Stepping through the Old Testament

The book of Jeremiah is the second of the Major Prophets, and portrays God’s judgement against Israel through the Babylonian army. The Babylonian campaign against Judah and Jerusalem is referred to as judgement ‘from the north’, symbolising the direction the Babylonians would approach the city. Jeremiah was often characterized by his anguish of spirit and he has been called 'the weeping prophet'. He was a deeply sensitive man, who found the message of judgement so upsetting, that he often shed tears as he expressed his grief and sorrow. He was a man of prayer and fortitude as he endured fierce opposition from the kings of Judah and the false prophets who stood against him. But Jeremiah remained faithful to the call and ministry of God on his life and he is an example to each of us to remain strong, even if we don’t see the results we want. Visit our website at cellchurchconnection.ie

Isaiah lived in a time of great political turmoil when Assyria was expanding its empire and he encouraged and prophesied to the kings of Judah to put their trust in God. The book of Isaiah consists of two parts, a book of judgement and a book of comfort. The first 39 chapters of Isaiah form the “book of judgment” where the prophet speaks against various groups of people. However, following all of these devastating judgments, the final chapters of Isaiah chapters 40-66 are a “book of comfort”, where he gives a vision of hope. Isaiah is often called “The Messianic Prophet” as he foretells many facts about the coming Messiah. He is also referred to as the Evangelist of the Old Testament and he speaks of the sufferings of Christ and God’s desire to heal and restore mankind. Visit our website at cellchurchconnection.ie

The Song of Songs is one of the Poetry and Wisdom books of the Bible and is a sensuous love poem about the spiritual and sexual love between a husband and wife. But the Song of Songs is more than just the story of marriage and love between two people– it’s also an analogy.  The Song of Songs uses the analogy of the love between a man and a woman to describe the love between God and human beings. The Song of Songs is saying that our relationship with God can be like this. We should be able to say of God, ‘My beloved is mine and I am his’. Visit our website at cellchurchconnection.ie

The book of Ecclesiastes is a journal, the diary of one man's journey through life. It has a lot to say on the subjects of governance, managing wealth, work and wisdom. But as we read through the book of Ecclesiastes we notice that the writer has one particular group of people in mind in which he wants to impart his advice, namely those who are young and still in the early stages of life. Visit our website at   cellchurchconnection.ie

In the book of Proverbs, we are given access to a brilliant teacher, offering insight on a wide range of subjects, from relationships, to wealth and spirituality. Proverbs tells us, there is an aspect of God, namely, his wisdom, that can guide us through life. Proverbs also shows us, that anyone can access this wisdom to help make an incredible life for themselves, as long as they respect God, the source of all wisdom.    visit our website at cellchurchconnection.ie

The Psalms are a book full of Emotions. Some psalms express deep grief, for example Psalm 56, says that God ‘puts our tears into his bottle’. Other Psalms include the human emotions of anger, frustration, jealousy, despair, fear and envy. The psalmists often expressed exactly how they thought and felt, including times of complaining against God. But many Psalms also reflect the more ‘positive’ emotions of joy, excitement, hope and peace. So, we see that the Psalms cover the whole range of human emotions. The reason the book of Psalms was written, was to help us worship God in every season of life, no matter how we feel.   Visit our website at  cellchurchconnection.ie

The central message of the book of Job, is that righteous people can suffer even though they have done nothing wrong. The book of Job does not offer a reason for suffering and it does not try to defend God’s actions. Instead, we are challenged to trust in God and believe that he is loving towards each one of us, even during the long dark night of trial. In the end we will find, that God is faithful and will lovingly restore those who wait for him.  Visit our website at cellchurchconnection.ie

When a powerful enemy seeks to commit genocide on Gods people, they seek his face for deliverance. But God has already positioned Queen Esther in the kings palace, "For such a time as this". Haman's evil plot against the Jews suddenly unravels before his own eyes and he becomes the architect of his own downfall. Esther is a book which demonstrates the Divine Providence of God, working behind the scenes to undo the wicked schemes of an arrogant man.     Visit our website at   cellchurchconnection.ie 

Hearing that the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem were in great trouble and disgrace, Nehemiah asks the king of Persia to allow him return and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, in order to provide security and protection for his people. Permission is granted and Nehemiah has to overcome opposition and threats to his life, before the walls are finally restored. Nehemiah is a man of purpose and determination. He is prepared to leave his elevated position in the King's court and return to Jerusalem, in order to serve and encourage his people. The book of Nehemiah encourages us to persist in the face of opposition and see things through to the end. Along with his contemporary Ezra, Nehemiah helped solidify the political and spiritual foundations of the exiles in Jerusalem.   Visit our website at  cellchurchconnection.ie

The book of Ezra records the first two returns to Jerusalem, from exile in Babylon. Zerubbabel leads the first group back and Ezra leads the second some sixty to seventy years later. He was a scribe and his mandate for returning to Jerusalem was to teach the decrees and laws of God in Israel. Discovering that the Israelites were continuing to engage in sinful practices, Ezra implements reforms to separate the Jews from their intermarriages with the foreign inhabitants of Judah.   visit our website at: cellchurchconnection.ie

Chronicles was written as an inspirational document to encourage and inform the returning exiles from Babylon, to their homeland of Israel. It was written from the viewpoint of a 'Priest', and includes genealogies and lists of those who led worship during the time of David and Solomon. A displaced people are now going home and the Chronicler gives them the means to know how to re-establish worship in Jerusalem. All this is made possible by the official decree of king Cyrus, who encourages Israel to return home and rebuild their temple.  visit our website at  cellchurchconnection.ie

From the heights of being a dominant empire to the depths of captivity and slavery, the book of Kings begins with the grandeur and wisdom of Solomon, but ends with the demise of a once powerful nation. The books of 1st & 2nd Kings cover a period of approx 400 years and traces the lives of the various kings who ruled Israel during this period. The 'Golden Era' ends, and Israel is removed from the Promised Land they once inhabited and prospered in. God uses the Assyrians and the Babylonians as his instruments to chastise and bring judgement on his people. The curtain now falls and God waits 70 years before he brings his people back to their homeland and once again restores their national identity and fortunes. visit our website at cellchurchconnection.ie

From turbulence to stability, the book of Samuel records the transition from the period of the Judges to the establishment of the Monarchy. Three main characters stand out, Samuel, Saul and David. A dramatic shift now takes place in the leadership of Israel. During the time of the Judges, God raised up local leaders to lead and deliver in their local areas, but now three leaders emerge who steer Israel to the establishment of a national king and a central government. The prophet Samuel initiates the process and anoints Saul, but he turns out to be a man pleaser. Eventually David comes to the throne and his character is described as being, 'A man after God's own heart'. During his reign all the tribes of Israel are unified as one nation under God and Israel becomes an influential 'Empire' within the region of the Middle East. 

Destitute and feeling bitter, Naomi returns home to the village of Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth, after spending years in the land of Moab. They were both widows and their future looked bleak. Ruth goes to gather grain in a field owned by a man named Boaz who unknown to her was a relative of Naomi's family. Ruth is encouraged to ask Boaz to perform a Levirate marriage with her so that a son can be born and inheritance returned to the line of her deceased husband. The principle of the 'Kinsman-Redeemer' is enacted and in the book of Ruth we see the picture of God as the redeemer of mankind. God looks on the needy and graciously acts as their redeemer and saviour. Visit our website at  cellchurchconnection.ie

With no king or figurehead, the book of Judges records the lives and achievements of the men and women God raised up to defend Israel against her enemies. Through daring acts of faith, weak and vulnerable people, were transformed into courageous leaders, when the Spirit of God came upon them. Samson, Deborah and Gideon were ordinary people until God raised them up. One phrase is repeated several times, "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit". Without a godly leader the nation of Israel perpetuated a cycle of disobedience followed by repentance and revival. The book ends, by indicating Israel would keep floundering until a national leader was established. Visit our website at   cellchurchconnection.ie

Joshua Israel's military commander mobilises the people to cross the Jordan and take possession of the land they had failed to do forty years previously. A sequence of supernatural events take place as they commence the conquest of Canaan. First the River Jordan stops flowing, secondly  an angelic commander appears to Joshua and thirdly the walls of Jericho collapse right in front of their eyes. Entering the land at its centre, Joshua first turns south and conquers Canaan in what is known as the Southern Campaign, then he turns north and successfully executes his Northern Campaign. Having secured the territory initially, Joshua proceeds to divide the land among the twelve tribes before his death at the age of 110. Visit our website at   cellchurchconnection.ie

A new generation is ready to enter the land of Canaan and Moses now gives the Children of Israel a second reading of the law. Gods Covenant and its obligations are presented within the context of a Suzerain Treaty, a well known format in its day. They are soon to cross the Jordan River without Moses and he does everything in his power to instruct the nation and help them avoid the failure of their parents, forty years before. The era of Moses now comes to an end and he dies after viewing Canaan from Mount Nebo. Joshua becomes leader and a new era of warfare begins as Gods people finally move towards their promised inheritance.  Visit our website at    cellchurchconnection.ie

Numbers records Gods dealings with Israel, even though their attitude was one of grumbling. Complaining can sometimes cause blessings to skip over our lives and rob us of joy and peace. Even leaders are not perfect and Numbers makes reference to the failings of Moses, Aaron and Miriam. The book records a census both at the beginning and at the end of Israel's forty years in the wilderness. It also gives details of the battles fought and records the different stages in their journey from Egypt to the boundary of Canaan. The Apostle Paul said that Numbers was written as a warning for us. Visit our website at  cellchurchconnection.ie

Leviticus talks about mans approach to God and the dedication of his people. God made a covenant with Israel to protect and bless them and in return God expected them to show their thankfulness through a series of Gratitude and Guilt offerings. Leviticus was Israel's handbook how to worship God and live in righteousness. Visit our website at  cellchurchconnection.ie

Exodus, the greatest escape story in history! Over two million slaves perform a breakout and this jail break was led by Moses. Exodus features a series of miracles, stories of deliverance and supernatural provision. Visit our website at  cellchurchconnection.ie