Old Testament Survey Summary and Interpretation

Eduardo Fernandez
Student Number
N1838-1423
Survey of the Old Testament

A summary of findings from the book by John Fok. And my interpretations.
It is, and will be very difficult to summarize my readings of the Old Testament Survey in 9 or 10 pages. The information I have thus far read contains lots of interesting and useful information that I will have to shorten for the sake of my assignment. So here it goes 2 testaments, 66 books All summarized and interpreted in 9-10 pagesI pray the Lord will lead me in the right direction to pick out what is the most important information I have read, aided by other sources of information, and that I will complete the work in a reasonable amount of time. The survey, or synthesis approach as it is sometimes called, attempts to give an overall plan of the individual books of the
Bible without getting lost in the minutia.1
The Old Testament according to Fok and many others is the relationship of God the Father and the beginning of existence to account for the central figure of the entire Bible, Jesus Christ.
Genesis: Genesis talks about the creation of light and darkness, of all the creatures and plants on earth and most importantly the creation of man and woman. Genesis also talks about the beginnings of the world being populated, the fall of man and the initial sin which started all in Adam and Eves account. Mr. Fok explains in his survey all the different theories of Creationism, and contrasts them with the theories of evolution. Some of the most important personas in the Old Testament include: Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. It is
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John Fok page 3 in the pdf
interesting to see how Mr. Fok parallels Gods wrath at the beginning and His Love for his chosen people Israel. God created the universe, the earth, and every living being. We can trust Him to handle the concerns in our lives.2 The unconditional promises of God cannot be thwarted. Neither satanic opposition nor human error can change the plan of God. God in His faithfulness and sovereignty preserves and fulfills the promises He makes. 3 One interesting story in the book of Genesis is the story of the Tower of Babel. It is an account of the wrath of God towards Gods people for them wanting to become as big and as good as God. I believe that Mr. Fok added a lot of interesting details to his accounts and personas of Genesis, as well as to the other books of the Bible he reviewed. However for the purposes of this work, I am only going to use the very essentials of Mr. Foks Survey.
Exodus: Exodus begins opposite to the book of Genesis. In Genesis, Creation was all good and man entered sin for the first time, in contrast, exodus begins with the slavery of the people of Israel and their release from bondage by God. The Burning Bush is a significant event in this book of the Bible. God asks Moses to be his instrument to deliver His people from bondage. Several miracles take place alongside the burning bush in this book. The plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the provision of God of water and manna in the desert. The most important event Mr. Fok describes in detail is the giving of the commandments in Mount Sinai. Christ summarized the Decalogue in Luke 10:27-28. Christ asked a question concerning the nature of the law. The answer he accepted as correct was love God and love your neighbor. The first statement sums up the first four commandments and the second statement summarizes the last six. Two lessons can he derived from this analysis. The first is that the epitome of the law is love. This is why Jesus, in instituting a "new" commandment in John 13:34-35, based it on the same principle, "that ye love one another." The second lesson is that the last six duties will only be fulfilled if we recognize our responsibility in the first four. Our relationship to God will affect our relationship to man. And only when we are in proper relationship to God can we fulfill our responsibilities to others.4 The making of the tabernacle culminates account in this book. I like the way Mr. Fok includes Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the beginning of his survey.
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Gotquestions.org Book of Genesis. John Fok, Old Testament Survey John Fok, Old testament Survey
Leviticus: It is the name given to the tribe of Levi, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. It has been called the handbook of the priests. Leviticus, as Mr. Fok asserts is the worship manual of Israel. The interesting thing is that the book of Hebrews quotes the book of Leviticus a lot. As you read Hebrews you begin to see that the many details of Leviticus are divinely intended to portray New Testament truths.5 Some of the rules and regulations that the book Leviticus talks about are: The offerings, which is a means of access to God, the burnt offering, the meal offering, the peace offering, the sin offering, the trespass offering, the law of the offerings, the priesthood, requirements for holiness, the basis for holiness (which talks about the day of atonement, activities and special ceremonies of the High Priest, how to dress, the altar, the feasts. Of importance here are Mr. Foks comments regarding the Passover feast which commemorates the release of the Jews from the bondage of Pharaoh. The significance for us is given in 1 Corinthians 5:7, where Paul points out that Christ is our Passover6. Many of the basic tenets of the New testament point back towards the book of Leviticus, among them the seriousness of sin in Gods sight, the necessary ritual of atonement for the forgiveness of sins, the fact that God is Holy, and the necessity of a mediator between God and Man. This all culminates triumphantly in Jesus Christ resurrection from the dead.
Numbers: This book, according to Mr. Fok deals with the wanderings of the Jews in the dessert. The book traces the journeys of Israel from Sinai to Kadesh and ultimately to the Plains of Moab. The theme of the book could be fittingly described as the pilgrim walk of God's people. It reminds us that we, too, are pilgrims finding our way through the wilderness of this world (1 Peter 2:11-12). The gigantic obstacles, bitter disappointments, and spiritual victories are all characteristic of the experiences we encounter on our pilgrim journey.7 In all these events, the writer of Numbers sees the hand of God, guiding, sustaining, delivering and keeping His covenant with His people, as things are prepared for them to enter into the Holy Land that was promised to Abraham.
Deuteronomy: The last book in the Pentateuch. In this book, the Ten Commandments are repeated once again. According to Mr. Fok, Moses gave a series of discourses on the law, right before the Israelites entered the Promised Land. It is, according to him, a book of transition. A reaffirmation of the Covenant: God now
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey John Fok, Old Testament Survey John Fok, Old Testament survey
reviews the obligations of the Mosaic covenant with the people. This is necessary for two reasons. The first is that He was speaking to a new generation. The generation that initially received the law at Mount Sinai had perished in the wilderness, and this new generation needed to be reminded of their obligations. The second is that they were entering a new environment. Some of the laws needed further explanation so the people would know how to apply them in the land.8 Moreover, Moses tells his people in one of his discourses, about Someone coming after him (referring to Jesus) who would give Gods word to Israel. Num 18:15. Acts 3:22 shows that this is a prophecy concerning Jesus Christ.9 This is then the Second book of the Law, as the name of the book implies. It is like a review in any learning process, whereby one is more apt to remember what one studies.
Joshua: This is a book on historical facts in the Bible. Previously we discussed the Pentateuch, the 5 books drafted by Moses. This is a book of conquests and victory according to Mr. Fok. The book also talks about the land and how the different tribes of Israel got their portion of the lands. Amongst the most popular battles is the battle of Jericho. In the final chapters of the book, Joshua, the author of the book, exhorts people to keep Gods commandments, and then challenges the people to renew their commitment to God and his laws. There are miracles performed in each book of the bible, in this particular one, Mr. Fok talks about the miracle of daylight for a long period of time. This particular book is touching my heart today, as I read Mr. Fok: 1.3.1.3 Gibeon (9) The Gibeonites are spared a military defeat by tricking Israel into an alliance. Using deceit, they pretend to come from a far country and ask Joshua to make a covenant with them (9:6-13). The law forbade Israel to enter into alliances with the people of the land (cf. Deuteronomy 7:2; 20:10-17). However, the leaders in Israel do not wait on God for guidance (9:14) and enter into an irrevocable agreement. The Gibeonites are made slaves but continue to exert a troublesome influence in Israel for several generations. This chapter is a warning against entering into ungodly alliances. Even though we may be deceived at the moment, our decision is sometimes irreversible (as in marriage) and may affect our lives for years to come. Well, yesterday afternoon, I had my mind set to go thru divorce. Miraculously, my wife and I entered into contract with our family therapist, who produced, thru the Holy Spirit, a change of heart and mind in me. I ended up the appointment calling the lawyer to cancel divorce proceedings. I have no doubt in my mind and in my heart that
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey page 10 in the Book John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 14 in the book.
this alliance my wife and I entered into , is an alliance with the spirit of God, for God does not want divorce, unless in cases of marital infidelity
I have not yet given miracles thru the Bible their proper importance and place in this document I am drafting, but it would be interesting and a lengthy process to compile all of the miracles that God demonstrated to his people all throughout the Bible.
Judges: This is a book that connects the Pentateuch books with the historical books in the Bible. The Lord is the ultimate judge (11:27), who delegates His authority to such men and endues them with His Spirit so they can perform their task adequately. An ancient tradition designates Samuel as the author of the book. This is a possibility but there is no positive evidence that such is the case. Thus, the author remains anonymous.10 This is an era that some historians call thedark ages of the Hebrew history.11 Judges brings about a direct contrast to the spiritual tone of the book of Joshua, according to Mr. Fok. He says that, where Joshua brings about stories of the positive influence faith has on its people; the book of Judges brings about the fact that there is consistent failure when compromising ones faith in God. Defeat, Mr. Fok and I attest, is brought about by compromising our faith in God. Mr. Fok writes later on The Israelites had failed to communicate the truth to the next generation. In looking back over this introductory section, a pattern emerges that helps explain the failure recorded in the book. The first factor is incomplete obedience. Israel had not driven out the inhabitants completely and had been lax in obeying God's voice. This led to an assimilation of the gods of these inhabitants (2:11-12) which was idolatry.12 I believe Idolatry is one of the main sources of sin in the world today. When we put something other than God first in our lives, things do not work out well at all. This I believe is called Idolatry putting people places or things or situations above God. God needs to be number one priority in our lives. One of the characters of this book is Samson, a name known by many. Mr. Fok says that his life at the hands of Delilah is well known. Delilah being the one that cut Samsons hair, thereby depriving him of his strength. Of the 13 judges named, only 3 are well known: Deborah, Gideon, and Samson.13
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 71 in the PDF form of the book.
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey page 74 in the PDF files of his book
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Ruth: The book of Ruth is contemporary to the book of Judges. It shows the softer side of the Hebrew life. The most important fact, is one that Mr. Fok talks about in his Survey: the book furnishes an indispensable link in the line of the Messiah14 Mr. Fok then concludes that when you compare Ruths situation in the beginning and at the end of her book, you find a great contrast. In the beginning we find Ruth without a husband and without a child, however she was committed to follow Gods precepts. In the end, God ends up giving her husband and family, and, on top of that, God places her in the genealogy of the Messiah (see John Foks Survey of the OT). In the words of Mr. Fok: In the final scene, God not only gives her a husband and family but places her in the line of the Messiah - i.e. the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5-16; Luke 3:23-32). Ruth's story is an appropriate illustration of Matthew 6:33. "Seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."15 Oh that I would take heed and practice this lesson each and every day of my life!
1st and 2nd Samuel: These books were named after Samuel, not only because he is the principal figure in the first part, but also because he anointed the two other principal characters, Saul and David. Originally a single book which was divided when translated into Greek, the books of Samuel cover a period of time in Israels history from the birth of Samuel to the close of the reign of David. First Samuel presents the transition from Israels judges to the monarchy. Second Samuel deals almost exclusively with the history of David and presents a vivid picture of the theocratic monarchy in which the king represents Gods rule over the people.16 An interesting fact according to Mr. Fok in his Survey is that the titles of these books in the King James Version of the Bible are translated as 1st and 2nd Kings. So, then this is a book about 3 important characters in the Bible. Lets summarize then what they are all about. Mr. Fok points out that Samuel is considered second to Moses in the Hebrew tradition. Samuel holds the privilege of being the last of Judges, and he is also the first new prophet. I will not do Moses due respect if I talk too much about Samuel and leave Moses behind. Saul and David were the first two kings of Israel, they are followed by Solomon. According to Mr. Fok, we can divide Israels history into three periods, and, 1st Samuel is important because the book talks about the transition between theocracy to monarchy. This book of 1st Samuel also gives emphasis to the three offices
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 77 in the PDF form of the book. John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 78 in the PDF form of the book.
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thru which God works with His people: the priests, the prophets and the kings office. Mr. Fok also talks about other ways people have outlined the book, but I agree with his breakdown of the 1st Samuel book. To me, David is the most important figure of the three, Perhaps I am biased towards him for I always hear him quoted or announced from the pulpit while attending Christian mass/services. I am not sure if the Protestant word is the same as the Catholic word for service. An important event that Mr. Fok mentions is David and his battle with Goliath. The story of David is accounted for in 2nd Samuel. There are four unique contributions that 2nd Samuel talks about: the first is political, the book accounts for the fast rise of Israel, this happened in 7 short years. Israel then became the strongest nation in the Near East. The second contribution is scriptural: it is the background scenario of many of the Psalms. The third contribution is Biographical, as explained in the beginning of this summary. The fourth and last contribution is Prophetical: It records perhaps, according to Mr. Fok, and probably according to others as well, one of Gods greatest covenants between Him and His people the Davidic Covenant. An important event in this book is Davids sin with Bathsheba. This is the turning point in the book according to Mr. Fok. According to Mr. Fok, chapters 11 and 12 in the book, demonstrate that God is no respecter of persons. Although David is Israel's greatest king and a man after God's own heart, his life does not escape the scrutiny of God. His sin is portrayed candidly with no attempt to rationalize or hide the enormity of his crime. He likewise is not exempt from the chastisement of God, as the remainder of the book illustrates. No person is too small or too little when it comes to Gods judgment upon him or her. Several of the factors that account for Davids sin with Bathsheba are: Unconcern, Idleness, and Insignificance in the beginning of the sin act. David however, in spite of his sin, is a central character in the Messianic genealogy from him unto Christ himself. Mr. Fok accounts for Davids similarities with Christ at the end of his survey, but he neglects to state that there were all nine similarities and one major difference. Christ was, is and will always be free from sin. He took our sins and died for us on the Cross.
1st and 2nd Kings: These books are a continuation to 1st and 2nd Samuel, a continued account of the Hebrew people, the history of Israel all the way from David, to the destruction of the Northern kingdom of Israel in 721 BC, and to the fall of the Southern kingdom, Judah, in 586 BC.17 These books talk about the rise and fall of Solomon, and the prophets Elijah and Elisha. According to many historians, these two books were originally
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one in the Hebrew Bible. God measures the successes of these Kings throughout the Hebrew history in terms of their obedience to the Word of God, not in terms of their administrative or political prowess.18 With the reign of Solomon, deterioration in the quality of government is observed. The line of Kings becomes more and more corrupt and God can seldom then use them as His representatives. God is concerned more with their spiritual contributions as mentioned before. These circumstances create a conflict between the prophets who are God's spokesmen and the Kings who are often disinterested in spiritual matters. The kings by their frequent apostasy remain in violation of God's will.19 1st Kings talks about the last part of the United 12 Tribes, whereas 2nd Kings continues the history onto the Babylonian captivity. Elijah is part of the 1st Kings story whereas Elisha is part of 2nd Kings. There are accounts of miracles from both Elijah and Elisha but, like I said earlier in my work, I would do a disservice to the rest of the Prophets and personas in the Bible if I start talking about them in more detail. In the end, these books bring an end to the Davidic Kings, the monarchy, according to Fok, is replaced by foreign domination. Although the Davidic throne is no longer occupied in Jerusalem, the Davidic line is still in existence. It continues down through the centuries to Jesus of Nazareth who will someday write the last chapter in the history of the throne of David.20 The recurring theme here in these both books is that God rewards closeness to Him and punishes rebellion and separation from Him. Oh that we all in the world would learn from Gods book, The Bible.
1st and 2nd Chronicles: These books are a summary of Hebrew history that duplicate most of the books of Samuel and most of the books of Kings.21 Chronicles overlaps the events of the books of Samuel and Kings. First Chronicles and 2 Samuel cover the same events but from a different perspective. The focal point of interest in Chronicles is the Temple. The author thus selects his material in keeping with this theme. David's life is shown not as the great military leader, but as the one who prepared the nation for the building of the first Temple. The religious life is thus emphasized over the political life of the nation.22 David here is seen as the one king who prepared things to build the Temple of God. The religious life of the nation is emphasized more in these books than the political life of Israel. The southern kingdom of Judah is emphasized here, after the
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 101 in the PDF form of the book. John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 101 in the PDF form of the book. John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 116 in the PDF
division of the North and South Kingdoms. The southern kingdom possessed the temple. The northern tribes were more characterized by a rebellious center of worship. According to Mr. Fok, several lessons can be derived from these books, first, even the best of Gods servants make mistakes, we can see that in, for example the life of David. Second, according also to Mr. Fok, worship responsibilities are to be accepted by Gods people, and third, God opens and closes doors to His discretion. According to Mr. Fok, the purpose of 2nd Chronicles is to warn the people of Israel of the tragedy of the first temple. For this reason the author composes a history of the first Temple in these chapters of Chronicles. He follows it from its glorious beginning to its tragic end. It is both a warning and an encouragement. He traces clearly the deterioration of the Temple worship and the disaster to which it led. At the same time he reminds them that God has a divine purpose for the Temple.23 Then, Mr. Fok proceeds to name the several Kings that reigned in the Kingdom, for example, he talks about Asa, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, Ahaz, and others. I have chosen from the beginning to not go into detail explaining the different personalities of the Bible, as it would be virtually impossible to summarize all of these in just 10 pages. In conclusion, according to Mr. Fok, the book of 2nd Chronicles then is a revelation of the dangers of ritualism without righteousness. The people of Judah had not apostatized in the same manner the Northern Kingdom had. They had their Temple; they performed their religious duties. But the problem is obvious. These ceremonies had become a mere ritual. The observance of God's Word in the practical affairs of everyday life was absent; thus God brought judgment. It is a warning to any nation that the true worth of its religious life is not to be gauged merely by outward religious observances. If the religious life of a nation does not affect the behavior of the worshiper, judgment is the result.(John Fok)
Ezra and Nehemiah: These two books were originally written as one. They contain the History of the Hebrew people after their exile in Babylon. Important points in these books include the rebuilding of the temple, rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the restoration and migration of Jews back to Israel, all this, according to Mr. Fok. One key point about Ezra is that the authors main job was to revive the Israelis interest in the Scriptures. Ezra can be then considered a book of restoration, according to Mr. Fok. This is, I believe, the first place where Mr. Fok talks about the remnant, which, in my estimate is a doctrine revealed all throughout the Bible. Ezra according to Mr. Fok was skillful in his use of scriptures, Gods word influenced him before he transferred that knowledge to others, he was more than professionally interested in the Word, and according to
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Mr. Fok and to myself as well, most importantly, in Mr. Foks own words, because he was grounded in the Word, he was guided by the Word. He speaks of "the good hand of God" upon him (7:6, 9, 28; 8:22). A man like Ezra who lives his life on the basis of the Word will recognize the hand of God in the everyday circumstances of life.24 Also, important as well in Ezra, we find that the events of the book, disclose big spiritual victories, according to Mr. Fok, however, there is a reminder that sin is always a part of ourselves, and this is the case since Adam and Eve sinned against God. In other words, according to our minister Pastor Gary Hoffmayer, Adams sin has been imputed into us. When Jesus came and lived and died for us, his Righteousness was then imputed to us, and, the great exchange occurred, He took our sin for us in exchange for His imputing His Grace and Righteousness onto us. We still are sinners, however we need to deal with our sin and move on. The book also reveals several other spiritual lessons: 1. God uses both saved and unsaved to accomplish His purpose. His instruments are found both inside and outside His family. He used Cyrus along with Zerubbabel, Artaxerxes, as well as Ezra. 2. God is willing to give His people a second chance when they fail Him. God brings them back to the land. He protects and provides for them, making it possible to begin again on the same site where they failed Him. 3. A true spiritual leader is one of purpose (7:10) and prayer (9). He does not hesitate to identify himself with his people and takes drastic steps to deal with sin.25 The book of Nehemiah attempts to illustrate how God favors His people. Mr. Fok then states, that, specifically, the book shows how the broken down walls of the City and their low faith were restored by Nehemiahs excellent leadership, who was a man of faith and prayer, and thru a few Jewish brothers and sisters, who responded to Gods challenge to rebuild. Mr. Fok then explains that the book illustrates that prayer without plans is nil, and plans without prayers is also nil. A few practical lessons come from this book, much as other practical lessons come from the rest of the books of the Bible. We need to learn how to pray fervently as Nehemiah did and to recognize the answers when they come, even if it be through an unexpected source.26 Mr. Fok then explains that Nehemiah first explores and ascertains what needs to be done and then he plans and projects the finalized result. The practical implication of these actions illustrate that We make little progress when we do not know what we are
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 133 in the PDF form of the book. John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 134 in the PDF form of the book. John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 136 in the PDF form of the book.
really seeking to achieve. Where are we going? This is a valid question for any Christian or Christian organization. Only when we answer this can we decide how we will get there.27 This is the first principle, Investigation. Then, according to Mr. Fok the following other principles are illustrated: Cooperation, Determination and that of Distribution.
Esther: This is a book similar to Ruths; it displays the heroic lady, working on behalf of the Jewish people to save them from the wrath of their enemies in Exile. The book takes place in one of the three capitals of the Persian Empire. What is interesting is that the word God is not mentioned even once in the book. Mr. Fok writes: The word "providence" summarizes the truth the author seeks to portray through the events that take place. His hand, however, is seen in each incident that transpires. God is in the background, but He is working. Although the Jews are in a far country with heathen rulers. God still watches over His own and protects them in spite of the grave peril that threatens to exterminate them.28 The book revolves around the events that threaten the existence of the Jews throughout all the Persian Empire. I believe, I could be wrong, that, Mr. Fok mentions Satan in this book for the first time, stating that Satan wants to annihilate the Jews and make Gods plan to fail, however we see, not only here, but throughout the Bible, that God is always in control!. Halleluiah! The book which begins with a feast ends with a feast. In between the two feasts God's people were threatened and delivered. Mordecai has been exalted from a position of peril to power. The attitude toward the Jews has changed from disfavor to favor. God has not directly intervened, but He has overruled in every situation.29
Job: This book deals with the problem of human suffering, specially the suffering of the righteous. We are now delving into the poetical books of the Bible. The main character of the book is Job. The poetical books according to Mr. Fok, are charged with feeling, they are literature that gives us the Wisdom of God in poetic form. The main question to ask here is, why do good people suffer? I believe Mr. Fok in his dissertation deals with data that, in my estimate is not too important, at least to be included in this Bible summary. However he
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 137 in the PDF form of the book. John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 141 in the PDF form of the book. John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 144 in the PDF form of the book.
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makes a good point when he said: The very fact that God inspired a book like Job to be written and included in the canon of the Holy Bible is strong evidence of His love for His children. This book records His perfect answers to the many agonizing questions about life. Through those answers, severe trials and testing in life take on a new quality.30 According to Mr. Fok, Job is a book that deals with a physical and spiritual experience; I would call it the tragedy of Job, his faith was tested to the point of almost giving up. According to Mr. Fok, The underlying purposes of Job are the following: 1. To reveal who God is. 2. To show the kind of trust He wants His children to have (i.e. trust God even though you cannot fully account for your circumstances). Approved by God means "tried and found true" (cf. Romans 16:10). 3. To reveal His favor toward His children and His absolute control over Satan. 4. To answer man's questions about why a righteous person may suffer while an evil man may be healthy and prosperous.31 Mr. Fok then proceeds to explain the main characters of the book. For lack of space I will not do that here in this essay. He then explains the problem of pain and gives us Gods perfect answer: Suffering is a test of trusting God for who He is, not for what He does. The book of Job teaches that the person with genuine trust worships God basically for who He is. That person may have unanswered questions as to why God does what He does, but he still worships God wholeheartedly for who He is. 32 Gods Wisdom and Power are explained towards the end of the book of Job. The story of Job ends triumphantly when God restores him to health and gives him more material possessions than he had to begin with. The books principal aim is to refute the popular view that all suffering is the result of sin in the life of the sufferer.33
Psalms: A collection of 150 poems, written primarily by Solomon, David, Moses and Asaph. Some Psalm chapters are anonymous. It is basically a book about devotions. Almost every aspect of mans relation to God is depicted in these poems: simple trust, the sense of sin, appeals to a higher power in time of trouble, and the conviction that the world is in the hands of a loving God.34 Most of the Psalms of the book are originally ascribed to David. According to Mr. Fok there is a classification of the book of Psalms into five different types
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 154 in the PDF form of the book John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 155 in the PDF form of the book John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 158 in the PDF form of the book
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of psalms. 1. Adoring/worship, 2. Wondering Worship, 3. Ceaseless Worship, 4. Submissive Worship and 5. Perfected Worship. Mr. Fok states, that, David who wrote the majority of the Psalms, gives us the rich and varied experiences of his life with God, according to his own words, as much as no other writer has done. Mr. Fok states: Anyone familiar with David's life cannot fail to be struck with this fact. He was, at different times in his life,
a humble shepherd boy, a servant in the king's palace, a successful warrior, a fugitive, a great king, an exile, an old man. He was sometimes poor and sometimes rich, sometimes hated and sometimes beloved, sometimes persecuted and sometimes honored, sometimes obscure and sometimes prominent, sometimes profligate and sometimes penitent, sometimes sad and sometimes joyful. But in all these varied experiences, and under all these changing circumstances, David talked to God, pouring forth his heart, his thoughts, his feelings to his Maker.35 Mr. Fok then
states that God is the Key person in the Psalms I agree with him in that, without God there could be no song within us. Mr. Fok also stated that each Psalm can be read all by itself, without referring to another one. I learned once that we can read 5 Psalms a day in 30 days, which is the number of Psalms in the Bible. We can also read 1 Proverb a day for a total of 30 or 31 days. It was a favorite book of the first-century believers shown by
the fact that of the New Testament's 283 direct quotations from the Old Testament, 116 are from Psalms. One reason for this is that a wide range of human experience is represented in the psalms. We find guilt, worry, depression, and anxiety on the one hand; trust, confidence, joy, and praise on the other. Each psalm was written from the crucible of human experience.36 We should point out that this emphasis on practical experience is rooted in theology. It has been stated that if the entire Old Testament except the Psalter were lost, we would still have the basic material necessary to construct an Old Testament theology. The psalms reveal a message of practical Christian experience that is rooted in the character of God.37 Another interesting feature in the Psalms is their prophecies of the Lord
Jesus Christ. This being another link in the disclosure that the Old Testament as a whole points towards our Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Proverbs: The book of Proverbs is a compendium of short sayings. The ones included here cover a variety of subjects, for example, chastity, control of the tongue, laziness, knowledge, relations with others, justice.38 The most important message from these proverbs is that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom.
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According to Mr. Fok and others, the book of Proverbs is one of three books in the Bible considered Wisdom literature; the other two books are the book of Job and the book of Ecclesiastes. The book of Proverbs addresses topics in the realm of conduct and character, particularly the spiritual, moral and social realms.39 Mr. Fok then explains the nature of a proverb: A proverb is universal. It is not composed against the background of a specific historical or personal situation, but is a general saying designed to apply to many different instances. In this connection, it is significant that the term "Israel" never occurs in the book. The proverbs are also comprehensive. We will see that the subject matter of the proverbs covers all areas of life. But each proverb does not apply to every situation. Like any general rule or maxim, a proverb holds true for certain designated circumstances requisite to the situation in view40. Mr. Fok then proceeds to explain the different personalities spoken of in the Proverbs: the sluggard, the strange woman, and the virtuous woman. He also explains the principles one can learn from this book: the principle of mans relationship to God, his relationship to his nation, his relationship to his business, to his friends, to his family, to himself.41 To me personally, this is the first book I would read to attain the Wisdom of the Lord in the Old Testament. Incidentally there is 31 proverbs, perhaps the reader would like to read one proverb a day. I found a good summary of the purpose in writing the book of Proverbs online: Knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, but wisdom is the ability to see people, events, and situations as God sees them. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.42
Ecclesiastes: In Mr. Foks own words: Ecclesiastes is a book that investigates life and tells what kind of life is worth living. It is the quest of a soul who sees only vanity all about him until his eyes are opened to the hope offered by God. The book has been described as a confession of failure and pessimism when God is excluded. Ecclesiastes is a perplexing book to many, partly because its perspectives and purposes are not
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understood.43 Ecc 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven Probably the greatest paragraph in Ecclesiastes starts this wayIt reminds me of funerals, and times of physical death, But for those of us who believe, the beginning of life eternal with Christ Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit. For some reason Microsoft word is refusing to cooperate with me in allowing me to adjust the paragraph indentation. It should be kept in mind that portions of Ecclesiastes reflect the thinking of the natural man. This means that the statements are an accurate record of the reasoning of human, not divine wisdom.44 According to Mr. Fok, the main purpose of the book of Ecclesiastes is to show the failures of pursuing a material life, and to point to the fact that God is truly the source of all that is good. The themes of the book are classified by Mr. Fok in the following manner: life is unjust, life is oppressive, life has certain advantages, and the authors analysis. The writer of the book, in conclusion, expresses both negatively and positively, according to Mr. Fok. On the one side, Mr. Fok continues, life becomes weary and produces futility with much study.45 Later on we read that he is referring to study which does not include God. Mr. Fok relieves me to think that my undertakings are in the end not in vain! In the final analysis, the teacher, or if you will, the author of the book, concludes, once again, that acceptance in faith of God, is the only answer to find personal meaning in lifes riddles. He decides to accept the fact that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God. The Preacher advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure.46 Our focus then must be on things of God eternal, rather than temporary worldly pleasures.
Song of Songs: Mr. Fok asserts that a healthy balance is obtained when studying both the book of
Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon back to back. While Ecclesiastes focuses on the intellect of man, Song of Solomon focuses on our emotional side, in particular, the emotion of love.47 Many people think that the book is too sensual and immoral to be included in the Bible. The name of God is not included in this book either. Traditionally, the story is regarded as an incident that transpired between two individuals: 1. Solomon; and 2. a shepherd girl. Solomon wins the girl's love and the
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 186 in the PDF form of the book. John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 187 in the PDF form of the book. John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 189 in the PDF form of the book. Inserted from http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Ecclesiastes.html John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 191 in the PDF form of the book.
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book continues mainly as a dialogue between the two lovers. Another theory suggests that there are three individuals in the book: 1. Solomon; 2. the shepherd girl; and 3. her shepherd lover. The girl remains faithful to her shepherd lover despite the attempts of Solomon to win her for him. In this view, Solomon is a wicked person in the story rather than the recipient of the maiden's love. The decision as to which storyline is correct rests on the interpretation of the content. Most believe that there are two characters, Solomon and the girl.48 I personally go with the majority in that the book only deals with Solomon and his lover. There are several methods of interpretation for this book; two of the most plausible to me are the Literal interpretation, in Mr. Foks own words: Advocates of the literal approach understand the book as an expression of human love on a highly romantic plane. It is a song of enduring human love before and after marriage. According to this view, spiritual principles relating to divine love, etc., should not be read into the story (Schonfield, Song, pp. 67ff. basically follows this approach.).49..And the Typical interpretation: This approach recognizes the book as based on a historical incident in the life of Solomon. As such it says a great deal about the value of love between a man and a woman. This shepherd girl displayed certain personal traits with which Solomon was unfamiliar, despite his large harem. He was deeply impressed, not merely with her physical beauty, but with her inner character as well. Along with the human relationship, there is also a spiritual allegory in the story. The relationship between these two individuals may be interpreted to symbolize the love of God for Israel and the love of Christ for the Church.50 Mr. Fok asserts further down that this book must be considered in its historical context, before we can ascribe to it any spiritual applications. This book like all of the others in the Bible also point to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Mr. Fok states: We can see the details of the book as a picture of Christ loving us in our unworthiness. We also recognize that the marriage relationship presents a picture of union and communion. The Christian life may be summarized in two concepts:
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1. When we come to Christ we are united to Him. But fellowship may be lost with resulting separation, which happened to the bride. 2. We also acknowledge that just as Solomon appeared in all his glory and took the bride away, the same will be our experience when Christ returns in His entire splendor and takes us away to be with Him during the Rapture of the Church. In that day we will be truly without spot or blemish.51 Got Questions dot Org summarizes this book for me by saying that Song of Solomon is a poem depicting the love between a husband and a wife. The poem clearly presents marriage as His design, not ours. We, husbands and wives must live together in harmony spiritually, emotionally and physically.
Isaiah: This is the first of the four Major Prophets. Two messages from this book: the Judgment upon Judah for their sins, and comfort and hope for the people in exile. Some of the most important prophecies about our Lord Jesus Christ are found in this book. Throughout this paper I have purposely stayed away from mentioning who the authors of these books were, because some of the findings are controversial as to who wrote what book, when, etc. Mr. Fok asserts in his work that the message of Isaiah is too comprehensive to summarize in one statement. 1 Peter 1:11 describes how the Old Testament prophets spoke of "the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them. "The content of Isaiah may be summarized in these two great themes of prophecy. Isaiah stresses present suffering and future glory. The Messiah who came to suffer at His first advent will return in glory at His second advent. This pattern is also true for Israel. The prophet Isaiah reveals that Israel will experience suffering, but will be ultimately glorified. We will see these two concepts suffering and glory interwoven throughout this lengthy prophecy.52 Furthermore, the book is divided naturally into two main sections, chapters 1-39 and chapters 40-66. Assyria and Babylonia the two prominent empires respectively. The Prophet Isaiah was primarily called to prophesy to the Kingdom of Judah. Judah was going through times of revival and times of rebellion. Judah was threatened with destruction by Assyria and Egypt, but was spared because of Gods mercy. Isaiah proclaimed a
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message of repentance from sin and hopeful expectation of Gods deliverance in the future.53 This is thrilling to me for it is now the season to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I believe that there are no coincidences anymore in my life. These are key verses pointing to the birth of our Messiah: Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 9:6, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.54 The book of Isaiah reveals both Gods wrath (Justice) and Salvation (love for his people). God is both a God of wrath and punishment and a god of Love and Mercy. The prophecies of the Messiah are most prominent in this book. The Messiahs kingdom on earth (Isaiah chapter 65-66) is the goal towards which all of the Book of Isaiah points. It is during the reign of the Messiah that Gods righteousness will be fully revealed to the world.55 In a seeming paradox, the Book of Isaiah also presents the Messiah as one who will suffer. Isaiah chapter 53 vividly describes the Messiah suffering for sin. It is through His wounds that healing is achieved. It is through His suffering that our iniquities are taken away. This apparent contradiction is solved in the Person of Jesus Christ. In His first advent, Jesus was the suffering servant of Isaiah chapter 53. In His second advent, Jesus will be the conquering and ruling King, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).56 So this book then portrays for us the picture of Jesus, his birth and his sufferings for our transgressions in utmost detail.
Jeremiah: Jeremiah is referred to as the weeping prophet. Jeremiah's particular mission to Judah, toward the end of his career, was to notify the nation that their judgment was at hand, that God had rejected them (at least for the present), and that nothing now could save them from the punishment they so fairly deserved.57 I believe that God gives us Salvation by grace alone thru Jesus Christ.,
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Extracted from http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Isaiah.html Extracted from http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Isaiah.html Extracted from http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Isaiah.html Extracted from http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Isaiah.html John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 212 in the PDF form of the book.
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however if and when we sin, we still need to suffer the consequences of our sin(s) even if only in this life time. Jeremiah was Gods prophet during the fall of the Kingdom of Judah. Among the Prophets not one had a more difficult task than that of standing alone for God in the midst of the apostasy of his own people, and not one who bares his soul to his reader as does Jeremiah. Although Jeremiah announced the coming destruction of Judah, he looked beyond this judgment to a day when religion, no longer national, would be individual and spiritual. This new kind of religion would result from Gods "new covenant" with His people.58 The sixth-century B.C. book of Jeremiah is important for the twentieth-century world because the similarities between Jeremiah's day and today could hardly be stronger. As in Jeremiah's day, this is a time of deep sin; apostasy and hypocrisy abound; the balance of power among nations totters precariously, and alliances change with apparent recklessness from decade to decade; God's heralds are in a lonely minority; and the rumblings of doomsday, like an approaching avalanche, get louder by the minute. During these last days of the Church on earth, the Christian will find in this ancient book a timely message and many answers to questions about God's ways in the world today and tomorrow.59 This last statement by Mr. Fok couldnt be truer in todays day and age. We then need to obey God and trust his Judgments against us, for His Will is more important than our desireswhen things do not go our way, we need to trust Gods infinite Wisdom, and know that His ways are much better than our ways.
Lamentations: The book is composed of five poems, lamenting the siege and destruction of Jerusalem (586 B.C.). The poet also makes sincere confession of sin on behalf of the people and leaders, acknowledges complete submission to the will of God, and finally prays that God will once again smile upon His people and restore them to their homeland.60This is, to me a book I hardly visit in the Bible for it is a sad description of what Jeremiah weeps about. Jeremiah is also the author of this book. The lesson here is that we should confess our sins before the Lord so that, in His time we may obtain from Him Mercy, Forgiveness and Healing. An interesting fact about this book, according
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to Mr. Fok, and probably others is that this book is read about mid July, which according to Historians and Bible scholars is the anniversary of the destruction of Jerusalem both in 586 BC and 70 AD. In some versions of the Bible Lamentations appeared as an appendix to the book of Jeremiah and often not included in the Old Testament books. Mr. Fok states that the main purpose of the book or the key thought is that whom God loves He chastises. The message of the book according to Mr. Fok is threefold: Mourning over Jerusalems judgment for sinning, confession of sins, and a glimpse of hope. The book was written as an acrostic poem, utilizing all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in each sentence written. The book of lamentations I am now learning, from Mr. Fok, teaches several principles to us in this day and age: In his own words: 1. When chastisement comes, we should acknowledge it for what it is. We often ignore chastisement, failing to recognize that God is dealing with us. In Hebrews 12:3-11, there is pertinent instruction concerning this. 2. God is sovereign and faithful in chastisement. We often feel that adversity means that God is indifferent. The truth is just the opposite. We should remember the context of the often repeated verse, "Great is thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:23). This verse speaks of God's faithfulness and love in chastisement. 3. We should submit willingly to the chastening of the Lord. God has something to teach us in every chastening experience. We can begin by searching our hearts for indwelling sin which is always the cause of chastening (3:40).61 So, I believe by now that every book in the Bible, not just the easy to read ones, have something important to teach us in everyday life.
Ezekiel: Ezekiel is known as the father of Judaism. God chose him to be His prophets to the exiles of Judah. This book is written at the beginning of the religion of Judaism, hence Ezekiels father label. Ezekiel was not only a prophet but a priest. Very little is known about him though. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah and Daniel. Mr. Fok states these things about Ezekiel: Ezekiel the prophet
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was strong and fearless. This is what God made him (3:8-9), and this was his dominant characteristic. He had boundless energy, and a love for the simple, clear and direct. Though his disposition was firm, he had a shepherd's heart for his countrymen. Ezekiel's book reveals that he was methodical, artistic and mystic. With a deeply introspective nature, he must have studied the message of God a great deal as it applied to himself and his brethren. He was truly a practical theologian and for this he has been called "the first dogmatist of the Old Testament" and "the prophet of personal responsibility."62 The book of Ezekiel has two emphases, impending judgment and that of hope, according to Mr. Fok, and probably others. According to Mr. Fok, there are three points Ezekiel emphasized in his preaching: the sin that brought the people into exile, they must return to the Lord before they return to their land (they were in exile for about 70 years), and he mentioned the remnant, an important doctrine throughout the Bible, and with this, he stressed the Lords sovereignty and glory. Mr. Fok also states that the main theme of the book is the Glory of God. Ezekiel had two visions, in which he was shown the following truths: god still occupies the Throne, judgment originates from this Throne, and God is more glorious than the gods of Babylon. A well read vision in Ezekiel is that of the valley of dry bones which is mentioned in Chapter 37. This is a vision announcing the restoration of sinful Israel. In his first vision, there are four commands that followed his vision: Stand, Hear, Consume the scroll, and Go. God then gives finally after the Judgments against Israel a message of Hope, The book of Ezekiel closes with a triumphant phrase: "Jehovah is there." This is the most glorious feature of restored Israel. God Himself will dwell with His people. Thus, in a seemingly hopeless situation, Ezekiel is able to offer hope to the captives. He lifts their eyes beyond the present tragedy of the ruined Temple and the exile. The God who left the Temple has not abandoned it forever. Someday the glory will return and with it all these blessings will be realized.63
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The Book of Ezekiel calls us to join in a fresh and living encounter with the God of Abraham, Moses and the prophets. We must be overcomers or we will be overcome. Ezekiel challenged us to experience a life changing vision of God's power, knowledge, eternal presence and holiness; to let God direct us; to comprehend the depth of and commitment to evil that lodges in each human heart; to recognize that God holds His servants responsible for warning wicked men of their peril; to experience a living relationship with Jesus Christ, who said that the new covenant is to be found in His blood.64
Daniel: Many modern scholars talk about this book as an apocalypse, the product of a gentle Jew living under persecution. In brief the book shows a series of events and visions which in history, God is the ultimate ruler, and wins over mens sinfulness and all nations. This is done by God to achieve ultimate victory for the remnant of God. Mr. Fok states that this book has been described as the
greatest book in the Bible on godless kingdoms and the kingdom of God." 65
The awesome truth that applies to all
earthly Kingdoms is, according to Mr. Fok, that God Rules the World!66 Daniel is mostly known by his courage and faith for having withstood the test against him in the lions den. He had many other outstanding traits as well. He was strong of purpose, wise, tactful, courteous, brave, modest, and humble and a man of faith and prayer. It is not without significance that three times heavenly messengers refer to him in visions as a man of "high esteem" (9:23; 10:11, 19).67 There are awesome prophecies in this book, which trace the coming of Jesus for His second time to earth. We see in the stories of the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lions den a foreshadowing of the salvation provided by Christ. The three men declare that God is a saving God who can provide a way of escape from the fire (Daniel 3:17). In the same way, by sending Jesus to die for our sins, God has provided an escape from the fires of hell (1 Peter 3:18). In Daniels case, God provided an angel to shut the lions mouths and saved Daniel from death. Jesus Christ is our provision from the
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dangers of the sin that threatens to consume us. Daniels vision of the end times depicts Israels Messiah by whom many will be made pure and holy (Daniel 12:10). He is our righteousness (1 Peter 5:21) by whom our sins, though blood-red, will be washed away and we will be as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).68 The three men that this passage is referring to are: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, names given to them by the King of Babylon, they all refused to bow down to a statue of Nebuchadnezzar, the king, and were miraculously saved by
God upon entering or rather being thrown into a fiery furnace. Like them, we in our current dealings with the world, should stand always for what is right, no matter the consequences that face us. As the author of the survey written about Daniel in Got Questions dot Org states, God is greater than any punishment that could come upon us. Whether God chooses to deliver us or not, He is always worthy of our trust. God knows what is best, and He honors those who trust and obey Him. Amen to this statement.
Hosea: Following is the summary of the minor prophets. Just because they wrote less than the major prophets does not mean their message carries less emphasis. Hosea is sometimes called the Prophet of Love. He suffered for the apostasy of his people and, on top of that, had an unfaithful wife. According to Mr. Fok, judgment is the main subject of Hoseas writings. But even though judgment is a main subject of
Hosea's message, the book is remembered mostly for its vivid pictures of God's love and grace.69 Hosea was married to a prostitute, and she was unfaithful to him, however, prompted by God, Hosea still pursued her. Hosea married a pure bride in good faith. In time she became unfaithful and was estranged from him. The incident in chapter 3, in which Hosea goes to the marketplace and buys back his wife, reveals the intensity of his love for her. As the prophet reflects on the experience later in life, he realizes that he married a woman who was to become a harlot.70 The message of the book is this: that even though he had, suffered personal tragedy in his personal life, God used this event to prepare him for a special ministry (in Mr. Foks own words). The pain and sorrow that he experienced enable him to more fully appreciate God's heartbreak over Israel.
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Transcending personal sorrow in Hosea's life is his intense, unfailing love for his unfaithful wife, which continued regardless of her treatment of him. This helps Hosea to understand God's love for Israel, which prevailed despite her many sins. The dominant message of the book is the love of God. The nature of this love cannot be altered, not even by sin. I can definitely relate to Hosea, even though my wife has never cheated on me, she has suffered from bipolar disorder and I despaired at times to the point of wanting to divorce her. But God has intervened throughout our worst moments and changed my heart and mind with respect to divorce. God bless our family counselor who thru the Holy Spirit, intervened and facilitated this change of mind and heart in both me and my wife. God is always faithful! Only by remembering how much God has done for each us will we be able to avoid rejecting the One who can give us eternal life in Glory instead of the Hell we deserve. It is essential that we learn to respect our Creator. Hosea has shown us that when we do make a mistake, if we have a sorrowful heart and a promise of repentance then God will again show His never-ending love to us (1 John 1:9).71
Joel: Joel focused his attention on the great and at the same terrible Day of the Lord. His book summarizes world-history culminating triumphantly in Christ, Mr. Fok states, and Israel being a renowned participant in end-time events.72 This is a very interesting concept, the concept of the day of the LORD. It carries with it Eschatological interpretations from dispensationalists, milleniallists and preterists amongst others. I researched the phrase only to find so much information about it, and decided it is topic for another research paper in and of itself. Joel's prophecies of "the day of the LORD" are about the Messianic Kingdom at the end of the world, which will begin when God's final judgments will fall upon unbelieving nations, and when believing Israel will be delivered from their enemies.73 Mr. Fok identifies 3 main purposes of the book: 1. to foretell coming judgments upon Judah for their sin; 2. to exhort Judah to turn their hearts to the LORD; and 3. to impress upon all
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people that this world's history will culminate in the events of the Day of the LORD, when the scales of justice will finally rest.74 The book is highlighted by two major events. One is the invasion of locusts and the other the outpouring of the Spirit. The initial fulfillment of this is quoted by Peter in Acts 2 as having taken place at Pentecost.75 Unless people repent, this is the doom that will follow them, Joel uses this, as a warning to the Israelites, representing the enemy armies. Joel appeals to the people to humble themselves and pray and fast to seek Gods forgiveness and to avoid this catastrophe. In the words of the author(s) of Got Questions dot org, But the Day of the Lord is coming. At this time the dreaded locusts will seem as gnats in comparison, as all nations receive His judgment. The overriding theme of the Book of Joel is the Day of the Lord, a day of Gods wrath and judgment. This is the Day in which God reveals His attributes of wrath, power and holiness, and it is a terrifying day to His enemies.76 The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is foreshadowed with these warnings and prophecies as has been the case with the previous books summarized here. Joel tells us that Gods ultimate judgment, which falls on the Day of the Lord, will be great and terrible. Who can endure it? (Joel 2:11). The answer is that we, on our own, can never endure such a moment. But if we have placed our faith in Christ for atonement of our sins, we have nothing to fear from the Day of Judgment.77 Only when trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ, who forgave our sins when we were saved, will we be able to be fearless and enjoy His coming in Glory and Splendor.
Amos: Amos is another one of the minor prophets living in the kingdom of Judah, who denounced sin with all boldness of his neighboring Northern kingdom, just like Elijah and John the Baptist. Sparing no one, the prophet fearlessly announced the impending judgment of God. Although the dominant note of the book is judgment, the final words promise the restoration of a righteous remnant.78 The doctrine of the remnant is an important part of Scripture. The topic is too long to
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include here in this paper. According to Mr. Fok, Amos audience was Israel. Israel was prosperous at the time (approximately 760 BC.) but the nation was also at the brink of disaster. In fact, on God's timetable, destruction was due in about three decades (722 B.C.). Such was the soul and destiny of the audience of Amos the prophet.79 Amos main topics include the social injustices prevalent of that time, and class distinctions. Social inequality is still a prevalent disorder in our current world order, unfortunately. Mr. Fok states: As we read this book we must be impressed with our social responsibilities in a country where most of us have more material comforts than any subject in Jeroboam's kingdom.80 Jeroboam the second, being the then ruling king over the Northern kingdom. The moral of the story of Amos is that, even though Amos was a common folk, he was used to present to his people powerful evidence that God uses even the average person to bring Glory to Himself.
Obadiah: Obadiah is the shortest of the books in the minor prophets category. It is a judgment against Edom, the descendants of Esau the brother of Jacob. The Edomites turned out to be very hostile towards Israel all the way from the beginning. In the words of www.holybible.com/resources author, Its message is
primarily one of destruction and doom for Edom. The latter part of the prophecy is concerned with the Day of the Lord when Gods judgment will be upon other nations as well as Edom and concludes with the promise that "the kingdom shall be the Lords".81 Here, once again the Day of the Lord is mentioned. Day of judgment and wrath for those opposed to the Lord, and day of glory for the believers. The message of this prophecy is that Edom would someday be destroyed. As we probe into the content of the book we find certain factors that are applicable to our contemporary national scene. The book was written to comfort Israel, which was being plundered by Edom, as well as to warn Edom. Thus, the book speaks to analogous situations today in which dishonest men prosper as a result of violence. It is a bitter fact that organized crime flourishes at the expense of upright people
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in the United States.82 This last sentence is out of context. The author, Mr. Fok, does not draw analogies elsewhere in his booklike this specially references referring only to the United States, when I am sure other nations can be blamed for the same sins we here in the States commit. But then he states something I think is very true: Obadiah reminds us that God ultimately settles all such accounts.83 Verse 21 of the Book of Obadiah contains a foreshadowing of Christ and His Church. Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORDs (NKJV). These saviors (also called deliverers in several versions) are the apostles of Christ, ministers of the word, and especially the preachers of the Gospel in these latter days. They are called "saviors," not because they obtain our salvation, but because they preach salvation through the Gospel of Christ and show us the way to obtain that salvation. They, and the Word preached by them, are the means by which the good news of salvation is delivered to all men. While Christ is the only Savior who alone came to purchase salvation, and is the author of it, saviors and deliverers of the Gospel will be more and more in evidence as the end of the age draws near.84 The practical application for this book of the Bible, according to ask questions.orgs author(s) is that God is always working on our side if we stay true and faithful to him, we must always be ready and willing to help others who are in need, unlike Edom, who despised the Israelites in their time of need. Pride is sin, and Jesus Christ teaches us that we need to humble ourselves before the Lord if we want him to help us thru lifes trials and tribulations.
Jonah: The author relates how Jonah refused Gods call to preach to the people of Nineveh, his punishment for this disobedience, his ready response to a second summons, and his bitter complaint at Gods sparing the city following her repentance. Christ Himself alludes to Jonah when speaking of His own death and Resurrection (Matt. 12:39, 16:4; Luke 11:29-32).85 According to Mr. Fok, the story portrayed in Jonah is a clear demonstration of Gods love, not only for his people, but for everyone.
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This Universal love as Mr. Fok states is one of the most important truths found in the entire Bible. Mr. Fok quotes John 3:16 to illustrate. By studying Jonah before studying the other minor prophets, we will see the full view first - God's love for Gentile and Jew - and this will put the later studies about Israel and Judah in proper perspective.86 According to Mr. Fok, the books focus is more on the messenger, rather than the message. This is opposite of most other books of the Bible. Jonah is given an assignment by God and he refuses it and runs in the opposite direction. I have done the same thing many times, with the excuse that the assignment is too much for me to accomplish. If God has a purpose for someone, then the gifts and calling of God being irrevocable, they will either fulfill His purpose, or He will simply roll over them to accomplish what He has foreordained (Isaiah 46:9-10).87 In the prophecy of the book, the emphasis is on the following: 1. God is Lord of all nations and is concerned for all men. 2. To teach God's people their responsibility to deliver the message of salvation to all people - Jew and Gentile. 3. To demonstrate that God honors repentance for sin, whoever the person (cf. Jeremiah 18:7-10; Romans 1:16; 2:9-10; 3:29; 2 Peter 3:9; Mark 16:15). 4. To show to people of the Church Era that Christ's death and resurrection, prefigured in Jonah's experience, were in the divine plan before Christ ever walked this earth.88 In conclusion of Jonah, Mr. Fok relates some truths exposed throughout this book: The story of Jonah was designed to bring Israel to face an important issue. Did they consider physical comfort and political safety to be more important than the thousands outside the fold of Israel who did not know the one true God? This is a probing question for us today. Has our affluence made us indifferent to the spiritual needs of men? Jonah is a lesson to us. It is easy to slip into narrow nationalism. We tend to identify our Christian message with our middle class. The book of Jonah ends abruptly. It causes us to face this question for ourselves as Jonah did for himself. After all, the field is the world.89 Jonah was in the belly of a large fish, a whale, for 3 days and 3 nights. Jesus quotes him and declares that as Jonah was in the belly of a large fish for 3 days and 3 nights that, he too will be dead for 3 days and 3 nights
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 256 in the PDF form of the book Inserted from < http://www.gotquestions.org/life-Jonah.html > John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 262 in the PDF form of the book John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 262 in the PDF form of the book
and will resurrect after that. Jesus brings the same news of repentance and salvation just as Jonah did to the people of Nineveh. Salvation is thru the grace of God alone.
Micah: This prophet is a younger contemporary of Isaiah. He spoke at the time when Judah and Israel were going thru the same trials and tribulations. This historically is happening during the days of Amos. Coincidentally, Micahs message is very similar to that of Amos. The same or similar sins are condemned and the same stern and rough language is used. While Micah announced Gods judgment on Israel, he also provided deliverance by means of our deliverer Jesus Christ. He predicted Jesus birth place. Mr. Fok states: The book of Micah is especially noted for its predictive messages. For example, Micah predicted the exact location of Jesus' birthplace, Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; cf.Matthew 2:5). No Old Testament prophet exceeds Micah in the proportion of predictions concerning Israel's future and the Messiah's advent and Kingdom.90 Micah particularly sternly criticizes the abuses of power in the life of the citizens of Judah, again his solution is given by predicting the birth of a Savior in Bethlehem. It is a joy to know that centuries before the birth of Jesus, prophets were already talking and admonishing Israel as well as exhorting people unto the saving grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The doctrine of the remnant is also spoken of here in this prophets book: The prophet Micah proclaims the deliverance of the people who will go from Jerusalem to Babylon and concludes with an exhortation for Jerusalem to destroy the nations who have gathered against her. The ideal ruler would come from Bethlehem to defend the nation, and the prophet proclaims the triumph of the remnant of Jacob and foresees a day when Yahweh will purge the nation of idolatry and reliance on military might. 91 What a joy for me to be learning of all the wonderful places in the Bible predicting the birth and oncoming kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Nahum: This book, as well as the book of Jonah, delves in the affairs of the people of Nineveh. This happened over 100 years after Jonah. Mr. Fok states: The book of Nahum demonstrates how false
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 282 in the PDF form of the book Inserted from < http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Micah.html >
is the view that "might makes right." The great Assyrian Empire, of which Nineveh was the capital, boasted its might and wealth, but it did not acknowledge its sin, nor would it listen to God. The fall of such a haughty nation was inevitable, as the text of Nahum reveals.92 Many, according to Mr. Fok, state that the content of this book is distasteful, and they categorize it as less than Christian. The reason for this is that there is gloating over the fall of Nineveh. However, Mr. Fok explains: It must be understood that the content of the book is not an expression of satisfaction over the death of the wicked. It is rather an acknowledgment that Nineveh had sinned to the limit of God's longsuffering. In accordance with His just character, God must move in judgment.93 The book is best understood, says Mr. Fok, when considered as a continuation to the book of Jonah. When Jonah was in Nineveh over 100 years prior to Nahum, the city repented and God showed his favor to its inhabitants. However, now the sins of the city grew and grew far beyond what God tolerates and justice and wrath was served by God.
Habakkuk: The method to write this prophecy book is different than that used by other prophets. This prophet uses dialogue, in the form of questions, and Gods answers to them. Habakkuk, according to Mr. Fok, is the last of the minor prophets of Judah. It was perhaps to Habakkuk that God first revealed how near the end was.94 According to Mr. Fok, Habakkuk was a man that had a lot of questions. He had a hard time relating to what God told him and what he observed all around him. He saw atrocities happen in his own nation while God appeared to be apathetic. God tells him that He will use the Chaldeans to crush Israel because of her sin. This raises a problem, because the Chaldeans themselves are vicious and immoral.95 The book appears to be a discussion between God and the prophet about the issue of Faith. The problems of Habakkuk are not likely to perplex the unbeliever, who considers history to be without purpose and human events to be controlled by chance or brute force. But the believer who accepts the existence of an all-good, all-powerful God
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 296 in the PDF form of the book John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 300 in the PDF form of the book John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 302 in the PDF form of the book John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 303 in the PDF form of the book
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must grapple with these problems.96 The Apostle Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 on two different occasions (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11) to reiterate the doctrine of justification by faith. The faith that is the gift of God and available through Christ is at once a faith that saves (Ephesians 2:8-9) and a faith sustains throughout life. We attain eternal life by faith and we live the Christian life by the same faith.97 The lessons that can be gained from reading this book are: for one thing, it is ok to question God in matters of what is going on around us. God will reveal His answers, eventually, if we ask with reverence and respect. This book, as welol as other books in the Bible attest that God is ultimately in control. As the author(s) of Got Questions dot org states, we just need to be still and know that God is always at work . He indeed is who He says He Is and He keeps his promises. We need to stay focused on this: The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights (Habakkuk 3:19). Enabling us to go on the heights is taking us to the higher places with Him where we are set apart from the world. Sometimes the way we have to go to get us there is through suffering and sorrow, but if we rest in Him and trust Him, we come out where He wants us.98
Zephaniah: This book also is comprehensive and displays the typical prophetic teachings of judgment and salvation. These prophecies are not told about Israel only but about all nations. Again, the concept of the remnant is evoked in this book. Zephaniah exhorts the people of Judah that there is going to be a day of wrath for those that do not follow Gods commands, but guarantees that God will be with the people ( a remnant) that abides by Gods laws and precepts, provided there is repentance. Zephaniah was one of Judahs prophets before the nation fell under Babylonian rulers. The book of Zephaniah also talks about the day of the Lord, the day of final judgment. Zephaniah prophesied judgments for Jerusalem, the first destruction coming about a half century later. His prophecies also referred to judgments of succeeding centuries up to the last days. (This is an example of multiple prophecies, commonly found in the Old Testament.)99 Zephaniah also
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 303 in the PDF form of the book Inserted from < http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Habakkuk.html > Inserted from < http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Habakkuk.html > John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 288 in the PDF form of the book
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prophesied restoration of the chosen nation of God's people. This was fulfilled, at least in token measure, when God led His people back to the land at the end of the Babylonian Captivity. But the full measure of restoration is yet to be. (This is another example of multiple prophecies.)100 The endtime judgments of the Day of the LORD will usher in the Messianic Kingdom (Millennium), when Zephaniah's prophecies of restoration will be fulfilled on a grand and total scale. Recall that the "day of the LORD" was a prominent subject of Joel's prophecy.101 The book of Zephaniah, according to Got Questions dot org, contains three major doctrines; doctrines are particular principles or ideas taught regarding a particular subject matter (in the case of the Bible, a subject matter pertaining to the Lord): the doctrine of Gods sovereignty, the doctrine of wrath and salvation from God, and the doctrine of repentance and blessings. This prophets warnings and judgments as well as grace and hope for the righteous is as valid for todays day and age as it was back then when it was written. The Bible is just as applicable to todays state of affairs as it was in the days the Bible was written.
Haggai: The Jews returning from exile need to rebuild Gods temple, and Haggai comes up with 4 messages encouraging the people of Israel to respond to such a task. In the words of Mr. Fok: Haggai is one of the shortest books of the Bible, called by someone "a momentous little fragment." Among its prominent teachings is the necessity of putting first things102 Mr. Fok stated that there is a lesson here for our materialistic American society, well I tend to disagree with him that it is only a malady of this country, and that there are other countries just as guilty of the same sins This is a lesson for our materialistic American society. Believers who neglect spiritual responsibilities in favor of selfish financial interests will lose out materially and spiritually. The believer who tops his priority list with God will gain the best of both worlds. It is an illustration of Matthew 6:33, which teaches that these material "things" will be added to us as we concern ourselves primarily with God's business.
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The people respond to Haggai's pertinent challenge (1:12-15). Enthusiasm and obedience are shown as the building resumes. God's presence encourages them as they labor together 1:13).103 On a positive note for this book, Got Questions dot Org, the author(s) state: The Book of Haggai is a reminder of the problems the people of God faced at this time, how the people courageously trusted in God and how God provided for their needs.104 This book also ends with Messianic promises: As with most of the books of the minor prophets, Haggai ends with promises of restoration and blessing. In the last verse, Haggai 2:23, God uses a distinctly messianic title in reference to Zerubbabel, My Servant (Compare 2 Samuel 3:18; 1 Kings 11:34; Isaiah 42:19; Ezekiel 37:24,25).105 I really like the way Got questions dot org summarizes this books practical applications for daily living: The Book of Haggai draws attention to common problems most people face even today. Haggai asks us 1) to examine our priorities to see if we are more interested in our own pleasures than doing the work of God; 2) to reject a defeatist attitude when we run into opposition or discouraging circumstances; 3) to confess our failures and seek to live pure lives before God; 4) to act courageously for God because we have the assurance that He is with us always and is in full control of our circumstances; and 5) to rest secure in God's hands knowing that He will abundantly bless us as we faithfully serve Him.106
Zechariah: This book is sometimes called the apocalypse of the Old Testament and has several Messianic prophecies in it. The writer also talks about the Day of the Lord in it. In Mr. Foks words: Zechariah, the longest book of the minor prophets, was often quoted by the New Testament writers. This is because so many of its prophecies point forward to Christ the Messiah. Zechariah is the most Messianic, the most truly apocalyptic and eschatological, of all the writings of the Old Testament.107 Zechariah is a contemporary of Haggai, and it is the longest book of the minor prophets. A clue to
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John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 307 in the PDF form of the book Inserted from < http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Haggai.html> Inserted from < http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Haggai.html> Inserted from < http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Haggai.html> John Fok, Old Testament Survey, page 308 in the PDF form of the book
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the emphasis of the book is found in the prophet's name.Zechariah" means the LORD Remembers. It was this basic truth that Zechariah was seeking to communicate through proclamation of a series of visions and prophecies. It would be easy for the people to believe that God had forgotten them. Israel had been conquered by a foreign power. The people in Palestine formed a small group struggling to regain power in a hostile world. Their hope was almost extinguished at times as they viewed the difficulties facing them. Zechariah encourages his people to look to the long run of things, and beyond present difficulties. God is still present with His people even though His people might not perceive it at the time. Zechariah has a total of eight visions to present the message from God to his people. The book of Zechariah is an instruction book that teaches that salvation can be obtained by all, Jew and Gentile alike. God accepts everyone that listens and obeys Him regardless of country of origin. Zechariah also preached about Gods Sovereignty over everything of this world. Prophecies about Jesus Christ and the messianic era abound in Zechariah. From the promise that Messiah would come and dwell in our midst (Zechariah 2:10-12; Matthew 1:23) to the symbolism of the Branch and the Stone (Zechariah 3:8-9, 6:12-13; Isaiah 11:1; Luke 20:17-18) to the promise of His Second Coming where they who pierced Him will look upon Him and mourn (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:33-37), Christ is the theme of the Book of Zechariah. Jesus is the Savior of Israel, a fountain whose blood covers the sins of all who come to Him for salvation (Zechariah 13:1; 1 John 1:7).108 There is no time for anybody to lose then for any day now can be the day of Salvation.
Malachi: This is the last book of the Old Testament. Two themes are predomination: the sin and apostasy of Israel (1-2); and the coming judgment upon the faithless, with blessings promised for those who repent (3-4).109 The culprit in the Old Testament regarding the Messianic Expectation is expressed in this prophecy book. According to Holy Bible dot Com, this is apparent in the book of Malachi, Israel is then going to be purified and judged by what they call the messenger of the
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covenant. The book also talks about the return of the prophet Elijah who will then proclaim the several-times-talked-about Day of the Lord. Mr. Fok states: Dark and distressing as this is, however, the sun of God's grace arises out of its pages; so, when the reader has arrived at the last verses, there is no question but that in the end the day of glory will come for a repentant Israel, as well as for all believers.110 According to Mr. Fok, Malachi exposes to light a number of sins and wrongdoings that had become the norm in Israel after the exile. The Israelites were misusing Gods name while worshipping, they were not tithing, and were critical of God, all of these which are sins in the eyes of the Lord. Mr. Fok explains: But the main thrust of the message is directed against the basic attitude that these sins revealed. Malachi's generation had become spiritually cynical. This is revealed in a literary device that is used repeatedly in this book. Seven times God either makes a statement to the people or makes an accusation against them. The response of the people is the same in both cases. They respond by questioning the veracity of the statement, usually with the word "wherein" (see 1:2-3; 1:6-7; 2:14; 3:7; 3:8; 3:13-14). This reply reveals that a skeptical, apathetic attitude underlies all their service for God. In each case God justifies His statement by providing a word of explanation.111 This can apply according to Mr. Fok in todays societies, I am pleased to see that he did not only target the US but Christian societies in general as well, according to his interpretation. He states that we are living in times of spiritual indifference and that we think God owes us the good things He has provided us to begin with. He also states that we respond in a defensive manner when He points out the things we are lacking spiritually. In this book, Malachi points out that God chose Jacob over Esau and that he has preserved Israel in spite of all the sins committed. Malachis famous verse about tithing to God is also part of his book. Mr. Fok then brilliantly concludes: The unfaithful will burn as stubble on that day when the "Sun of righteousness" appears with blessing for His own and judgment for unbelievers (4:1-6). This great Day of the Lord will be announced by Elijah the prophet (4:5). According to the New Testament, this prophecy was fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist (Matthew 17:10-13). This is a fitting note on which to close
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this prophetic book and the Old Testament. The prophetic voice speaks 400 years later. It is the voice of one crying in the wilderness John the Baptist, announcing that the Sun of Righteousness, the Messiah of prophecy, has arrived. This then concludes my work summarizing all of the Old Testament books that are part of the Bible as we know it today. It has been an exciting journey for me of discovery and awe, I have learned about the nature of our Lord as never before in my life, and for that I am eternally grateful. 400 years transcribed between the times of Malachi and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Survey Summary and Interpretation

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Old Testament Survey Summary and Interpretation

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Eduardo Fernandez

Survey of the Old Testament

John Fok page 3 in the pdf

Inserted from <http://www.holybible.com/resources/KJV_DFND/summary.htm>

The awesome truth that applies to all

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Inserted from < http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Zechariah.html>

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