2. 1 History of the Old Testament 2 Kings 25; Lamentations Obadiah; Ezekiel; Daniel

3. 2

4. 3 Introduction u theological crisis of immense proportions u northern nation: understandable demise u But, Judah?

5. 4 Serious Questions Q Why was Judah a kingdom under judgment? Q Why had Jerusalem been desecrated by the pagans & destroyed? Q Why had Yahweh allowed the destruction of the culture, religion, shrine, & political entity of his people? Q Why had the people lost control of the land that was to be theirs forever?

7. 6 u Clear conclusion: l direct historical judgment (2 Kg. 24:2-4; 2 Chr. 36:15-17; Je. 37:6-10; 52:3) l part of the Deuteronomic code since Moses (Dt. 28:64-68)

8. 7 Lamentations. u 2 Kings 25 & Jeremiah 52: … factual accounts u Lamentations: … emotional devastation u Jerusalem & Judah:

9. 8 The Prophets Obadiah Ezekiel & Daniel

11. Ezekiel, the Priest

12. 11 Ezekiel, the Priest u Coming desolation of Jerusalem: l before the fact l after the fact from far-off Babylon (Eze. 1:1; 8:1)

13. 12 full of strange and perplexing imagery and symbols (chariot throne of God supported by four living creatures, Eze. 1:5-21)

14. 13 Ezekiel's Visions u transcendence of Yahweh u God's omnipotence not limited by the failure of his people u prediction: l a restoration for Judah, an act of grace (Eze. 36, 37)

15. 14 Daniel u Babylonians allowed deportees to settle in colonies & preserve national identity u Daniel: to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in the 2nd deportation (Da. 1:1-6) u Ezekiel’s contemporary (Eze. 14:14, 20; 28:3) u part of Nebuchadnezzar's court retinue

16. 15 Daniel u Historical section (chapters 1-6) & prophetic section (chapters 7-12) l Historical u Daniel as a chief minister/interpreter of dreams l Prophetic u relationship of Israel to the nations in the future

17. 16 Daniel u predicted the fall of the Babylonian Empire to the Media-Persian Empire on the very day it happened! u great prayer of repentance in behalf of his own people: l exile = act of God's judgment based on the covenant of Moses (Da. 9:4-19)