1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2010 Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2010

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4. Background Characters in the Old Testament Contents 1. Story and History 2. Caleb: Living With the Wait 3. Hannah: Learning to Be Someone 4. Jonathan: Born for Greatness 5. Abigail: No Victim of Circumstances 6. Uriah: Faith of a Foreigner 7. Abiathar: The Priest 8. Joab: David’s Weak Strongman 9. Rizpah: The Influence of Faithfulness 10. The Man of God: Obedience is Not Optional 11. The Widow of Zarephath: The Leap of Faith 12. Gehazi: Missing the Mark 13. Baruch: Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World

5. Background Characters in the Old Testament Our Goals {181} T o “learn things that can help us to write a different and better story for ourselves.” To “read Scripture afresh, looking beyond the obvious to discover the joy of learning new truths from God’s Word.” To “remember the power of our own lives and examples.”

6. Background Characters in the Old Testament Lesson 13, December 25 Background Characters in the Old Testament Lesson 13, December 25 Baruch: Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World

7. Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World Key Text Isaiah 8:20 T o the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

8. Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World Initial Words {339} T he world, as Baruch knew it, was drawing to a close. Jerusalem and Judah were in their final moments. Jerusalem was taken, the temple destroyed, and many Judeans taken captive. Baruch lived in this time of dramatic change and loss. However, though his world was crumbling, he left a legacy that no king or war could destroy.

9. Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World Quick Look 1. Baruch’s WORLD is FRAGMENTED (Jeremiah 7:34) 2. Baruch’s WORK is FAVORED (Jeremiah 36:4-6) 3. Baruch’s WISH is FRUSTRATED (Jeremiah 45:3-5)

10. Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World 1. Baruch’s World is Fragmented Jeremiah 7:34 NKJV T hen I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah and from the street of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the bride. For the land shall be desolate.’ ”

11. 1. Baruch’s World is Fragmented The Babylonian Yoke {343} B aruch served during the most chaotic period of Israel’s history. Everything was collapsing around them. Babylon crushed opposing nations. Judah likewise succumbed. Apparently, Judah’s leaders, failing to believe that Jehovah was indeed trustworthy, invested their faith in political alliances with other nations.

12. 1. Baruch’s World is Fragmented The Babylonian Yoke {343} During times of upheaval and difficult circumstances, personal or global, who receives our trust? Placing trust in ourselves, our interviewing skills, our political connections, our financial reserves probably demonstrate less intelligence than did Judah’s placement of trust in Egypt.

13. 1. Baruch’s World is Fragmented The Babylonian Yoke {343} However, beyond the troubled horizon, Jehovah remains secure, immovable, trustworthy, and intimately concerned about human trials and earthly conditions. Trusting Him is humanity’s most important decision today.

14. Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World 2. Baruch’s Work is Favored Jeremiah 36:4-6 NKJV J eremiah called Baruch…and Baruch wrote on the scroll of a book…all the words of the L ORD. … And Jeremiah commanded… ‘Go…read them…in the hearing of the people in the L ORD’S house on the day of fasting. And you shall also read them in all of Judah, who come from their cities.’ ”

15. 2. Baruch’s Work is Favored Jeremiah’s Scribe {342} B aruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, actually is participating in the transmission and preservation of God’s Word. Normally the prophet then formulates the message and writes it down. In this particular case, Jeremiah himself did not do the writing but dictated to Baruch, who then wrote it down.

16. 2. Baruch’s Work is Favored Jeremiah’s Scribe {342} Baruch also communicates the message in public. Because Jeremiah is out of favor in the court and has been denied access to the temple, Baruch reads the prophetic message in the temple on a holy day. Baruch never claims to be speaking for himself or even for Jeremiah; the message comes from God.

17. Jeremiah 45:3-5 NKJV W oe is me now! For the L ORD has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighting, and I find no rest.’ … Thus says the L ORD : ‘And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them, for behold, ‘I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.’ ” Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World 3. Baruch’s Wish is Frustrated

18. A Moment of Hope {344} A fter Baruch’s reading of the message, court officials ask him to give them a private reading. After inquiries as to where the message has come from, the officials decide to bring it to the king’s attention. For a brief moment it looks as if there might be change in Judah. For Baruch this is a moment of hope.

19. 3. Baruch’s Wish is Frustrated A Moment of Hope {344} In the possible reformation he will be a man of importance, maybe elevated to a high position in the government. The king showed a deliberate insult to God by systematically cutting and burning the scroll. Here’s a clear case where someone’s stand for the Lord has cost him something. Together with Jeremiah, Baruch is now a marked man.

20. 3. Baruch’s Wish is Frustrated Woe Is Me! {346} What’s most important to remember during times of emotional distress and sadness is that this doesn’t mean that God has forsaken us. It means only that, as with all fallen humanity, we will suffer in this life. Whether the suffering is our own fault or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that we do not let the evil one use our grief to turn us away from the Lord or make us bitter and resentful against Him.

21. 3. Baruch’s Wish is Frustrated What Is in It for Me? {348} God reminds Baruch of what really is important. Jesus reminds us that our lives are more important than our earthly possessions. Ironically, even though Baruch missed out on a great future in the Jerusalem political scene because of his loyalty to Jeremiah, this connection really saved his life and gave him a far bigger legacy than anything he ever could have dreamed of.

22. Prophets and Kings 437 Final Words {350} G od’s chosen servants should meet with courage and patience the trials and sufferings that befall them through reproach, neglect, and misrepresentation. They should continue to discharge faithfully the work God has given them to do, ever remembering that the prophets of old and the Saviour of mankind and His apostles also endured abuse and persecution for the Word’s sake.”