OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY - 4

WBS.224

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY - 4

The Book of Genesis took us from the creation (circa 4000 BC), to the death of Joseph (circa 1606 BC).  Before we continue with the books of the Torah, we must insert a curious book into this time line.

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JOB:  (Hebrew:  e’Yov)

The book of Job is possibly the oldest book of the Tanak.  Though there is a difference of opinion among those who would speculate on its date, there appears to be scholarship placing its date around the time of Genesis 36, identifying Job as Yobab, the second king of Edom.  If this is correct, then the book would have been written well before the Torah was given through Moshe.

Gen 36:31  And these were the sovereigns who reigned in the land of Edom before any sovereign reigned over the children of Yisrael.
32  And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
33  And Bela died, and Yobab son of Zerah of Botsrah reigned in his place.

This Yobab was the great-grandson of Esau.  His father was Zerah, the son of Reuel, the son of Esau.

In the book of Job we find four "friends" who come to sit with Job in his time of loss and despair: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, Zophar the Naamathite and Elihu the Buzite (Job 2:11; 32:2).  Three of these four friends can be found in the Scripture around the same time-frame as Jobab, all of whom would have been wealthy nomadic princes, thus within his social circle.

Eliphaz the Temanite - (Gen 36:10-15) - Esau's firstborn was named Eliphaz (half-brother of Reuel).  One of the sons of Eliphaz was Teman.  This would make "Eliphaz the Temanite" a son or grandson of Teman (who would have been named after Eliphaz, his grandfather or great-grandfather).  This would place Eliphaz the Temanite in the same time as Yobab.

Bildad the Shuhite - (Gen 25:2) After Sarai, Abraham's wife, died, Abraham took another wife named Qeturah.  One of the sons that Qeturah bore to Abraham was named Shuah.  It is logically believed that the descendants of Shuah were the "Shuhites."  Abraham was 100 years old when Yitshaq (Isaac) was born (Gen 21:5); and he was 175 years old when he died (Gen 25:7).  This would place the descendants of Shuah (i.e., Bildad) around the time of Yobab.

Zophar the Naamathite - There is no record outside of the book of Job for either Zophar or the Naamathites.

Elihu the Buzite - (Gen 22:20-21) - Buz is identified as the second-born son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham.  There is no record in the Scripture of the descendants of Buz, but his offspring would have been identified as the "Buzites."  Somewhere along that lineage we would have found Elihu.  Though we cannot identify Elihu in the historical record in Genesis in order to assert that he lived during the time of Yobab; we can at least identify his ancestor a few generations before the time of Yobab, making the prospect of Elihu living in the time of Yobab credible.

If we are accurate in this identification that Yobab, the second king of Edom, was indeed Iyob; it evokes some interesting consideration.

1. We see a book of Scripture dedicated to the trials and overcoming victory of an Edomite.  If you will recall, Esau was the twin brother of Yaqob (Jacob), who later was called Yisrael, the father of the 12 patriarchs of the Hebrew race.  Esau (who was also called Edom) was rejected from participation in the covenant that Elohim had cut with Abraham.  Yaqob was chosen.  Esau was not.  Despite the rejection from the covenant, Esau was mightily blessed in the land; such that Yaqob and Esau could not dwell in the same land, for their holdings and their flocks and cattle were too great to be sustained if they remained together (Gen 36:7).  Esau, thus, went into the land of Mount Seir.  Despite Esau's rejection as a "child of promise," we observe the incredible blessing of IAUE upon his descendant, Yobab.

2.  Job was very conscious of the sins of his family, and offered sacrifices on their behalf just in case they had "cursed Elohim in their hearts." (Job 1:5).  Job, an Edomite, feared IAUE, the Elohim of Abraham.  He had not gone after the false gods of the other tribes and nations in the region.  Despite the fact Esau had been rejected by IAUE, his descendant Job still served Him.

3.  This offspring of a rejected bloodline demonstrated that he could be grafted in to a spiritual heritage by faith; thus demonstrating that Elohim truly is no respecter of persons; that His love and grace is extended to all who will repent and obey...and repentance and obedience are exactly the lessons of this book.

The book opens with great wisdom.

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uts, whose name was Job.  And that man was perfect and straight, and one who feared Elohim and turned aside from evil.

This may have been the source of one of Solomon's greatest jewels of wisdom.

Proverbs 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear IAUE, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 16:6  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of IAUE men depart from evil.

The story opens with IAUE bringing Satan’s attention to how uprightly Job walked before him.

Job 1:8  And IAUE said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth Elohim, and escheweth evil?

For centuries there has been much discussion and controversy over what happened next. IAUE twice gives leave to Satan essentially to do his worst with Job, with his family and with his holdings, with the one proviso that he could not kill Job.  The devastation that befell Job in a single day was orders of magnitude greater than the tragedy that has been experienced by almost all of human kind throughout human history; and yet Job maintained his faith in IAUE.

When the news of his tragedy became known, his friends showed up to commiserate with him; but ultimately they had to give him a “piece of their mind.”  Each in turn provided their assessment of Job, none of them understanding the truth of his situation.  Eventually, IAUE himself enters into the discussion; and in so doing, many secrets of Heaven and Earth are revealed (if you are able to detect them).

Despite the controversy (Why would IAUE let Satan, or even direct Satan to attack a man who was faithful to Him?), one thing we see clearly in the book of Job is the nature of Satan.  Yahushua said in John 10:10 that Satan has a singular purpose: to steal, to kill and to destroy.  An attentive student of the Scripture will take note of what Satan did and how he did it to better understand the nature and the ways of the enemy of man’s soul.

We can also see how IAUE can take the advantage in the midst of tragedy to bring even greater perfection to the life of his faithful.  Satan only desires to destroy.  IAUE desires to build up. Job may have been the inspiration for James’ comment:

James 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Or the words of the Apostle Peter:

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Master Yahushua Messiah, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Yahushua Messiah from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of Elohim through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Yahushua Messiah: 

Or the words of the Apostle Paul:

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Messiah Yahushua shall suffer persecution.

Or even the words of Messiah, himself:

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

                                                                                                                                         

The book of Job closes with the evidence of IAUE’s restoration of his life.

Next week we will continue with our survey of the Torah.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY - 3

WBS.223

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY - 3

Psalm 19:97  O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. 

The first five books of the Old Testament are known by several names:  The Pentateuch (Greek for “five books”), The Torah (Hebrew for “the Law”); The Law of Moses; and just, The Law. Their authorship is generally attributed to Moshe (Moses) with a very brief portion (Deuteronomy 34) attributed to Joshua.

The Scriptures of the Torah did not come with titles.  The names by which we know them today (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) were not associated with the books until the writing of the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Tanak, circa 300 BC, in Alexandria, Egypt).  The Septuagint assigned titles to depict the general theme of each book. 

1.    Genesis          – “Origin”           - the beginning

2.    Exodus           – “Going out”     - the record of Israel going out of Egypt

3.    Leviticus         – “Levites”         - the administration of the law by the tribe of Levi

4.    Numbers        – “Numbering”   - the census of Israel

5.   Deuteronomy – “Second Law” - the retelling of the Law

The Hebrew names for them are simply a reference to the first word(s) of the Hebrew text in each book.

5.    Bereshith  -  “in the beginning”   - Genesis

6.    Shemoth   -  “names”                 -  Exodus

7.    Wayyiqra  -  “and He called”      - Leviticus

8.    Bemidbar  - “in the wilderness”  - Numbers

5.   Debarim    -  “words”                  - Deuteronomy

GENESIS:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.

There is no way to accurately date this event.  There are two primary schools of thought on this event because of a difference in the way the next verse is interpreted.

Genesis 1:2 And the earth was (came to be) formless and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of Elohim was moving on the face of the waters.

One school of thought says this is the condition in which Elohim originally created the heavens and the earth.  From this understanding comes the “6,000-year-old Earth” theory.

The other school of thought (which I hold to) focuses on the words “formless and void” (Hebrew: tohu and bohu) in verse 2.  These words, when found used together in the Old Testament, always spoke of the condition of a divine judgment resulting in annihilation or total devastation.  Consequently, this would dictate the condition in which we find the earth surrounded by waters would be after a divine judgment by flood.

If this is an accurate understanding of the verse, then an undetermined amount of time could have transpired between verse 1 and verse 2.  That could have been moments, centuries or even millennia.  The apostle Peter appears to be referring specifically to this event in his second epistle.

2 Peter 3:5 For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of Elohim heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. 

6 Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. (NET)

The book of Yeshayahu (Isaiah) declares that when IAUE created the heavens and the earth, He did NOT create it “tohu;” and that He created it to be inhabited. 

Isaiah 45:18  For thus saith IAUE that created the heavens; Elohim himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain (tohu), he formed it to be inhabited: I am IAUE; and there is none else.

Jeremiah also refers to this “tohu” and “bohu” condition of the earth.

Jeremiah 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form (tohu), and void (bohu); and the heavens, and they had no light.

24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of IAUE, and by his fierce anger.

27 For thus hath IAUE said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

IAUE judged the world that then was by flood. He blotted out the light and left the earth covered by the flood waters, left in darkness for a time of mourning.  What was the very first thing IAUE did in Genesis after showing us this post-judgment picture of the earth?

Genesis 1:3 And Elohim said, Let there be light: and there was light.

He restored the light that He had withdrawn from the world that then was.  The time of mourning was over.  Elohim was going to do something different…something better this time; just like He did with the Old and New Covenants.  The writer of Hebrews said the New Covenant was a better covenant based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6).

The remainder of Genesis 1 would consequently be seen as a re-creation, restoration and command to replenish the earth.  It is here, with the fashioning of man in Elohim's own image that we may begin to provide a suggested date of circa 4000 BC for the beginning of human history.  One biblical historian asserts that Adam was created on April 1, 3975 BC.  That would place us in year 5992.  According to the Hebrew calendar, we are currently in year 5777.

The book of Genesis has 50 chapters.  They may be summarized as follows:

Genesis 1-11:  The beginning.  Creation until circa 2000 BC.  In these first eleven chapters we see:

-  the creation of Adam and Eve
-  the sin in the Garden of Eden
-  Cain's murder of Abel
-  the generations of Cain (which founded the social systems called "the world" in the 

   New Testament) 

-  the birth of Seth (to replace the bloodline of righteous Abel)
-  the proliferation of great wickedness upon the earth
-  Noah's ark and the great flood
-  The tower of Babylon and the separation of man by language

Genesis 12-50:  The foundation of the Hebrew race and the Abrahamic Covenant.  Circa 2000 BC - 1600 BC.

-  Elohim begins his relationship with Abram
-  Abram and his family leaves Ur of the Chaldeans
-  The parting of ways of Abram and Lot
-  The initiation of the Covenant - Elohim changes Abram's name to Abraham
-  The birth and life of Ishmael
-  The birth and life of Yitshaq (Isaac)
-  The birth and life of Yaqob (Jacob) and Esaw (Esau)
-  The birth and life of the Patriarchs (the sons of Yaqob, whose name was changed

    to Yisrael)
-  The Patriarchs selling Yoseph (Joseph) into slavery to Egypt
-  The rise of Yoseph to the right hand of Pharaoh
-  The move of the Patriarchs into Mitsrayim (Egypt)
-  The death of Yoseph

When one reads the book of Genesis, one of the first things noticed is how long the lifespans were.  It is difficult to grasp the correlation of the ages of notable characters in this book by simply reading the verses that say how many years they lived.  Let’s look at some examples that may be of interest.

-  Adam lived 930 years.  He died when Lamech, the father of Noah, was 56 years old. 

-  Noah was born 126 years after Adam died.

-  Seth, Adam’s third son, lived 912 years.  He died just 14 years before Noah was born.

-  Noah lived to be 950 years old.  He was 600 when he entered the ark; and he lived 

   another 350 years after the flood. 

-  Abram (Abraham) was born just two years after Noah died.     

-  When Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedek, he was paying tithes to Shem, the son of 

   Noah, the oldest man alive and the last person on earth that was alive before the

   flood. 

-  Isaac was 50 years old when Shem died.  Jacob and Esau were born just 10 years

   later.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY - 2

WBS.222

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY - 2

Romans 9:4 ...Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of Elohim, and the promises;

The Apostle Paul identified the Hebrews as the people unto whom IAUE entrusted with the writing of His Word. 

Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

This responsibility is revered among the Hebrews.  It is an honor with which they have kept faith for millennia. It is also how they KNOW that the writings of non-Jews may summarily be dismissed without discussion or scrutiny as NOT being the words of Elohim.  If IAUE is going to speak, such that His words should be written down and remembered, it is going to be recorded by a Hebrew.

Since the Hebrews wrote the Scriptures, what do THEY call what we refer to as the "Old Testament?"  To the Hebrew, our Old Testament IS the Scripture and the ONLY Scripture. They do not recognize the New Testament as the “oracles of Elohim.” 

The Hebrews divide the Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament, into three groupings.

1. The Torah - the five books of Moshe (Moses), also called the Humash, or the Pentateuch, or the Law.
2. The Nevi'im - the prophets.  These are subdivided into the "former" prophets and the "latter" prophets.
3. The Kethuvim - the writings.  These include the remainder of the books; the books of wisdom, and some of the books of history.

From these groupings, the Torah, the Nebi'im, and the Kethubim, is derived the Hebrews’ term for the Scripures: the TANAK. 

The arrangements of the books of the Tanak is quite different from the Old Testament as we know it. Some of the books are also combined under a single title, rather than divided into separate books (i.e., our I Samuel and II Samuel are combined and called: Shemu'el.  I Kings and II Kings are combined in Melakim, etc.).  This makes for a total of 24 books in the Tanak, compared to our 39 books of the Old Testament (which we group into "the law," "history books," "wisdom books," "major prophets" and "minor prophets").

The dating of the various books of the Tanak and the events contained within them is surrounded with controversy; not because of man's inability to believe that the events are factual; but rather due to internal dating mechanisms that frustrate accurate dating of specific events.  For example, if the Scripture says that a king reigned for three years that does not mean he sat upon the throne for three 12-month periods of time.  No, it means he served two years and any part of the third year...even if only for one month.  Compound that by the tenures of 40 kings and you can begin to see why accurate dating becomes difficult.  "Secular" historical events running concurrently with biblical events assist in the dating process. As a result of these dating problems, there may be some dates provided during our study that conflict with dates that you may find in the notes of your Bible, or in other reference materials you may use for study.  Please regard any such inconsistencies as "suggested" dates.  I have not found any two reference books that contain identical dating of all events; so there are differences of opinions even among historians and archeologists.

To the Jew, the Tanak IS the Scripture of Elohim.  It is offensive to the Jew to suggest that the Scriptures that were given through them, protected by them, meticulously copied by them and revered by them throughout the centuries is now equal to, or superseded by some body of writings that have not been equally secured and protected by them could be on par with the Tanak.  It is important to understand that what we, as disciples of Yahushua, have traditionally regarded as the "New" Testament (thus, making the Hebrews’ Scriptures the "old" testament), are entirely founded upon the Tanak; and their very validation and legitimacy as "holy writ" is absolutely dependent upon the Tanak.  One thing is certain.  The disciple of Yahushua will never truly understand the New Testament Scriptures without knowing the Tanak.  This is why we are attempting to bring the "original" Scriptures within our working grasp.  

In our first lesson, we observed that the Scriptures, as we know them, are divided into two sections which we call the "Old Testament" and the "New Testament."   This could, in fact, be represented as the "First Half" and the "Second Half" of the Abrahamic Covenant.  

Genesis 15:5 And he (IAUE) brought him (Abram) forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

6 And he believed in IAUE; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

IAUE was pointing out the constellations to Abram, which all of the ancients understood preached the good news of the savior of mankind. 

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of Elohim; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of IAUE shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, IAUE, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of Elohim.

18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

IAUE knew that Abram could “number” the constellations (meaning, he could read their message in proper order); and he could “name them” (meaning he knew the names of the key stars in each constellation and what they represented in the message).  IAUE pointed out the star “zerah” (which means: the seed) and said that Zerah would come from his bloodline. Zerah was the star that represented the Messiah.

Genesis 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

IAUE promised to bless Abram (whose name was changed to Abraham – the father of many nations); but he also specifically blessed Abram with the promise of Messiah; and Abram believed IAUE and it was accounted unto him for righteousness (see also Romans 4:1-3).

Galatians 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Messiah.

When the seed came that had been promised to Abraham, the Zerah cut a NEW covenant in his blood.

Luke 22:20  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament (covenant) in my blood, which is shed for you.

Yes, the “New Testament” writings do refer to a “new” covenant.

Hebrews 8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith IAUE, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

Hebrews 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 12:24  And to Yahushua the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Hebrews 12:24  And to Yahushua the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

The Hebrews never understood this portion of the Abrahamic covenant.  In fact, with their understanding that the gentiles were unclean dogs having no covenant with IAUE Elohim, it was reprehensible to even consider that IAUE would bless them much less make them a beneficiary of His covenant.  They were expectant of a Messiah who would come and set up a world-kingdom and they would rule with him over all the gentile nations of the world.  This was quite a different mindset from what IAUE had actually planned.

You may recall from prior lessons in this blog that the church of Yahushua birthed on the day of Pentecost was an exclusively Jewish expression for about 25 years. Finally, due to persecution, many Jews fled Jerusalem, and Phillip went to Samaria and preached to the “mongrel” Jews (the Samaritans were the mixed-race Jews who were the descendants of the nation of Israel defeated by the Assyrians in 722 BC, and forced to marry outside of their race and nationality.) Later, Peter was commanded by IAUE to go to the household of Cornelius, a gentile; and after that, IAUE raised up Paul to go to the gentiles throughout the Mediterranean nations. Both Peter’s going to the house of Cornelius and Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles immediately were scrutinized with distrust by the leaders of the church in Jerusalem.

Even the first century disciples of Yahushua, even though born again and made new creatures in him; and even though filled with the Holy Spirit of IAUE, they still had difficulty understanding that ALL mankind descended from Adam; and as such they ALL were the object of IAUE’s love.  The Hebrews were simply set apart in order to procure a protected bloodline through which IAUE could bring the savior into the world to redeem any and all who would have the like faith of Abraham trusting in the Zerah.

Next week we will being to examine the Torah.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY - 1

WBS.221

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY - 1

Psalm 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

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The apostle Peter made an interesting observation in his second epistle to the disciples of Yahushua.

2 Pet 3:15   And account that the longsuffering of our Master is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;
16  as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unsteadfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Peter, in effect, equated the epistles of Paul with the Old Testament Scriptures; and in so doing; he validated the continued usefulness of the "Old Testament" Scriptures.

When Paul ministered in Berea, he said that the disciples there were "more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11)  Paul appreciated these Bereans for their discipline of not accepting his words as the basis of the Truth of the Good News of Yahushua.  He praised them for searching DAILY to determine if his words were founded upon the Truth of “the Scriptures,” specifically, what we refer to as the "Old Testament" Scriptures.  How, then, can we neglect to be as familiar with them as we are with the New Testament Scriptures?  How many of us, today, could validate the doctrines of our discipleship using only the Old Testament?  Paul did.  The Bereans did.  Peter did.  All of the "New Testament" disciples did.

The vast majority of “believers” today, have no working knowledge of the Old Testament at all.  The sheer size of the Old Testament is enough to keep most from a serious study.  Our new course for this blog is intended to provide the disciple with a working knowledge of the structure, the chronology and the content of the 39 books of the Old Testament.  In so doing, the disciple will have a confidence in working with and in studying the Old Testament Scriptures.

To start, let’s get a graphical image of how the books of the Old Testament fit together chronologically.  For this we have two charts.  This first chart reflects the historical books in their chronological order.  Books found on the same row contain history that shares the same timeline.

HISTORICAL BOOKS:

Genesis
Job
Exodus	Leviticus	Numbers	Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges	Ruth
I Samuel
II Samuel	I Chronicles
I Kings - II Kings	2 Chronicles
Esther
Ezra
Nehemiah

This second chart places the non-history books in their chronological placement with the history books.  In other words, it shows when the prophets (major and minor) ministered within the timeline of the Old Testament.  It might surprise most to realize that all of the Old Testament prophets fit into a 400-450 year time frame.

BOOKS OF POETRY & PROPHECY:

II Samuel/I Chronicles	Psalms
I Kings/II Chronicles	Proverbs	Song of Solomon	Ecclesiastes
II Kings/II Chronicles	Obadiah	Joel
	Jonah	Amos	Hosea
	Isaiah	Micah
	Zephaniah	Nahum
	Jeremiah (Lamentations)	Ezekiel	Daniel
	Habakkuk
Ezra	Haggai	Zechariah
Nehemiah	Malachi

Our survey of the Old Testament Scriptures will provide the disciple of Yahushua with only the most basic presentation of the history contained therein.  The command of IAUE is that we study these Scriptures, read them, meditate upon them, discuss them with each other, never let them depart from our lives.  I encourage each reader to include, along with their other daily reading of the New Testament Scriptures, some methodical reading of the books of the Old Testament; and to do so for the rest of your lives.

The truths presented in the entirety of the New Testament Scriptures are all contained in the Old Testament.  When the apostle Paul preached the good news to the men and women of Berea, they searched the Old Testament Scriptures to verify if Paul was preaching the Truth (Acts 17:10-12).  Nothing in the New Testament Scriptures can stand without the foundation of the Old Testament Scriptures.  Consequently, we will never be able to properly understand the New Testament without a reasonable understanding of the Old Testament.  If a disciple of Yahushua claims to be a "New Testament" believer, and thereby shuns the study of the Old Testament; he is only deceiving himself.

One of the first problems the Body of Messiah experienced is recorded in Acts 6.

Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Why was this a problem?  It was because it provided an administrative distraction to the apostles' ministry.

Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of Elohim, and serve tables.

What "word of Elohim" did they not want to leave?  It was what we call the Old Testament.  They were the ONLY Scriptures for the first 30 years of church history.  If the apostles could not afford an administrative distraction to pull them away from the Old Testament Scriptures, then what is so important in our lives, today, that it should keep us from studying them?

[Our objective in this study has absolutely nothing to do with the current misdirection of the Body of Messiah today into “Torah-keeping.”  If you were a Gentile when you bowed the knee to Messiah Yahushua, you were never under the Torah; and were not brought into Messiah to come under the Torah (the Law of Moses). If you were a Jew when you came to Messiah, you were delivered from the law of Moses.  The Scriptures are quite clear that our Messiah is a High Priest of the Tribe of Judah; and that the law of Moses was administered by the tribe of Levi. Therefore, since there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity, a change in the law (Hebrews 7:12).  We are now under “the law of the Spirit of Life in Messiah Yahushua” (Rom 8:2).]

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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