1. Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?

2. Old Testament (OT)
Hebrew Scriptures (the language most were written in)
Written between 3000 and 2000 years ago
Distinct books written by different authors
Books written for different purposes
Also sacred text in Judaism – called ‘the Torah’

3. Unit Title: The Power of Words
Focus Question: How am I inspired by powerful words?
Learning Intention:
To explore what the OT says about God.
Success Criteria: To complete a higher level thinking task relating to the topic.
Last Lesson
Words about God
This Lesson
OT Words about God
Next Lesson
NT Words about God

4. How do you understand God from these passages? What words describe God?
The Lord Answers Job
38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up your loins like a man,     I will question you, and you shall declare to me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”
(Job 38:1-4)
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?
(Isaiah 40:12)
CREATOR
For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator.
(Wisdom 13:5)

5. How do you understand God from these passages? What words describe God?
Therefore thus says the Lord God: My anger and my wrath shall be poured out on this place, on human beings and animals, on the trees of the field and the fruit of the ground; it will burn and not be quenched.
(Jeremiah 7:20)
Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.
(Nahum 1:4)
JUDGE
He has bent his bow like an enemy, with his right hand set like a foe; he has killed all in whom we took pride in the tent of daughter Zion; he has poured out his fury like fire.
(Lamentations 2:4
Great are your judgments and hard to describe; therefore uninstructed souls have gone astray.
(Wisdom 17:1)

6. How do you understand God from these passages? What words describe God?
“The God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all harm, bless the boys; and in them let my name be perpetuated, and the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude on the earth.”
(Genesis 48:16)
11 For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12 As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep.
(Ezekiel 34:11-12)
SHEPHERD
O save your people, and bless your heritage;     be their shepherd, and carry them forever.
(Psalm 28:9)

7. Explain why we can say God is a creator, a judge and a shepherd.
Research the Old Testament in more detail, then choose and summarize one of the bible stories in a few sentences.
Develop a script explaining the importance of the Old Testament to another person.
Examine what guidance Pope Benedict gave on the “Dark Passages” of Scripture. (Note: See link on our weebly.)
Create three different pictures: One showing God as a creator, one as judge and the third one as a shepherd.
Justify: “Both the Old and the New Testament are of integral importance for our understanding about God.” Explain your answer.
Choose your own tasks based on your confidence on the topic!
Tip: Work at your own pace, this is not a race!