Crushing Defeat and Painful Exile Prophets said turning away from Covenant = destruction Jewish Dispersion – settling of the Jews outside the Promised Land Babylonian exile – Jewish people were forced to march 600 miles Questioning Yahweh: Where are you? They realized: Yahweh had not abandoned them; rather they had abandoned Yahweh

Renewal in the Midst of Exile Jewish people turned to worship Yahweh They help simple services Shared stories of Yahweh and how Yahweh saved them Prayed Sing Psalms from the heart Jews became CLOSER to God through a COMMUNAL process They praised God in even in their sorrow!

Sabbath for the Jews Sabbath: Sacred day of rest and worship Business and work are important but God has chosen these people, was given a promise, and never abandoned his children

You are made in the image and likeness of GOD People of the Book Stories were told ORALLY During the Exile stories, prayers and songs were put into a book and edited Book of Genesis – creation stories of Adam and Eve, Noah and the flood, and Abraham and Patriarchs Creation stories – stories of how the world came to be…NOT historical Creation Stories – God made the earth and all of creation and they were good You are made in the image and likeness of GOD

The Creation Stories

After the Exile/ Oppressors Jewish people were allowed back to Jerusalem Babylonian –> Persians –> Greeks –> Romans Hanukkah – Festival of the lights (rebuilding the Temple) Romans were horrible rulers Jewish people prayed for a savior to bring JOY and PEACE Jews hoped the MESSIAH “anointed one” would come Messiah would come from the line of David Isaiah prediction = a “suffering” servant

What happened just after Jesus? The Birth of Jesus JESUS = MESSIAH Fulfillment of God’s Covenant with the people Jesus’ divine mission Baptism 40 days of fasting and prayer Spoke at a temple “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:16-21)