Themes for Old Testament Books

Genesis............................................................................................... Foundations of Redemptive History

Exodus........................................................................................................................... Divine Deliverance

Leviticus.................................................................................................................. Requisites for Holiness

Numbers................ Final Preparation, Failure, and God’s Gracious Commissioning of a New Generation

Deuteronomy....................................................................................................................... Total Devotion

Joshua.............................................. God Fulfills His Promises of Victory to Those Who Trust and Obey

Judges................................................................................... The Consequences of Incomplete Obedience

Ruth................................................................................................................................................. Loyalty

Samuel...................... The Continuance of the Theocracy Despite the Interposition of Human Leadership

Kings............................................................................. The Word of the Sovereign Lord will be Fulfilled

Chronicles... The Continuity of the Divine Promises, Purposes, and Principles in the Covenant Community

Ezra....................................................... Restoration of the Temple and Renewal of Covenant Obedience

Nehemiah.................................................................................... Rebuilding the Walls and Covenant Law

Esther.................................................. Providential Protection:  Deliverance by the Unseen Hand of God

Job.......................................................................................................... Suffering and Divine Sovereignty

Psalms.......................................................................................... Inspired Pattern for Prayer and Worship

Proverbs................................................................................................................................. Skill in Living

Ecclesiastes.......... Godliness with Contentment:  The Only Satisfaction in the Barren Wilderness of Life

Song of Solomon............................................................................................. The Beauty of Marital Love

Isaiah........................................ The Holy One of Israel (and His Anointed) in Judgment and Restoration

Jeremiah Judgment from the North and a New Covenant:  God’s Response to Judah’s Breach of Covenant

Lamentations.......................................................................................................... Mourning for Jerusalem

Ezekiel............... A Proper Understanding of Yahweh:  The Intended End of Judgment and Restoration

Daniel.............................................................................. God’s Sovereignty Over Kingdoms and History

Hosea................ Yahweh’s Love Spurned but Constant:  His Response to Israel’s Rejection of His Love

Joel................................................ Repent in a Day of Locusts, and Be Delivered in the Day of the Lord

Amos...... The Lion Has Roared:  Divine Judgment upon Prosperous Israel for its Social and Religious Sins

Obadiah................................ Poetic Justice for Edom:  God Judges His Enemies According to their Sins

Jonah................................................. God’s Sovereign Grace to Nineveh:  Salvation Belongs to Yahweh

Micah. Divine Judgment upon Social Injustice, but Restoration for the Remnant in the Millennial Kingdom

Nahum........................................................... Destruction of Nineveh:  A Comfort for the People of God

Habakkuk...................................................................................... Lessons of Faith [“From Fear to Faith”]

Zephaniah...................................................................... Jerusalem and the Nations in the Day of the Lord

Haggai...................................................................................................................... Rebuilding the Temple

Zechariah................................. Messiah and Restoration: A Theological Basis for Rebuilding the Temple

Malachi................................ Against Empty Religion:  Fear God and Prepare for the Coming Messenger

February 13, 2003