1. 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

2. 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!

3. 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

4. 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

5. The Creation Stories

6. 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

7. 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)