1. 12 September 2015 Seeing 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?

2. A. OT History: how is it God’s word to us? (hi)STORY connects with us It is OUR (hi)STORY BUT 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 bunk”Henry Ford, 1916 c.f. Psalm 78v2-7: History = His Story A. We need to know where the stories fit B. What does the big story tell us about God?

3. B. Where do the stories fit? CreationFallRedemptionNew Creation The story so far... People loose their way “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit” Judges 21:25 But God is Faithful... God calls Abram & makes covenant God rescues his people God gives them His law God leads them to promised land God gives them kings... Will they lead the people to fulfil the destiny God gave them?

5. Bible books: Main characters? The period of the kings... Judah falls to Babylon EXILE First return Zerubbabel Temple rebuit 2 nd return Ezra 3 rd return Neheniah SaulDavidSolomon Rehoboam Jeroboam I Asa Jehoshaphat Joash HezekiahJosiah Manasseh Jeroboam IIAhabJehu ISRAEL JUDAH 1 Kings2 Kings 2 Chronicles 2 Sam 1 Chr 1 Sam ElishaElijah Nathan Samuel Gad Ahijah Amos Hosea Isaiah Micah Jeremiah Assyria Babylon Egypt Cush Moab/Ammon The main character is always GOD HIMSELF!

6. C. The big themes... Judah falls to Babylon EXILE First return Zerubbabel Temple rebuit 2 nd return Ezra 3 rd return Neheniah 1. It’s all about God! He is in charge – reassurance & warning!e.g. Solomon, Ahab It is response to Him that matters! e.g. Jeroboam II He is the hero of the story! e.g. Elisha & Arameans 2. God is good! He is FOR his people He forgives those who turn back to Him His grace never gives up on His people

7. C. The big themes... Judah falls to Babylon EXILE First return Zerubbabel Temple rebuit 2 nd return Ezra 3 rd return Neheniah 3. God is looking for relationship! He is a father and a husband to Israel... and us His people have a choice; will we turn to Him? True worship is ‘obedience rather than sacrifice’ (heart relationship not external conformity)

8. D. The challenge to us today! Judah falls to Babylon EXILE First return Zerubbabel Temple rebuit 2 nd return Ezra 3 rd return Neheniah Do 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?