hebrew selection - world literature

Hebrew SelectionReporter:

LUCILLE GACUTAN ARAMBURO

Historical Background“Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago. You dig the soil and you find pottery from Davidic times, coins from Bar Kokhba, and 2,000-year-old scrolls written in a script remarkably like the one that today advertises ice cream at the comer candy store.”

Historical BackgroundThe people of Israel “Jewish People” trace their origin to Abraham, who establish the belief that there is only one God in three (3) persons God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the creator of the universe.

Historical BackgroundAbraham, his son Isaac, and grandson Jacob (Israel), are referred to as the patriarchs of the Israelites. All three patriarchs live in the Land of Canaan, that later came to be known as the Land of Israel.

Historical BackgroundThe descendants of Abraham crystalized into a nation at about 1300 BC after their Exodus from Egypt under the leadership of Moses. Soon after the Exodus, Moses transmitted to the people of this new emerging nation, and the Ten Commandments. After 40 years in the Sinai desert, Moses led them to the Land of Israel.

Historical BackgroundThe people of modern day Israel share the same language and culture shaped by the Jewish heritage and religion passed through generations starting with the founding father Abraham. Thus, Jews have had continuous presence in the land of Israel for the past 3,300 years.

Historical BackgroundThe rule of Israelites in the land of Israel starts with the conquests of Joshua. The period from 1000-587 BC is known as the “Period of the Kings”. The most noteworthy kings were King David, who made Jerusalem the Capital of Israel, and his son Solomon, who built the first Temple in Jerusalem.

Historical BackgroundIn 587 BC, Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar's army captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled the Jews to Babylonian (Iraq). It marks a turning point in the history of the region. From this year onwards, the region was ruled and controlled by a succession of superpower empires of the time in the following order: Babylonian, Persian, Greek Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Empires, Islamic and Christian crusaders, Ottoman Empire and the British Empire.

Historical BackgroundAfter the exile by the Romans at 70 CE, the Jewish people migrated to Europe and North Africa. In the scattered outside of the Land of Israel, they established rich cultural and economic lives, and contributed greatly to the societies where they lived.

Historical BackgroundThe Jews continued their national culture and prayed to return to Israel through centuries. In the first half of the 20th century there were major waves of immigration of Jews back to Israel from Arab countries and form Europe.

Historical BackgroundDuring the British rule in Palestine, the Jewish people were subject to great violence and massacres directed by Arab civilians or forces of the neighboring Arab states. During World War II, the Nazi regime in Germany decimated about 6 million Jews creating the great tragedy of the Holocaust.

Historical BackgroundIn 1948, Jewish Community in Israel under the leadership of David Ben-Gurion reestablished sovereignty over their ancient homeland. Declaration of independence of the modern State of Israel was announced on the day that the last British forces left Israel (May 14, 1948)

Historical BackgroundA day after the declaration of independence of the State of Israeel, armies of five Arab countries, Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon and Iraq invaded Israel. This marked the beginning of the War of Independence. Arab states have jointly waged four full scale wars against Israel: 1948 War of Independence, 1956 Sinai War, 1967 Six Day War, and 1973 Yom Kippur War

Historical BackgroundDespite the numerical superiority of the Arab armies, Israel defended itself each time and won. After each war Israeli army withdrew from most of the areas it captured. This is unprecedented in World history and shows Israel’s willingness to reach to reach peace even at the risk of fighting for its very existence each time anew.

Historical BackgroundIsrael is 40 miles wide, it can be crossed from the Mediterranean coast to the Eastern border at Jordan river within two hours of driving.

The BibleHow the Bible came into being?God used three wonderful methods as he carefully carved out that most blessed of all books, the Bible. These Three “tools of the Trinity” are referred to as revelation, inspiration, and illumination.

The BibleHow did we received our Bible?Around 1400Bc God began to quietly call some forty men and women into his presence. It took God nearly fifteen centuries to complete the job. He spoke the burden of his great heart in simple but sublime language to those chosen forty. With a holy hush they heard him tell of creation and corruption, of condemnation, justification, sanctification and glorification.

The Almighty author quickly and carefully guides each chosen human vessel in his assigned writing task. Each of the forty is dealt with individually. Job, a rich farmer, will write differently than will Amos, a poor farmer. The words of the educated Paul will be more complicated on occasion than those of the uneducated John or Peter. But all will carry with them the divine approval of heaven itself.

The Bible is shaped of the three tools

1. Revelation: from God to man. Man hears that which God wants written.

2. Inspiration: from man to paper. Man writes that which God wants written.

3. Illumination: From paper to heart. Man receives the light of that which God had written.

Revelation:God spoke to the fathers and prophets in eight (8) ways: God often spoke to men through angels.Angels reassured Abraham of the birth of Isaac and informed him of God’s decision to destroy Sodom (Gen 18)Angel Gabriel informed Mary that God had chosen her as his vessel for Christ’s birth (Lk 2)An angel announced the resurrection of Christ to some women (Mt. 28) God spoke to men through a loud voice.God directly to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Jeremiah


God spoke to men through a still, small voice. Ps. 32:8God spoke to men through nature. Ps. 19:1-3God spoke to one man through the mouth of an ass. Num. 22:28God spoke to men through dreams. Jacob received the confirmation of the Abrahamic Covenant in a dreamSolomon received both wisdom and warning in a dreamJoseph received messages assuring him of Mary’s purity, commanding him to flee to Egypt and ordering him to return to Palestine.The wise men were warned of Herod evil intentions in a dreamGod spoke to men through visions

O VISION is a supernatural presentation of certain scenery or circumstances to the mind of a person while awake

O God spoke to men through Christophanies.

O CHRISTOPHANIES is a pre-Bethlehem appearance of Christ. “Angel of the Lord” is actually another name of Christ.

Theopneustos = God-breathedAll (plenary) the very words (verbal) of the Bible are inspired by

God.Mat. 4:4. … man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word

that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.Jn. 6:63. “… the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and

they are life”

Implications of inspiration

Plenary-verbal inspiration does not teach that all parts of the bible are equally important, but only that they are equally

inspired.Plenary-verbal inspiration does not guarantee the inspiration of

any modern or ancient translation of the Bible, but deals only with the original Hebrew and Greek languages.

Plenary-verbal inspiration does not allow for any false teaching, but it does on occasion record the lie of someone.

Plenary-verbal inspiration does not permit any historical, scientific, or prophetical error whatsoever.


Every scientific statement in the Scriptures is absolutely true.

Plenary-verbal inspiration does not prohibits personal research.

Plenary-verbal inspiration does not deny the use of extra-biblical sources.

Plenary-verbal inspiration does not overwhelm the personality of the human authors.

Plenary-verbal inspiration does not exclude the usage of pictorial and symbolic language.

Plenary-verbal inspiration does not mean uniformity in all details given in describing the same event.

Plenary-verbal inspiration ensures us that God included all the necessary things he wanted us to know, and excluded

everything else.

Importance of Inspiration: One may have inspiration without

revelationLuke carefully checked out certain facts

concerning the life of Christ and was then led to write them on paper.

One may have inspiration without illumination.

Peter tells us the Old Testament prophets did not always understand everything they

wrote about. But without inspiration, the Bible falls.


Completion of inspiration. Is inspiration still going on today? Bible believing Christians believe that when

John the apostle wrote Revelation 22:21 and wiped his pen, inspiration stopped. His warning in Rev. 22:18, 19 not to add to or subtract from his book included not

only the book of Revelation,, but the entire Bible.

Illumination:

Without illumination, no sinner ever would have been saved! Illumination is that

method used by the Holy Spirit to shed divine light upon all seeking men as they look into the Word of God. Illumination is from the written word to the human heart.

Illumination is necessary because of

natural, satanic, carnal blindness


Result of Illumination. Sinners are saved. “The Lord openeth the eyes

of the blind…”; “the entrance of thy word giveth light”

Christians are strengthened.Implications of illumination

The Holy Spirit looks for a certain amount of sincerity before he illuminates any human heart. It is impossible for an insincere person to be saved. The Holy spirit often seeks out the aid of a believer in performing his task of illuminating the hearts of

others.

The writing materials of the Bible.The Spirit of God moved upon the authors

of the Bible to record their precious messages upon whatever object was in current use at the time of the writing. Thus once again we see the marvelous condescension of God. This writing

materials would include:Clay

StonePapyrus, made by pressing and gluing two

layers of split papyrus reeds together in order to form a sheet

Vellum (calfskin), parchment (lamb skin), leather (cowhide)

Metal


The preservation of the Bible

Ps. 12:6,7 “The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in afurnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt

preserve them from this generation for ever.”

Preservation is as full and complete as inspiration. God has kept his Word!

The marvelous unity of the Bible can be explainable on no

other ground than that of divine authorship. It is confessedly one book yet it is made up of sixty-six books, composed by not less than forty writers, spread over a period of sixteen

hundred years.

The writers moved in widely separated spheres of life. Some were kings and scholars with the best education

that their day afforded; others were herdsmen and fishermen with no formal education. It is impossible that there should have been a collusion (conspiracy, a secret

agreement) between the writers. Yet there is but one type of doctrine and morality unfolded…the marvelous system of truth that is begun by Moses in the book of

Genesis is brought to completion by John in the Book of Revelation. In the development of no other book in the history of the world has there ever been anything that even remotely approaches this phenomenon that we

find in the Bible.

The preservation of the Bible as a Book. We have the bible 3,500 to 1,900 years after it was written down. Many other writings have been lost forever and are

known only through the references made to them by other works.


Symbols for the Bible Mirror, reflects the mind of God and the true condition

of man.Seed, once properly planted, it brings forth life,

growth, and fruitWater, because of its cleansing, quenching and

refreshing qualitiesLamp, because it shows us where we are now, it

guides us in the next step, and it keeps us from failing.Sword, because of its piercing ability, operating with equal effectiveness upon sinners, saints, and Satan.

The only offensive piece of armor is the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

OPrecious metals: (gold and silver). It is referred to as precious metals because of its desirability, its preciousness, its beauty, and its value.ONourishing food; (Milk, Meat, bread, honey), it is referred to as nourishing food because of the strength it imparts.OHammer, it is referred to as a hammer because of its ability to both tear down and build up.OFire, it is called a fire because of its judging, purifying, and consuming abilities.

The bible is profitable for: Learning- that is, it must be used as the

perfect textbook to present the systematic teachings of the great truths relating to God

himself.Reproof- that is, the Bible is to be used to

convict us of the wrong in our lives.Instruction in righteousness- that is, God’s

Word provides all the necessary details which will allow a Christian to become fully equipped for every good work. Because of all this, the

Bible rightly demands absolute and sole authority over any other source in the life of

the child of God. This authority would exceed that of the following:

O Authority over human reason. God gave us our minds and desires that we should use them. However, there are times when God desires us to submit our human reasoning to him. Often our reasoning is as the thinking of Naaman, who when asked to take a sevenfold bath in Jordan’s muddy waters, angrily replied.

O Isa. 55:8,9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”


The Original language of the Bible The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, with the following

exceptions appearing in Aramaic. Why did God choose Hebrew?

Hebrew is a pictorial language, with vivid, bold metaphors which challenge and dramatize the story. The Hebrew language

possesses a facility to present pictures of the events narrated. The Hebrew thought in pictures, and consequently his nouns are concrete and vivid. There is no such thing as neuter gender, for the Semite everything is alive. Compound words are lacking…

there is no wealth of adjective…The language shows vast powers of association and, therefore, of imagination. Some of this is lost

in the English translation, but even so, much of the vivid, concrete, and forthright character of our English Old Testament is really a carrying over into English of something of the genius of

the Hebrew tongue.

As a pictorial language, Hebrew presents a vivid picture of the acts of God among a people who

became examples or illustrations for future generations. The Old Testament was intended to be graphically presented in a picture language.

Hebrew is a personal language. It addresses itself to the heart and emotions rather than merely to the mind or reason. Sometimes even nations are

given personalities.

Hebrew is a language through which the message is felt rather than thought. As such, the language

was highly qualified to convey to the individual believers as well as to the worshipping community the personal relation of the living God in the events

of the Jewish nation.


The entire New Testament was written in Greek.Greek was an intellectual language. It was more a

language of the mind than of the heat, a fact to which the great Greek philosophers gave abundant

evidence. Greek was more suited to codifying a communication or reflection on a revelation of God in order to put it into simple communicable form. It was a language that could more easily render the credible into the intelligible than could Hebrew. It was for this reason that New Testament Greek was a most useful medium for expressing the propositional truth of the New Testament, as Hebrew was for expressing the

biographical truth of the Old Testament.

O Since Greek possesses a technical precision not found in Hebrew, the theological truths which were more generally expressed in the Hebrew of the Old Testament were more precisely formulated in the Greek of the New Testament.

O Greek was nearly universal language. The truth of God in the Old Testament, which was initially revealed to one nation (Israel), was appropriately recorded in the language of the nation (Hebrew). But the fuller revelation given by God in the New Testament was not restricted in that way.

In the words of Luke’s gospel, the message of Christ was to be preached in his name to all nations’. The language most appropriate for the propagation of this message was naturally the one that was most widely spoken throughout the world. Such was the common Greek, a thoroughly international language

of the first century Mediterrean world.

God chose the very languages to communicate His truth which had, in His providence, been prepared to express most effectively the kind of truth He desired at that particular time, in the unfolding of His overall

plan, Hebrew, with its pictorial and personal vividness, expressed well the biographical truth of the Old Testament. Greek with its intellectual and

universal potentialities, served well for the doctrinal and evangelical demands of the New Testament.


Reason for the Writing of the Bible

The best way to communicate with all men of all ages is through the written record. Advantages of the written method

are the following: Precision, one’s thoughts must be somewhat precise to be

written.Propagation, the most accurate way to communicate a

message is usually through writing.Preservation, men die, and memories fail, but the written record remains. It may be said that the New testament

especially was written for the following reasonsDemand of the early churchTo counteract false doctrines

Because of persecution and politics

Order of the books of the Hebrew Old Testament are arranged in a three fold division:The law (Torah): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers DeuteronomyThe Prophets (Nebhiim)Former prophets-four books: (Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings)Latter prophets (Major): (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel)Latter prophets (Minor): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, MalachiThe writings.

The poetical books: Psalms, Proverbs, JobThe Scrolls: Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, EstherProphetic-historical: Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles


The New Testament

The New Testament was written over a period of about fifty years (approximately A.D. 50-100), by

eight separate human authors. Chronological order and dating of the New Testament

booksJames AD 49 – written from Jerusalem

1 & 2 Thessalonians AD 52 – written from Corinth1 & 2 Corinthians AD 56 written from Macedonia

Galatians AD 57 written from CorinthLuke AD 58 written from Caesarea

Acts AD 60 written from Rome

Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon, AD 61, 62 written from Rome

Matthew AD 63 – written from RomeMark AD 63 – written from Rome

Hebrews AD 64 – written from Jerusalem1 & 2 Timothy AD 65 written from

Macedonia1& 2 Peter AD 66 written from Babylon

Titus AD 66 written from GreeceJude AD 67 unknown

1, 2 & 3 John AD 90-95 written from Ephesus

Revelation AD 90-95 written from the Isle of Patmos


The human writers of the New Testament Matthew – writer of Matthew

Mark – writer of MarkLuke – writer of Luke and Acts

John – writer of John, 123 John and RevelationJames – writer of James

Jude – writer of JudePeter – writer of 1 and 2 Peter

Paul – writer of the fourteen remaining New Testament epistles


THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

THE FIRST BOOK OF THE New Testament lies open before us- the Gospel according to Matthew. Those who know it best will praise it most. Even at a first

reading, esecially if read right through at one sitting, it will yield much; but if we read it 3 or 4 or a down of

times, it becomes more revealing and rewarding each time.

What Jesus taught – the tenfold message

Beatitudes, morals, motives, mammons, cares, discernment, encouragement, summary, alternatives,

warnings

O What Jesus Wrought – the Ten “Mighty Works”

O Leper cleansed, palsied healed, fever calmed, demoniacs, palsy cured, hemorrhage, girl raised, sight given, demoniac

O What people thought – the ten reactions

O John Baptist - undecided, this generations - unresponsive, galilean cities - unrepentant, pharisees - unreasonable, multitudes - undiscerning, nazarethites- unbelieving, herod - unintelligent, scribes - unconciliatory, sadducees - unrelenting, the twelve apostles – glad recognition

Beautiful Attitudes (beatitude) Rewards

1. Those poor in spirit The kingdom of heaven

1. Those that mourn To be comforted

1. The meek To inherit the earth

1. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness sake

To be filled

1. The merciful To obtain mercy

1. The pure in heart To see God

1. The peacemakers To be called the sons of God

1. Those persecuted for righteousness’ sake

The kingdom of heaven

The sermon on the Mount:

O Rules for the Redeemed:O The money rule: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon

earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust that corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.”

O The golden rule: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

O The judgment rule: “Judge not, that ye be not judge”O The worry rule: “Therefore take no thought, saying What

shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all thesse things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

O The prayer rule: “Ask, and it shall be given you, seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knoketh it shall be opened.”

Two Metaphors Ye are the salt of the earth Ye are the light of the world

Two gates The wide gate: leads to destruction many take this way

The narrow gat: lead to salvation, few take this way

Two tree The good tree: bears much fruit: the type of a true teacher professing and possessing

The bad tree: bears no fruit- a type of the false teacher professing only

Two builders The wise builder: built his house upon a rock survived the storm

The foolish builder: built his house upon the sand was destroyed by the storm

The Duets

Development in the Gospel of Matthew: The presentation: the Lord’s public presentation of himself at Jerusalem as Israel’s messiah-King

The journey to the city: the Lord foreknew the outcome of His timed appearance at Jerusalem before he ever entered its gates.

THE PSALMSO We will undetake a study of the literature that was written during the

years of the kingdom of Israel was still united. O These are the Poetic books of the Bible, and include Psalms (mostly

written by David), Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (written by Solomon and Job).

O The PsalmsO There are three basic ways to study the PsalmsO By book divisionO By authorshipO By subject matterO By book division, each end with doxology

O Chapters 1-41, key word is manO Psalms 1:1 “blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the

ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

O Chapter 42-72, key word is deliveranceO Psalms 50:51… I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me.

O 73-89, key word is sanctuaryO Psalms 77:31 “Thy way, O God, is in the santuary: who is so great a God

as our God”O 90-106, key words are unrest, wanderingsO 107-150, key phrase is Word of god

O By authorshipO David as the shepherd, sinner, sufferer, the sanctifiedO Subject matter of PsalmsO Devotional: contain precious and personal promises which all believers can

feed upon. In dealing with these, sometimes only the promise itself will be quoted with no comment. On other occasions, a word or so may be added. These Pslams includes sobbing and singing. The author will at times pout, doubt, and shout. They review the past and preview the future. Here the naked sould of man is manifested.O Ps. 4:3 “But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for

himself; the Lord will hear when I call unto him.”O Reflection: Here David’s praying brought him peace and sleep. One of the

sweetest fringe benefits of the Christian life is peace. Ps. 29:11 “The Lord will bless his people peace”O Ps. 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that

forget God”O Reflection: This will someday become a horrible reality.

O Ps. 14:1 “The foll hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

O Reflection: Fool is a person with heart trouble, not head trouble.O Ps. 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of

thy wings”O Here, David uses two tender terms depicting God’s affection for the beleiver:

apple of the eye and shadow of thy wings.O Ps. 18:16 “… he took me, he drew me out of many waters.”

O Reflection: David speaks of being drawn out of many waters. Waters is often employed in the Psalms as a symbol fro trouble and anguish.

O Ps. 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”O Reflection: The most famous prayer of all times, with the

possible exception of “Lord’s Prayer”. David says the Lord is his Shepherd, thus:O When his soul needed spiritual refreshment, the Shepherd

jprovided green pastures.O When his soul was weary, the Shephered provided still

waters.O When his soul needed revival, the Shepherd restored him.O When his soul was confronted with death, the Shephered

went with him.O When his soul was confronted with enemies, the Shepherd

provided his victory table.O When his soul was wounded, the Shepherd anointed his

head with oil.O When his soul needed companionship, the Shepherd

appointed goodness and mercy to accompany him.O When David leave this temporary earthly dwelling place,

the Shepherd would provide a permanent heavenly dwelling place.

O The penitential PsalmsO Ps. 32 – Describes David’s emotions as he confesses his sins of adultery

and murder, while this Psalms depicts his feelings before such confession was made whn the awful burden of guilt still bore heavy upon him.

O Ps. 51. David begins this great confessional by doing what God expects every sinning saint to do –freely acknowledging his sin. The Father will accept our tears, but not our excuses. David refuses to blame his failure on society, heredity, poverty, or environment. David had sinned against himself, against Bathseba, against Uriah, and against all Israel who looked up to their beloved king. But his sin against God was so serious and stupendous that all other parties involved faded away. The confession Psalms brings out many precious truths, but. The reason is that, there existed no sacrifice for the sin of adultery was to be taken out and stoned to death, So then, David by passes the Levitical offerings and throws himself completely pon the mercy ad grace of God.

O Ps. 38. Surely this must rank among the most remarkable passages in the entire Bible, if for no other reason, because of it, absolute frankness. This pitiful prayer ought to demonstrate that the Bible is not only a Book that man could not write if he would, but would not write if he could!. Here is David, the sweet singer of Israel, the anointed of the Lord, the man after God’a own heart. Yet as one carefulyy studies the language of this prayer, it becomes impossible to escape the shocking possibility that

O David was plagued with that kind of disease which oftenccompanies immoral living and activites.

O The imprecatory Psalms. To imprecate is to pray against, or to invoke evil upon someone or something. David calls down judgement upon his enemies, asking God to:O Fight against them, bring them unto confusion, scatter then as

chaff, allow the Lord’s angel to chase and persecute them, cause their way to be dark and slippery, allow death to seize upon them, pull them down into hell, break their teeth, cut up their defense withhold all mercy to them, consume them in wrath, set a trap for them, darken their eyes, make their lions to shake, let their habitation be sesolate, blot them out of the book of the living, make them as the dung of the earth, persecute them, give them over to Satan, let their days be few, let their chidlren be beggars, let burning coals fall upon them, cast them into a deep pit

O The Psalms are inspired and the Holy spirit has a right to denounce sin and sinners. The Bible pronounce maledictions against the Israelites also for falling into sin and idolatry. David in the Psalms, he makes God’s cause his cause. Psalms are prayers for success on the battlefield. Psalms look forward to the final earthly judgements against the wicked.

O Historical Psalms. O The sins of Israel: They refused to walk in God’s law, they

spoke against God, they didn’t trust his salvation, they lied to him, they grieved him, they limited him, they worshipped graven images, they envied his leader Moses, they promised land, they murmured in their tents, they ate the sacrifices of the dead, they mingled among the heathens, they sacrificed their sons and daughters to devils, they shed innocent blood.

O The grace of God: God remembered the covenant they creid for help, He divided the sea, they led them with a cloud by dat, he led them with a fire by night, he provide water for them out of rocks, he rained down manna for them, he was full of compassion and forgave their iniquity, he wrought signs for them in Egypt, he brought them to the border of the promised land, he cast out the heathen before them, he chose David to led them, he allowed no man to hurt them, He fed them, he reprove kings for their sake, He gave them the riches of Egypt, He kept them all strong, He continually forgave them, He continually heard their cry.

O THE BOOK OF PROVERBSO A proverb is a short sentences drawn from long experience.O Solomon wrote three thousand proverbs, and composed over

one thousand songs.O The books tells a story. It is a picture of a young man

starting out in lifeO Two (2) schools:O 1. School of wisdomO 2. School of foolsO The key word of Proverbs is WISDOM:O Wisdom will protect her students, wisdom will direct

her students, wisdom will perfect her studentsO Classics passages of Proverbs

O The warning of wisdomO The energy of wisdomO The godless whoreO The godly wifeO The sovereign SaviorO Fifteen famous factsO The riotous rebel

O Main subjects of Proverbs:O A good name: Prov.22:1 “A good name is rather to be chosen than great

riches…”; Prov. 10:7 “… but the name of the wicked shall rot.”O Youth and discipline: Prov. 19:18 “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let

not thy soul spare for his crying.”; Prov. 22:15 “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a hild, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him,”; Prov. 23:13 “Withhold not correction form the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die…”

O Business matters:O God hates a dishonest scale and delights in honesty.O Don’t withhold repayment of your debts.O God will not let a good man starve to death.O Lazy men are soon poor, hard workers have an abundant supply.O A lazy fellow is a pain to his employer-like smoke in his eyes or vinegar that

sets the teeth on edge.O He that trust in his riches shall fall O It is wrong to accept a bribe to twist justiceO Develop your business first before building your house.O Riches can disappear fast. And the king’s crown doesn’t stay in his family

forever—so watch your business interests closely. Know the state of you flocks and your herds; then there will be lambs wool enough for clothing, and goat’s milk enough for food for all your household after the hay is harvested, and the new crop appears, and the mountain grasses are gathered in.

O Marriage: Rejoice of the wife of your youth, a virtous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that makes ashemed is as rotten in his bones.

O Every wise woman builds her house; but the foolish one plucks it down with her hands, whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the Lord, it is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman, who can find a virtuous woman?

O Evil companions: refuse them for they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence, refuse them, for their kindness is a trick, they want to use you as their pawn, refuse them, for a man’s true character is reflected by the friends he chooses.

O Wisdom: the fear of the Lord is the root of wisdom, it will gain many honors, it will give one renewal, health and vitality, it will fill one’s barns with wheata nd barley and overflow the wine vats with the finest wines, it is better than silver, gold and precious rubies, it gives long life, riches, honor, pleasure and peace, it is the principal thing, it brings the favor of God.

O Self-control: an uncontrolled man often begins something he can’t finish, a man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken down walls.

O Strong drink: it fills the heart with anguish and sorrow, it causes bloodshot eyes and many wounds, it bites like a poisonous serpent and strings like an adder, it leads to hallucinations and delirium tremens, it make one say silly and stuped things, it cause one to stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, It allows one to be beat up without even being aware of it, and it cause leaders to forget their duties and thus pervert justice.

O Friendship: a truefrined is always loyal and is born to help in time of need, woulds from a friend are better than kisses form an enemy, never abandon a friend—either yours or your father’s,friendly suggestions are a s pleasant as perfume, a friendly discussion is as stimulating as the sparks that fly when iron strikes iron, a man who would have friends must himself be friendly, and a true friend sticks closer than a brother.

Words and the tongue: the tongue of the just is as choice silver, he that refrain from speaking is wise, the lips of the righteous feed many, a hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, a talebearer reveals secrets; but one of a faithful spirit conceals the matter, some speak like a piercings of a sword; but the tongue of ht wise is health, he who keeps his mouth keeps his life; but he who open wide his lops shall have destruction; a true witness delivers sould, a soft answer turns away wrath; but a grievous words stir up anger, a wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness is a breach in the spirit, word spoken in due season is good, the heart of the righteous studies to answer, pleasant words are like a honeycomb; sweet to the soul, and health to the bones, a froward man sows strife; and a whisper separates chief friends. The beginning of strife is like letting out water.

Therefore, leave off contention, before it is meddled with, he who has knowledge spares his words, the words of a talebearer are wounds, he who anasers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him, death and life are in the power of the tongue, he that speaks lies shall not escape, a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver, by long forebearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the hard bone, he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him, is like one who takes a dog by the ears, where no wood is, there the fire goes out; so where thre is no talebearer, strife ceses, and let another man praiseyou, and not your own mouth.

O 5Grouping in the Book of Proverbs:O Seven things that God hates: A proud look, a lying tongue,

hand that shed innocent blood, a wicked, plotting heart, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, and sowing discord among brothers.

O Four things which are never satisfied: the grave, the barren womb, a barren desert and fire

O Four wonderful and mysterious things: how an eagle glides through the sky, how a serpent crawls upon a rock, how a ship finds its way across the ocean, the growth of love between a man and woman

O Four things which the earth finds unbearable: a slave who becomes a king, a fool when he is filled with meat, a bitter woman when she finally marries, a servant girl who marries her mistress’ husband

O Four small but wise thingsO Ants – they aren’t strong, but store up food for the winterO Cliff badgers- conies- delicate little animals who protect themselves

by living among the rocksO The locust- though they have no leader, they stay together in

swarmsO Spiders – they are casy to catch and kill, yet are found even in kings

palaces.

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