> in not taking the land fully, leaving
Abraham’s land promise partially unfulfilled. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">22-23</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l18 level1 lfo14; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Joshua
calls them to follow God alone and warns of inevitable <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">judgment</span></u></b>
to come. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">24</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l33 level1 lfo15; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">JUDGES: Describes the incredibly horrific
fallout of Israel’s unfaithfulness to the Mosaic Covenant <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
tribes fail to clear out the Canaanites as the Law required so the pagans
become a snare to them. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1-3</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Israel
falls into vicious <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">cycles</span></u></b> of gross
sin, judgment, desperation, and deliverance. God intermittently raises up 12
judges to deliver & govern Israel. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4-13</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
prophetic author writes an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">appendix</span></u></b> of
stories from the period which show how morally decrepit and apostate the nation
had become. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">17-21</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
repeated refrain is that because there was no king in Israel, people did
whatever they wanted. They needed the right <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">leader</span></u></b>
to guide them in the ways of God to inherit the promises.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">2b.
RUTH (from The Writings): Describes how God’s sover-eign grace was at work in
the dark days of the Judges. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo17; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
story of a family from Bethlehem that knew only tragedy, bad decisions, and a
bleak future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo17; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">God
sovereignly intervenes and restores their place in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">society</span></u></b>,
and secures them a place in history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo17; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Shows
how God was at work in the line of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">David</span></u></b> (God’s
choice) before Saul was ever even heard of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l33 level1 lfo15; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">SAMUEL: Describes how Israel transitions from
a being nation to a kingdom governed by the line of David.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo18; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
nation emerges from the dark time of the judges under the national leadership
of Samuel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo18; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
nation wants a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">king</span></u></b> like the
other nations but are not content to wait for God’s choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo18; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">God
allows them to have a king of their liking so they can see the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">folly</span></u></b> of their sinful choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo18; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-themecolor: text1;">David</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">
was God’s choice all along, and God enacts a covenant with him that his line
would never die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo18; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sadly,
David fails to lead fully need the nation into covenant faithfulness as he
himself falls into sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l33 level1 lfo15; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">KINGS: Describes how the kingdom slid further
and further into covenant unfaithfulness, finally bringing the curses of the
Mosaic Covenant to fulfillment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l25 level1 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-themecolor: text1;">Solomon</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">
leads Israel into its greatest physical glory, but he’s no David in terms of
his devotion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l25 level1 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
kingdom <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">splits</span></u></b> into North and South as part of
God’s discipline on the house of David.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l25 level1 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">God’s
choice still lays with David’s line, however—a choice that’s evident by the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">apostasy</span></u></b> of the North.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l25 level1 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">God
raises up many prophets to warn both realms, but the covenant curses finally fall
in 722 & <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">586</span></u></b> BC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The Latter Prophets are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">recorded</span></u></b>
oracles of individual prophets who expose the sins of the North and South and
foretell of coming judgment and glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l36 level1 lfo20; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">ISAIAH:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prophet in Jerusalem in the late 700’s BC who warned that God would go
to <u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">war</span></u> for
the holiness of Judah/Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l25 level2 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">He
prophesied over a period of 40 years, and many of his messages were compiled
into a massive book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l25 level2 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
first half of the book focuses mostly on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Judah’s</span></u></b> sins and
how God was going to war against her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l25 level2 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Near
the end of the century, God delays the fall of judgment due to King Hezekiah’s
faithfulness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l25 level2 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
2<sup>nd</sup> half of the book is written largely for the benefit of Jews
who’d come out of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">exile</span></u></b>, assuring
them that God would redeem them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l25 level2 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
ultimate hope of their redemption would come in the form of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Suffering</span></u></b> Servant who would save Israel
from its greatest enemy—its own sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l36 level1 lfo20; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">JEREMIAH: Prophet in Jerusalem who warned
about and witnessed the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l30 level1 lfo21; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Most
of the book is a collection of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">sharp</span></u></b> indictments
and dire warnings of nearly inevitable judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l30 level1 lfo21; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But
he holds out hope to the nation to the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l30 level1 lfo21; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">He
personally suffers under tremendous opposition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l30 level1 lfo21; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
middle chapters announce that God will one day enact a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">New</span></u></b>
Covenant with Israel that will change them internally, making them faithful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 58.5pt; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">2b.
LAMENTATIONS (from the Writings): Jeremiah laments the Jerusalem’s destruction,
writing <u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">5</span> </u>poems
of mourn-ing & repentance to channel the grief for the survivors. Middle
verse is, “Great is Your Faithfulness.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l36 level1 lfo20; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">EZEKIEL: Aspiring priest taken into
Babylonian exile who foresaw the departure of God’s <u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">glory</span></u> from Jerus-alem & its
ultimate return when He restored His people.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo22; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">His
entire prophetic ministry was lived out in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Babylon</span></u></b>, but he
was transported in spirit to witness the apostasy and devastation of Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo22; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">He
witnessed the glory of God numerous times: his calling, God’s departure from
Jerusalem, and God’s eventual return to His people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo22; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">He
reveals that though Israel was under judgment, they had not utterly lost God’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">presence</span></u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l36 level1 lfo20; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">THE TWELVE: The Minor Prophets, traditionally
bound together in a single scroll, warn of judgment and glory associated with
“The Day of the Lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l28 level1 lfo23; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Prophets
during the Divided Kingdom:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l25 level3 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">HOSEA:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> Northern prophet
who signified God would <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">divorce</span></u></b> Israel
but one day bring her back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l25 level3 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(2)</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">JOEL: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Early prophet who
warned of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">impending</span></u></b> judgment and the final
Day of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l25 level3 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(3)</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">AMOS: <u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Shepherd</span></u></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> turned prophet
who went North to confront Israel for its luxuriant iniquity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l25 level3 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(4)</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">OBADIAH</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">: Announces
judgment on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Edom</span></u></b> for gloating over one of
Jerusalem’s invasions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l25 level3 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(5)</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">JONAH</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>Reluctant prophet from Israel to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Nineveh</span></u></b> who sees the city repent & God
spare it. Teaches Israel to desire the repentance of nations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l25 level3 lfo19; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(6)</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">MICAH</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>Contemporary of Isa; Judgment is
com-ing to Jerusalem, but God will one day raise up a righteous Ruler to bring
in the promised glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l28 level1 lfo23; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Prophets
during the Surviving Kingdom:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l21 level3 lfo24; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">NAHUM:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> Dramatically
foretells the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">fall</span></u></b> of Nineveh a few months before
it occurs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l21 level3 lfo24; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(2)</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">HABAKKUK:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> Contemporary of
Jer.; Records his <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">dialogue</span></u></b> with God
about the fairness of coming judgment; finds hope in the ancient promises.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l21 level3 lfo24; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(3)</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">ZEPHANIAH:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contemporary of Jer.; Foretells judgment will
fall on all the nations before a time of unparalleled blessing in restored
Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1in; mso-list: l28 level1 lfo23; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Prophets
after the Exile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l22 level1 lfo25; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">HAGGAI: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Challenges
returnees to put God first & rebuild the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">temple</span></u></b>
before improving their homes.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l22 level1 lfo25; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(2)</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">ZECHARIAH: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Encourages
returnees that God re-members His ancient promises, & will place the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Davidic</span></u></b> throne over all the troubled
world.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 1.25in; mso-list: l22 level1 lfo25; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(3)</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">MALACHI: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Tackles the sins
of the returnees with 6 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">disputations</span></u></b>,
urging them to repent and wait for the next installment of God’s plan.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.25in; mso-list: l35 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">IV.</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Review of the WRITINGS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Books with a stronger focus on God’s dealing
with individuals who often serve as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">examples</span></u></b>.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>Contains some of the most perplexing
books (e.g. Job, Eccless, Song of Sol., Esther) & wide-spread books
(Psalms, Chronicles).<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo26; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">PSALMS:
Collection of musical prayers & praises centered around God’s kingship
& the earthly kingdom he founded.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo27; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Half
are written by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">David</span></u></b>, but others
by various persons over a 1000 year period, the whole span of OT writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo27; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Includes
songs of the individual & for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">congregation</span></u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo27; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Includes
psalms with lament, pleas, praise, thanksgiving, remembrance, royal promise,
and wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo26; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">JOB:
Records the extreme suffering of a righteous man and the faulty assessments he
and his friends make about it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo28; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-themecolor: text1;">Satan</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">
wagers with God that righteous Job will forsake Him if his wealth and health
are taken away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo28; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Job
suffers terribly, not knowing the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">cosmic</span></u></b> cause.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo28; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">His
friends assume he earned his sorrows, an idea he angrily rejects. Most of the
book is their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">disputes</span></u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo28; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">God
corrects Job for the way he responds to the trials, teaching him that God is
over all and trustworthy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo26; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">PROVERBS:
Collection of insightful sayings about living life wisely in a fallen world.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l32 level1 lfo29; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Written
mostly by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Solomon</span></u></b>, but includes the words of
other wise men in the latter third of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l32 level1 lfo29; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Presented
as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">instruction</span></u></b> of a father to his son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l32 level1 lfo29; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Provides proverbs (not <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">promises</span></u></b>)
on how wise & godly action leads to blessing & avoids bad consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo30; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Ruth (discussed
earlier)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo30; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">E.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">SONG
OF SOLOMON: Poems celebrating the bliss of marital love and <u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">sexuality</span></u>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l23 level1 lfo31; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Written
by Solomon about his (?) pursuit of a young woman and the tenderness and
difficulties involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l23 level1 lfo31; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Shows
how that even in a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">fallen</span></u></b> world, God
desires marriage to be a union of intimate love and joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo30; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">F.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">ECCLESIASTES:
Musings of Solomon about the meaning of life in light of its perplexities,
irregularities, & inequities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo32; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Provides
an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">alternative</span></u></b> form of wisdom for life’s
problems when proverbial wisdom doesn’t fit.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo32; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Long,
sometimes rambling discussions <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">mirror</span></u></b> the
complexities and ambiguities of life.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo32; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Life
may seem futile, temporal, and meaningless, but there’s a God <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">above</span></u></b> it all who sees more than we.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo33; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">G.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">LAMENTATIONS:
Discussed earlier<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo33; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">H.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">ESTHER:
Shows God’s <u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">providence</span></u>
in preserving His people in a godless land in godless era of their history.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo34; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Esther
and her older cousin Mordecai, Jews living in the Babylonian exile, are thrust
into pivotal positions.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo34; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Haman,
another exile from Palestine, convinces the king of Persia to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">eliminate</span></u></b> the Jews. But the Jewess Esther
has become Queen & convinces the king to spare the Jews.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo34; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">God’s
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">name</span></u></b> is never mentioned, and the Jews
involved may not be godly—but God is preserving His people.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo33; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">I.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">DANIEL:
Reveals God’s plan to reinstate his <u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">kingdom</span></u> on earth after a long period of
Gentile world domination.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l34 level1 lfo35; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Daniel
was a young Jew taken away into Babylonian exile who ascended into high ranks
of servitude.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l34 level1 lfo35; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">He
and his friends serve as examples of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">godliness</span></u></b> while
living in the midst of a godless culture in a godless age.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l34 level1 lfo35; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">He
adds to Jeremiah’s revelation about the restoration: The Jews would return home
after 70 years, but the kingdom would not be restored for 70 times <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">7</span></u></b> years.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l34 level1 lfo35; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Foresees
the rise of Persia, Greece, Rome, and the work of Anti-Christ in the end times.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l34 level1 lfo35; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Celebrates
the coming King, His Kingdom, and the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">resurrection</span></u></b>
through which the saints of the ages will inherit the kingdom on earth.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo33; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">J.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">EZRA/NEHEMIAH:
Describes the struggles of the Jews who <u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">return</span></u> from Babylonian exile, God’s
faithfulness to them, the godly leaders raised up, and the people’s continued
failure to live up to the requirements of the Torah.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo36; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-themecolor: text1;">Three</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">
waves of returnees come back over the course of a century. Ezra and Nehemiah
come back in the last 2 waves and lead the people in religious reforms.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo36; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Some
progress is made, but it’s clear that things will never be what they were until
something new happens.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo36; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
people are back, the temple is rebuilt, but the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Shekinah</span></u></b>
is not there, and the people are not renewed.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo36; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
stories confirm that Israel must wait for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">New</span></u></b>
Covenant of which Jeremiah foretold and the Messiah who will enact it.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-list: l24 level1 lfo37; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">K.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">CHRONICLES:
Retells the major points of the Old Testament to encourage Jews after the exile
of God’s plan to reestablish the throne of David and to dwell with His people
in a glorious kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l26 level1 lfo38; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Begins
with a long series of genealogies which help the Jews understand their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">place</span></u></b> in the world.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l26 level1 lfo38; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ends
with the decree of Persian King Cyrus authorizing the repatriation and rebuilding
of Judah; But the book is written at least a century later (as the genealogies
indicate). Probably the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">last</span></u></b> OT book
written.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l26 level1 lfo38; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Highlights
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">rise</span></u></b> of the House of David and his work in
preparing for the House of God.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l26 level1 lfo38; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Focuses
on the kings of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">South</span></u></b> through
which the Davidic line was maintained.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l26 level1 lfo38; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Acknowledges
their covenant failures & God’s judgment but lifts up their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">virtues</span></u></b> as worthy of emulation.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l26 level1 lfo38; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Maiandra GD"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Maiandra GD","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Indicates
that the descendants of David were still with Israel after the exile, leaving
alive the ancient <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">promises</span></u></b> of a
glorious kingdom to come.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-79019107887986078532013-05-22T14:11:00.000-07:002013-05-22T14:11:14.741-07:00CHRISTIAN CITIZENRY AND THE POLITICS OF LOVE (Revised)Note: I've taken a hiatus from blogging for awhile, but one of my previous blogs has been picked up for publication by Voice, the journal of IFCA International, due out in late June. It's an enlarged version of a post I made last year. The published edition may be slightly edited from tthe form below.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">CHRISTIAN
CITIZENRY & THE POLITICS OF LOVE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">The Fourth of July reminds those of us in
the USA of the great privilege that is ours to live in a country with great a heritage
and opportunities. Our country has never been perfect, so it’s right for us to
pray with the patriotic song line, “America, America, God mend thine every
flaw.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8862052171970978809#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
But is there more that we should do about those flaws than pray? And if so, what
shape should our public engagement look like? In particular, what about a
Christian’s involvement in politics and social campaigning? Is there a way for
us to put feet to our prayers that doesn’t put our feet on the wrong path?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">This is a divisive issue amongst
Christians. On one side are those who advocate a militant political approach to
our nation’s moral ills. Frankly, I’m uncomfortable with some of today’s
prominent forms of Christian political activism. There’s a real danger for the
Church and Christians to become overly politicized. Sometimes Christians
embroiled in public arena battles seem to lose sight of what the good fight of
faith is really about. On the other hand are those who advocate a withdrawal
from all engagement, seeing it as a rival to true Christian ministry. In some
cases this includes prohibitions against voting of any kind. While I view my
calling as an ambassador of Christ of far greater importance than my being a
citizen of a great country, I believe there is such a thing as Christian
citizenry, a way to meaningfully engage in the concerns of public life without
getting our Gospel priorities out of order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">One thing that complicates this issue
are the different settings of the New Testament world and our own. The New
Testament was written in an era in which Christians had virtually no ability to
be engaged in political discussion about the common good. The Scripture tells
believers to submit to human authorities so long as such submission does not
impinge on their submission to King Jesus. Those directives are still
applicable today. But when God puts His people in times and places where they
have the freedom to influence public policy, what are they to do? Do they have
a civic responsibility? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">At the very least, Christians in the
free world have a civic opportunity. Wisdom needs to dictate the degree of
involvement, and that degree will not be the same for everyone or in every
setting. Some might simply determine to take their role as voters more
seriously, some might become active in communicating respectfully with their
representatives, some might work to defend Christian liberties, and a few might
become statesmen or politicians themselves. But to whatever degree Christians personally
take advantage of the opportunities they have, their involvement ought to be governed
by Gospel driven motives and constraints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Some of today’s Christian political
action seems to be motivated by anger, fear, and power. Christians can be very
vocal in their anger over the way our nation has degenerated. Along with anger,
fear seems to motivate the discourse of some believers whenever they talk about
the moral climate. This in turn motivates the pursuit of political power to
abate that fear and anger. While there are grave matters of concern in our
culture, we must not let that concern degenerate into angry,
power-hungry fear. There is a time to express moral outrage, but Christians
are taught by the Gospel to be motivated in all of life by faith, hope, and
love. Love in particular is a far greater motivator for Christian
citizenry than fear. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians ought to
be known for their “politics of love”—that is, a love for others, for God’s
truth, for Christ’s church, and for the Gospel that drives our engagement in
public affairs. Consider how love can motivate us.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">First, we are to love our neighbors as
ourselves (Lev. 19:18; Mk 12:31, etc.). We will be better motivated to vote and
engage in other forms of social action if we see such as opportunities to
love our neighbors. Our love should show itself by endorsing values, policies,
legislation, and leadership which promote righteousness, justice, and the
common good. At times, our non-Christian neighbors may not agree with us
as to what is the common good. For instance, the preservation of
traditional marriage and opposition to gay marriage is a common good issue, but
many progressives in our society don’t think that campaign is good at all. Love
for one's neighbors is not always understood or appreciated for what it
is. But we must love even when we are hated. Love for our neighbors and
pursuit of the common good is a much better Christian motivation than anger or
fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Second, we are to love God’s truth and
His glory. God is the originator of the principle of human government, and
He designed it in part to reflect His glory. Poor government reflects
poorly on God's glory. Thus we should seek to lift up God's truth so that
others might see the goodness and wisdom of His ways. We are not about building
a theocracy—a distinction that Christians need to articulate clearly. Only the
return of King Jesus will ever bring about the direct rule of God in this
world. But when laws and structures of society fail to promote truth, righteousness,
and justice, we should care, especially when we’re able to do something about
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Third, we are to love the
Church. Through our voting and social action, we have the opportunity to promote
freedom which can aid the promotion of the Gospel and the ministry of the
Church. Paul instructed Timothy and the church in Ephesus to pray for
their secular rulers, partly with a view that the church would enjoy liberty in
Gospel proclamation (1 Tim. 2:1-6). Now, liberty must never become an idol. God
knows how to make the Church grow whether in the soil of freedom or
persecution. And yet neither Jesus nor the apostles instruct us to pursue a
course of persecution. While early Christians had little voice in the days of Caesar,
we have the sovereignly-given opportunity to influence government for the
better and so care for one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Last, but not least, we need to love to
Gospel of Christ most of all. The real power to change people’s lives lies in
the soul transforming power of Christ. First and foremost, we want to be known
as people of the Gospel, not as social campaigners. If the Gospel is the soil
of our lives and ministries, then the main tree that we should tend is the
verbal proclamation of the Word and discipleship unto the obedience of Christ.
There is room in that same soil to grow the lesser vines of Christian social
action. But in the end, we want to be known for our commitment to the greater
rather than the lesser.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">In conclusion, we must remember that our
faith and hope do not rest in our efforts, our laws, or our republic. Our faith
and hope lie completely in King Jesus, regardless of what may happen to America.
We are citizens of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, a kingdom which will
never fail. We need never worry about elections turning out badly in that
realm. The work of the Gospel must always claim our first allegiance and
our greater energies. But while we labor in light of Christ’s coming, there’s
both room and need for us to seek the common good as an expression of Gospel
motivated love. "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good
to all people, and especially to those who are of the
house-hold of the faith" (Galatians 6:10).</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8862052171970978809#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> From Katharine Lee Bates,
“America the Beautiful” (1985).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-61083828381450466782012-12-23T14:47:00.003-08:002012-12-23T14:47:53.253-08:00A Meditation on Three Trees<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent">A Meditation on Three Trees<br /> by M. Scott Bashoor</span></div>
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<br />Round a green tree now we gather<br /> And call our souls to song.<br /> But wasn’t the rooty place rather<br /> The cradle of man’s wrong?<br /> T’was round a tree of ages past<br /> Man’s sorrows first did rise.<br /> His destiny by sin was cast<br /> Into fiery demise.<br /><span class="text_exposed_show"><br />What of the sad memory dark<br /> Of evil wrought back then?<br /> What takes the shame from the old bark,<br /> The shame that came from sin?<br /> There must be yet another tree<br /> Where sin and shame were fought,<br /> Where all sin on Christ came to be,<br /> Salvation there was wrought.<br /> <br /> How fitting is the coming, then,<br /> To this green tree, I think,<br /> To praise the One who died for men<br /> To snatch them from the brink.<br /> His suff’ring is the reason tall<br /> We have this jubilee.<br /> This favorite season of them all<br /> Is naught without His tree.</span></div>
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M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-86668008555618342852012-11-15T13:00:00.000-08:002013-05-25T14:47:56.473-07:00IS "HYMN" SHORT FOR "HIDDEN MEANING?"<br />
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In my <a href="http://set-the-sails.blogspot.com/2012/10/lost-in-wonder-hymns-we-love-but-dont.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>last post</strong></span></a><span style="color: blue;"><strong>,</strong></span> I discussed a number of hymns whose meaning is often lost on those who sing them and how that lost meaning is too often not even noticed. Over the next few posts, I'll share some more selections of oft-song, seldom-understood lines from the hymnal.<br />
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Perhaps some of the hardest hymns to follow are those with allusions to lesser known Bible phrases or stories. Some hymns have lyrics that are so dense that even the most keen singer might be at a loss to explain their meaning. <br />
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Take, for instance, <strong><span style="color: blue;">Nearer, My God, to Thee</span></strong> (Sarah Flower Adams, 1841). The first stanza is easy to understand, and these lines have likely served as the hook that have kept this hymn in modern hymnals. (In all fairness, this was an extremely popular song in the 1800's and early 1900's; it was famously played as the Titanic sank). The song is a prayer expressing the worshipper's desire to draw near to God at all cost. If drawing near to God demands dying to one's self on the cross of self-denial, so be it.<br />
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<dd>Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!</dd><dd>E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;</dd><dd>Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,</dd><dd>Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!</dd><dd> </dd><br />
Once you've finished that stanza, though, the lyrics get very dense. The next three stanzas contain multiple references to the story involving Jacob's ladder. If you don't know the story well or understand the devotional connection the hymnwriter is making, you're at a near total loss in following the song.<br />
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<dd>Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,</dd><dd>Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;</dd><dd>Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,</dd><dd>Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!</dd><dd> </dd><br />
In Genesis 28:10-22, Jacob is wandering on a long journey through barren territory, spending the nights under the open sky. One night he was in such a barren spot that all could find for a pillow was a rock ("my rest a stone"). But in that barren place God gave him an assuring vision of His special promise to him and his family ("Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, My God, to Thee").<br />
<dd> </dd><dd>There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;</dd><dd>All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;</dd><dd>Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,</dd><dd>Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!</dd><dd> </dd><dd></dd>Stanza three alludes to the ladder that Jacob saw in which angels went back and forth between heaven and earth where Jacob lay. The point of the vision was that God was with Jacob even in the most unpromising of times and places. The vision was in effect an invitation for him to trust God and believe the divine promises passed down to him from Abraham.<br />
<dd>Then with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,</dd><dd>Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;</dd><dd>So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,</dd><dd>Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!</dd><dd> </dd><br />
Jacob made a memorial in that place and named the locale "Bethel" (house of God), a place which would later become one of Israel's more important cities. Though he was in a seemingly barren place, the vision he received assured him that God was uniquely with him.<br />
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The song writer's intent in making these allusions is to teach that the Christian, like Jacob in the wilderness, is able to draw close to God in even the most desolate situations of life. The point being made is valid, though we should quickly acknowledge that Jacob's experience was unique in redemptive history. The story in Genesis is not intended to be a template for the way God interacts with all His children but to demonstrate how God preserved His unique covenantal promise to Abraham and his descendents even when they seemed so very unpromising themselves. I think it's legitimate to make some parallels between Jacob and the New Covenant believer, but it would be easy to misapply this imagery in well-intended but unbiblical ways.<br />
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Now to my main point. The meaning of these stanzas is so strung out over many dense lines of poetry that it's not likely that many (most times, any) in the pews are really edified by them. In a previous day when more people were versed in reading poetry, that was likely not the case. But nowadays the amount of time needed to explain the lyrics might outweigh the benefit derived from singing it afterwards. For these reasons, I usually only lead the congregation in singing the first stanza. <br />
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And I won't even touch on the Unitarian-Universalist orientation of the hymn writer.M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-20677539289413192242012-10-22T22:47:00.001-07:002012-10-24T09:12:31.349-07:00"LOST IN WONDER"-- HYMNS WE LOVE BUT DON'T UNDERSTAND (updated)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love hymns. I grew up in a hymn-singing family and church, and hymns have been a part of my life ever since. My musical tastes have broadened over the years, and I enjoy contemporary music of different kinds. There's plenty of newer music that I find enjoyable and edifying, although I admit I'm not comfortable with everything passing as Christian music. I lead singing in our small church, and most of what we sing comes right out of the hymnal. We're not hymno-centric because I'm contempo-phobic. We simply don't have musicians who could perform contemporary music in way that most of our people would find enjoyable and edifying.<br />
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This post is not about "worship wars," the nearly nuclear conflict over traditional versus contemporary musical styles. It's about an ironic contradiction that afflicts hymn lovers: we love hymns because of their depth of meaning, but all too often we don't know what the hymns actually mean.<br />
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Hymns are often loved for being rich in theology and profound in expression. A true hymn is definately not one of those "Seven-Eleven" songs, the pejorative name for a ditty where the same seven words are supposedly repeated eleven times. And not everything in a hymnal is a hymn, at least in the more traditional sense of the word. A lot of gospel songs from the early 20th century are now thought of as hymns. But if you listen closely to some of those melodies, they sound more like waltzes and carnival tunes. I know some of those are precious to some people, but when I speak of hymns, I'm thinking of songs like "Holy, Holy, Holy," "Amazing Grace," "The Solid Rock," as well as relatively newer works such as "Tell Out, My Soul" and the wonderful stream of new hymns produced by Keith & Kristyn Getty.<br />
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But there's a little acknowledged problem that many hymn lovers have: too often we don't really understand what we're singing. As a worship leader, I've seen this irony many times. Occasionally I'll vex our patient pianist by interrupting a hymn in between stanzas and ask the congregation, "What does that next line mean?" It's surprising how often dear Christians who've sung hymns upwards of half a century have little or no idea what some oft-sung line is saying. Here are some examples:<br />
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<strong>1)</strong> <strong>"Rock of Ages."</strong> I love the profoundly deep line, "Let the water and the blood from Thy riven side which flowed be of sin <strong>the double cure: save from wrath and make me pure.</strong>" That's good stuff, but the goodness is somewhat lost on you if you don't understand the dense poetry. The point is that the blood of Jesus is so strong it <u><em>doubly</em></u> cures us. It both satisfies the wrath of God against our sins, and it also cleanses our souls and makes us pure.<br />
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<strong>2)</strong> <strong>"O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing."</strong> Many don't know that the opening line of this Charles Wesley hymn was inspired by a church meeting that the Wesley's spent with the Moravians. During a time of testimony, a Moravian scholar exclaimed, "Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise Him with them all." Thus it's not, as some might think, a song about the joys of a mass choir or being part of a mega church. There's also the profound line, "<strong>He breaks the power of canceled sin</strong>." Ask your average hymn lover what that means, and you might get a pretty blank stare. It means that Christ Jesus has not only canceled the judgment against us for our sins, but He's also broken the back of its power in the lives of those who know Him as Savior and Lord.<br />
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<strong>3) "O Worship the King."</strong> Here's another favorite of mine, but there's a stanza in the middle of it that leaves a lot of congregants with itchy brains: "<strong>His chariots of wrath the deep thunder clouds form, and dark is His path on the wings of the storm</strong>" What does that mean? Is God judging us everytime we get a thunder storm? In this case, the hymn is adapting lines from Psalm 18:6-19 where David celebrates how God had rescued him from great opposition. David describes that deliverance in highly poetic fashion, depicting God as flying on the clouds, shooting out lightening from His fingertips as He went out to battle for him. The hymn's line is rich and thoroughly biblical, but it's ironic that most worshippers have little idea what those lines are about.<br />
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We miss out on meaning to our own poverty. Of course, there will always be lines that evade our understanding, especially if it's the first time we're exposed to them. One of the beautiful things about hymns is that they can force contemplation. If you're interested enough, you'll meditate on it and seek to uncover its meaning. This dynamic is at work in the poety of the Bible as well. Portions of the Psalms and Proverbs are often dense in wording and they don't yield their meaning right away. But when we sing songs so often that we no longer think about what's being said, we're really missing out.<br />
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There are some instances where it might be a good thing that the words are not understood, at least from the perspective that we don't want to teach people erroneous or false doctrine. Yes, there are hymns that are doctrinally wrong, and some of them are downright heretical. Just because its in the hymnal doesn't mean it's taught in the Bible. I'll give just a few examples (though there name is Legion), and I'll end with one that's most glaring. Some Christians will take issue with my first two examples, but the last one is so egregious that I think all should agree.<br />
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<strong>1) "The Church's One Foundation."</strong> There's much to love about this hymn, and it it certainly deserves a place in hymnals amongst the free churches (e.g., Baptists, Bible churches, community churches, etc.). But there's a theological glitch that's often missed. The author, Samuel Stone, was a godly Anglican, but Anglican ecclesiology is different in some important points from the theology of free churches. In particular, Stone believed in the "Communion of Saints," a doctrine which teaches that Christians on earth enjoy some kind of fellowship with saints in heaven. This doctrine is behind the line, "The Church on earth hath union with God the Three-in-One, <strong>and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won</strong>." Believers in heaven are those who have "won" or received their reward by God's grace, and the song states that there's some sort of mystic communion to be had with them as we worship. Most worshippers sing this line quite merrily with no idea of what it means. I don't categorize this teaching as heresy <em>per se </em>(although some forms of it are, I believe), but it's certainly different from what we teach in most of our Evangelical churches. We have union with the saints in heaven, but we don't yet enjoy communion with them, whether mystic or otherwise.<br />
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<strong>2)</strong> <strong>"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling." </strong>There's much to love about this hymn, too. But if you know the theological perspectives of the author, the words take on a whole new and troubling force. The Wesleys were known for teaching Christian Perfectionism, the idea that a Christian could receive a second work of grace in this life which would render him sinless. This idea appears repeatedly in the hymn. As early as the late 1700's, hymnals edited the lines to make them more palatable to non-Methodists. Depending on what hymnal you have, you might be singing a version of the song laden with perfectionist teachings and not realize it.<br />
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<strong>3) "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."</strong> Who doesn't like the rhythmic marching melody of this Civil War song. It has great patriotic value, of course, and its lines are beautifully written and dense with meaning. But, frankly, we should stop singing it in churches. I never select it anymore because it's so wrong theologically. The authoress, Julia Ward Howe, was an uber-political activist, the kind of religious activist who abandons the verbal proclamation of the Gospel for social action instead. Her activism seems to have been motivated in part by post-millennial theology. She saw the Union army as the instrument of God's judgment to cleanse the land and potentially usher in the Kingdom. She thought God was marching with Lincoln's forces to punish the iniquities of the Confederacy. Of course, God providentially brought the North to victory, but the story of the conquest was not one of the saints marching in. I've tried taking poetic liberty to apply these lines in different ways, but it's a vain effort. I love the music, poetry, and patriotic value of the song. But in my opinion, it's not fit for Christian worship.<br />
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It bothers me that some--dare I say most--Christians who have been worshipping the Lord with hymns for many decades are largely unware of this problem of singing without understanding. Worship leaders and pastors have often failed to educate congregants on the meaning of the lines, and there's a larger, societal problem of ever-weakening education. Many people nowadays simply don't know how to interpret poetry very well, especially if it's couched in archaic terminology. Many churches have given up the ghost in this battle and have adopted entirely contemporary formats of worship. Again, I'm not championing any particular musical style. But I think there's too much to be lost by our abandoning hymns completely. <br />
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I said at the beginning that this blog was not going to be about about worship wars, and I meant it. But I have to mention one thing. Those of us who love hymns can be guilty of secret pride, a pride that looks down on non-hymn lovers as those who are "missing out" on the great truths found in hymns. But if we ourselves don't really understand the lines of the songs--songs that we've perhaps sung for decades--isn't our pride shown to be hollow? And even if we fully understand everything we sing, that's no license for pride either. While I believe that today's Christians are at a loss if they have no knowledge of hymnology, that hymnology must include an understanding or what's being sung, not just an opinion that what's being sung is profound.M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-27634528435336336462012-10-17T12:46:00.001-07:002012-11-15T15:29:50.659-08:00EUPHORIA IN PREACHING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Several times in the pulpit this year, I've experienced brief moments of euphoria while preaching. They've been surprising experiences, but so far as I know, only my wife and I know about them--until know. I don't think these moments are proof of increased spirituality or supernatural signs of the Spirit's special presence. But it is encouraging to know that I'm emotionally invested in what Christ has called me to do.<br />
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I began preaching when I was a teenager, and in my late twenties, I began pastoring the church where I've been for the past dozen plus years. I usually preach expository sermons heavy on explanation and exegesis, but for me preaching is not an academic exercise. I'm passionate about it, and I'm often passionate in the pulpit, too. I'm not into revivalism, and I don't believe that a good sermon requires the preacher to work himself into a frenzy. In my most emotional moments, my pulpit mannerisms are nothing like those of the sweat-soaked, platform pacing, cadence and crescendo evangelists I saw in my youth. And while I was impressed in positive ways by their passion for preaching, I'm convicted that God is most pleased with preaching that emphasizes substance over style. For that reason I use what homileticians call an "enlarged conversational style."<br />
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Sometimes while preaching I've felt a sense of euphoria at a key moment in the sermon. It's not an overpowering ecstasy, but it's definitely an exhilarating rush. It happens rarely and unpredictably, but when it's occurred, it's always been when I'm bringing my sermon to a close or when I've hit a natural high point in the message. I recognize the feeling as being somewhat similar to what I felt in my youth when I would get caught up in the atmosphere of a fiery evangelist's message. Back then I wrongly associated that sensation with the filling of the Holy Spirit. I later learned to understand that such feelings are simply, well, feelings. They are an indication of my own emotional investment in what's being said, not necessarily a sign of the Spirit's work.<br />
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Euphoria is a common human experience which can occur in many kinds of religious and secular settings. Athletes often feel a rush at high points of exertion, and even sports fans might feel a rush when their team wins a cliffhanger. On the religious side of the spectrum, all sorts of people--whether believers in Christ or not--can have moments of euphoria. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Mormons, Catholics, Pentecostals, Baptists, and pastors like myself are known to experience moments of euphoria in the midst of their religious activities. That doesn't mean that all of these persons feel the same thing or that their feelings are all of the same value. Each arena of experience has its own unique nuances. But they share something in common: the thrill that can come from deep emotional investment.<br />
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I'm glad that I know that because it would be easy to misidentify those forceful feelings in the pulpit as indicators of the Spirit's powerful presence. But Scripture doesn't teach that experiencing euphoria is a guarantee of the Spirit's work. The Scripture never promises the believer this sort of experience as something normative in his or her life. The Spirit certainly knows how to make dramatic changes in a person's life in a moment, and those moments of transformation might very well be attended by euphoric joy. But the real proof of the Spirit's transforming work is seen over the long haul as a person's affections, decisions, relationships, and reactions in real life are fashioned after Christ's likeness.<br />
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I can definitely see how pulpit euphoria can become addictive. For those preachers who serve in revivalist traditions, feelings of euphoria are more common, perhaps even the norm for some. I live next door to a non-English speaking revivalist church, and the brothers and sisters there like to worship with their church windows open. I can only understand a tiny bit of what's being said, but every service is characterized by predictable crescendos that end in emotional rapture. I can't quantify all that the Spirit is or isn't doing in their church's life. I pray that the net effect of their ministry is that Christians are drawing closer to the Lord and the lost are being drawn to Christ. But I also pray that the saints are not being misled as to what to think about the emotional journey that they travel each week during their services.<br />
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I certainly don't mean to imply that emotions are bad or intrinsically suspect. If our hearts are seldom stirred with wider awakenings to God's glorious grace, something may well be amiss. God created our emotions, and our affections for Him are part of the bonds of love which the Spirit uses to unite us experientially with Christ. Euphoria is a climactic emotional experience which we should neither seek nor reject. But if we should feel it, let us not automatically identify the rush we feel with the wind of the Spirit. Euphoria may only be a gauge of our emotional investment in what we're doing for the Lord's sake.M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-67108058070859149622012-10-09T16:30:00.000-07:002012-11-15T15:30:27.850-08:00CHRISTIAN CITIZENRY AND THE POLITICS OF LOVE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">As a pastor,
I view my calling as an ambassador of the kingdom of Christ of greater
importance than my being a citizen of a great country, a land for which I am
very grateful. I often feel uncomfortable with some of the prominent forms
of Christian political activism that I see, and I believe there is a real
danger for the Church to become overly politicized. But I also believe
there is such a thing as Christian citizenry. I'd like to address the
role of love as a motivator for voting, communicating with our representatives,
& engaging in other forms of social action. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Throughout
history there have been many different forms of Christian involvement in
government & politics. Many of these have been wrong or imbalanced. A
fair amount of contemporary Christian political action seems to be motivated by
anger, fear, & power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger
often arises over the country's loss of its Christian moorings; fear may
develop from a concern over the surge of humanistic ideologies; and power
is often sought as a means of abating that fear & anger. Obviously,
there are grave matters of concern in our culture, & concern is a
legitimate motivator so long as it does not degenerate into angry, power-hungry fear.
Yes, there’s a time for moral outrage. But Christians are taught by the gospel
to be motivated primarily by faith, hope, & love. Love in
particular is a far greater motivator for Christian citizenry than fear. </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Consider how
love can motivate us.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Firstly, we are to love God & His truth. Thus
we will seek to lift up God's truth so that others might see the goodness &
wisdom of His ways. This is not building a theocracy--only the return of
King Jesus will ever bring about the direct rule of God in this world.
But when laws fail to promote righteousness & justice, we should
care. God is the originator of the principle of human government, &
He designed it to reflect His glory. Poor government reflects poorly
on God's glory in the earth & can contribute to a twisted understanding of
His authority. Our desire should not to be to gain power so we might
subdue our own fears but to exert positive influence so that God might be more
glorified.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Secondly, we
are to love our neighbors. We will be better motivated to vote &
engage in other forms of social action if we see these actions as an
opportunity to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our love will show itself by
endorsing values, legislation, & leadership which promote the common good,
righteousness, & justice. Of course, many of our neighbors may not
agree with us on all points as to what is the common good. Love for one's
neighbors is not always understood or appreciated for what it is. But we
must love even when we are hated.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Thirdly, we
are to love the Church. Voting & other forms of political involvement
give us the opportunity to preserve freedom which is beneficial to the
promotion of the gospel & the ministry of the Church. While early
Christians were left with little legal recourse under the evil whims of Caesar,
we have the Sovereignly-given privilege of a democratic republic whereby we can
influence “Caesar” for the better & so care for one another.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">In
conclusion, we must remember the role of faith & hope in all our
socio-political activities. Our faith & hope do not rest in our efforts,
our laws, or even our republic. Our faith & hope lie completely in King
Jesus. Regardless of what may happen to America, we are citizens of the
Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ---a kingdom which will never fail. We
need never worry about elections turning out badly in that realm. The
Kingdom of God must always claim our first allegiance & our greater
energies, but we should still seek the common good as an expression of gospel
motivated love. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">"So
then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially
to those who are of the house-hold of the faith"
(Galatians 6:10).</span>M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-87966277081236581912012-10-02T22:09:00.000-07:002012-10-23T21:09:40.274-07:00CAREFUL WITH THAT SWORD! (updated)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgqszYzDBQJj339tGBkZzPSESouuot3mS5374-0nTcLpc-HwkB-TfJUnuoRhjZKeoIMdW_s6jZrRqoK24JYCfjG6Z-3Dat3Xd0YY38GcoOX_1HByYJi-ixtNLHrSbuFlvG4kAq8_gGQo/s1600/Sword%252C+Roman+replica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgqszYzDBQJj339tGBkZzPSESouuot3mS5374-0nTcLpc-HwkB-TfJUnuoRhjZKeoIMdW_s6jZrRqoK24JYCfjG6Z-3Dat3Xd0YY38GcoOX_1HByYJi-ixtNLHrSbuFlvG4kAq8_gGQo/s320/Sword%252C+Roman+replica.jpg" width="319" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">In my </span><a href="http://set-the-sails.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-unvoided-word-and-our-void.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">last post</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I discussed a verse about God's
Word that is often misused with the best of intentions. Today's post continues
in that swath. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the passages that
Christians very often use to instruct others in the power of the
word is Hebrews 4:12-13. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsK1rOsNNLnFpwet8Cotm7gisro3Dns7UjCkcfMvvCq5S3Y9Q8Esznf0aKDU9yDPZRgnntm5vZL6bk2InkiKEWaLNqoX2Bp2_bOmtvKbYHcjHkfKZuQt3xG7jM3BpvfAWOuczq-5iN68/s1600/Heb+4%252C+12-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsK1rOsNNLnFpwet8Cotm7gisro3Dns7UjCkcfMvvCq5S3Y9Q8Esznf0aKDU9yDPZRgnntm5vZL6bk2InkiKEWaLNqoX2Bp2_bOmtvKbYHcjHkfKZuQt3xG7jM3BpvfAWOuczq-5iN68/s320/Heb+4%252C+12-13.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hebrews 4:12-13 is one of the most visceral and emotionally charged
passages in the Bible. It uses the graphic military imagery of a sword slaying
and splaying an enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it does not
slay flesh and blood. Instead it splays open the soul of man, and with painful
sharpness eviscerates its inner motives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not even the most secretive of thoughts is
safe from the severing power of God’s incomparably sharp two-edged sword.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Most often this passage is used to describe the convicting power of the Bible in people's lives. But is that really the point in this passage? As with many references in the Bible to "the word of God," the "word" here is not the Bible in general but a special revelation in particular. In our passage the "word" is actually the Gospel. You see, the Gospel contains both a blessing and a curse. Those who receive and believe the Gospel inherit the blessings of an everlasting new life, but those who reject it inherit everlasting destruction away from the presence of the Lord. The Lord Jesus said, "He who rejects me and my sayings has one who judges him; the word I spoke will judge him on the last day" (John 12:48).</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Hebrews 4:12-13 is part of a larger section in
the book which warns its readers about turning away from the truth. In chapter
3, the author mentions the generation of Israelites who came out of Egypt with
Moses. While they all experienced national salvation in being delivered from
their overlords, it seems that very few of them experienced spiritual deliverance
from their sins. The majority of that first generation perished in the
wilderness under the judgment of God, and, it would appear, in a state of spiritual unbelief. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Hebrews 3:17 describes that generation as those "</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">whose bodies<strong> fell</strong> in the wilderness."</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The author warns his Hebrew readers that
they must beware of committing an even worse error in turning away from the
truth of the Gospel. In </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hebrews 4:11, he uses the term "<strong>fall</strong>" again: “Therefore let us be
diligent ... so that no one will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fall</b>, through <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">following </i>the
same example of disobedience.” The danger is not merely of falling away from the faith but also of falling under the judgment of God. The instrument of that judgment in Hebrews 4:12 is the sword of God's Word.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In Hebrews 4:13, the imagery shifts slightly,
describing not so much what the Sword of God does, but the absolute control of the One who wields it—God himself. All persons, actions, and
thoughts are fully known to him. Before Him all people are essentially naked and powerless
before His seat of judgment with no way and nowhere to hide. The term rendered “laid bare” actually means “to
be grabbed by the throat.” The exact meaning of the term here is debated, but
it was used in the world of Greco-Roman wrestling for disabling neck
grips. It depicts someone in a powerless position, waiting to receive his death
blow or be released in mercy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CVJ7OSZ0izUJ3VHxXJwx1h6ZssF5B2tWCKSWJR6Pig61jEu4FjcQoAoLYr99UAoD4PIPa6mxNIQp2F8fGyR5Pvb7F6aUSKtjK4SVj4Cz40EtK5RaO2GG2jC4YWv-wb7OAKaY-eSfmiY/s1600/Rembrandt%252C+Abraham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CVJ7OSZ0izUJ3VHxXJwx1h6ZssF5B2tWCKSWJR6Pig61jEu4FjcQoAoLYr99UAoD4PIPa6mxNIQp2F8fGyR5Pvb7F6aUSKtjK4SVj4Cz40EtK5RaO2GG2jC4YWv-wb7OAKaY-eSfmiY/s320/Rembrandt%252C+Abraham.jpg" width="220" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Does this verse have any relevance to the
Christian’s daily experience with the Scripture? Yes, sort of. That's because what God
has already revealed in the Scripture will be the measurement by which His
final judgment is made. We don’t have to come to the Day of Judgment to realize
that God’s revelation in Scripture has piercing power. When we responded to the
Gospel and felt our need of Christ, we felt something of the piercing power of the Word. When our hearts are convicted
of sin, we feel something of its pointed blade. But the real force
of this verse is to confront pretending Christians with the reality of final
judgment. We must be careful to teach the main point of this passage: the Day
of Judgment will be pointedly painful experience for pretenders. This verse has
particular relevance for pretending Christians, those who have not really
entered into a New Covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">As right as it is for us to celebrate the
penetrating, convicting, and transforming power of the Bible in our lives, this
verse isn’t about that. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This verse is
not about Christians becoming skilled in their use of the Bible, like a
swordsman learning to use his blade.</b> There are other verses which
are more relevant for that (e.g., Ephesians 6:17). Hebrew's depiction of God's Sword
splaying souls open is not a thing for us to desire. God Himself will wield
this sword on the Day of Judgment, exposing the thoughts and motives of those
who claimed to be God’s people but who had actually turned away from the Gospel
of grace.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The well-intended misuse of this passage is yet another example of how easy it is to proof-text well-known verses with the best of intentions. We all do it from time to time, perhaps much more than we realize. When we hear a verse used over and over a certain way--especially by people we've come to trust--we naturally assume that this way of understanding the text has been properly vetted. But in Bible interpretation, context must be king. Unfortunately, we're all too prone to use the Bible as like a book of inspired quotes instead of a collection of inspired texts with contexts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Maybe we should start another blog site where we can catalogue well-known verses that are inadvertently misused. I've already got a name for the site: "Careful with that sword!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-28749309022643598772012-09-18T20:20:00.000-07:002012-10-13T18:10:14.036-07:00The Unvoided Word (and our void understanding of it)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghAwrNohyphenhyphens3o3fL2sR3XXA90VVgPrWHmF0kDeIpX9Bzt6lEnyli-fBgZ12oOWRnrbvj1zo6-weInX_hy0NxJRuD1ez-6iUGJTggYT4C1G9QlAMnTy7kjDjcUQ5AzKrws4JOcS-E5bjnc/s1600/void+clipart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghAwrNohyphenhyphens3o3fL2sR3XXA90VVgPrWHmF0kDeIpX9Bzt6lEnyli-fBgZ12oOWRnrbvj1zo6-weInX_hy0NxJRuD1ez-6iUGJTggYT4C1G9QlAMnTy7kjDjcUQ5AzKrws4JOcS-E5bjnc/s1600/void+clipart.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">nyone who's had even the most basic training in Bible study knows that studying the context is rule number one for understanding any passage. But following this rule seems to be much easier said than done for many of us. The fact is that from time to time all of us proof-text, using a verse in a way which would make the author of the passage scratch his head. One of the clearest examples of this involves a very well-known verse amongst Bible-believing Christians, one that pastors often repeat from the pulpit.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-0PJg2zBdGNQ56lZerewbzaOvtwoAW7J13mbU_f9HfOR3fTe_Wx53Xlzh4OTMXDT74_7OF4Sub81hxN38gfxsWep8W-qyOaa5m1uigy7BC78DojKr9dcqqDZsTjIFPc3dWRM0vlbMGg/s1600/Isa+55+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-0PJg2zBdGNQ56lZerewbzaOvtwoAW7J13mbU_f9HfOR3fTe_Wx53Xlzh4OTMXDT74_7OF4Sub81hxN38gfxsWep8W-qyOaa5m1uigy7BC78DojKr9dcqqDZsTjIFPc3dWRM0vlbMGg/s400/Isa+55+11.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This verse is often used as an encouragement to believers who share the Word with others. From this passage, pastors and well meaning Christians challenge believers not to be discouraged </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">when others reject what they share from the Bible. Supposedly, this verse encourages us that God is nonethless at work and will eventually do something wonderful in the hearts of those who hear the Word.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">While this is an extremely common use of this verse, there are real problems with understanding it this way. <strong>The context is not about believers spreading the Word but about believers needing to believe Go</strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>d's promise.</strong> In this context the phrase "My word" refers not to the Bible in general but to God's promises in particular. More specifically, God's promises in <em>this</em> passage are that God will restore His people Israel, return them to their land, and renew their hearts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Isaiah wrote chapters 40-66 of his book largely for the benefit of generations after his time, particularly the generation that would live in the Babylonian exile. In this second half of his book, he foresees that in time God would bring the Jews back to their land and back to their God. God also promised that He would eventually redeem them from their greatest captivity--the bondage of their own sin. These promises of Hebrew salvation and restoration are the essence of the phrase "My word" in Isaiah 55:11. Though the fulfillment of that promise might be a long time in coming, Isaiah urges his listeners to wait on the Lord and trust Him to fulfill His good word.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Many Christians understand the verse as if it says this: "</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So shall My word be which goes forth out of <strong>YOUR</strong> mouth; i</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">t shall not return to Me void...." </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But this idea is foreign to the passage. </span>The verse says nothing about believers repeating God's word to others (something we should do, or course). No, in this passage the focus is on the fact the <strong>GOD</strong> has promised to keep his promises, that what He has said will come to pass. But this is not a promise that if we repeat His Word to others that it will do something in their hearts. It may very well do so, and we should pray that is does, but that's not the point in this verse. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The misuse of this verse is deeply engrained in many Bible believing Christians. In one sense, that's representative of something good: a high view of Scripture and a firm belief in the power of God's Word. But it's also representative of a problem that we have with the way we use the Bible, something I call "innocent proof-texting." When we hear a verse used in a certain way over and over again by people we trust, we assume that that understanding of the verse has been properly vetted. But the example above illustrates how very careful we need to be with context. As the old saying goes, "A text used out of context is a pretext." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">* Though I've argued that many Christians innocently misuse this passage, I'm convinced that it is very relevant for believers today. And it's real relevance is right in line with what Isaiah originally meant. As New Covenant believers, we are awaiting the Second Coming of our Redeemer who will redeem not only His people Israel but also resurrect our bodies and renew the world, bringing to completion the fullness of our salvation. That's one promise among many others that will never be voided for those who are in Christ Jesus.</span>M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862052171970978809.post-49236475549854352132012-09-12T12:17:00.001-07:002012-09-12T14:41:09.287-07:00The Unpardonable Sin, Shin, or Samech?<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the more intriguing stories in the Old Testament involves an
inter-tribal battle in the days of the Judges. Judges 12 records how the tribe of
Ephraim (west of the Jordan) picked a fight with the Gileadites (east of the Jordan). Under Jephthah's able leadership, the Gileadites
routed the Ephraimites and took control of the river fords. Whenever
Ephraimites tried to cross the river, the border guards asked their identity. Of
course, they each denied being an Ephraimite, so the guards put them to the test:
pronounce the term <em>shibboleth</em> (which means “ear of grain”).
Unfortunately for the Ephraimites, their Hebrew dialect did not allow them to
make the "sh" sound. They were only able to say <em>sibboleth,</em> and, thus, their accent led to their early demise. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hebrew has several different "s" letters (sibilants). One of them
has two different pronunciations. When this letter has an “s” sound, it is
labeled as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sin</i> (pronounced “seen”). When
it has an “sh” sound, it is labeled as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shin </i>(pronounced
"sheen"). Writers of Hebrew in the days of the Bible had no alphabetic way to
distinguish these two letters. It wasn't until the 6th century
AD that Hebrew scholars added diacritical marks to distinguish them. Until
then, native Hebrew speakers were expected to intuitively know which way to
pronounce the letter based on its context. In our passage, the author of Judges has avoided this potential confusion by
spelling out the Ephraimite pronunciation with a different letter altogether,
the letter <em>samech.</em> This letter can only be pronounced as an
"s," so it avoids the potential confusion of <em>sin </em>and<em> shin</em>.
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How would the Ephraimites have spelled the word? Might they have written it with a <em>sin</em>
instead of a <em>samech</em>? We can only surmise. But if they did, we
might have before us a perfect illustration of—pardon my pun—the unpardonable <em>sin</em>.</span><br />
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<br />M. Scott Bashoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649633392941777374noreply@blogger.com0