Church Minute

Wisdom and Songbooks

 The wisdom and song books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs come between the historical books and the Old Testament prophetic books in the English Bible. These sacred Scriptures are filled with poetry, hymns, and prayers. Biblical scholars believe Solomon wrote many of the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs, and David wrote many of the Psalms. The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) includes wisdom and songbooks as part of the Writings (Ketuvim). The Writings include the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra/Nehemiah, and Chronicles. The main theme of the Writings is the importance of fearing and honoring the Sovereign LORD God, obeying His commandments, and shunning (rejecting) Satan’s evildoing, as such good living brings true wisdom. These books focus on walking and living blameless lives, doing what is good and right, and wholehearted faith and obedience to the Sovereign LORD God. The Writings teach that the Sovereign LORD God created the world through wisdom, who has existed since the beginning of time. The living Sovereign LORD God, with His Son Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit as One, is the Creator and Sustainer of all life. The New Testament attributes all wisdom and truth to Christ Jesus. When one lives wisely, one lives in harmony with God and creation. The Sovereign LORD God gives everyone His wisdom, guidance, and understanding when we ask and seek Him through prayer. The Writings discuss human nature, life issues, and the importance of morality and good living. The book of Job discusses why bad things and suffering happen to good and righteous people like Job. In the book, righteous Job suffers hard times and a series of traumas, including the death of his children. Jobs’s friends believe that Job’s tragedies resulted from his sinful living. However, the Sovereign LORD God allowed Job’s temporary suffering to prove Job’s righteousness to Satan, and in the end, Job received double blessings and restoration from the Sovereign LORD God. The book of Proverbs embraces all areas of life and teaches that following wisdom leads to true life and joy, while following folly and foolishness leads to destruction and death. Proverbs uses a good wife and a wicked woman to highlight the goodness of wisdom and the destruction of foolish living. The book of Proverbs teaches that God’s favor and blessings come to those living lives with integrity, truth, and righteousness (goodness). The book of Ecclesiastes discusses life’s meaninglessness and vanity under the sun without God, who gives life true meaning and purpose. Ecclesiastes teaches that riches, fame, possession, pleasures, education, and hard work are all meaningless and vanity without fearing and obeying the Sovereign LORD God and obeying His commandments.  The book of Psalms, with 150 hymns of praises and prayers, focuses on wholehearted trust and worship of the Sovereign LORD God. The Song of Songs focuses on romantic and passionate love between a man and a woman. Many biblical scholars see the Song of Songs as a picture of God’s endless love for the world and His longing for fellowship and union with His creation. 

God's Faithfulness In History

The Old Testament historical books reveal God’s faithfulness, mercy, grace, and justice. The historical books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther describe the living Sovereign LORD God’s active work in the world to bring salvation to all nations as the only true God of heaven and earth. These books follow the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy), and they explain Israel’s history from its entrance into the Promised Land of Israel-Palestine under the leadership of Joshua, the period of the judges, the various rulers of Israel and her sister Judah, the Great Exile, and the restoration of the Israel province. Humble foreigners such as Rahab of Canaan (Joshua 2), Ruth of Moab (Ruth 1), and a woman of Sidon (1 Kings 17) played important roles in God's salvation story to bless all nations as promised to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. The book of Joshua describes Israel’s military conquest and victories in the Promised Land by God’s grace under the leadership of Joshua, and Israel renewed their covenant of love, faithfulness, and obedience to the Sovereign LORD God. Joshua’s name in Greek is Jesus, meaning “The LORD saves.” However, Israel’s covenant commitment to God faded in the book of Judges, which led to Israel’s defeat and civil war until Israel called out to God in repentance, and God brought His spirit-filled judges to deliver Israel. The love story of Ruth and Boaz in the book of Ruth revealed God's covenant love and salvation for all people-Jews such as Boaz and non-Jews like Ruth (a Moabite). The books of 1 and 2 Samuel opens with Hannah’s faithfulness, Samuel’s call, and later Israel’s demand for a king. The Sovereign LORD God anointed Saul as Israel’s first king, but Saul failed to obey Him, so He rejected Saul and anointed David and then David’s son Solomon as the King of Israel in the capital city of Jerusalem (Zion). With David’s kingship, God promised King David an everlasting dynasty that would be fulfilled in Christ Jesus our Savior. Israel expanded their borders under David and Solomon’s leadership along with the building of the Jerusalem Temple. However, David and Solomon could not control their desires for many women, and their sins affected their children and Israel, leading to a split kingdom with ten tribes of Israel in the north and two tribes in the south-Judah. The books of 1 and 2 Kings revealed the people’s departure from worshipping the living Sovereign LORD God and many evil deeds. Because of their idolatry and evil deeds, God allowed Israel and her sister Judah to be conquered and defeated by foreign nations, the Assyrians and Babylonians, and these foreign nations deported Israel and Judah from the Promised Land and scattered them around the world. God’s faithfulness to Israel continued by protecting them from extinction in the book of Esther. Also, the living Sovereign LORD God used the Persians to allow Israel to return to their Promised Land and rebuild the Temple (Second Temple) and the Jerusalem wall in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles retell many of the same stories of God’s faithfulness from 1 and 2 Kings. 

The Torah-Pentateuch

The first five books of the Holy Bible are called the Pentateuch. Jews traditionally called these books the “Torah,” which is a Hebrew term that means “law” or “instruction.” The Torah consists of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), and biblical scholars believe that Moses wrote the Torah. The “Book of the Law” referenced in the Holy Bible usually refers to the book of Deuteronomy, specifically Deuteronomy chapters 5 through 26, spoken by Moses. Still, some scholars argue that the Book of the Law or the title “Law” means the entire Torah. The book of Genesis gives the story of God creating a good world as His sanctuary and appointing humans as His rulers, then the Original Sin of humanity with Adam and Eve’s betrayal of God and obedience to Satan (serpent), the world’s increasing violence and rebellion with Cain and Abel, Noah’s Great Flood, and then the Tower of Babel with scattering of humans in Genesis chapters 1 through 11. Genesis chapters 12 through 50 give the patriarchal period of Abraham and his family Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The book of Genesis is important because Genesis shapes the rest of the Holy Bible with various covenant promises to bless all nations of the world through the Seed of a woman and Abraham and his descendants. Next, the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy give the story of Israel with Jacob’s twelve sons (Twelve Tribes of Israel) and Israel’s exodus (salvation) from Egyptian slavery, the Passover and parting of the Red Sea, the giving of the Mount Sinai covenant, the building of the Tabernacle (Tent of Meeting) where the Sovereign LORD God dwelt, the atonement and Holiness Code in Leviticus, Israel’s rebellion and unfaithfulness in the wilderness with the book of Numbers, and the giving of the Book of Law in Deuteronomy. The Torah teaches about the covenant relationship between the living Sovereign LORD God and His people Israel and this relationship is marked by listing various obligations and holiness standards such as the Ten Commandments, so Israel would be a royal priesthood and holy nation. In the Torah, the Sovereign LORD God transformed Israel into a holy nation with the command to live holy lives as He is holy. The Pentateuch also describes the Israel's journey from Mount Sinai and their wilderness wandering and judgment for 40 years due to their fear, rebellion, and lack of faith with trust in the living Sovereign LORD God to save Israel and deliver them safely into the Promised Land of Canaan. Deuteronomy describes the prophet Moses giving a new generation of Israel a covenant renewal with the Law of God to love and obey the Sovereign LORD God wholeheartedly and then the anointing of Joshua as Israel’s new leader to lead Israel into the Promised Land of Israel-Palestine. The Torah forms the foundation of the Holy Bible, including Christ Jesus’s hope and redemptive work of salvation and atonement for the world’s sins.  

Overview of the Old Testament - Part Two

The living Sovereign LORD God’s story of salvation continues with the books of Samuel, which describes Israel (Jacob) rejecting Him as King and establishing Saul as Israel’s first king. Saul proved to be an unfaithful king, so the Sovereign LORD God rejected Saul as king and chose His faithful servant David from the tribe of Judah as king to reign in Jerusalem (Zion), followed by his son Solomon as king of Israel. David’s son Solomon built the Jerusalem Temple that transformed Jerusalem into the divine residence of the Sovereign LORD God. However, Israel’s united kingdom under David and Solomon became divided into two kingdoms after Solomon’s death because of Solomon’s unfaithfulness to the Sovereign LORD God. The divided kingdom existed from 930 to 586 BC with ten tribes of Israel living in northern Israel and two tribes living in southern Israel, now known as Judah. Evil leaders ruled Israel’s ten northern tribes; however, Judah in the south had some good leaders who followed David’s faithfulness to the Sovereign LORD God, such as Hezekiah and Josiah. However, Israel and Judah walked increasingly in rebellion and evil toward the living Sovereign LORD God and His covenant given at Mount Sinai (Horeb). The Sovereign LORD God empowered many holy prophets (messengers) such as Elijah, Elisha, and Jeremiah to call Israel and Judah to wholeheartedly turn from their evildoing and rebellion and return to Him with love, faithfulness, and obedience. Because of their continual sinfulness, the Sovereign LORD God used the Assyrians to destroy and scatter Israel and their ten tribes in 722 BC, and then He used Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians to destroy Judah and Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BC, leading to the 70-year Exile of God’s people from the Promised Land of Israel-Palestine. After 586 BC, the people of God were no longer ruled by a king but by foreign powers, including the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans. However, the Sovereign LORD God, full of mercy and grace, used Cyrus of Persia to defeat the Babylonians in 539 BC. The Persians allowed God’s people, now known as Jews, to return to their homeland in Israel-Palestine to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple (Second Temple) in 516/515 BC and the Jerusalem wall in 444 BC under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Despite Israel and Judah’s destruction, the holy prophets of God began to comfort God’s people with a message of restoration and hope with the coming of a Righteous Servant-Branch from King David’s family line that would be King of Israel and lead Israel and all nations as Savior and Ruler. This hope of a new King came with Christ Jesus as the Messiah-King. Thus, the grand story of God’s salvation moves from the Garden of Eden with the original sin, the story of Abraham and his sons, Isaac and Jacob, David and Solomon, into the New Testament. God’s salvation story, handwritten on scrolls, was written in Hebrew and Aramaic and later translated into Greek with the Septuagint (Greek version of the Old Testament Scriptures) and confirmed by the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947. 

Overview of the Old Testament - Part One

The living Sovereign LORD God’s plan of salvation and redemption begins in the Old Testament with events that divinely occurred in the Middle East with Israel-Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. The 39 books of the Old Testament-often called the Hebrew Bible-are important to understanding God’s plan of salvation that would come through His Son, Jesus the Messiah (Christ, Anointed One). The Old Testament is divided into three sections:  the Law of God (the first five books of the Holy Bible, often called the Pentateuch or Torah), the Prophets, and the Psalms. The story of salvation begins in Genesis with the divine creation of the heavens and earth and ends in the New Testament book of Revelation with the coming of the new heavens and earth. Genesis explains the origin of human sin in Genesis 3 with Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, and then God’s redemptive plan to save humanity through faith in the Seed of a woman and the Seed of Abraham-Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Genesis chapters 1 through 11 give the story of the Sovereign LORD God’s creation of the world, Adam and Eve’s rebellion and the Great Fall of humanity leading to a world dominated by violence and corruption resulting in the Great Flood and God’s salvation with Noah and his family then onward (through Noah’s son Shem) to Abraham. Genesis chapters 12 through 50 focus on the calling of Abraham (chapters 12-24), his sons Isaac and Jacob (chapters 25-36), and Jacob’s son Joseph in Egypt with the salvation of many nations (chapters 37-50) foreshadowing the greater blessings through Christ Jesus our Savior. Moses’s birth and death frame the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy. These books describe Jacob’s sons (the Twelve Tribes of Israel) living in Egyptian slavery and then Almighty God’s salvation of Israel by grace from slavery with signs and wonders (Exodus chapters 1-18), then the giving of the Law of God at Mount Sinai (Ten Commandments) (Exodus chapters 19-24) so Israel will be a holy nation in covenant with God, and then the building of Tabernacle (Exodus chapters 25-40). The Passover in Exodus 12 and the lamb of salvation foreshadows the coming Christ Jesus’s Passover in the New Testament as the perfect Passover Lamb of God. The book of Leviticus discusses how Israel can maintain holiness with God with atonement and holy living. Then, Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the land of Canaan is recorded in the book of Numbers, which also records Israel’s lack of trust and faith in the Sovereign LORD God and their subsequent punishment. Deuteronomy records Moses giving Israel the Law of God to a new generation of Israel with a covenant renewal as they prepare to enter the Promised Land (Israel-Palestine) under the leadership of Joshua. Joshua brought Israel safely into the Promised Land of God (Joshua chapters 1-24) with the help of the Commander of God’s Army leading the way. After Joshua’s death, the book of Judges describes Israel entering into a period of moral and spiritual darkness as they disobeyed God’s Mount Sinai covenant resulting in Israel’s enemies defeating them until the Sovereign LORD God brought Spirit-filled leaders called judges to lead Israel to defeat their enemies.

History of Salvation - Old Testament

The Holy Bible is the living Sovereign LORD God’s love story of salvation for ALL humankind. Salvation means deliverance and redemption from Satan’s sin and its consequence brought about by our repentance with faithfulness and obedience to the Sovereign LORD God and His Son, Christ Jesus. The story of God’s salvation starts with the Old Testament. Everything written in the Old Testament points to Christ Jesus our Savior, encouraging everyone to remain faithful to the Sovereign LORD God. The Old Testament begins with the Sovereign LORD God’s creation of a world of goodness with His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Genesis chapters 3 through 11 describe the rebellion of Adam and Eve causing the Original Sin (Great Fall), then the violence and corruption of Noah’s generation leading to the Great Flood, and humankind’s pride to reach heaven at the Tower of Babel leading to the shattering of humans throughout the earth. Then, the story of salvation begins with the Sovereign LORD God calling Abraham and His sons Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and Joseph to bring His message of salvation and blessings through faith in Him. Then, Jacob’s twelve sons-the tribes of Israel come to live in Egypt and succumb to Egyptian slavery. The Sovereign LORD God led Israel by His grace out of Egyptian slavery through His servant Moses and brought Israel to Mount Sinai by giving His Law so they could become a holy nation and His priesthood to the world. Then, Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land of God (Israel-Palestine). After Joshua’s death, Israel was ruled by various Spirit-filled judges until the prophet Samuel anointed Saul as Israel’s first king and followed by Israel’s greatest kings-King David and his son Solomon. Solomon built Israel’s first Temple. After David and Solomon’s deaths, Israel was divided into two kingdoms-Israel in the north with 10 tribes and Judah in the south with two tribes. Many different kings and one queen ruled the northern kingdom of Israel, and all of Israel’s leaders were evil. The southern kingdom of Israel (Judah) had several good kings who followed the holy ways of God, like King David, such as Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah. The Sovereign LORD God anointed many prophets, including Elijah and Elisha, calling Israel and Judah to return to Him wholeheartedly, faithfully, and obedient. However, Israel and her sister Judah continued their rebellion against the Sovereign LORD God until 722 BC when the Sovereign LORD God called the Assyrians to destroy Israel and then called the Babylonians in 586 BC to destroy Jerusalem, Judah, and Solomon’s Temple. However, Israel had hope of salvation when the Sovereign LORD God allowed Israel to return to her homeland of Israel-Palestine to rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem wall and the hope of the Messiah coming from King David’s family to bring salvation to the world. The New Testament writers announce that the Messiah (Anointed One) came in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior of the world.

God's Amazing Grace

The Holy Bible defines grace as the Sovereign LORD God’s kindness, unmerited favor, forgiveness, goodness, blessings, salvation, and eternal love. The essence of the Holy Trinity (Triune) of God - the Sovereign LORD God, His Son Christ Jesus our Lord, and the Holy Spirit of God - means grace and peace. Grace is a good gift from God. The Holy Bible speaks of the Sovereign LORD God coming and giving His amazing grace, forgiveness, and mercy to Jacob (Israel), Israel’s children in Exodus, the prodigal sons, Apostle Paul, and many others, not because of any righteous act nor ritual but when they were dead in Satan’s darkness and bondage. The Good News (Gospel) is the message of the Sovereign LORD God’s amazing grace and love for all people by sending His Son Christ Jesus to bring salvation (healing) and a new spiritual life through faith in Him and His Son Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Those who have experienced the Sovereign LORD God’s amazing grace, salvation, and forgiveness receive the Holy Spirit of God with new hearts, equipping, strengthening, and transforming them to live holy lives and producing good fruits of righteousness and love within their lives and hearts. The Sovereign LORD God empowers believers in Jesus to walk with Him by humble faith from their whole hearts and live blameless lives filled with honesty, decency, and integrity. Christ Jesus declared in His teaching that living a life of mercy, forgiveness, goodness, humility, generosity, faith, and love for one another leads to God’s blessings and grace. Everyone can access the Sovereign LORD God’s abundant grace and mercy through our repentance (turning from Satan) with faith and obedience to Him and His Son, Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Sovereign LORD God gives His abundant grace, favor, and inheritance to those who repent and turn from evildoing and live and walk with Him by faith in truth and goodness with a humble spirit. The New Testament writers encouraged believers of Jesus to continue living in God’s grace with obedience to Him and never abuse God’s grace with Satan’s dark living. 

Miracles

The Holy Bible is filled with miracles, including Israel’s exodus from Egyptian slavery and deliverance at the Red Sea, the miracles of Joshua, David versus Goliath, and the prophets Elijah and Elisha, the miraculous birth and resurrection of Christ Jesus, and the numerous miracles and wonders of Jesus and His true disciples. Miracles are extraordinary and supernatural events declaring the power and divine work of the Sovereign LORD God and His Kingdom into the human affairs of the world. Signs and wonders” are often defined and associated with miracles in the Holy Bible. Also, there are individuals with the divine gift of miracles given by the Holy Spirit of God to help strengthen, edify, and encourage the church of Jesus. Miracles are for God’s glory. However, miracles are NOT magic, but they are connected to the Sovereign LORD God’s providence - the protective care of God (fate, destiny, or divine intervention). The Sovereign LORD God can perform miracles and wonders as He controls and governs all aspects of life in the heavens and earth. The Holy Bible teaches that the Sovereign LORD God makes the rain fall, causes the grass to grow, and holds all things by His word and power. Satan and his lawless workers of darkness also perform miracles, signs, and false wonders for money, pride, and fame to take people away from the loving Sovereign LORD God Almighty and His abundant grace and goodness. Christ Jesus taught that everyone can recognize these lying demons of Satan by their bad fruit and evil deeds of darkness. The Sovereign LORD God and His Son Christ Jesus are greater, mighty, and more powerful than Satan and his evil workers of darkness. Everyone can access the Sovereign LORD God’s miracles of grace through our humble prayers, seeking Him with our wholehearted belief and faith in His goodness and grace found in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing is impossible nor too hard for God.

Who Is God

The Holy Bible states that there is ONE true and living God of heaven and earth, and He is the Sovereign LORD God and Holy Father of Christ Jesus our Lord, who is our Mediator and Peacemaker with God. The Sovereign LORD God is King of the Universe, and He is ONE with this Son, Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God. There are many names for the Sovereign LORD God in the Holy Bible, including Adonai, El Shaddai (God Almighty), Elohim, and the Holy One. The essence of God’s Name is Yahweh or Jehovah - translated as the LORD, meaning “the I AM WHO I AM” or “I AM the Existing One,” and He is the Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob filled with unending love, mercy, forgiveness, and justice. The eternal Sovereign LORD God like His Son Christ Jesus is the First and Last - Alpha and Omega. Every one who loves and trusts the Sovereign LORD God is known by Him. The living Sovereign LORD God reigns and rules the world, and we can always trust in Him as our loving provider, shield, and helper. However, an idol is nothing in the world because an idol represents no real god and possesses no power, and we must NEVER worship an idol or any other god. The all-knowing Sovereign LORD God is our good and faithful Heavenly Father, and He and His Son Christ Jesus are our Savior and Creator of the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all living things that live in them - our life. The heavens and earth reveal the Sovereign LORD God’s existence and power as our merciful Redeemer, Savior, and LORD of Heaven’s Armies (Sabaoth). Finally, the Holy Bible states that everyone must love and trust but also fear the all-wise Sovereign LORD God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength as He is the King of the Universe. Let the whole earth seek and worship the Sovereign LORD God and love Him first with our hearts, and also love one another because love and goodness strengthen the church of Christ and the world. 

Salvation and Holiness

The Gospel message of Jesus is the righteousness and goodness of God that brings everyone salvation and holiness from heaven. Salvation has many different meanings, but biblical salvation means redemption, deliverance, or lifeline from Satan’s evildoing and its consequences. Our salvation and holiness that brings new Kingdom life from heaven come to everyone through our repentance with faith and obedience to the living Sovereign LORD God and His Son, Christ Jesus, as our Lord and Savior. The Sovereign LORD God and His Son Christ Jesus are our Savior. Everyone who repents and turns from Satan’s evildoing, confesses wholehearted faith to the Sovereign LORD God and His Son, Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, and believes in God’s grace through Christ Jesus’s death and resurrection for their sinfulness will be declared righteous and saved. The Holy Bible declares that everyone is saved and delivered from Satan’s wrath, condemnation, and eternal death by living and walking in continual faithfulness and obedience to the Sovereign LORD God and His Son, Christ Jesus as Lord. Our salvation through repentance with faith and obedience to Christ Jesus includes forgiveness of all our past sinfulness and evildoing, present deliverance from Satan’s dark living and our holiness (sanctification) into a new life from heaven, and future glorification when Christ Jesus returns from heaven in the Glory Cloud of God.
 
Biblical salvation requires humility with repentance and turning from Satan’s dark and evil living, which leads to depression, despair, and death. Believers of Jesus must no longer follow Satan’s lies, hatred, lawlessness, adultery, and greed but instead produce the fruit of righteousness and goodness in the world for God’s glory. Here is the Good News:  the Sovereign LORD God through His Son Christ Jesus sends the Holy Spirit of God as our Helper and Guide to live inside our hearts and minds. The Trinity of God - God the Father, God the Son Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit are all involved in our salvation, justification (righteousness), and holiness (sanctification). As our Helper and Guide, the Holy Spirit empowers and strengthens believers in Jesus to produce good and righteous fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control toward others in the world for God’s glory. In other words, the Holy Spirit of God is living inside the hearts and minds of believers of Jesus, empowering us to live in obedience to the Sovereign LORD God and practice righteousness with holiness so we no longer walk in Satan’s dark and evil living.