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Made in Elements
It is easy to read the opinions of others in a Bible study guide. But the real value (blessing) of the Bible comes primarily through reading and pondering the Bible text itself.
Read various “INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT” articles:
Watch a Bible Project video about Proverbs
Proverbs: 1-31
1: The beginning of knowledge … the call of wisdom
2: The value of wisdom
3: Trust in the LORD with all your heart … Blessed is the one who finds wisdom
4: A father’s wise instruction
5: Warning against adultery
6: Practical warnings … Warnings against adultery
7: Warning against the adulteress
8: The blessings of wisdom
9: The way of wisdom … the way of folly
10: The proverbs of Solomon
11: 12: 13: 14: 15: 16: 17: 18: 19: 20: 21:
22: Words of the wise
23: 24:
25: More proverbs of Solomon
26: 27: 28: 29:
30: The words of Agur
31: Words of King Lemuel … the woman who fears the LORD
Watch a Bible Project video about Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes: 1-12
1: All is vanity … the vanity of wisdom
2: Vanity of self-indulgence … Vanity of living wisely … Vanity of toil
3: A time for everything … The God-given task … From dust to dust
4: Evil under the sun
5: Fear God … Vanity of wealth and honor
6:
7: The contrast of wisdom and folly
8: Keep the King’s command … those who fear God will do well … Man cannot know God’s ways
9: Death comes to all … Enjoy life with the one you love … Wisdom better than folly
10:
11: Cast your bread upon the waters
12: Remember your Creator in your youth … fear God and keep His commandments
Watch a Bible Project video about Song of Songs
Song of Solomon: 1-8
1: Bride confesses her love … Solomon and his bride delight in each other
2: The bride adores her beloved
3: The Bride’s dream … Solomon arrives for the wedding
4: Solomon admires his bride’s beauty … together in the garden of love
5: The bride searches for her beloved … The bride praises her beloved
6: Together in the garden of love … Solomon and his bride delight in each other
7: The bride gives her love
8: Longing for her beloved … Final advice
Ponder:
While it is impossible to fully explore all three of Solomons books in one sitting, it is appropriate to survey them.
? Why was Solomon qualified to consider the characteristics of both wisdom and folly?
? Are there any areas of life, even our modern life, that Solomon does not address to some degree?
? Which of these three books are most meaningful to you right now?
? How would you write a proverb that might summarize Solomon’s challenge to you?
Watch a Bible Project video about Psalms
Psalms: 102-150
102: Do Not hide Your face from me
103: Bless The LORD, O My Soul
104: O LORD my God, You are very great
105: Tell of all His wonderful works
106: Give thanks to the LORD, for He is Good
107: Let the redeemed of the LORD say so
108: With God we shall do valiantly
109: Help me, O LORD my God
110: Sit at my right hand
111: Great are the LORD’s works
112: The righteous will never be moved
113: Who is like the LORD our God?
114: Tremble at the presence of the Lord
115: To Your Name give Glory
116: I love the LORD
117: The LORD’s faithfulness endures forever
118: His steadfast love endures forever
119: Your Word is a lamp to my feet
120: Deliver me, O LORD
121: My help comes from the LORD
122: Let us go to the house of the LORD
123: Our eyes look to the LORD our God
124: Our help is in the Name of the LORD
125: The LORD surrounds His people
126: Restore our fortunes, O LORD
127: Unless the LORD builds the house
128: Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD
129: They have afflicted my from my youth
130: My Soul waits for the Lord
131: I have calmed and quieted my soul
132: The LORD has chosen Zion
133: When brothers dwell in unity
134: Come, bless the LORD
135: Your Name. O LORD, endures forever
136: His steadfast love endures forever
137: How shall we sing the LORD’s song?
138: Give thanks to the LORD
139: Search me, O God, and know my heart
140: Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men
141: Give ear to my voice
142: You are my refuge
143: My soul thirsts for You
144: My rock and my fortress
145: Great is the LORD
146: Put not your trust in princes
147: He heals the brokenhearted
148: Praise the Name of the LORD
149: Sing to the LORD a new song
150: Let everything praise the LORD
Ponder:
? What do these Psalms say about the responses of human beings to God? (What do we do, what don’t we do, what should we do?)
? How do these Psalms challenge the way we worship God?
? What are some of the repeated themes in the Psalms?
Watch a Bible Project video about Psalms
Psalms 49-101
49: Why should I fear in times of trouble?
50: God Himself is Judge
51: Create in me a clean heart, O God
52: The steadfast love of God endures
53: There is none who does good
54: The Lord upholds my life
55: Cast your burden on the LORD
56: In God I trust
57: Let Your Glory be over all the earth
58: God who judges the earth
59: Deliver me from my enemies
60: He will tread down our foes
61: Lead me to the rock
62: My soul waits for God alone
63: My soul thirsts for You
64: Hide me from the wicked
65: O God of our salvation
66: Hoe awesome are Your deeds
67: Make Your face shine upon us
68: God shall scatter His enemies
69: Save me, O God
70: O LORD, do not delay
71: Forsake me not when by strength is spent
72: Give the King Your justice
73: God is my strength and portion forever
74: Arise, O God, defend Your cause
75: God will judge with equity
76: Who can stand before You?
77: In the day of trouble I seek the Lord
78: Tell the coming generation
79: How long, O LORD?
80: Restore us, O God
81: Oh, That My People would listen to Me
82: Rescue the weak and needy
83: O God, do not keep silence
84: My soul longs for the courts of The LORD
85: Revive us again
86: Great is Your steadfast love
87: Glorious things of You are spoken
88: I cry out day and night before You
89: I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD
90: From everlasting to everlasting
91: My refuge and my fortress
92: How great are Your works
93: The LORD reigns
94: The LORD will not forsake His people
95: Let us sing songs of praise
96: Worship in the splendor of Holiness
97: The LORD reigns
98: Make a joyful noise to the LORD
99: The LORD our God is Holy
100: His steadfast love endures forever
101: I will walk with integrity
Ponder:
? How do some of these Psalms demonstrate the Biblical truth that God is in many ways different from humans to such an extent that He is clearly not an exalted human being?
? How do some the these Psalms describe God’s amazing love and care for human beings?
? Which Psalms prompt us to think about Who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us?
Watch a Bible Project video about Psalms
Psalms: 1-48
1: Way of the Righteous and Wicked
2: Reign of the LORD’s anointed
3: Save me, O My God
4: Answer me when I call
5: Lead me in Your Righteousness
6: O LORD, Deliver my life
7: In You do I take refuge
8: How majestic is Your Name
9: I will recount Your wonderful deeds
10: Why do you hide Yourself?
11: The LORD is in His Holy Temple
12: The faithful have vanished
13: How long, O LORD?
14: The fool says, there is no God
15: Who shall dwell in Your Holy Hill?
16: You will not abandon my soul
17: In the shadow of Your wings
18: The LORD is my rock and my fortress
19: The Law of the LORD is perfect
20: Trust in the Name of the LORD our God
21: The King rejoices in the LORD’s strength
22: Why have You forsaken me?
23: The LORD is my Shepherd
24: The King of Glory
25: Teach me Your paths
26: I will bless the LORD
27: The LORD is my light and my salvation
28: The LORD is my strength and my shield
29: Ascribe to the LORD Glory
30: Joy comes with the morning
31: Into Your hand I commit my spirit
32: Blessed are the forgiven
33: The steadfast love of the LORD
34: Taste and see that the LORD is good
35: Great is the LORD
36: How precious is Your steadfast love
37: He will not forsake His saints
38: Do not forsake me, O LORD
39: What is the measure of my days?
40: My help and my deliverer
41: O LORD, be gracious to me
42: Why are you cast down, O my soul?
43: Send out Your light and Your truth
44: Come to our help
45: Your throne, O God, is forever
46: God is our fortress
47: God is King over all the earth
48: Zion, The city of our God
Ponder:
? How might Psalm 1 be considered a good introduction to all the Psalms?
? Psalm 23 obviously makes us think of Jesus “The Good Shepherd,”
What are some other of these 48 Psalms that prompt us to think about Jesus?
? Is there one of these Psalms that is confusing at first reading but begins to say some significant things as you read it repeatedly?
? What do these Psalms suggest about a possible reason David is called “a man after God’s heart?”
Watch a Bible Project video about Job
Job: 1-42
1: Job’s character and wealth … Satan allowed to test Job … Satan takes Job’s property and children
2: Satan attacks Jobs health … Job’s three friends
3: Job laments his birth
4: Elephaz speaks: The Innocent prosper
5:
6: Job replies: My complaint is just
7: Job continues: My life has no hope
8: Bildad speaks: Job should repent
9: Job replies: There is no arbiter
10: Job continues: A plea to God
11: Zophar speaks: You deserve worse
12: Job replies: The LORD has done this
13: Job continues: Still I will hope in God
14: Job continues: Death comes soon to all
15: Eliphaz accuses: Job does not fear God
16: Job replies: Miserable comforters are you
17: Job continues: Where then is my hope?
18: Bildad speaks: God punishes the wicked
19: Job replies: My redeemer lives
20: Zophar speaks: the wicked will suffer
21: Job replies: The wicked do prosper
22: Eliphaz speaks: Job’s wickedness is great
23: Job replies: Where is God?
24:
25: Bildad speaks: Man cannot be Righteous
26: Job replies: God’s majesty is unsearchable
27: Job continues: I will maintain my integrity
28: Job continues: Where is wisdom?
29: Job’s summary defense
30:
31: Job’s final appeal
32: Elihu rebukes Job’s three friends
33: Elihu rebukes Job
34: Elihu asserts God’s Justice
35: Elihu condemns Job
36: Elihu extols God’s greatness
37: Elihu proclaims God’s majesty
38: The LORD answers Job
39:
40: Job promises silence … The LORD challenges Job
41:
42: Job’s confession and repentance … The LORD rebukes Job’s friends … The LORD restores Job’s fortunes
Ponder:
? Why might God have considered Job of such high character when Job’s faith in God actually faltered significantly under the pressure of his suffering?
? Did God actually abandon Job as Job claimed He did?
? Were Job’s friends right to say Job deserved God’s judgment?
? Why are assumptions we make about God’s actions often wrong?
? Why did God restore Job’s fortunes? Why does God not fully restore things we sometimes lose in our sufferings?
Watch a Bible Project video about Esther : Esther 1-10
1: The King’s Banquets … Queen Vashti’s Refusal
2: Esther chosen Queen … Mordecai discovers a plot
3: Haman plots against the Jews
4: Esther agrees to help the Jews
5: Esther prepares a banquet … Haman plans to hang Mordecai
6: The King honors Mordecai … Esther reveals Haman’s plot
7: Haman is hanged
8: Esther saves the Jews
9: The Jews destroy their enemies … Feast of Purim inaugurated
10: The greatness of Mordecai
Ponder:
? What makes the story of Esther so satisfying to our human nature?
? Why do we tend to think it is too harsh for God to avenge His enemies?
? While God is not mentioned in Esther, what does the story teach us about God?
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Watch a Bible Project video about Ezra
Ezra: 1-10
1: The Proclamation of Cyrus
2: The Exiles Return
3: Rebuilding the Altar … Rebuilding the Temple
4: Adversaries Oppose the Rebuilding … The Letter to King Artaxerxes …
The King Orders the Work to Cease
5: Rebuilding Begins Anew … Tattenai’s Letter to King Darius
6: The Decree of Darius … The Temple Finished and Dedicated … Passover Celebrated
7: Ezra sent to teach the people
8: Genealogy of those who returned with Ezra … Ezra sends for Levites … Fasting and Prayer for protection … Priests to guard the offerings
9: Ezra prays about intermarriage
10: People confess their sin … Those guilty of intermarriage
Nehemiah: 1-13
1: Report from Jerusalem … Nehemiah’s prayer
2: Nehemiah sent to Judah … Nehemiah inspects Jerusalem walls
3: Rebuilding the wall
4: Opposition to the work … Work resumes
5: Nehemiah stops oppression of the poor … Nehemiah’s generosity
6: Conspiracy against Nehemiah … The Wall is finished
7: Lists of returned exiles … Totals of people and gifts
8: Ezra reads the Law … This Day is Holy … Feast of Booths celebrated
9: People of Israel confess their sin
10: The people who sealed the covenant … Obligations of the Covenant
11: Leaders in Jerusalem … Villages outside Jerusalem
12: Priests and Levites … Dedication of the Wall … Service at Temple
13: Nehemiah’s final reforms
Ponder:
? How do these stories demonstrate the faithfulness and power of God?
? How do these stories demonstrate the high level of longing, perseverance, repentance and obedience of the Jewish people?
? How costly to the participants were these covenants?
? Why is it good that covenants between God and humans have such high costs?
? What is the significance of how perfectly the Jews kept any of their covenants with God?
Watch a Bible Project video about Chronicles
1Chronicles: 1-29
1: From Adam to Abraham … From Abraham to Jacob
2: A genealogy of David
3: Descendants of David
4: Descendants of Judah … Descendants of Simeon
5: Descendants of Reuben … Descendants of Gad … The half-tribe of Manasseh
6: Descendants of Levi
7: Descendants of Issachar … Descendants of Benjamin … Descendants of Naphtali … Descendants of Manasseh … Descendants of Ephraim … Descendants of Asher
8: A genealogy of Saul
9: A genealogy of the returned exiles … Saul’ genealogy repeated
10: The death of Saul and his sons
11: David anointed king … David takes Jerusalem … David’s mighty men
12: The mighty men join David
13: The Ark brought from Kiriath-Jearim … Uzzah and the Ark
14: David’s wives and children … Philistines defeated
15: The Ark brought to Jerusalem
16: The Ark placed in a tent … David’s Song of Thanks … Worship before the Ark
17: The Lord’s covenant with David … David’s prayer
18: David defeats his enemies … David’s administration
19: The Ammonites disgrace David’s men … Ammonites and Syrians defeated
20: The capture of Rabbah … Philistine gains killed
21: David’s census brings pestilence … David builds an altar
22: David prepares for Temple building … Solomon charged to build the Temple
23: David organizes the Levites
24: David organizes the Priests
25: David organizes the musicians
26: Divisions of the gatekeepers … Treasurers and other officials
27: Military divisions … Leaders of Tribes
28: David’s charge to Israel … David’s charge to Solomon
29: Offerings for the Temple … David prays in the assembly … Solomon anointed king … The death of David
2Chronicles: 1-36
1: Solomon worships at Gibeon … Solomon prays for wisdom … Solomon given wealth
2: Preparing to build the Temple
3: Solomon builds the Temple
4: The Temple’s furnishings
5: The Ark brought to the Temple
6: Solomon blesses the people …Solomon’s prayer of dedication
7: Fire from Heaven … The dedication of the Temple … If my people pray
8: Solomon’s accomplishments
9: The Queen of Sheba … Solomon’s wealth … Solomon’s death
10: The Revolt against Rehoboam
11: Rehoboam secures his kingdom … Priests and Levites come to Jerusalem … Rehoboam’s family
12: Egypt plunders Jerusalem
13: Abijah reigns in Judah
14: Asa reigns in Judah
15: Asa’s religious reforms
16: Asa’s last years
17: Jehoshaphat reigns in Judah
18: Jehoshaphat allies with Ahab
19: The defeat and death of Ahab
20: Jehoshaphat’s prayer … The Lord delivers Judah … The end of Jehoshaphat’s reign
21: Jehoram reigns in Judah
22: Ahazah reign in Judah … Athaliah reigns in Judah
23: Joash made King … Athaliah executed … Jehoiada’s reforms
24: Joash repairs the Temple … Joash’s treachery … Joash assassinated
25: Amaziah reigns in Judah … Amaziah’s victories … Amaziah’s idolatry … Israel defeats Amaziah
26: Uzziah reigns in Judah … Uzziah’s pride and punishment
27: Jotham reigns in Judah
28: Ahaz reigns in Judah … Judah defeated … Ahaz’s idolatry
29: Hezekiah reigns in Judah … Hezekiah cleanses the Temple … Hezekiah restores Temple worship
30: Passover celebrated
31: Hezekiah organizes the Priests
32: Sennacherib invades Judah … Sennacherib blasphemes … The Lord delivers Jerusalem … Hezekiah’s pride and achievements
33: Manasseh reigns in Judah … Manasseh’s repentance … Amon’s reign and death
34: Josiah reigns in Judah … The Book of the Law found … Huldah prophesies disaster
35: Josiah keeps the Passover … Josiah killed in battle
36: Judah’s decline … Jerusalem captured and burned … The proclamation of Cyrus
Ponder:
? What are some ways that 1,2Chronicles demonstrate God’s perspective of Jewish Kingdom history in contrast to the human perspective of 1,2Samuel and 1,2Kings?
? What are some of the character differences between the Godly and UnGodly Kings who ruled the Jews?
? Why did God choose to align Jesus with King David when even David was so clearly tarnished by his sin?