1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2010 Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2010

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4. Shadow Figures General Introduction {180} A ll of this quarter’s lessons are about characters who did not make the headlines but who existed in the background, the ones easily overlooked and forgotten; background characters in the Old Testament. Some are the good guys of the story, some are not so good.

5. Shadow Figures General Introduction {180} The challenges that confront these characters are not very different, in principle, from the challenges that we face today. They, too, felt the pain of living in a world struggling amid the great controversy between good and evil. What makes this battle more difficult is that it’s not always easy to discern just what is the good and evil, for the line between them can be blurry.

6. Background Characters in the Old Testament Contents 1. Story and History 2. Caleb: Living With the Wait 3. Hannah: Learning to Be Someone 4. Jonathan: Born for Greatness 5. Abigail: No Victim of Circumstances 6. Uriah: Faith of a Foreigner 7. Abiathar: The Priest 8. Joab: David’s Weak Strongman 9. Rizpah: The Influence of Faithfulness 10. The Man of God: Obedience is Not Optional 11. The Widow of Zarephath: The Leap of Faith 12. Gehazi: Missing the Mark 13. Baruch: Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World

7. Background Characters in the Old Testament Our Goals {181} T o “learn things that can help us to write a different and better story for ourselves.” To “read Scripture afresh, looking beyond the obvious to discover the joy of learning new truths from God’s Word.” To “remember the power of our own lives and examples.”

8. Background Characters in the Old Testament Lesson 1, October 2 Background Characters in the Old Testament Lesson 1, October 2 Story and History

9. Key Text 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 NET E very Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”

10. Story and History Initial Words {183} T he Bible is contemporary because it is full of stories. Not legends, not “cleverly devised myths” (2 Pet. 1:16, ESV), but historical and personal stories that reveal truth about God and His interaction with fallen humanity. These stories describe real people, battling with real-life problems and interacting with the living God, who offers answers to these problems.

11. Story and History Quick Look 1. PEOPLE and PLOTS (Job 1:8) 2. WHERE and HOW? (Joshua 3:17) 3. KINGS and PRINCES (1 Samuel 8:6)

12. Story and History 1. People and Plots Job 1:8 NKJV T hen the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil?’ ”

13. 1.People and Plots Two-dimensional Plot {184} P lot is defined as the succession of events that lead to a conclusion. Everyone is born, lives, and one day will die. These are the broad parameters of the plot of life. In between, life consists of many smaller plots that often are motivated by conflict or tension.

14. If we want to understand the story of Job, we need to understand its two-dimensional plot. As a matter of fact, the Bible has no one- dimensional plots, because God always is active in history and human lives, even if working behind the scenes. Stories, however, are more than plots. People make stories. 1.People and Plots Two-dimensional Plot {184}

15. Characters are closely connected to the plot of the story. How we understand the character(s) depends to a large degree on the information given by the narrator, who may even be one of the characters. What is your plot? What kind of character are you? 1.People and Plots Two-dimensional Plot {184}

16. Story and History 2. Where and How? Joshua 3:17 NKJV T hen the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground, until Israel crossed over on dry land, until all the people had crossed completely over Jordan.”

17. 2. Where and How? Settings and Point of View {186} S etting conveys reality to the story and gives it atmosphere and mood. Setting also can give us a clue about the time period in which the narrative unfolds. Settings help us to better understand the action of the story.

18. But setting is not the only important element of a story. We need to look at the point of view of the narrator, as well. We see the story unfold through the narrator’s eyes, which usually provides us with important information but sometimes may withhold information from us. 2. Where and How? Settings and Point of View {186}

19. We take a look at a few crucial periods of Israel’s history as the backdrop for all the individuals we will be studying. 1. Israel’s entry into the Promised Land. 2. Canaan was taken by Israel. 3. The death of Joshua. Caananites still in some section of the Promised Land. 4. Centuries of “dark ages” follows. 2. Where and How? From Victory to the “Dark Ages” {188}

20. Israel slipped into a cycle of domination by foreign powers, liberation, idolatry, and, again, domination. When we lose the big picture of what God has in mind for us, minors become majors. 2. Where and How? From Victory to the “Dark Ages” {188}

21. 1 Samuel 8:6 NKJV B ut the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the LORD. ” Story and History 3. Kings and Princes

22. Human Ways {190} T hough given so much by God, and promised so much more—were they to obey— the Israelites were influenced negatively by the surrounding culture. They saw in the surrounding kingdoms a very different political structure. The tribal leadership of Israel felt that it was time to appoint a king over Israel.

23. 1. Saul is anointed as king. 2. David is king over all of Israel; extends the borders of the kingdom. 3. Solomon designs efficient administrative structures that control and organize Israel; later in life, turns away from the Lord. Do we find ourselves wanting to do things our own way instead of God’s? 3. Kings and Princes Human Ways {190}

24. 4. The strong-handed administrative approach, the labor-conscription laws, and the experiments in religious pluralism all led to great tension at the beginning of the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. 5. Division of Judah and Israel. God’s once- united people began to go different ways. 3. Kings and Princes Human Ways {190}

25. Story and History Final Words {194} In 722 B.C., Samaria was captured by the Assyrians, and Israel was taken into captivity. In 586 B.C. Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. The leadership and much of the city’s population were taken to Babylon. The temple was destroyed. The royal “experiment” had come to an end.