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History of the Old Testament

2 Kings 25; LamentationsObadiah; Ezekiel; Daniel

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Introduction

theological crisis of immense proportions

northern nation: understandable demise

But, Judah?

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Serious QuestionsQ Why was Judah a kingdom under

judgment?

Q Why had Jerusalem been desecrated by the pagans & destroyed?

Q Why had Yahweh allowed the destruction of the culture, religion, shrine, & political entity of his people?

Q Why had the people lost control of the land that was to be theirs forever?

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Clear conclusion: direct historical

judgment (2 Kg. 24:2-4; 2 Chr. 36:15-17; Je. 37:6-

10; 52:3) part of the

Deuteronomic code since Moses (Dt. 28:64-68)

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Lamentations.

2 Kings 25 & Jeremiah 52: … factual accounts

Lamentations: … emotional devastation

Jerusalem & Judah:

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The Prophets Obadiah

Ezekiel & Daniel

Ezekiel, the Priest

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Ezekiel, the Priest

Coming desolation of Jerusalem: before the fact after the fact

from far-off Babylon (Eze. 1:1; 8:1)

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full of strange and perplexing imagery and symbols (chariot throne of God supported by four living creatures, Eze. 1:5-21)

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Ezekiel's Visions

transcendence of Yahweh God's omnipotence not limited

by the failure of his people prediction:

a restoration for Judah, an act of grace (Eze. 36, 37)

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Daniel

Babylonians allowed deportees to settle in colonies & preserve national identity

Daniel: to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in the 2nd deportation (Da. 1:1-6)

Ezekiel’s contemporary (Eze. 14:14, 20; 28:3)

part of Nebuchadnezzar's court retinue

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Daniel

Historical section (chapters 1-6) & prophetic section (chapters 7-12) Historical

Daniel as a chief minister/interpreter of dreams

Prophetic relationship of Israel to the nations in the future

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Daniel

predicted the fall of the Babylonian Empire to the Media-Persian Empire on the very day it happened!

great prayer of repentance in behalf of his own people: exile = act of God's judgment based

on the covenant of Moses (Da. 9:4-19)