lt 2 psalms, solomon, elijah, amos, hosea, jeremiah (no ezekiel and jonah)

8/2/2019 LT 2 Psalms, Solomon, Elijah, Amos, Hosea, Jeremiah (No Ezekiel and Jonah)

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King Davids Psalms and our Prayers

Psalms are rich and vivid lines of praise to God. David wrote psalms as a young man and prayed them

often. When he became King, he promoted the writing of the Book of Psalms and the other books of the

Old Testament. The Psalms became a central part of Jewish prayer life, especially as part of temple

worship.

We all pray, to express our heartfelt praise to God our Creator, Savior, and Destiny. We pray to ask for

His forgiveness, thank Him for His blessings, tell Him of our joys and frustrations, and present to Him ourpetitions and supplications. The Psalms are inspired prayers in the Bible that can help us experience God

and talk to Him. As prayers, the Psalms

Psalms

- rich and vivid lines of praise to God

- written by David as a young man, and was prayed by him often

- became a central part of Jewish prayer life, especially as part of temple worship

- inspired prayers in the Bible that can help us experience God and talk to Him. These prayers often

address God as a friend and as an intimate confidant with whom we can be perfectly honest

- teach us that God deserves an honest prayerone that comes from the heart- express not only our anguish, sorrow, and frustration over the many things we experience in life, but

also our great joy and thanksgiving for Gods blessings and favors

Psalms: Rich and Varied Ways of Praying

Psalms are classified in different ways. Three common types: praise, lament, and thanksgiving.

1. A psalm of praise expresses praise and thanksgiving for the saving acts of God and a plea for His

continual care

- examples: Psalm 19, Psalm 103

- Gods Glory in the Heavens and in the Law (Ps 19)

- Praise of Divine Goodness (Ps 103)

2. A psalm of lament communicates bitter and sorrowful feelings. It describes a problem and asks for

Gods help. To express the persons or communitys gratitude for Gods deliverance, the author of the

psalm promises to praise and serve God.

- examples: Psalm 13 and Psalm 77

- Prayer in Time of Distress (Ps 13)

- Confidence in God during National Distress (Ps 77)

3. A psalm of thanksgiving expresses our gratitude to God for His goodness and Generosity.

- examples: Psalm 92 and Psalm 118

- A Hymn of Thanksgiving for Gods Fidelity (Ps 92)

- Hymn of Thanksgiving (Ps 118)

The Psalms remind us to turn our hearts to God at all times to prepare ourselves for the major turning

points of our lives. The Psalms can truly help us become closer to God.


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Introduction

In the Bible, wisdom means knowing God, living according to His will, and "living truthfully". Thus the

opposite of wisdom is foolishness, which refers to a life lived untruthfully. Essentially, to be wise and

virtuous is to have a loving relationship with God and with one's neighbor. Virtue and wisdom led the

Israelites to observe their faith truthfully.

Solomon: The Wise but Extravagant King

Solomon was considered a wise king because he could clearly distinguish right from wrong. His life

teaches us that true wisdom is grounded on a proper relationship with God.

Solomon Proclaimed King (1 Kgs 1:1-48)

Solomon was the second son of David and Bathsheba. He was an educated man who had been prepared

by his father to be the next king. Solomon rode David's mule to symbolize the rite of passage. Solomon

proceeded to Gihon where he was anointed by the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan. This

symbolized that Solomon was not just David's choice, but also God's.

The Splendor and Glory of Solomon's Reign

David's parting words to Solomon were "Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the Lord,

your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are

written in the law of Moses" (1 Kgs 2:2-3) David reminded Solomon that he would only be successful by

abiding by these instructions, and by keeping God's law.

1. Solomon requests for the gift of wisdom. (1 Kgs 3:4-15)

When God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered him anything, Solomon asked for wisdom. (1

Kgs 3:9)

God was pleased that Solomon asked for wisdom rather than wealth or power. It was a sign that he

knew the makings of a good leader, so, God rewarded him with wisdom along with riches and power.

Solomon's request for wisdom marked the start of his reign.

2. Solomon uses his gift of wisdom.

Solomon became famous for his ability to pass wise judgement. Even rulers from distant lands came to

him for wisdom. One time, Solomon settled a dispute between two mothers who were each claiming a

baby to be hers. (1 Kgs 3:16-28) Solomon ordered the baby to be cut in half and to be shared, when one

of the women offered to give up the baby. Then, Solomon knew she was the true mother.

Like David, Solomon wrote wise sayings and composed songs; parts 2 and 5 of the book of Proverbs are

ascribed to him. He encouraged the writing of the Wisdom books, which deal with philosophy and theproper wat of relating to God and living an upright life.

3. Solomon builds the Great Temple of Jerusalem (1 Kgs 6)

The Temple of Jerusalem became the centerpiece of Solomon's reign. It was known as one of the

wonders of the ancient world. Solomon had the temple built because he wanted to give God only the

best house possible. But God reminded him that it was not the splended temple but Solomon's

obedience to His will that pleased him.

4. Solomon brings Israel to its golden age.


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During the reign of David and Solomon, Israel experienced an era of great peace, prosperity, and

religiosity. Solomon made Israel a world power. With peace and international respect finally attained

during David's rule, Solomon's kingdom was able to amass wealth far beyond David's dreams. Solomon

was hailed as one of the greatest kings the world had ever seen. (1 Kgs 10:23-24)

Solomon's Sins and Eventual Downfall

Solomon's greatness, however, did not last. Like David, he too succumbed to sin and temptation, and

made critical mistakes during his reign. He slowly forgot David's instructions to keep God's laws. From

being wise and simple, he became extravagant, idolatrous, and proud.

Solomon's Foreign Wives and Idolatry.

Solomon kept many foreign wives to further his international power. In time, he joined his wives in

worshipping other their false gods. This led to even his own people practicing idolatry, which marked

the onset of disunity and division in Solomon's kingdom.

Solomon's Extravagance

In the latter part of his reign, Solomon used exploitative methods such as forced labor and heavy

taxation to accomplish his goals. He was only interested in the northern countryside for the materials it

provided for his temple, and because of this, the resources of the once over-flowing national treasury

were slowly depleted.

"He shall not have a great number of horses; nor shall he makes his people go back again to Egypt to

acquire them.. Neither shall he have a great number of wives.. nor shall he accumulate a vast amount of

silver and gold" (Dt 17:16-17)

Horses and chariots were paraded by kings to show their military strength, but for the Israelites, they

were reminders of the Egyptian army that had oppressed their ancestors, so it was offensive to them

that Solomon had so many horses and chariots.

Solomon's Neglect of the People

Solomon desired gold so much that he gave up 20 cities of Galilee to foreign kings to acquire more gold.

While he grew richer, the Israelites, particularly the northern tribes, grew poorer. He also forced his

people to build monuments, thus creating forms of social injustice.

Solomon's Punishment From God

Solomon had almost everything at his disposal: wisdom, talent, wealth, and power. But slowly, hebecame materialistic and militaristic. He drifted away from God's covenant, thus, becoming less and less

responsive to God and his people in the latter part of his reign. "I will deprive you of the kingdom and

give it to your servant. I will not do this during your lifetime.. I will leave your son one tribe for the sake

of my servant David and of Jerusalem, which I've chosen" (1 Kgs 11:11-13)


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God raised many adversaries against Solomon. One was Jeroboam, who rebelled against Solomon, and

united ten tribes under his leadership. The Bible describes this development as God taking away 10

tribes from Solomon and leaving only the tribe of Judah for him and his son to rule (1 Kgs 11:21-32)

When Solomondied, he left Israel on the brink of division and civil war. "I have seen all things that are

done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chase after wind." -Eccl 1:14

Solomon and the Wisdom Books

Despite his tragic ending, Solomon left a great legacy-- the Wisdom Books. We learn from Solomon's

wisdom through these books, which contains his proverbs and teachings on the meaning of life, the

value of material things, and the need to follow God's commandments.

The Book of Proverbs

A proverb is a short saying about some aspects of life. Solomon is believed to be the author of the Book

of Proverbs not because he wrote the entire book but because he was considered the epitome of Israel's

wisdom. Guidance for raising children is one of the major themes of the Book of Proverbs.

Examples: "A wise son loves correction, but the senseless one heeds no rebuke" (Prv 13:1)

"He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him takes care to chastise him" (Prv 13:24)

The Book of Sirach/Ecclesiasticus

Jesus Ben Sirach is the author of the Book of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus, which means "church book." Ben

Sirach was a wise man who lived in Jerusalem. He had a great love for the law and the temple, who

wrote this book to help the Israelites maintain their religious faith through a study of their traditions andtheir holy books. The Book of Sirach/Ecclesiasticus is deeply religious and devotes 7 chapters to Israel's

history and heroes.

Example: "A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings. Let your

acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant" (Sir 6:5-6)

* Both the Book of Proverbs and the Book of Sirach contain short practical advices for everyday living.

SOURCE: Called to Discover our Christian Faith

PsalmsInspired prayer/songs about personal and

community concerns

Job A dramatic poem on the meaning of suffering

Ecclesiastes/Qoheleth

A set of reflections on the apparent

meaninglessness of existence

Proverbs A collection of wise sayings about everyday living

Song of Songs A poem about love/relationships

WisdomPraises wisdom and its effects; uses Solomon as

spokesperson

Sirach/Ecclesiasticus

Contains numerous maxims on topics such as the

individual, the family, and community

relationships with one another and with God


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The Prophets: Calling Us to Conversion

After Solomon, came the Prophets, who were sent by God to bring the Israelites back to him.

Faithfulness to the covenant, the sign of friendship between God and Israel, was the focus of the

message of the prophets Among the prophets were Elijah, Amos, and Hosea.

A Divided Kingdom

After Solomon died, Israel fell apart. The northern tribes, majority of the people, resented the inhumane

economic and political policies of Solomon, especially the higher taxes and forced labor. Rehoboam,

Solomons son and successor, refused to lighten the burden of the northerners, so Jeroboam led them

to a revolt against the house of David.

The revolt split the nation in 2 kingdoms: The northern kingdom was called Israel/Ephraim, and the

southern kingdom was called Judah, and its capital was Jerusalem. They sometimes fought but were

at peace most of the time due to their faith in God.

The northern kingdom, Israel however, was more unfaithful. The kingdoms beginnings were marked bysetting up images of Baals (gods of fertility) at places of worship. The kingdom of Judah was also prone

to idolatry, despite having the Temple of Jerusalem. Idolatry was the worst sin of the Israelites, and it

was this that forced judgment of them. Since kings no longer represented Yahweh to the people, God

sent the prophets as His messengers to both kingdoms.

Early Old Testament Prophets

Along with kings, prophets were also considered leaders of Israel. During the division after Solomons

reign, the people turned more to the prophets rather than the kings for Gods message. Prophets were

not always well-liked, but the people knew that they spoke the Lords message for them. The prophets

proclaimed their message using imagery and symbolism. Some delivered their prophecies in the form of

beautiful poetry. (Am 8:1-2) Some delivered their prophecies by acting out their message. (Ez 12:3, 5-6)s

The prophets called the people to personal conversion and national reform, but their message usually

fell on deaf ears. They were even beaten, insulted, stoned, or imprisoned for confronting the Israelites

with Gods sharp criticism and unpopular message.

Despite countless hardships, the prophets continued to preach Gods word, and ended up prophesying

to a remnant of the people who continued to sincerely believe in God. In the end, the prophets

advanced Gods plan of salvation by preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. THE PROPHETS

WERE NOT FORTUNE TELLERS. They spoke only the truth about the conditions existing in Israel at that

time. They were guided by God to show the Israelites the error of their ways. Also, the prophets were

accepted by the people only when their predictions came true, only then were they consideredauthentic and qualified to interpret the problems of their time from Gods point of view.

Elijah: Call to Faith in the True God (ELIJAH = YAHWEH IS MY GOD)

Elijah was called by God to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel during a period of idolatry. The

kings of the northern kingdom didnt want their people to go to the South, for fear that the northern

tribes might develop a desire to reunite with their southern brothers. Elijah made enemies of the king


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and his wife. He was called, TROUBLER OF ISRAEL. Aside from his outright attack on Baal, Elijah also

denounced the kings injustice to the poor.

The True God of Israel

Elijah was first asked by God to prophesy a long drought to the northern kingdom for their people

already forgot their covenant with Yahweh. Then in the 3rd

year of the drought, God again summoned

Elijah to present himself to the king and announce Gods promise of rain.

1. The contest at Mount Carmel (1 Kgs 18)

Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to prove who the real provider of Israel was. He went up against

450 prophets of Baal. They built altars of sacrifice and agreed that only the one who was truly God

could produce fire from heaven to burn up the offering. Many saw the fire of Yahweh consume the

holocaust. Rain followed, bringing the drought to an end.

The Israelites realized that everything they had been receiving came from Yahweh. The contest at

Mount Carmel did much to restore the faith of many in the one true God, Yahweh. This enraged Jezebel,

the kings wife, thus Elijah fled to Horeb to escape her wrath.

2. A quiet God (1 Kgs 19)

Elijah climbed to the top of Mt. Horeb. He waited for God in the strong wind, but the Lord wasnt there.

An earthquake followed, but the Lord still wasnt there. Then came a great fire, but still, the Lord wasnt

there. After the fire, there was a tiny whispering fire. Only then did Elijah hear Gods voice.

Elijah encountered God in silence. This teaches us that Gods presence can be felt not necessarily in

great events of history but in the small and seemingly insignificant affairs of life. Be still and confess

that I am God (Ps 46:11)

3. Seizure of Naboths vineyard ( 1 Kgs 21)

This story concerns a case of social injustice (land grabbing) by King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, to

Naboth, a simple farmer. The vineyard of Naboth was situated near the kings property, and so, he

strongly desired the land, but Naboth refused to sell what was an inheritance from his ancestors.

Jezebel made up a false accusation against Naboth, who was charged guilty, and stoned to death. Thus,

the King got the vineyard. Elijah came to the scene and pronounced judgement.

This and the contest at Mount Carmel show that idolatry and social injustices were two of the things

that the prophets fought against.

Elijah restored worship to the one true God in an era of idolatry and condemned acts of social

injustice to the poor. The prophet experienced God as a quiet God, a God who is present in ordinary

events.

Amos: Teaching Us to Act Justly

Amos was a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah who lived during the reign of Jeroboam II. Israel was

beginning to prosper again at this time, but economic wealth brought great injustices to many people.


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During Amos time, most of the Israelties seemed to be more concerned with accumulating wealth

rather than doing what was right. Corruption was common everywhere.

1. Amos exposes Israels sins (Am 3-6)

The bible describes Amos a fiery prophet who pointed out the sins of the Israelites in the roaring voice

of God (Am 1:1-2). His speeches in the first chapters of his book (Am 1-2) criticized the evildoings ofIsraels enemies. These captured the attention of many Israelites who finally found a prophet who made

sense to them, but just as they were beginning to believe his sermons, Amos turned on them and spoke

even more harshly about their sins.

2. Amos condemns Israels sins of injustice

Amos angrily scolded dishonest businessmen and traders for using wrong weights and measures (Am

8:5-6). He also accused moneylenders for charging very high interest on loans. In the town of Bashan,

Amos called the rich women cows as the fattened themselves at the expense of the weak and he

hungry people around them (Am 4:1-3).

Amos also accused the Jews of doing false worship and of using their ill-forgotten riches to offer empty

sacrifices to God. (Am 2:8, 4:4-5) AMOS REMINDED THEM THAT BEING JUST IS PART OF HAVING AN

AUTHENTIC FAITH IN GOD. Amos spoke of Gods concern for His people, especially the poor and the

oppressed.

3. Amos warns of Gods judgment

Amos predicted that unless the Israelites stop their acts of social injustice and their practice of idolatry,

their nation would fall and be destroyed. Amos described to them how, in a vision, he saw the Assyrians

invade and destroy the Israelites beautiful land (Am 7-9) because the Israelites were not united under

God. But in spite of Amos repeated warnings, the Israelites still continued to sin.

Amos reminds us that our faith must be shown through acts of justice. If our prayer and worship do

not make us just, then our prayer and worship are simply rituals.

Hosea

Hosea was a native of Israel who preached after the time of Amos. Hosea spoke to the Israelites the way

Amos did and passionately criticized Israel's sinful ways, however, his tone was softer and his message

was full of love and sympathy.

The unique thing about Hosea was that he lived out his message before he preached it. His strange andpainful marriage taught him much about God's love for the Israelites.

God called Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer. (Hos 1:2) Although Hosea loved Gomer, she was

repeatedly unfaithful; she would always be with other men despite Hosea's love and respect for her.

Hosea tried everything to win his wife back, but Gomer was too set in her old ways and refused to go

back to him. Gomer's infidelity was so bad that God told Hosea to name his children Lo-Rouhama and


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Lo-Ammi, which meant "not loved" and "not my people", respectively. The names not only expressed

Hosea's frustration with Gomer, but also God's disappointment with Israel.

1. Hosea presents insights into God's love

God told Hosea to love a woman "as the Lord loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods"(Hos 3:1) Gomer symbolized Israel whom God faithfully loved and called to repentance again and again.

Hosea's message applies even to us today: God will always love His Chosen People-- Israel then and we

today-- and will never leave them. Hosea paints a picture of God not only as a loving husband, but also

as a loving father of a rebllious child. Hosea 11 is considered one of the most moving literary pieces in

the OT. Example: Hos 11:1-4.

2. Hosea challenges us today

Hosea challenges us to look at our own ungratefulness. His broken marriage is an image of our

relationship with God. His story forces us to reflect if we are like Gomer.

Hosea's life shows us that God keeps on loving us no matter how stubborn or sinful we are. Hosea also

shows us what it means to be faithful. His devotion to Gomer brought him closer to God because it

helped him realize that faith is an everyday decision to love the people around us.

The Prophets: Calling Us to Renewal

Despite the efforts of Elijah, Amos, and Hosea, many Israelites refused to convert and return to their

covenant with Yahweh. God then sent the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel to once again call the people

to true repentance. Jeremiah and Ezekiel were given the task to prepare the Israelites for the Fall of

Jerusalem and the Babylonian Exile.

God restored His people by ending their exile and bringing them back to Jerusalem. God sent Jonah, to

guide them. Through Jonah, God reminded Israel that its mission was to serve as a "light to the nations"

and not to "outcast" those outside the Jewish community.

Jeremiah: Be Confident In The Lord

The kings after Solomon were weak and evil except for King Josiah, who instituted reforms to purify

Israel's worship (2 Kgs 22-23), though widespread idolatry continued.

It was during Josiah's time that Jeremiah was called to be a prophet. Jeremiah was a young man from

the priestly family of Anathoth. He prophesied until the reign of King Zedekiah, Israel's last king.

God's Call to Jeremiah


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Jeremiah was shy and timid; he was not very confident that he could carry God's tasks. Because of this,

he needed strong support and reassurance from God. (Jer 1:5-7)

This was why God called Jeremiah in an intimate way. God Himself touched Jeremiah on the mouth

while saying, "See, I place my words in your mouth" (Jer 1:9) He knew that Jeremiah needed constant

assurance so he could prepare the Israelites for the difficult times ahead.

Jeremiah's Message from God for Us

The Israelites, complacent with their faith, believed that God would help them even though they made

no serious efforts to follow the covenant laws, due to God's promise that David's Kingdom would never

end.

1. Jeremiah speaks of true faith in God

The Israelites were confident that no foreign people, not even the mighty Babylonians, could ever

capture their city. But Jeremiah knew better, so he spoke to the kings and asked them to concede to the

Babylonians to avoid bloodshed. He predicted that God would allow the Ark of the Covenant, the

Temple, and the city of Jerusalem to be destroyed (Jer 7:1-7; 3:16; 19:10-15) because these had become

false sources of security for the Israelites.

Jeremiah taught the Israelites that faith was a matter of personally accepting God and following His will

rather than of performing grand rituals. Sadly, the kings didn't listen to Jeremiah and even accused him

of being a traitor.

2. Jeremiah speaks about God's judgment

God called the Israelites to become His faithful people but they refused to cooperate with Him. In a

vision, Jeremiah saw a boiling pot being poured over Judah (Jer 1:13-19) Jeremiah believed this

symbolized how God would judge the people, of how He would allow the Babylonians to invade Israel,

and of how He would cleanse the land of false worship. It was a vision of the fall of Jerusalem.

3. Jeremiah speaks about the New Covenant

The climax of Jeremiah's preaching was his prophecy of the New Covenant. He predicted that although

most of Israel would be destroyed, a remnant would survive. He also spoke of God's promise that

whoever remained faithful to Him would be part of the New Covenant. (Jer 31:31-34)

Jeremiah preached that in the New Covenant, God would no longer simply give laws like the Ten

Commandments. Instead, He would "write" His law in the very hearts of His people. (Presence of the

Holy Spirit)

According to Jeremiah, the time of the New Covenant God would be a time when God, through theMessiah, would pardon sins and make things new. This was a message that sustained the Israelites'

hopes during their long and difficult exile.

Jeremiah's Inner Struggles

Jeremiah predicted the fall of Jerusalem. Sadly, the Israelites found it hard to believe that Jerusalem

would be destroyed for it was David's city, and God promised that David's kingdom would last forever.

(2 Sm 7:16)


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Thus the Israelites treated Jeremiah poorly. He was disliked, questioned of his authority, despised by his

own family, and was turned on in anger. He was later arrested, beaten, imprisoned, sentenced to death

(Jer 16), put in jail (Jer 37), and thrown down a dry well (Jer 38). Jeremiah often complained to God

about the difficulties of his mission (Jer 20 / Jer 20:7-9)

Jeremiah's Newfound Strength and Confidence

God sustained Jeremiah through all his hardships. God guided and encouraged him through the ups anddowns of his life. He grew stronger and braver as he carried out God's mission. He also grew wiser and

became more trusting in God. Over time, Jeremiah began to understand God's plan for him. (Jer 20:11)

Jeremiah understood and felt his people's suffering. He even became closer to the people who once

hated him. His own agony brought him closer to them. (Jer 8:18-19, 21, 23)

Jeremiah suffered with his people while remaining incredibly hopeful in God. His own life became a

symbol of hope for the Israelites. His faith helped him overcome all obstacles and transformed him from

a timid young man into a brave and resolute leader.

4. Jeremiah depicts God as a Divine Potter

God is like a potter who molds His people like clay according to His will (Jer 18). God remains for us who

He is-- the ultimate source of renewal. As Jeremiah and the other prophets predicted, the Babylonians

invaded Israel in 597 B.C. Ten years later the Great Temple and city of Jerusalem were destroyed. The

remaining Israelites were taken prisoners and brought to Babylon. Babylon was God's instrument for

purifying the people of Israel. God allowed Israel to break so He could reshape it and make it into the

vessel it was meant to be.

The Israelites lost everything that constituted their identity as God's people. (No king, no temple, no city,

and no land) However, it was in the midst of their deepest suffering that they came to understand more

God's call and to be His people. During their exile in Babylon, the Israelites once again turned back to

God because all they had left was their faith.

SOURCE: CALLED TO DISCOVER OUR CHRISTIAN ROOTS

lt 2 psalms, solomon, elijah, amos, hosea, jeremiah (no ezekiel and jonah)

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