Week One

Beginnings
This week we will learn about the formation of the kingdom of Israel. This weeks reading is extensive because we cover a lot of background. The work will be heavier than normal. Hang in there! We have a lot to cover. If youre like me, and youve studied the Bible a long time, you might be tempted to skip this week. Dont! We are going to look at the scriptures in a different lightrelating directly to the kingship. My ardent hope is we will pull something new from each reading.

Day 1: Israels True King Day 2: Trading Gold for Silver Day 3: A Man after Gods Heart Day 4: Promises Fulfilled Day 5: A Lasting Dynasty

KEY QUESTIONS
1. What kind of nation did God desire to create? 2. What play on words did Samuel use in his farewell speech? 3. Which tribe of Israel did God choose to give the Kingship to? 4. How many years did David have to wait before he became king? 5. What two promises did God make to David?

Day One

Israels True King

Today we start our official study. Im excited youve decided to join me on this incredible 450 year journey through the monarchal history of Israel. Todays lesson introduces the concept of the Ruling Monarch in Israel long before any human sat upon the throne. I dont want to waste any more time, so lets go ahead and explore the treasure before us. Read Genesis 15:2-5; 17:3-8 What did God compare Abrams offspring to (15:5)? _____________________________ What did the Lord say Abraham would be (17:4) and would come from him (v6)?

Key Text
Exodus 12

Key Verse
No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of their King is among them. Numbers 23:21

__________________________________________________________________________ Realizing he had no children to receive his inheritance, Abraham cried out to God in desperation. In Abrahams time it was custom for a childless couple to adopt a servant and make him their heir.i Since Abraham and his wife Sarah, did not have any children, this what Abraham referred to. They adopted their servant Eliezer to inherit their land. God, in His amazing faithfulness, told Abraham that Eliezer would not inherit his land. Abraham would sire an heir from his own body. Not only would he have an heir from his own body, but God promised to make him a father of many nations. One nation that came from Abraham is the Ishmaelites, the modern-day Arabs. Another is the Midianites. There are many more, in fact, which came from him. Lets move our focus to one nation in particular. Read Matthew 1:2. Who was Abrahams grandson? _________________________________ Read Genesis 32:26-30. What new name did God to give to Jacob? ____________________ Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, engaged in a wrestling match with God. In the midst of that match God changed Jacobs name to Israelthe most momentous name change in the Bible. In fact, certain portions of Genesis directly call him Israel. Long before this wrestling match, God established a covenant with Jacob, choosing to bless his descendants and make him fruitful. Israels descendents would later be known as the Israelites. A common misconception is that the Israelites (Hebrews) are identified as the children of Abraham. This couldnt be less correct. They trace their lineage and the covenant of circumcision through Abraham, but are identified as being children of Israel. It was through Israel God would form a special nation.

Israel had twelve sons and one daughter. Genesis 46:1-3 paints a picture of a hesitant Jacob, scared to move his eleven sons and daughter to Egypt (his son Joseph already lived in Egypt). God commanded Israel not to be afraid. He even reaffirmed his covenant with Jacob, assuring him He would make his descendents into a great nation. Jacobs son, Joseph, the prime minister of Egypt, secured the land of Goshen for Israel and his family to live on. Read Exodus 1:1-13. What happened to the generation that came to Egypt (v6)? __________________________ What does verse 7 say the Israelites did? _________________________________________________________________________ What did the king who did not know about Joseph do to the Israelites (v8-11)? _________________________________________________________________________ Eventually the generation which entered Egypt died. The Israelites however, flourished, multiplying and filling the whole land. The Pharaoh, who didnt know about Joseph, feared the Israelites would usurp Egypt and his throne. Of course, for every irrational fear, theres always an equally irrational solution. Pharaohs solution: Enslave the Israelites and keep them under tight control. Here is where our journey begins! Turn to Exodus 12:21-42. Why did God instruct the Israelites to put the blood of a lamb on their door tops and frames (v23 & 29)? ______________________________________________________________________ What did the Egyptians urge the Israelites to do (v33)?

___________________________________________________________________
Fill in the missing words from verse 36: The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they ______________ them whatever they asked for; so they _____________________ the Egyptians. How many men, besides women and children, came out of Egypt (v37)? _______________ How long had the Israelites dwelt in a land not their own (in Egypt) (v40)? _____________ What did the Lord do for Israel that night (42)? _________________________________ This is perhaps, the greatest moment in the history of Israel. The night God delivered them from the yoke of the Egyptians! God instructed the Israelites to take the blood of a lamb and put it on the tops and frames of their doors. At midnight, He would pass through the land to strike down all the firstborn. Anyone without the blood of the lamb would fall victim to the plague. All the Egyptians lost their firstborn children and livestock, but God spared the Israelites!

The Egyptians, stricken with grief over their loss, and not wanting to endure anymore wrath from the God of Israel, urged the Israelites to leave their country. How about that! The very people who kept them in bondage, now rolled out the red carpet for their grand exit. When the Israelites asked the Egyptians for gold articles, God made them favorably disposed in their sight. They got whatever they asked from the Egyptians. What is extremely fascinating is the wording of this information. The Israelites plundered the Egyptians. What do you think of when you hear the word plundered? I cant speak for you, but when I hear it, I think of an army carrying off with loot from a conquered town after a war or battle. Interesting word choice, dont you think? Whats even more interesting is the Hebrew translation of this word. The Hebrew word for plundered, is Nasal. Nasal means, to snatch away, rescue, deliver, escape. Signifies physical deliverance from enemies. ii When talking about objects, this definition makes sense, because its snatched away. Dont miss the play on words in this verse. So they plundered the Egyptians. The Israelites were handed victory over the Egyptians right from Gods hands! The great deliverance! After not having a land of their own for over 430 years, the Lord brought out 600,000 men, not including women, children, livestock, and herds, and began to lead them into a land of their own. Do you know what I love most about Israels deliverance? I love how verse 42 states, The Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt. The Hebrew word for vigil, simmuriyn, means vigil, night-watch. What a caring God we have. Our God wants to deliver us from the hands of the enemy. He is careful to watch out for us and strike at the right moment. Our God is attentive to our situation, ready to deliver. He is on His guard, watching over us, making sure we are safe and come out un-scathed. Can you think of a time in your own life when you felt God kept vigil for you? In the margin write your answer. Their deliverance marked the official start of the Israeli nation. Lets continue to explore the beginning of their nation. If youd like, you may read Exodus 14:5-31, which contains the account of the Red Sea crossing. If you never read this account for yourself, Im going to ask that you not skip this reading. This is perhaps the second greatest moment for the Israeli nation. When Pharaoh decided he erred in setting the Israelites free, he went after them. There the Israelites stood, amid a livid Pharaoh, his army, and the Red Sea. They were trapped, with no where to go. Suddenly their deliverance seemed like a trap. When slavery seemed like a better choice than death, God fought their battle. He parted the sea, and made a way for the Israelites to get through. Have you ever felt this way in your own life? Like you were stuck, with the enemy closing in, and no place to go? God will part your sea of trouble and make a clear way for you to cross. Dont fear. Hell fight for you. What does Exodus 15:18 proclaim the Lord will do forever?__________________________ Exodus 15:1-18 contains the song of Moses, referred to by modern-day Israelites as Shirat haYam (the Song of the Sea). The Israelites praised the Lord for delivering them out of Pharaohs hands, declaring Gods awesome might and strength. Shirat ha-Yam is both a celebration of victory and unequivocal declaration of the paramount role of God in history. While the psalms of Pesukei de-Zimra glorify the wonders of God in creating and sustaining the natural world, Shirat ha-Yam emphasizes the divine power in controlling the fate of nations.iii In verse 18 of Shirat ha-Yam, the Hebrew word for reign, is malak. Its believed this word derived from the Hebrew word melek, which means, king, to be king, be made king, or rule. This word signifies the exercising functions of a monarch.iv

Believe it or not, this verse is used in a Jewish prayer called the Aleinu.v Before I tell about the Aleinu, read the verses below. Read Deuteronomy 10:15. Turn back a couple pages and read Deuteronomy 7:6-9. Check all of the following that apply: God set his affection on Israel and chose them because: They were more numerous He loved them They possessed great strength He swore an oath to their forefathers The Alienu combines the idea of Israel as a Chosen People . . . with the challenge that this status demandsthat Jews exert all possible efforts to perfect humankind under the Kingdom of God.vi You and I both know humans are not responsible for perfecting anyone. I dont believe for one second the Jews were responsible for perfecting humankind under the Kingdom of God. I believe they were responsible for pointing to a nation where the Kingdom of God was at work. God chose and set them apart in order to point to the One who can perfect humankind under His Kingship Out of all the nations on the earth, God chose Israel. He set his affection on them, not because they were more numerous than other nations, but because He loved them. He loved Israel and their forefathers. He chose Israel to be His cherished possession. He chose Israel, out of all the nations on earth, because he wanted to be their King. How amazing! Read Exodus 19:5-6. What kind of kingdom and nation did God say the Israelites would be for Him? _____________________________________________________________________________ What did the Israelites have to do in order for this kingdom to be possible (v5)? _____________________________________________________________________________ God is a holy God, and He called Israel to resemble Him by being a holy people. Every kingdom testifies to the work of the king governing the nation. God called the Israelites to be a kingdom of priests. The priestly office is a ministry of intercession, with privileged access to God. God called the nation to be mediators to other nations, to represent His kingship to them so they might turn from their wickedness and join in this awesome kingdom. If the Israelites maintained the regulations of the Law their King established, then other nations would see the holiness of their King. When did God officially become Israels King? Read Exodus 24:1-13. What did the Israelites enter into with God (v8)? ___________________________________ What did Moses and the elders see under Gods feet (v10) _____________________________________________________________________________ Read Ezekiel 1:26. What did Ezekiel see above the sapphire? ________________________ What name is Israel given in Deuteronomy 33:3-5? _______________________ What event do these verses refer to? _________________________________________ What does it say God became when the leaders and people assembled together?

__________________________________________________________________________ By agreeing to enter into a covenant with God and keep his commands, Israel agreed to be His holy kingdom. Jewish people view this event as Gods official coronation as their King. By accepting His Laws, they agreed to make Him their King. vii The name Jeshurun means upright one. God bestowed this name upon the nation once they accepted the mandates of the covenant. After the nation coronated God as their King, Moses and the elders gazed upon His stunning throne. In the margin write the occupations given to God in Isaiah 33:22. Circle the functions weve witnessed so far. All the functions mentioned in this verse are typical functions kings officiated in Middle Eastern cultures. Weve already seen Gods functions as Lawgiver and King. Later in our lessons well see Him act as their judge. Lets study one more function a king held in the Middle East. Read Joshua 5:13-6:7 What did Joshua see when he was near Jericho (v13)?_______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Who was the man (v14)?________________________________________________________ What command did he issue to Joshua (v15)? _____________________________________________________________________________ In the margin, write the Lords strategic plan for conquering the city of Jericho (v3-5): As Joshua drew close to Jericho, he encountered the commander of the Lords army, who stood before him with his sword drawn, ready for battle. The general consensus among theologians and some commentators, is that the commander of the Lords army is a theophany. Many suggest this is Jesus pre-incarnate. The Hebrew word used for commander is sar, which carries the meaning of to govern, rule. Official, commander, leader, captain, chief, ruler. . . .In Isaiah 9:6 the Messiah is called sar-salom, Prince of Peace.viii With the belief that many Old Testament references to the Angel of the Lord are theophanies of the pre-incarnate Jesus, it makes sense to refer to Him as captain of the Lords host (KJV). The command for Joshua to remove his sandals is similar to the one God gave Moses at the burning bush (Ex.3:5). Joshua fell face down and worshipped the manifestation. Were this any regular angel, the worship of this being would be considered a sin (Col.2:18). In chapter 6 verse 2, the name Adonay, a proper substitution for Yahweh, is used for Lord. God became the nations Commander-in-Chief. Its amazing to see Jesus sent as the prince and commander of not only the Lords heavenly army, but the army of Israel, as well. He issued military commands to Joshua, detailing the strategy for conquering the city of Jericho. Aside from the fact God commanded His army of host to fight for Israel, He possesses many attributes that make Him a great King. Lets close with looking some up. Look up the following verses and write down Gods kingly attributes: Psalm 99:4; 9:12_______________________________________________________________

THEOPHANY
Any direct, visual manifestation of the presence of God which generally occur in the Old Testament

ANGEL OF THE LORD

A mysterious messenger of God, sometimes described as the Lord himself.

Deuteronomy 10:18 __________________________________________________________ Micah 7:9, 18-19 ______________________________________________________________ Philippians 4:19 _____________________________________________________________ What an amazing King! Who could ask for anyone better to run their nation. You want to know something neat? God is King over all the earth. Lets stop and take a moment to praise our awesome King!

END NOTES
Week One: Beginnings
1

Lawrence, Richard O. The Bible Readers Companion. (N.p: Scripture Press, 1991), Quick Verse 8.0. Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: New International Version (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 1996), 1535 iii Eisenburg, Robert L. JPS Guide: Jewish Traditions, (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2004), 409 iv Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, ibid., 1527 v . Eisenburg,, ibid., 466 vi Ibid., 466 vii Ibid., 201 viii Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible. Ibid, 1554
ii