1. © John Stevenson Bible Studies, 2007
The Big Idea
Of the
Old Testament
© John Stevenson Bible Studies, 2007

2. Old Testament Old Testament Law Historical Books Poetic Books
Major Prophets
Minor Prophets

3. Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon
Suffering
Man on his face before God
Psalms
Worship
Man before the throne of God
Proverbs
Wisdom
Man receiving instruction from God
Ecclesiastes
Life
Man looking for satisfaction in life
Song of Solomon
Love
Man in a loving relationship

4. Prophets ISRAEL Elijah & Elisha Isaiah Hosea Joel Amos Micah Jonah
Dan
Elijah & Elisha
ISRAEL
Isaiah
Hosea
Joel 
Penuel 
Shechem
Amos
Bethel
Micah 
Jonah
JUDAH

5. ASSYRIA
721 B.C.
ISRAEL

6. ASSYRIA
Prophets
JUDAH
Jeremiah
Nahum
Obadiah
Habakkuk
Zephaniah

7. Nobility (Included Daniel & his friends)
BABYLON
Tradesmen (Included Ezekiel)
JUDAH

8. Ezekiel 10:4
Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD.

9. Ezekiel 10:18-19
Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. 19 When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my
sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD's house. And the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.

10. Ezekiel 11:23
And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood over the mountain which is east of the city.

11. BABYLON
JUDAH
586 B.C.

12. Psalm 137:1-4 There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion.
1 By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down and wept,
When we remembered Zion.
2 Upon the willows in the midst of it
We hung our harps.
3 For there our captors demanded of us songs,
And our tormentors mirth, saying,
"Sing us one of the songs of Zion."
4 How can we sing the LORD's song
In a foreign land?

13. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia - in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah - the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom... (2 Chronicles 36:22).
PERSIA
Babylon
JUDAH

14. 2 Chronicles 36:23
"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!'"
Cyrus
the
Great

15. Nobility (Included Daniel & his friends)
Three Deportations
Three Returns
Nobility (Included Daniel & his friends)
1st Return Zerubbabel
Babylon
Tradesmen (Included Ezekiel)
2nd Return
Ezra
General Population
3rd Return
Nehemiah

16. "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His
temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1).

17. A Prophet
I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him (Deuteronomy 18:18)

18. A Priestly Sacrifice
But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5).

19. A King
And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14).

20. But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me
to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.
(Micah 5:2)