Sermon Tone Analysis

HOW MUCH TRUST DO YOU PUT INTO POLITICS?

When we place too much faith in national leadership, problems emerge.

God may send his prophets to critique us, but will we listen?

1 & 2 KINGS

2 KINGS

1. Intro

MEANING: The English term “Kings” comes from the Hebrew title “Melakim”

Originally a single work, 1 and 2 Kings was first divided into two books by the Greek translators (second century B.C.), and English Bibles follow this pattern

AUTHOR: Unknown (or Jeremiah)

AUTHOR: Unknown (or Jeremiah)

Kendell H. Easley, Holman QuickSource Guide to Understanding the Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2002), 77.AUTHOR: Unknown (or Jeremiah)

All the books from Joshua to 2 Kings may be the work of one author or editor, who is using older writings and records to retell the whole story

DATE: 970-561 BC

We follow the parallel stories of both kingdoms, until the northern kingdom is defeated by the Assyrians with the capture of Samaria in 722 BC.

After that we follow the history of Judah until Jerusalem is captured and destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC.

The whole story covers a period of 500 years.

2. Themes

KINGS: Triumphs, Tragedies

Most of Israel’s kings fail her.

Even Solomon, who asks God for wisdom and builds the temple, makes foolish compromises with paganism

DIVISIONS: Northern & Southern Tribes

The kings of Israel, the Northern Kingdom, were invariably idolatrous, while the kings of Judah, the Southern Kingdom, were sometimes good and sometimes evil.

ELIJA/ELISHA: Ministries, Miracles, Melee’s

During this period, the challenge to remain faithful to God is upheld by the prophets—especially Elijah and his younger companion and successor, Elisha.

3. Occasion

To give a detailed account of the kings of Israel (and Judah) and why they ended up in captivity...

It records the continued history of the divided nation and reports the sad story of the decline of both north and south, which resulted in captivity for both

4. Outline

: The Rise and Fall of Solomon

: The Prophets of Israel and Judah

The Kings of Israel and Judah

The Fall of Israel and Judah

5. Controversy

1 & 2 CHRONICLES

1. Intro

MEANING: The English “Chronicles” comes from the Latin “Chronicon” meaning “Book of Annals”

The Septuagint version of the Old Testament divided the Chronicles into two parts and called them the ‘Annals’.

Roman Catholic versions of the Bible have called the Chronicles ‘Paralipomena’, meaning ‘Things which were left out’.

This is because the Chronicles provide extra information which is missing from the books of Kings

AUTHOR: Unknown (or Ezra)

We don’t know who wrote or edited the Chronicles.

For convenience, the writer is called ‘the Chronicler’, and for a long time it was thought the writer might be Ezra.

Ezra would have been an expert in the long list of ancestors.

He would also have understood the history of Israel in the light of God’s purpose for his people.

However, the story continues after the time of Ezra, and is obviously the work of another person or group as well.

DATE: 1010-538 BC

The same as is recorded in 1 and 2 Kings—from the reign of King Solomon (971–931) through all the kings of Judah to Zedekiah (597–586), the last king before the captivity in Babylon.

2. Themes

TEMPLE: Construction, Destruction

Though not a large building, it was magnificent, containing 120,000,000 ounces of gold and more than a billion ounces of silver.

No wonder the wealth and glory of Solomon’s kingdom took away the breath of the Queen of Sheba when she visited him (10:5)!

This Temple stood for about 375 years until it was destroyed by the Babylonians.

CAPTIVITY: Idolatry, Stubbornness, Lawlessness

In spite of God’s repeated warnings from the mouths of His prophets, Israel and Judah chose to reject their Lord and to participate in the worship of foreign gods, in addition to committing the horrible practices that accompanied idolatry

3. Occasion

To encourage the exiles to continue obeying their covenant with God...

The person or group who wrote the Chronicles (sometimes called ‘the Chronicler’) wants to show how God has dealt with his people throughout their history.

The great kings and the temple may be long gone, but God’s promises and purpose for Israel still continue

It is compiled and written for the Israelites who have returned from exile, to remind them who they are.

It may seem that Israel is a poor, small, weak nation on the fringes of the Persian empire.

However, the reality is that God is still their king and he has a continuing calling and mission for his people.

4. Outline

: The Line of David

: The Reign of David

: The Reign of Solomon

: The Kings of Judah

1

5. Controversy

EZRA

1. Intro

MEANING: The name “Ezra” in Hebrew means “To Help”

In the Hebrew Bible, Ezra and Nehemiah were initially one book.

English Bibles follow the Latin translator Jerome, who named the two parts Ezra and Nehemiah.

Others have used the titles 1 and 2 Ezra.

AUTHOR: Ezra

Jewish tradition held that Ezra the priest composed the single work Ezra-Nehemiah.

DATE: 538-457 BC

The book describes two groups who returned, the first in 538 B.C. under the leadership of Zerubbabel, and the second in 457 under Ezra

2. Themes

Restoration: Temple, Worship, Nation

The first group of returning exiles restored worship of the LORD, culminating in a rebuilt temple, but Ezra, who led the second group, reestablished Israelite community under Mosaic law, culminating in putting away mixed marriages.

The book describes two restorations from Babylonian captivity.

First, more than 40,000 Israelites returned under Sheshbazzar (530s B.C.).

Second, a smaller group accompanied Ezra, whose goal was to teach the people the law of Moses (about 458 B.C.).

3. Occasion

To give a permanent record of the events that reestablished Israel’s national identity...

The returnees therefore had to press their claim to ancient entitlements in the land against local opposition.

4. Outline

: Zerubbabel’s Return (50,000)

: Ezra’s Return (7,000)

5. Controversy

Are mixed marriages sinful?

Intermarriage with pagan tribes has led to idolatry in the past, even for wise King Solomon himself.

The book of Esther takes a more open view, that God can bless and use a marriage which takes place across a racial boundary.

Moses himself had foreign wives

NEHEMIAH

1. Intro

MEANING: The name “Nehemiah” means “God Comforts”

AUTHOR: Ezra

A contemporary of Ezra (of the preceding book) and of the prophet Malachi (who wrote the last book in the Old Testament), Nehemiah was a “cupbearer” to King Artaxerxes I (464–423) of Persia

AUTHOR: Ezra (and Nehemiah)