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12 September 2015Seeing God in history...16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.2 Tim 3:16-17

Starter Qu: What is your favourite part of the Bible?A. OT History: how is it Gods word to us?(hi)STORY connects with usIt is OUR (hi)STORYBUT there is a danger in reading Bible (hi)STORY...

SO TODAY...The one duty we owe to history is to re-write it. Oscar Wilde, 1891 History. sir, will tell lies as usual.George Bernard Shaw, 1901 History is more or less bunkHenry Ford, 1916c.f. Psalm 78v2-7: History = His Story

We need to know where the stories fitWhat does the big story tell us about God?B. Where do the stories fit?CreationFallRedemptionNew CreationThe story so far...People loose their wayIn those days Israel had no king;everyone did as he saw fitJudges 21:25But God is Faithful...God calls Abram& makes covenantGod rescues his peopleGod gives themHis lawGod leads themto promised landGod gives them kings... Will they lead the people to fulfil the destiny God gave them?

Bible books:

Main characters? The period of the kings...Judah falls to BabylonEXILEFirst returnZerubbabelTemple rebuit2nd returnEzra3rd returnNeheniahSaulDavidSolomonRehoboamJeroboam IAsaJehoshaphatJoashHezekiahJosiahManassehJeroboam IIAhabJehuISRAELJUDAH1 Kings2 Kings2 Chronicles2 Sam1 Chr1 SamElishaElijahNathanSamuelGadAhijahAmosHoseaIsaiahMicahJeremiahAssyriaBabylonEgyptCushMoab/AmmonThe main character is alwaysGOD HIMSELF!C. The big themes...Judah falls to BabylonEXILEFirst returnZerubbabelTemple rebuit2nd returnEzra3rd returnNeheniahIts all about God!He is in charge reassurance & warning!e.g. Solomon, AhabIt is response to Him that matters!e.g. Jeroboam IIHe is the hero of the story!e.g. Elisha & Arameans

God is good!He is FOR his peopleHe forgives those who turn back to HimHis grace never gives up on His peopleC. The big themes...Judah falls to BabylonEXILEFirst returnZerubbabelTemple rebuit2nd returnEzra3rd returnNeheniahGod is looking for relationship!He is a father and a husband to Israel... and usHis people have a choice; will we turn to Him?True worship is obedience rather than sacrifice(heart relationship not external conformity)

D. The challenge to us today!Judah falls to BabylonEXILEFirst returnZerubbabelTemple rebuit2nd returnEzra3rd returnNeheniahDo we understand we are part of the story?

Do we know God is in charge? Do we resist or line up?Do we depend on His mercy & grace or rely on others?We have a choice: will we remain faithful?

GOD IS THE HERO OF HISTORY......WILL WE ALIGN WITH HIM?