A Survey of the Old Testament Laminated Sheet

John H. Walton

• Publisher: Zondervan Academic
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9780310109310
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

Students of the Old Testament may not know everything they need to know, but they do know there's a lot they need to know! Whether studying for exams or delving into Old Testament Scripture, students need critical information at their fingertips. Instead, it's usually scattered throughout textbooks, self-made crib sheets, and sticky-notes on their computer monitor. Now there's a better way! The Zondervan Get an A! Study Guides to A Survey of the Old Testament is a handy, at-a-glance study aid ideal for last minute review, a quick overview of the textbook, or as an aid in Old Testament study. The study guide is tied to A Survey of the Old Testament by Andrew Hill and John Walton.

IV. PLOTLINE

A. Theologically Significant Developments in Sequence

Creation
Fall
Flood
Tower of Babel
Covenant made
Family established
Exodus from Egypt
Law given at Sinai
Construction of tabernacle
God fulfills land promise
Covenant renewed
Israel’s unfaithfulness jeopardizes land
God delivers through judges
Ark leaves Israel
Samuel raised up as kingmaker
David crowned
Land expanded
Ark restored
Covenant of kingship with David
Temple built
Kings fail to reflect God’s ideals for kingship
Prophets advise kings and judge them
Ahab and Jezebel attempt to replace Yahweh with Baal
Empires under Yahweh’s control threaten unfaithful Israel
Prophets warn of coming disaster
New covenant proclaimed
Jerusalem falls, temple destroyed
People exiled from Promised Land
People return from exile
Temple and Jerusalem rebuilt
People await Messiah and the kingdom of God

B. Books of the Old Testament

The purpose of GENESIS is to begin the story of the Covenant. Although God created everything just right, sin drew people away from him — so much so that they no longer had an accurate idea of what he is like. This is why God decided to make a covenant. The covenant would be with a chosen people, Abraham and his family. The relationship of the covenant was to allow him to use Israel to give people an accurate picture of what he is like. Genesis tells how the covenant was established despite many obstacles.

The purpose of EXODUS is to explain how God’s presence came to dwell among his chosen people, Israel. In Egypt they were enslaved and felt abandoned by God. God made his presence known through the plagues and the deliverance from Egypt. His presence guided and protected them through the wilderness. At Sinai he told them how they needed to live so that his presence could dwell among them. The tabernacle was built and the priesthood prepared so that God could come and take up residence.

The purpose of LEVITICUS is to tell the people how to preserve God’s presence among them. It provides the instructions for purity and holiness so that they can continue to enjoy the blessing of God that his presence brings.

The purpose of NUMBERS is to contrast the faithfulness of God with the faithlessness and rebellion of Israel. God kept his covenant promises to make them a numerous people (shown by the census) and bring them to the land. But the people grumbled from the very beginning, rebelled against God’s leadership, and refused to enter the land. They ended up wandering not only into the wilderness, but also into false worship. The book traces the transition from the Exodus generation to the Conquest generation.

The purpose of DEUTERONOMY is to summarize and renew the covenant in preparation for entering into the land. It organizes laws in a way that lets the spirit behind the Ten Commandments be understood. It is the charter document of Israel that emphasizes that there is one God, one people of God, one sanctuary, and one law.

The purpose of JOSHUA is well summarized in Joshua 21:43 – 45: “So the Lord gave Israel all the land, . . . and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side. . . . The Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” The book shows how God kept his covenant promise to give the land to Israel.

The purpose of JUDGES is to show the failure of the Israelites to keep their part of the covenant. The cycles show how God demonstrated his power and mercy by delivering them time after time after his justice had demanded that he bring punishment. The book shows that neither the judges nor the tribal leadership succeeded in helping ...

Table of contents

• COVER PAGE
• TITLE PAGE
• COPYRIGHT PAGE
• CONTENTS
• I. BACKGROUND
• II. BASICS (KEY TERMS)
• III. STORY LINE
• IV. PLOTLINE
• V. INTERPRETATION: SOME POINTERS