David’s son Solomon leads Israel to greatness, only to fail and lead Israel to a civil war and ultimately towards destruction and exile. After centuries of sojourning, struggles, and conquest, God’s promise to Abraham appears to finally be tangible – David and Solomon unite the Israelites into a single kingdom with descendants as “numerous as …
Author Archives: Jonathan Kobayashi
38614 Overview: Isaiah 1-39
Isaiah announces that God’s judgment will purify Israel and prepare his people to the coming messianic king and new Jerusalem. Like Elijah, Jeremiah, and the other Prophets, Isaiah was called by God to deliver His messages to Israel for its welfare in the Book of Isaiah. But along with warnings against Israel’s sin and rebellious …
38615 Overview: Isaiah 40-66
Isaiah offers hope This hope would be embodied through God’s Servant known as “Immanuel,” who will one day establish a new Israel and God’s Kingdom on the earth. Remarkably, Jesus does precisely that in His lifetime, fulfilling over 300 prophecies in Scripture that include intricate details of His death and resurrection foretold in Isaiah chapters …
38616 Overview: Jeremiah
Jeremiah announces that God will judge Israel’s sins with an exile to Babylon. And then, he lives through the horror of his predictions. The Book of Jeremiah holds a graphic but important picture showing us how disobedience leads to destruction. Jerusalem will fall The people of Israel repeatedly refused to listen to the Lord’s instructions …
38617 Overview: Ezekiel 1-33
Among the exiles in Babylon, Ezekiel shows that Israel deserved this judgment, and also that God’s justice creates hope for the future. The Book of Ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation, it contains key details God wants us to know about. Many of the divine visions that Ezekiel …
38618 Overview: Ezekiel 34-48
God exiles himself with Israel Through Ezekiel, we learn that spiritual things are just as important as the physical, and even more important regarding the physical’s temporary circumstances. We also get a glimpse of God’s glory manifested with His presence when riding a heavenly chariot. God’s presence being revealed to Ezekiel in Babylon also demonstrates …
38619 Overview: Hosea
Hosea accuses Israel of breaking their covenant with God, and warns them of the tragic consequences to follow. The Northern Kingdom of Israel enjoyed moderate success from conquering neighboring kingdoms, but they were spiritually bankrupt on the inside. In the Book of Hosea, God sends Hosea to Israel during King Jeroboam II’s reign to admonish …
38620 Overview: Joel
Joel reflects on the “Day of the Lord” and how true repentance will bring about the great restoration hoped for in the other prophetic books. The Book of Joel accounts for justice over evil in a form that’s unique to the other Old Testament prophets. Unlike the other Books, Joel tells us a story about …
38621 Overview: Amos
Amos accuses Israel of breaking their covenant with God, and highlights how their idolatry has led to injustice and the neglect of the poor. The Book of Amos is an intriguing Scripture from a unique individual, Amos, a shepherd and fig tree farmer dwelling in southern Judah who is called by God to go to …
38622 Overview: Obadiah
Obadiah announces Edom’s downfall to Babylon, which is an image of how God will bring down all arrogant and violent nations. The smallest Old Testament account, the Book of Obadiah is a vision written by The Lord’s prophet known as Obadiah, who prophesied against Israel’s relative nation Edom. Edom will fall The Edomites, who were …