The Well: Sermon Audio

The Well at Woodward: Convivium

equipping@thewellcommunity.org (The Well Community Church) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 00:00:00 PST

Convivium is a Latin word that means a banquet or feast. Ordinary things that seem secular, such as a slow meal with friends, can actually be sacred if you redeem the time. This summer, think about your time differently. Consider being intentional with the time you spend with your friends and family, and redeem that time by pointing to Jesus.

[Audio File]

Ezra / Esther / Nehemiah / Haggai / Zechariah / Malachi

equipping@thewellcommunity.org (The Well Community Church) — Sun, 26 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

These six books walk through the repopulation of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple and the wall of the city, but the journey of rebuilding a city fades in comparison to the difficulty in restoring a people. The struggle in these final books reflects a compromise at the highest level of spiritual leadership that then influences the masses.

Ezra

Author

Uncertain. Hebrew tradition says Ezra is the strongest candidate, although internal evidence points to the usage of memoirs by both Ezra and Nehemiah.

Date

Likely approx. 450-440 B.C., after Ezra’s time in Jerusalem and during the time of Nehemiah.

Theme

Israel’s Return

This is Israel's return from Babylon to rebuild the temple, and their return to social and spiritual reform.

Additional Info

Ezra and Nehemiah are one book in both the Hebrew and Greek (Septuagint) Old Testament. Ezra is written as a historical record and picks up where Chronicles leaves off. It makes no prophetic claims at all. Chapters 1-6 relate the efforts of the Israelites, under the direction of Zerubbabel, along with the prophets Zechariah and Haggai, to rebuild the temple. Chapters 7-10 relate the return of Ezra the priest with the Levites and the spiritual reformations that take place under Ezra’s leadership.

Esther

Author

Unknown. Ezra, Nehemiah and Mordecai are good candidates.

Date

484-473 B.C. between when the first and second remnants returned to Jerusalem.

Theme

Israel’s Deliverance

Israel was delivered from zealous bigots and from a strong-willed king, through a faithful woman who became queen of Babylon.

Additional Info

The book of Esther takes place between chapters 6 and 7 of Ezra. The Jewish people are in exile, scattered throughout the great Media-Persian Empire. The purpose of the book was to encourage and comfort the scattered Jews and to explain and trace the origin of the Feast of Purim.

Nehemiah

Author

Uncertain. Hebrew tradition suggests Ezra as the strongest candidate as the author and compiler, possibly including memoirs originally written by Nehemiah.

Date

Likely approx. 416-400 B.C.

Theme

Israel’s Rebuilding

This is a rebuilding in Nehemiah’s heart, with Nehemiah’s plan, of the wall, and of city and national infrastructure, in spite of much opposition.

Additional Info

Ezra and Nehemiah are one book in both the Hebrew and Greek (Septuagint) Old Testament. Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem in 445 B.C., taking the third wave of exiles with him. He stayed in Jerusalem for 12 years, rebuilding the wall, leading the people, igniting a spiritual fervor in the people and creating a unified community. When Nehemiah went back to Persia, the people quickly fell back into their sin and he was grieved by the extent of their sin that had developed in such a short time. He returned to Jerusalem in 420 B.C. and worked to clean up the mess they had made.

Haggai

Author

Haggai, the prophet.

Date

520 B.C. during the second year of the reign of Darius, the Mede. The Dead Sea Scrolls verify this dating.

Theme

God’s Returning Promises

These are God's promises to those who have returned from captivity to rebuild the temple, that He will bless their obedience.

Additional Info

Haggai’s name means “festive” and he was a contemporary of Zechariah. Their message was a reminder to the people of the main reason they had been sent back to Jerusalem. They challenged and warned the people to refocus and finish God’s temple that had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon in 586 B.C. The new, much smaller temple was finished in 516 B.C.

Zechariah

Author

Zechariah, the prophet, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, the priest.

Date

520 B.C. during the second year of the reign of Darius, the Mede. The Dead Sea Scrolls verify this dating.

Theme

God’s Promised Messiah

The promised Messiah is coming to build His Kingdom and restore unity; He will be rejected at first, but will come again to deliver eternally.

Additional Info

Zechariah’s name means “God remembers” and he was a contemporary of Haggai. They challenged and warned the people to refocus and finish God’s temple that had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon in 586 B.C.

Malachi

Author

Malachi, the prophet.

Date

Likely approx. 450-430 B.C. since the issues Malachi deals with are the same ones that Ezra and Nehemiah dealt with after their return from Babylon. The temple had already been rebuilt, so it takes place after 516 B.C.

Theme

God’s Condemning Discussion

This is a condemning discussion with the returned nation who has neglected God, then forecasts the forerunner of the Messiah.

Additional Info

Malachi’s name means “the messenger.” Nehemiah was sent back from Babylon in 444 B.C. to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and make it a viable city. After the wall was completed and order was established in Jerusalem, Nehemiah went back to Babylon. When he left, the religious practices and ethical lives of the people quickly deteriorated, and Nehemiah was again sent back to Jerusalem to deal with the people there. Malachi most likely prophesied during Nehemiah’s first leadership role in Jerusalem or during the time when Nehemiah went back to Babylon.

Resources for Ezra, Esther, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi

Ezra / Esther / Nehemiah / Haggai / Zechariah / Malachi Life Group Guide
Nehemiah Sermon Series
Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 16, Ezra-Nehemiah by H. G. M. Williamson
Esther (The NIV Application Commentary) by Karen H. Jobes
Haggai, Zechariah (NIV Application Commentary, The) by Mark J. Boda
Malachi (The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries) by Andrew E. Hill
Joel, Obadiah, Malachi (NIV Application Commentary, The) by David W. Baker

[Video File] [Audio File]

Daniel / Ezekiel / Lamentations

equipping@thewellcommunity.org (The Well Community Church) — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

The city of Jerusalem has fallen and the Babylonians have taken the Southern Kingdom of Judah captive. What's next for the people of God? Through prophetic revelation, He reveals His plan for human history, including the restoration of His people. Both Daniel and Ezekiel point to the reign of the Messianic King (Jesus Christ) as the focal point of human history. Through turmoil and suffering, the people of God are restored from captivity and promised a restoration in the land.

Daniel

Author

Daniel, also known as Belteshazzar, as renamed by the Babylonians.

Date

Between 605 to possibly 520 B.C., from the year of the first siege on Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in his first year as King of Babylon into the reign of Darius.

Theme

God’s Anti-Christ Foretold

The anti-Christ will come in the last of four great kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, and lead into Tribulation.

Additional Info

The root of the name Daniel means “to judge.” He was a Jewish nobleman of royal Jewish lineage, advisor to 9 kings in 2 different empires (Babylon and Medo-Persia) and God’s prophet to the exiled Jewish people and the nations over a span of at least 85 years. He experienced the beginning of the exile in 605 B.C. and saw the first 50,000 exiles return to rebuild the temple. Ezekiel mentions him three times as a man of highly recognized faith and wisdom. Half of the book is history and half is prophetic. Half is written in Aramaic (chapters 2-7) and half is in Hebrew (chapters 1, 8-12).

Ezekiel

Author

Ezekiel, the priest, son of Buzi.

Date

Between July 31, 593 (Ezekiel 1:1-3) and March 26, 571 B.C. (Ezekiel 29:17).

Theme

God’s Future Kingdom

The future kingdom will include a restored land, a new Jerusalem, a new temple, a new redistricting of the land and an eternal promise.

Additional Info

Ezekiel’s name means “God strengthens.” He was meticulous about dating each prophecy and arranging them in chronological order. He was among the exiles from Judah, most likely taken with King Jehoiachin in March 597 B.C. by King Nebuchadnezzar, and he prophesied for 22 years. He was a contemporary of both Jeremiah (in Judah) and Daniel (in Babylon). Throughout his writings, there is an emphasis on the “glory of God.”

Lamentations

Author

Likely Jeremiah, as credited by early Christian writers the, the Talmud and the superscription in the Septuagint.

Date

Soon after August 15, 586 B.C., when Jerusalem and the temple were burned. Jeremiah likely wrote the poems before he was taken captive to Egypt, not long after the city’s destruction (Jeremiah 43:1-7).

Theme

God’s Faithfulness

God is faithful in the midst of judgment; his faitfulness is sure and new every morning.

Additional Info

Lamentations is the sequel to Jeremiah. It is Jeremiah’s lament (a sorrowful song) after the fall of Jerusalem by the Babylonian hordes. It is written as an acrostic, each chapter starting with the letter “A” and progressing letter by letter through the Hebrew alphabet.

Resources for Daniel, Ezekiel and Lamentations

Daniel / Ezekiel / Lamentations Life Group Guide
Daniel Hermeneia Series (Hermeneia: A Critical & Historical Commentary on the Bible) by John Joseph Collins
The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1–24 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament) by Daniel I. Block
The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25–48 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament) by Daniel I. Block
Lamentations (New Century Bible Commentary) by Iain Provan

[Video File] [Audio File]

2 Kings 21-25 (Nahum / Jeremiah / Zephaniah / Habakkuk)

equipping@thewellcommunity.org (The Well Community Church) — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

This week we see the fall of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, the rise of the Babylonian Empire, and the reform of a third-grade boy. The continual sin of the people of God has brought judgment upon them from the east and they will be taken captive for seventy years in Babylon. Though Jeremiah, Nahum, Zephaniah and Habakkuk spoke clearly about the wrath that would come with their continual disobedience, they rejected the call of repentance and suffered just judgment in exile. At the close of 2 Kings, the city wall is destroyed, the temple is burned and the city is reduced to ashes.

2 Kings

See 2 Kings.

Nahum

Author

Nahum, the Elkoshite.

Date

Between approx. 663 and 654 B.C. because Thebes (which fell in 663 B.C. and was restored in 654 B.C.) was already destroyed (Nahum 3:8), and Assyria had not yet fallen.

Theme

God’s Judgment on Nineveh

Judgment on Nineveh is coming very soon in spite of the fact that God is slow to anger.

Additional Info

Nahum’s name means “comfort, console.” He was a prophet to Judah about Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. Assyria was then in its height of strength and power, and they were a brutal, treacherous people. Nahum’s prophecies served as a warning to Nineveh, but also a hope and promise of relief for Judah.

Jeremiah

Author

Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, as declared by himself (Jeremiah 1:1) and confirmed by Daniel (Daniel 9:2), Ecclesiastes, Josephus and the Talmud. Only chapter 52 was evidently not written by him and may have been added by Baruch, his secretary.

Date

Between 627 and 580 B.C. during the time of Jeremiah’s ministry. The book was likely finalized shortly after 580 B.C., possibly by Baruch.

Theme

God’s Patient Promise

God promises to judge Judah for their sin, and yet restore a remnant in the future with a new covenant and the Righteous King.

Additional Info

Jeremiah was a contemporary of Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Daniel and Ezekiel. He dictated all his prophecies to his secretary, Baruch. After King Jehoiakim burned all his writings, he dictated a more complete edition to Baruch (Jeremiah 36:1-4).

Zephaniah

Author

Zephaniah, son of Cushi, grandson of Gedaliah, great-grandson of Amariah and great-great grandson of Hezekiah, King of Judah.

Date

Between approx. 622 and 612 B.C. since it was before the fall of Nineveh and he quotes Old Testament Law that was found in 622 B.C.

Theme

God’s Fiery Judgment

Fiery Judgment will come to the entire earth eventually, after Jerusalem and its enemies are judged, and then Jerusalem will be restored.

Additional Info

Zephaniah’s name means “YHWH hides” (in the sense of protection). He is the only written prophet of the Old Testament that we know his lineage back so far, and he is the only one with such clear ties to royalty. He prophesied in the days of Josiah, son of Amon, King of Judah. In 622 B.C. the priests found the tablets of the Law in the temple and Josiah instigated a spiritual reform. No one in that generation or even earlier had ever seen the Law. Josiah repented and led the nation into a national revival, cleaning out the Assyrian idol worship in the land.

Habakkuk

Author

Habakkuk, the prophet.

Date

Approx. 605 B.C., after Babylon defeated Assyria in 612 B.C., but before Babylon took Judah into captivity.

Theme

God’s Justice Questioned

Habakkuk questions God because He is going to use a horribly unrighteous nation to judge His chosen people.

Additional Info

Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah in the days leading up to the Babylonian captivity and saw the nation so quickly turn away from the reforms that King Josiah had instituted. The book is written as a conversation between the prophet and God, where God revealed what Babylon was about to do to Judah.

Resources for 2 Kings, Nahum, Jeremiah, Zephaniah and Habakkuk

2 Kings 21-23 (Nahum / Jeremiah / Zephaniah / Habakkuk) Life Group Guide
1 and 2 Kings (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series) by Iain W. Provan
Jeremiah: Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary by Terence E. Fretheim
Lamentations (New Century Bible Commentary) by Iain Provan
Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: A Commentary by J. J. M. Roberts

[Video File] [Audio File]

2 Kings 15:8-20:21 (Isaiah / Micah)

equipping@thewellcommunity.org (The Well Community Church) — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

This week we cover the demise of the Northern Kingdom and the prophetic warning to the South. Micah and Isaiah were contemporaries during the time of the Assyrian invasion of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and cautioned the South regarding their similarities to the Northern Kingdom. Hezekiah will be a focal point of the 2 Kings text as we watch both his reform and compromise.

2 Kings

See 2 Kings.

Isaiah

Author

Isaiah, son of Amoz.

Date

circa 700 B.C.

Theme

God’s Call to Reason

This is God's call to Judah, who is rebelling against God, whose judgment and captivity are coming and who will later be rescued by God.

Additional Info

Isaiah’s name means “the Lord saves.” He was a contemporary of Hosea and Micah and prophesied to Judah, although he did have some things to say to Israel as well. He prophesied during a very tumultuous time in Israel’s and Judah’s history. The nation was divided and the Northern Kingdom was deteriorating politically, spiritually and militarily; it fell to Assyria in 722 B.C. The Southern Kingdom withstood the Assyrian attack. Isaiah’s message was one of judgment, repentance and salvation, speaking loudly and clearly to Jew and Gentile alike.

Micah

Author

Micah of Moresheth.

Date

Between approx. 757 and 686 B.C., because Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. He had to have prophesied much of what is written before the fall of Israel in 722 B.C.

Theme

God’s Salvation is Sure

Salvation through the coming Shepherd-King is sure, in spite of Samaria and Jerusalem’s horrid sin and the judgment that is coming.

Additional Info

Micah’s name means “who is like YHWH.” His messages were to both Jerusalem (Judah) and Samaria (Israel), and the book is likely comprised of three separate prophecies that were delivered at different times and compiled into one book with one message. He speaks of the future destruction and exile of all of Israel and Judah, and the eventual reuniting and peace for all the seed of Abraham. The elders of Jerusalem spoke very highly of him over 100 years later (Jeremiah 26:18).

Resources for 2 Kings, Isaiah and Micah

2 Kings 15:8-21:26 (Isaiah / Micah) Life Group Guide
1 and 2 Kings (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series) by Iain W. Provan
Isaiah: The NIV Application Commentary by John N. Oswalt
The Books of Amos, Hosea, Micah (Cambridge Bible Commentaries on the Old Testament) by Henry McKeating

[Video File] [Audio File]

2 Kings 11-15:7 (Joel / Jonah / Amos / Hosea)

equipping@thewellcommunity.org (The Well Community Church) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

We continue through our Generations series, focusing on some additional kings and the messages of four prophets. As we examine our character and our commitment to God, it is important to note God's commitment to those He has chosen. Even when we walk away from our dedication to Him, He remains faithful to us, and will do whatever it takes to bring us back. He loves us that much.

2 Kings

See 2 Kings.

Joel

Author

Joel, the son of Pethuel.

Date

Likely near 800 B.C. or earlier, since Joel is quoted by both Amos (Amos 1:2, Amos 9:13) and Isaiah (Isaiah 13:6).

Theme

God’s Promise

God promises that judgment will come, but there will come a time when all Israel will repent and God will bless the nation and the land.

Additional Info

Joel’s name means “whose God is Jehovah.” Very little else is known about him. He wrote the book after a locust invasion devastated the entire region of Judah and clarified that it was a warning from God. The book focuses on the final days and the events leading up to them. Daniel and Revelation speak of yet future prophesies, but there are gaps. Joel fills in more of those gaps than any other book. In the Hebrew Bible, Joel 2:28 is the first verse of chapter 3.

Jonah

Author

Jonah, the son of Amittai.

Date

Likely shortly after two plagues and a total eclipse of the sun between 765 and 759 B.C., which would explain why Nineveh was so quick to repent when he spoke to the people there. He prophesied in Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II, which lasted from 782-753 B.C.

Theme

God’s Warning to Assyria

God warns Assyria, through a reluctant prophet, to repent or face immediate judgment; Assyria repents and Jonah grieves.

Additional Info

Jonah’s name means “dove.” He was a contemporary of Amos and Hosea. He reluctantly went to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, and the people repented after hearing his prophecy. Assyria was located in the modern area of Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon and Syria. Nineveh’s location is roughly equivalent to modern day Mosul. In contrast to Israel, the Gentile sailors Jonah spoke to and the city of their archenemy were quick to respond to God and repent; yet Israel was not.

Amos

Author

Amos, a sheepherder from Tekoa.

Date

Likely between 762 and 758 B.C. because he was sent as a lay prophet to Jeroboam II, which means he must have been prophesying between 767-753 B.C., he probably spoke for a short period of time, and we know from archaeology that there was a major earthquake in the predicted area around 760 B.C.

Theme

God’s Final Judgment

God's final judgment will follow a soon judgment on Israel and other nations, after which He will restore Israel.

Additional Info

Amos’ name means “a burden” or “a burden-bearer.” He was not from the school of the prophets, yet God chose him to be His messenger of His warning to Israel in the north. Amos cried out against the injustices of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. In 753 B.C., Jeroboam II ended his reign, and Israel fell to and was exiled by Assyria in 722 B.C., just as Amos predicted. Amos is quoted twice in the New Testament (Acts 7:42-43 and Acts 15:16-17).

Hosea

Author

Hosea, son of Beeri.

Date

Between approx. 755 and 713 B.C., because he spoke during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah and Jeroboam II.

Theme

God’s Living Illustration

Hosea is a living illustration of Israel’s harlotry with foreign nations and gods, of God’s love, of Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s faithfulness.

Additional Info

Hosea’s name means “salvation.” It can also be spelled Hoshea or Joshua. He was called by God to send a message to the nation Israel that they were being unfaithful to their husband, God, and that He was going to deal severely with them through the nation Assyria. In 733 B.C. Assyria took Israel captive, and took away all their independence and power as a nation. In 722 B.C. Israel was devising a revolt when Assyria came and conquered them completely, taking all their viable men into captivity and dispersing them throughout modern day Iraq, Turkey and Iran.

Resources for 2 Kings, Joel, Jonah, Amos and Hosea

2 Kings 11-15:7, Joel, Jonah, Amos and Hosea Life Group Guide
I am Jonah Sermon Series
1 and 2 Kings (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series) by Iain W. Provan
Joel, Obadiah, Malachi (NIV Application Commentary, The) by David W. Baker
Joel, Amos, Obadiah: An Exegetical Commentary by Thomas J. Finley
The Books of Amos, Hosea, Micah (Cambridge Bible Commentaries on the Old Testament) by Henry McKeating
Jonah (The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries) by Jack M. Sasson

[Video File] [Audio File]

Song of Solomon / Proverbs / Ecclesiastes

equipping@thewellcommunity.org (The Well Community Church) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

This week we close the book on the life of Solomon. We saw his rise to power and the expanse of his influence. Now we look at the three books of wisdom literature that he wrote or contributed to during his reign. These writings include a book on marital love and romance, a body of work containing nuggets of poetic truth, and a twelve-chapter swan song that communicates his striving for meaning outside of God and the futility of those pursuits.

Song of Solomon

Author

King Solomon, who claims to be the author in the first verse of the book.

Date

Between 971 and 931 B.C., during Solomon’s reign as King. He likely didn’t compile it in its final form until he had been married for several years, and it was probably finished before the last years when he strayed away from the Lord.

Theme

Israel’s Love Story

This is Israel’s love story of Solomon and his bride as an example of marital courtship and love in the midst of life’s daily challenges.

Additional Info

The book is a collection of songs and also one song. Solomon’s object of affection is the Shulammite, who was not his first wife, but was well known as the queen, even among the 60 queens and 80 concubines of the time. He eventually had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

Proverbs

Authors

The Hebrew title of the book is Miashle Shelomoh, which means “Proverbs of Solomon.” Solomon’s name appears at the beginning of three sections (Proverbs 1-9; 10-22:16 and 25-29) and we know he weighed, studied and arranged “many proverbs” (Ecclesiastes 12:9). The section from 22:17 to 24:34 consists of “words of the wise,” which may have been collected and arranged by Solomon. Agur, an oracle (Proverbs 30) and King Lemuel (Proverbs 31) contributed the final chapters.

Date

Solomon’s proverbs were written by 931 B.C. King Hezekiah collected the material in chapters 25-29 about 230 years later.

Theme

Israel’s Wisdom

This is wisdom given for temptation, morality, marriage and family, daily living and daily choices.

Additional Info

Proverbs is a collection of topical maxims where the author uses a combination of poetry, parables, pithy questions, short stories and wise sayings to share in a memorable form the common sense and divine perspective necessary to handle life’s issues. It was designed to serve as a teaching manual, especially for the youth (Proverbs 2:1).

Ecclesiastes

Author

Likely Solomon, which is consistent with Jewish and early Christian traditions. The text itself claims to be written by the “son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:1), which describes Solomon.

Date

Likely between 971 and 931 B.C., during the reign of Solomon, probably closer to 931 B.C. toward the end of his life.

Theme

Israel’s Philosophy

Human life on planet earth is empty activity without God; therefore man should fear God and obey Him.

Additional Info

Most of the history of Solomon includes his great accumulations and accolades (1 Chronicles 29:25, 2 Chronicles 1:11-12). The book of Ecclesiastes indicates Solomon eventually concluded that a life on earth lived apart from God is empty, worthless and meaningless.

Resources for Song of Solomon, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes

Song of Solomon / Proverbs / Ecclesiastes Life Group Guide
Song of Solomon Sermon Series
The Message of the Song of Songs (Bible Speaks Today) by Tom Gledhill
The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 1-15 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament) by Bruce K. Waltke
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 15-31(New International Commentary on the Old Testament) by Bruce K. Waltke
Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs: The NIV Application Commentary by Iain Provan

[Video File] [Audio File]

2 Kings 1-10 (Obadiah)

equipping@thewellcommunity.org (The Well Community Church) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

During an age of kings and kingdoms, prophets stand up in a historically dark time for the people of God, and they speak great truth and insight to a lost nation. It takes courage to stand up and face the threats of this world, and we can have hope and encouragement from watching men like Elijah and Elisha. One thing that has always been true of God and His desire for us as mankind is to see consistency with our lives. The problem is we turn away from daily dependence on Him and trust in our own decision-making. The insights in this text will draw us back to consistent, holistic and joyful devotion to God and His work here on earth.

2 Kings

Author

Unknown. The prophet Ezekiel and the priest Ezra are the two most likely candidates. Some traditions also support Jeremiah’s authorship.

Date

Between approx. 560 and 538 B.C., after the release of former King Jehoiachin to the kings’ court in Babylon, and likely before the first return of the captives from Babylon to Palestine, since that was such a huge event in Israel’s history and would probably be mentioned.

ThemE

Israel’s Divided Kingdom

Israel's Divided Kingdom saw many evil kings, some good kings, prophets who began to speak out, Hezekiah and Josiah, and the fall of Israel and Judah.

Additional Info

Originally written as one book, the books of 1 and 2 Kings record the history of the coming to the throne of Solomon after his father David in 971 B.C. until the final collapse of a divided kingdom in 586 B.C.

Obadiah

Author

Obadiah, the prophet.

Date

Likely between 848 and 841 B.C. during the reign of Jehoram (2 Kings 8:20-22, 2 Chronicles 21:16-17). Most place his writing either very early, around 845-840 B.C. or much later, after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

Theme

God’s Judgment on Edom

Judgment on Edom will come soon and be a complete destruction, but Israel will be restored.

Additional Info

Obadiah’s name means “Servant of Yahweh.” Very little else is known about him. The book is written to Edom, the descendants of Esau. Obadiah is not quoted anywhere in the New Testament, but it is quoted many times by other prophets, including Jeremiah (Jeremiah 49) after the fall of Edom to Babylon.

Resources for 2 Kings and Obadiah

2 Kings 1-10 / Obadiah Life Group Guide
1 and 2 Kings (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series) by Iain W. Provan
Joel, Obadiah, Malachi (NIV Application Commentary, The) by David W. Baker

[Video File] [Audio File]

1 Kings (2 Chronicles)

equipping@thewellcommunity.org (The Well Community Church) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

This week we witness the rise and fall of Solomon. The monarchy dissolves and a revolt occurs, taking 10 tribes to the north under a new king, setting the stage for the continued conflict between the divided kingdom of Israel (North) and Judah (South). The moral decline of the nation becomes apparent in the turmoil within as they experience oppression from the surrounding nations. May our journey through these dark pages encourage us to take an alternative route in our personal walk with God, and may we learn the lessons of moral failure and spiritual decline from those who have gone before us.

1 Kings

Author

Unknown. The prophet Ezekiel and the priest Ezra are the two most likely candidates. Some traditions also support Jeremiah’s authorship.

Date

Theme

Israel’s King Solomon

This is the account of King Solomon, his triumphs and his wives that led him into idolatry and divided the nation at his death.

Additional Info

2 Chronicles

Author

Likely compiled by Ezra, with help from the extensive library of the Governor, Nehemiah.

Date

Likely approx. 400 B.C. when Judah returns from Babylon (1 Chronicles 9:1, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23).

Theme

Israel’s Story (Part 2)

This is the story of the Divided Kingdom and of the fall of Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon.

Additional Info

The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles were originally written as a single document, and they are directly related to the book of Ezra (2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-3). The book of 2 Chronicles specifically records the achievements of King Solomon to the fall of the Kingdom of Judah in 586 B.C. It deals only with the Southern Kingdom, Judah, which was the Davidic line that Ezra was writing to. Special emphasis is placed on the building achievements of each King, especially if he contributed to the Temple or the religious life of Judah.

Resources for 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles

1 Kings (2 Chronicles) Life Group Guide
1 and 2 Kings (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series) by Iain W. Provan
I and II Chronicles: A Commentary by Sara Japhet

[Video File] [Audio File]