1. What do you think of God’s actions towards Israel?
Read Psalm 137
The book of Psalm is a
collection of songs, hymns (songs that praise and honour God) and prayers. The
book was written over a span of around 600 years, from the time of the early
monarchy until after the exile of the Israelites. The psalms touch on many
subjects: such as praising Yahweh for His goodness, being sad over wickedness
and injustice, praising Yahweh as creator of the universe, king of Israel and
the God of the covenant. The book of Psalm has a few authors, such as King
David and Sons of Korah
2. Where were the Israelites? (v 1)
3. Who were their captors? (v 3)
4. How would you describe the Israelites’ experiences in
their current situation?
Read Haggai 2:1-9
Haggai was a prophet,
and the book of Haggai contains encouragements for the Israelites to rebuild
the temple
5. Why was the temple important?
6. How would the Israelites have felt seeing the rebuilt
temple, which cannot be compared to the former temple?
7. What was God’s assurance to the Israelites? (v 5-6) How
did this reflect God’s character?
8. What was God’s promise? (v 6-9)
Read Nehemiah
13:14-31
9. What was the importance of the Sabbath? (Refer to Exodus
20:8-11)
10. How did the Israelites break the law regarding Sabbath?
(v 15-16)
11. What did the men of Judah do that was wrong? (v 23-28)
12. What did Nehemiah do? Why did he do that?
We have seen how God, in His mercy, had a covenant with the
Israelites so that they can live in relationship with Him. However, they have
broken this covenant again and again, despite many warnings from the prophets.
God punished them by rooting them from the Promised Land, and send them into
exile, to live under the Babylonians. After the Israelites return to their own
land and rebuilt the temple, God still promises to be with them. Despite God’s
faithfulness, the Israelites still sinned, and broke the Law again.
How do these events point toward Jesus, and the necessity of
His time on earth?
Homework: Daniel 7
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