Covenant for the Nations is a work book designed to
teach people about a very simple “agreement” between God and the nations of the
earth. The agreement, or Covenant, is
based on the Ten Commandments – if a nation obeys the Ten Commandments it will
be blessed. If it disobeys them, they
will be cursed.
The simplicity of this formula has for some reason escaped
many Biblical commentators, yet it is so embedded in the Bible that it is
impossible to understand scripture without understanding this fundamental
principle. All the prophets (Jeremiah,
Isaiah, Daniel, Joel, etc) spoke to Israel strictly in terms of the agreement the
Hebrews made with God at Sinai. The
horrible things the prophets warned about (war, famine, disease) were not
soothsaying or fortune telling – they were very specific terms of the covenant
as laid out in Deuteronomy 28. And the
Gospels and Epistles simply take this
Law and internalize it through the New Birth.
The Law is never done away with.
It was never a means to personal salvation – no one kept the law. It remains today the one moral and legal
guide that all nations should implement.
When God led the Hebrews out of the land of Egypt, the
Hebrews had grown from a few meandering shepherds to a nation of three million
men, plus women and children. They were
more than a family or a group of families – they were a nation of millions of
people governed by one chief leader (Moses) who in turn federated the
government into smaller units. It was
more that a few people or a group of disunited people, it was a nation of
millions of people under the same leadership.
So when God took the Hebrews to Mount Sinai and gave Moses
the Ten Commandments, God was not offering the Ten Commandments as an option
for “personal living.” He was
presenting to the entire nation, corporately, an agreement between Himself and all
of the people. The Ten Commandments
were delivered to a very large corporate group – they were given to an entire
nation. This is important. If you understand this you can understand
why, in part, the Ten Commandments do not provide “personal” salvation. They were never designed to be strictly
“personal.” They were designed as a
system of morality and law under which an entire people, or nation, was to
govern themselves.
Abraham was not saved by the Law – he was saved by
faith. Moses was not saved by the Law –
he was saved by faith. None of the
Hebrews during Moses time were saved by the law – they were all saved by faith,
or damned for a lack of faith. Joshua
and Caleb believed and were therefore saved into the promised land. When an individual Hebrew came before the
Almighty at the tabernacle to offer sacrifices, he knew without any doubt that
he had broken the Law. And that was why
the ceremonies made such great provision for sacrifices as an atone for sin
(the breaking of the Law). And it is
faith in those sacrifices (which looked forward to the sacrifice of Jesus) by
which a man was to be saved, or made right with God. Each man, upon presenting his offering, had to understand that a
pure innocent creature was sacrificed to take his place of suffering for sin.
The Law embodied in the Ten Commandments was a social code
given to the corporate body by which they might all enjoy and generalized
prosperity and yet it did not negate faith.
The Law reinforced faith on a personal level and made it very real as
men went through the process of sacrifice and atonement.
The Ten Commandments were accepted by the Hebrews
voluntarily – Moses did not force them to obey the law by the threat of death
or the sword:
Ex 24:3 ¶ Then Moses came and recounted to the people
all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered
with one voice and said, "All the words which the Lord has spoken we will
do!"
Ex 24:4 Moses wrote down all the
words of the Lord. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at
the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
Ex 24:5 He sent young men of the sons of Israel, and
they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to
the Lord.
Ex 24:6 Moses took half of the
blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the
altar.
Ex 24:7 Then he took the book of
the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All
that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!"
Ex 24:8 So Moses took the blood
and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Behold the blood of the
covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these
words."
Ex 24:9 ¶ Then Moses went up with
Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,
Ex 24:10 and they saw the God of
Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as
clear as the sky itself.
Ex 24:11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against
the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.
This is important – it distinguishes Christianity and
Judaism from Islam – the terms were NOT “convert now or die.” In fact, God delivered the Hebrews with
great signs and wonders and mercy and grace and love – and then gave them his
law and they (not just Moses and the leaders, but the whole congregation)
willingly accepted his laws.
Living in a culture formed and guided by the Law of God “prepares
the soil” for the message of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. As millions of Hebrews lived under the moral
guidance of the Ten Commandments and experienced the ceremonies and sacrifices
they where preparing in their hearts and minds for the One Great Sacrifice –
Jesus Christ. Then knew they had to
live morally before God and each other, they knew there was a price to pay for
sin, and they knew that God allowed a substitute to take their own place as payment
for sin.
Today, we no longer practice the “ceremonial” law but we
still learn a great deal from it because it is an illustration of Jesus, his
church, and his sacrifice. But the Ten Commandments are not a ceremony – the
are His unchanging fixed moral guide for all people, in all times. Indeed, the Hebrews were to be a “city set
on a hill.” Living under this law, God
told them that all the nations of the world would admire them for their great
blessings and the wisdom of their laws and that they would come to the Hebrews
and ask them to teach them about the Laws of God. The Law was to be a blessing for all the nations and it was to
prepare all of the nations for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Christians understand that the Ten Commandments alone will
not “save a soul,” nor will they remove the evil in a man’s heart. But what Christians have not understood is
that it was His intention all along to take the Ten Commandments and write them
on the heart of man: this was called the New Birth:
Jer 31:33 "But this is the covenant which I will
make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the Lord,
"I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I
will be their God, and they shall be My people.
And again in Ezekiel:
Ezek 36:26 "Moreover, I will give you a new
heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone
from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
This is what Christians call getting “born again.” It was
not supposed to be a great secret or mystery to the Hebrews. Jesus was amazed they the Pharisees, noted
masters of the scripture, did not understand what he was talking about.
John 3:10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are
you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
It was all there, in the Law
and the Prophets, if only the had “eyes to see and ears to hear.” Some, like Nicodemus, heard. Others did not. So what we find is that the Ten Commandments become a part of the
New Birth as they are written on the hearts of men when individuals accept by
faith the forgiveness of sins that God offers them through the sacrifice of his
son Jesus Christ. Instead of faith in
dead animals, men place their faith in the one perfect sacrifice offered up
through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ – and that is when God super-naturally
changes a man’s heart to be inclined to obey the Ten Commandments. Christ was crucified, died, was buried and
rose again on the third day in newness of life – eternal life. Resurrection from the dead, the forgiveness
of sins, and eternal life is offered to us if we confess to God our evil nature
and accept his sacrifice for our sins – Jesus Christ. This is the Gospel.
The Law, the Ten
Commandments, is a tutor that leads us to this simple message of
salvation. A culture or a nation educated
in the Ten Commandments is well prepared ground for the Gospel message. They
know the moral law (as embodied in the Ten Commandments). They understand that they have not obeyed
them. They know that disobedience to
the Ten Commandments brings a curse.
They know a sacrifice is required to pay for sin. Sin requires punishment – sin always has
consequences. And from there it is much
easier to undertand and accept a message about the sacrifice of Jesus which
pays for sins. This is much more
difficult in a culture that denies any moral law, or the judgment of God and
his curse against evil doers. The
greatest threat to evangelism is not Christians who don’t hand out tracts – it
is preachers who have denied the legitimacy of the universal application of the
Ten Commandments to all areas of life – indeed this is how a culture is
prepared for the Gospel Message. It is no small wonder that after a century or
more of refusing to prepare the ground the harvest that it is so small and so
poor.
It used to be taught in
Western Civilization courses that some of the West’s great democratic and
representative traditions came not only from the Greeks, but from the
Hebrews. Indeed Moses decentralized his
own administration by appointing judges over 1000s, and 100s and 50s and
10s. The principle was that all of life
should be handled at the smallest level possible. This not only eased the burden from Moses, but it forces people
to confront and solve their own problems – and perhaps even allowed for
differences in how they governed themselves – yet all under the great moral and
legal guidelines of the Ten Commandments.
Moses task was to teach them the principles of life embodied in the Ten
Commandments. They were to take it an
implement it in their daily lives and local governments.
This system was equitable
and fair. It emphasized education and
self government. It was designed to reduce dependence upon a national leader
(Moses) and to increase local self government as knowledge of the Law to spread
throughout the society. The great
method of imposing the law was never the sword – it was through teachers.
But is not enough for me to
just tell you what you should know. You
must search the scriptures yourself to discover whether or not this is true for
yourself and that is why I have posted this bible study guide to this web site.
On parting word: If I could
offer one suggestion for the reformation of society – it would be to post the
Ten Commandments back on the walls of every classroom in the world.
NOTE: Authority is the legal
right to command. This legal right is coterminous with the responsibility to
ensure the appropriate results.
Judgment occurs when the
uses of authority are measured against an appropriate outcome. And all of this
assumes that those in authority
exercise moral choice.
Judgment assumes an ability to choose. This moral authority, this ability to
choose and the resulting judgment, is
one of the primary human
attributes we have as beings created in the image of God.
All authority ultimately
resides with the Creator. However, God has delegated some of that authority to
others. The first person who has
received authority is the
Savior, the Son of God, Jesus.
1) Who has all authority on
earth?
Matt 28:18 ________________________________________________
2) Who rules over mankind?
Who appoints its rulers?
Dan 4:17, 22, 35 and Dan 5:21
__________________________________
3) What does the Lord do?
Ps 22:28 __________________________________________________
Ps 47:2, 7 __________________________________________________
Ps 47:8 ____________________________________________________
4) What has God commanded
and declared?
Ps 72:11 ___________________________________________________
5) Read all of Psalm 2.
Because God is king over all of the nations, what should be the attitude of the
leaders?
Ps 2:10-12
a)____________________________________________________
b)____________________________________________________
c)____________________________________________________
d)____________________________________________________
e)____________________________________________________
NOTE: Much of the Bible is
written in the form of a history book. Our understanding of the past informs
how we act in the present.
This chapter reviews God's
plans for the earth beginning with the story of Adam and Eve.
1) Who created the heavens
and the earth?
Gen 1:1 ___________________________________________________
NOTE: God is the source of
truth, life, objectivity, and reality. The search for the meaning and purpose
of life and this present world
must lead to the Creator.
2) What did God command
Adam to do?
Gen 1:28 __________________________________________________
NOTE: The entire earth was
to blossom and flourish under Adams care.
3) What was Noah to do?
Gen 9:7
___________________________________________________
4) What was the promise to
Abraham?
Gen 12:3 __________________________________________________
5) Did God limit Abraham's
blessing to only his direct physical descendants? Whom did God want to bless?
Gen 12:3
__________________________________________________
6) What did God promise
Abraham concerning the nations?
Gen 17:4
__________________________________________________
Gen 17:6
__________________________________________________
7) What did God promise to
Sarah, Abraham's wife?
Gen 17:16
__________________________________________________
8) Did Abraham and Sarah
see this in their own lifetime?
Heb 11:13
__________________________________________________
NOTE: No, they did not.
Yet, we know that God always fulfills his promises. God's time frame is much
longer than our own. As the
God of all history, the
Lord's perspective is much longer than one lifetime. Generations and even
thousands of years are not too long for
him. From the beginning it
has been God's purpose that the "whole earth would be filled with his
glory."
At some point, God's
purpose will be fulfilled. He did not create the earth and humans simply to
have his plans delayed forever. Though
man's rebellion has not
hastened God's purposes, neither can it ultimately delay what God intends to
accomplish.
9) When is Jesus to return
to the earth?
Acts 3:19-21
_______________________________________________
Now let us look at some of
what was spoken by the prophets.
10) Who will remember and
turn to the Lord?
Ps 22:27
___________________________________________________
11) Who rules over the
nations?
Ps 22:28
__________________________________________________
12) Read Psalm 67
carefully. What does it describe?
a) What does the Psalmist
wish upon Israel?
Verse 1:
___________________________________________________
b) For what end does the
Psalmist want God's blessing?
Verse 2:
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
c) What will be known among
all the nations?
Verse 2:
___________________________________________________
d) For which nations does
God provide salvation?
Verse 2:
___________________________________________________
e) Who will praise God?
Verse 3:
___________________________________________________
f) Is it just one nation or
people which will praise God? Which peoples?
Verse 3:
___________________________________________________
g) Which nations will be
glad and sing for joy?
Verse 4:
___________________________________________________
h) Who will guide the
nations of the earth?
Verse 4:
___________________________________________________
i) Which peoples are to
praise God?
Verse 5:
__________________________________________________
j) Read verses 6 and 7.
They relate to verse 1. Why does God bless us?
Ps 67:6-7:
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
God blesses us that all the ends of the
earth may fear him.
NOTE: All the earth will be
filled with God's glory. Initially, God planned that Adam should fill the earth
through his offspring. But
Adam sinned. Jesus entered
the world to redeem Adam's failure. God will still have the whole earth filled
with His people. The mandate
given to Adam, (and later
to Noah, Abraham, Moses and the Hebrews,) will be fulfilled through Jesus.
13) Read Matthew 28:18-20.
Who has all authority now on earth?
Matt 28:18
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
14) Which nations are
Christians supposed to make into disciples?
Matt 28:19
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
15) What is it we are to
teach them?
Matt 28:20
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: God's authority and
interests encompass every government on earth, including those of the most
powerful nations. Every
government owes its
legitimacy to the Creator and this legitimacy, given by God, is the ultimate
moral authority upon which governments
rest. Governments have the
right -- legitimacy -- to rule because God has delegated a certain amount of
authority to them for this purpose.
But this authority is not
unlimited or arbitrary. God has prescribed the limits and methods of civil
authority in the Bible. The legitimacy of
civil government does not
extend beyond the authority which God has granted. Every government is bound to
obey God's laws and is
accountable to the
Almighty.
Only God has unlimited
power and authority. In every other realm, God insists that authority be
limited, and clearly defined. No human
authority, including civil
government, has the right to rule over every aspect of human life. Those
governments which claim total
authority overstep their
legal boundaries, and therefore rule without legitimacy. In effect, they are in
rebellion against the Creator because
they are exercising
authority that belongs elsewhere. The same case may be true of family
government, church government, and self
governments in their
respective spheres of authority.
Each type of government has
certain and limited rights, duties, and responsibilities. Each individual owes
certain and limited obedience to
the various types of
governments. This division of authority, a separation of powers, helps to
ensure both order and liberty in a society.
Too much power in one type
of government leads to tyranny.
The refusal to recognize
the legitimate authority of either family, church, or civil government is
rebellion, leads to anarchy, and will
ultimately result in a loss
of liberty to all. Furthermore, if each separate government does not carry out
its proper responsibilities, then
another government, such as
the state, will move in and take over.
1) What is the purpose of
Civil Government according to 1 Pet 2:14?
a) 1 Pet 2:14
_______________________________________________
b) 1 Pet 2:14
_______________________________________________
2) What is our duty toward
Civil Government?
1 Pet 2:13
_________________________________________________
3) Should we obey our civil
authorities?
Rom 13:1 __________________________________________________
4) Who is in subjection to
governing authorities?
Rom 13:1
__________________________________________________
5) Where does all authority
come from?
Rom 13:1
__________________________________________________
6) If you resist authority,
who do you oppose?
Rom 13:2
__________________________________________________
7) If a person does what is
good, should he be afraid of civil authority? What should the good person
expect?
Rom 13:3
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8) Who should be afraid of
civil government?
Rom 13:4
__________________________________________________
9) How does the scripture
refer to civil government?
Rom 13:4
__________________________________________________
10) Read Rom 13:4 very
carefully.
a) What does this authority
bear? ________________________________
b) What is it described as?
_____________________________________
c) What does this
"avenger" bring, and who receives it? _________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: Civil government is a
God ordained institution which bears responsibility for punishing evil doers.
It is to maintain law and
order. It is a servant of
God. It is an avenger on God's behalf which suppresses evil doers. Note that
individuals, the family, and the
church are not to be
avengers. Civil government alone bears this responsibility. This, in fact, is
its most important purpose.
11) Before the fall, there
was no mention in the scriptures of Civil Government. Not until after the flood
does God speak of the man
taking responsibility for
suppressing evil doers. What does God say about this?
Gen 9:6
___________________________________________________
12) What happens to the man
who "sheds man's blood?"
Gen 9:6
___________________________________________________
13) Who is the one who
brings this punishment?
Gen 9:6
___________________________________________________
14) Why is murder a capital
crime?
Gen 9:6
___________________________________________________
NOTE: God delegates to man
the duty of suppressing evil doers. The murderer is guilty of more than
offending another man; he is
guilty of destroying the
image of God. For this reason, murder results in the death penalty. It was not
part of God's original plan to have
governments suppressing
evil doers because God never intended that men should sin and become murderers
in the first place. Civil
government, therefore, is a
response to man's rebellious nature.
NOTE: Family government is
another type of governing institution. In fact, it was the first type of human
government. Historically, it
preceded civil government
and church government. Not until after the fall did God delegate power to the
civil government or to the
church. The family is
always the foundation of any human society.
Civil government does not
have the primary responsibility of providing economic security for individuals.
1) Who is primarily
responsible for the welfare of people?
1 Tim 5:8
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) If a man does not
provide for his own household because of laziness or neglect, what do the
scriptures say of him?
1 Tim 5:8
_______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
NOTE: Work, or labor, is a
very important concept. A proper understanding of labor is crucial to any
understanding of human society.
3) Is God too important to
do work himself?
Gen 2:1-2
_________________________________________________
4) Genesis chapter 3
records the Fall of man from grace. But, before sin entered the world, was it
God's plan for man to work?
Gen 2:5, 15
________________________________________________
NOTE: Work and labor are
part of God's perfect plan for man. Work and labor are not curses. Man was
destined and created from the
beginning to labor and work
on the earth. When sin entered in, work became harder (Gen 3:17-19), but work
is not a curse.
5) If widows have children,
who should take care of them?
1 Tim 5:4
__________________________________________________
6) What is the Fifth
Commandment?
Deut 5:16 and Ex 20:12
_______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7) Is this commandment no
longer in effect because of the New Testament?
Matt 5:17-19
______________________________________________
8) Read Matt 15:1-9 and
read Mark 7:9-13. What did Jesus have to say to the scribes and the Pharisees
regarding the commandments of
God and their own traditions?
Matt 15:3
___________________________________________________
9) What does Jesus say
regarding the Fifth Commandment and the traditions that had developed?
Matt
15:4-6_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: It is the
responsibility of the children to care for their parents in their old age or
time of need. Even though some governments
care for the elderly, this
does not relieve the children from the duty. If the duty of respecting and
caring for Father and Mother was
developed and adhered to,
civil governments would not have to to this.
In the time of Jesus, a
tradition had developed whereby people would give their offerings (above the
tithe) to the synagogue with the
thought that it was better
to give to "God's work" than it was to support their own parents. As
a result, the people were not honoring
their own parents by caring
for them in their time of need. In many countries today, a similar unfortunate
tradition has developed.
Typically, many people do
not support their parents in their old age when they need it. Jesus told the
Pharisees and scribes that this
neglect was an evil
abandonment of God's commandments in favor of human traditions.
10) If widows have needs,
who should take care of them?
1 Tim 5:4
__________________________________________________
11) What should younger
widows do?
1 Tim 5:14
_________________________________________________
12) If you have widows in
your family that cannot remarry nor care for themselves, who should be the
first source of care for them?
1 Tim 5:16
___________________________________________________
13) If there is no family
to care for an old helpless widow, then who cares for her?
1 Tim 5:16
___________________________________________________
14) What is pure and
undefiled religion? Whom do we visit and in what condition are they?
James 1:27
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: Welfare begins at
home. No one know the needs and shortcomings of individuals more than their own
families. No one can take
care of them better. If
they are lazy or irresponsible, the family will know this and will be able to
respond accordingly. Children should
honor their parents and
care for them when they get old. The church has a role to play, but it is not
the primary welfare source. Neither is
the civil government. Both
family and church must work toward building self supporting families.
NOTE: The Scriptures talk a
lot about covenants, which are binding agreements. In a covenant, both parties
enter into a contract by
agreeing to perform certain
duties. In this study, we will learn much about a covenant which centers around
the Ten Commandments. These
commandments spell out
God's moral and legal expectations for societies. Societal obedience to the Ten
Commandments is commanded by
God. This does not provide
for the salvation of individual souls. However, when nations obey the Ten
Commandments, they can expect
God's blessing. Please open
your Bible to the book of Exodus.
1) What is the covenant?
Ex 24:7
____________________________________________________
2) What are the tablets of
the testimony?
Ex 31:18
___________________________________________________
3) What did God write on
the tablets?
Ex 24:12
___________________________________________________
4) Later on, when the
Hebrews worshipped the Golden Calf, Moses threw down the stone tablets and
shattered them. What were these
tablets?
Ex 32:12-19
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) After the tablets were
destroyed, what did God tell Moses to do?
Ex 34:1
____________________________________________________
6) What was God going to
write on them?
Ex 34:1
____________________________________________________
7) In accordance with what
did Moses write while on the mountain with God?
Ex 34:27
___________________________________________________
8) What exactly did Moses
write on the tablets?
Ex 34:28
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
9) Deuteronomy comes from
the two root words which mean second (two) and law. Deuteronomy records the
second giving of the law to
the Hebrews. What is the
covenant?
Deut4:13
__________________________________________________
10) What did Moses receive
from God on the mountain?
Deut 9:9, 11, 15
______________________________________________
11) What did God write on
these tablets?
Deut 10:4
__________________________________________________
NOTE: The point is to teach
the reader that God's covenant with the nation of Israel was based on the Ten
Commandments. God's
covenant with his chosen
people is synonymous with the Ten Commandments that he carved into the tablets
of stone and gave to Moses on
the mountain.
1) Please write out the Ten
Commandments. They can be found in both Exodus 20:1-17 and in Deut 5:7-21.
1)
________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2)__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3)__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4)__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5)
________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
6)__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7)__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8)__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
9)__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10)_________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: These Ten
Commandments are as important for society today as they were for the Hebrews
thousands of years ago. Although
an individual does not
receive eternal salvation by obedience to these laws (for everyone has broken
God's commandments, if only in
their thoughts), God is
also concerned with the temporal well being of society. These are His guiding
rules. Obedience to them by the
whole society will benefit
everyone.
2) To whom was the Ten
Commandments given?
Ex 19:3-6
___________________________________________________
3) What was their response?
Ex 19:7-8
___________________________________________________
4) To whom did Moses read
the book of the covenant and what was their response?
Ex 24:7
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) To whom did Moses
present the Ten Commandments?
Deut 4:1, 10
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: The Ten Commandments
were given to an entire nation, not just to individuals. All of the people
agreed to abide by this
covenant. This is extremely
important. The Ten Commandments are not just a personal code of individual
morality; they were never
intended to be only that.
Rather, they provide a blueprint for the legal and moral foundation for entire
nations and communities. When
Israel accepted God's law,
they did it together, as a people, not only as individuals. And they agreed to
obey these laws.
6) What would happen if
Israel kept the Ten Commandments?
Deut 7:12-16
________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7) What did God set before
Israel?
Deut 11:26-28
_______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8) Read Deut 28:15-68. What
would happen if Israel refused to abide by the covenant, the Ten Commandments?
v. 20
_______________________________________________________
v. 21-22
____________________________________________________
v. 25
_______________________________________________________
v. 27
_______________________________________________________
v. 28-29
____________________________________________________
v. 30
_______________________________________________________
v. 33
_______________________________________________________
v. 35
_______________________________________________________
v. 36, 38
____________________________________________________
v. 43-44
____________________________________________________
9) Why did all these curses
come on Israel?
Deut 28:45 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10) Why does the Lord say
he will bring extraordinary plagues on Israel?
Deut 28:58-59
_______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: God's relationship
with the Hebrews and His expectations of them were spelled out and written
down. The Hebrews did not
have to guess and wonder
what God wanted them to do. God is not fickle or difficult to understand. He
wants us to know what he
expects of us and how he
will treat us.
If the Hebrews were
obedient, God blessed them. If they rebelled, God cursed them. This is clearly
demonstrated in the books that
record the history of Israel.
God's judgment on Israel as recorded in the Old Testament was not arbitrary.
God's covenant explained the
consequences of obedience
and disobedience. The history of the Hebrew people was influenced by how
closely they adhered to or
departed from the Ten
Commandments.
1) What did the Lord tell
Joshua to be very careful to do when the Israelites went into the promised
land?
Josh 1:7-8
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) How was Joshua to treat
the law?
Josh 1:7-8
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3) To what did God
attribute Israel's defeat at Ai? What did Israel transgress?
Josh 7:11
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4) When Israel finally rose
up and defeated Ai, what did Joshua do? What did he read?
Josh 8:32-35
________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) In Joshua's farewell
address, what did he tell the people of Israel regarding the covenants?
Josh 23:16 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
6) When Joshua died, what
kind of generation arose?
Judges 2:10
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7) As a result, what did
Israel do?
Judges 2:11-12
________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8) What was the response of
the Lord to this?
Judges 2:14-15 ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
9) What happened when
Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord?
Judg 6:1
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10) After Israel cried out
to the Lord, God sent a prophet. What commandment did he tell Israel about?
Judg 6:7-10; Ex 20:2; Deut
5:6 __________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
11) Why specifically did
God decide not to drive out the nations from before Israel?
Judges 2:20-21
________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: Israel's oppression
should have come as no surprise. The prophet simply and clearly spoke to the
Hebrews and reminded them
of the First Commandment.
Israel ought to have known that violation of God's covenant, as stated in the
Ten Commandments, brought
upon them curses.
Thankfully, God continually
raised up deliverers for the Hebrews when they called out to them. However, God
does not guarantee that
he will always do this.
Let us now look at another
typical example in Israel's history. The story of the Hebrew people while they
were ruled by Kings is
recorded in I & II
Samuel, I & II Kings, and I & II Chronicles. The books of the prophets
(Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.) occur for the
most part concurrently with
Kings and Chronicles. The prophetic books record the role of the prophets
within the larger story of Israel's
history. As we shall see,
the prophets reminded Israel that the nation had strayed from the Ten
Commandments (the Covenant) and that
as a result, God's
punishment would fall on them. The writings they have left reflect one or two
things: Israel's adherence or departure
from the Ten Commandments,
or God's eventual fulfillment of the mandate he gave to Adam, Noah, and the Hebrew
people to fill the
earth with the glory of
God. Israel's success was not for its own sake alone, but rather was to be a
means of bringing God's blessings to
every nation on earth.
12) Why did the King of
Assyria carry away Israel into exile? What did Israel transgress?
2 Kings 18:11-12
_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13) Read 2 Kings 21:1-8.
What kind of king was Manasseh?
Verse 2 ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
14) Were the people evil
too?
2 Kings 21:9
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
15) As a result of these
sins, what did God decide to do?
2 Kings 21:14-15
_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
16) What kind of king was
Amon and what happened to him and his murderers?
2 Kings 21:19-24
_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
17) Who was the next king,
and what was he like?
2 Kings 22:1-2 _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
18) Josiah, a good king,
began to rebuild God's temple. While this was occurring, what did the high
priest find?
2 Kings 22:8
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
19) What was Josiah's
response when the book of the law was read to him?
2 Kings 22:11-13 and 2
Chron 34:21 ______________________________
___________________________________________________________
20) Why was God's wrath
great against the Kingdom of Judah?
2 Kings 22:13 and 2 Chron
34:21 _________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: It had been a long
time since the law of God had been read. This law had been broken and as a
result the Hebrews were
punished. When Josiah read
the law, it was obvious to him why God was angry. Israel was under judgment for
breaking their agreement
with God. This agreement
demanded that the Hebrews, as a nation, obey God's laws.
21) When Josiah inquired of
God the Lord said he would bring evil to that place. What would this evil be
based on? Where had God already spoke of these things?
2 Kings 22:16 and 2 Chron
34:24 ________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
22) What kind of evil could
Josiah expect? According to what words?
2 Kings 22:16; and Deut
28:15-68 ________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: Again, God's
judgments are not a mystery.
23) Why was this disaster
to happen? What commandment is mentioned here?
2 Kings 22:16-17
_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
24) What was Josiah's
response to all of this?
2 Kings 23:1-25
______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
25) As a result of Josiah's
tender heart, God's judgment did not come in his own lifetime (2 Kings 22:19).
However, after generations of
forsaking the Lord, what
did God decide to do?
2 Kings 23:27
_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
26) The prophet Jeremiah
spoke of this. When did Jeremiah prophesy?
Jer 25:1
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
27) For how long had Jeremiah
been prophesying?
Jer 25:3
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
28) Read Jer 25:1-14. What
was God going to do to Israel as a result of their sins?
Jer 25:9-11 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
29) How long was Israel to
be in captivity?
___________________________________________________________
1) Read Deut 4:1-14. What
did God say regarding his law? How would the other nations look on Israel if
the Hebrews followed the
covenant?
Deut 4:6-7
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) What is God's covenant?
Deut 4:13
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3) What would the other
nations say when Israel obeyed the Law?
Deut 4:6
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4) Before Adam sinned he
was the perfect image of God. Where did God desire Adam and his offspring to
live?
Gen 1:29
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) After Adam and later
generations sinned, God chose Noah to carry on His divine plan for the earth.
What was Noah ordered to do?
Gen 9:7-8 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
6) Abraham was God's chosen
man. Who would be blessed through Abraham?
Gen 17:2 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7) Was Abraham the father
of just one nation?
Gen 17:4-7
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8) Was Sarah to be the
mother of only one nation, or many nations and kings?
Gen 17:16 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
9) How many nations were to
come from Jacob, whom God renamed Israel?
Gen 35:11 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10) Who is to say "the
Lord reigns"?
1 Chron 16:31
_______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
11) Over which nations does
God rule?
2 Chron 20:6 _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
12) How many nations will
remember and turn to the Lord?
Ps 22:27-28
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13) Who will stand in awe
before God?
Ps 33:8
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
14) Over whom does God
rule?
Ps 47:7-8 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
15) Which kings and which
nations must bow before God?
Ps 72:11
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
16) What will happen to the
nations which do not know God?
Ps 79:6
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
17) Which nations will
worship God and glorify his name?
Ps 86:9
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
18) What will happen to the
nations that refuse to serve God?
Is 60:12
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
19) To where did Jesus send
his disciples to be his witnesses?
Acts 1:8 ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
20) Upon whom will God pour
out His Spirit?
Acts 2:17
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
21) Read Acts 3:19-26.
Until when will Jesus remain in heaven?
Acts 3:21
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
22) Paul again refers back
to God's promise to Abraham. What is this promise? Who shall be blessed?
Acts 3:25
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
23) Read Acts 17:26-27 Why
did God create the nations?
Acts 17:27a
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
24) Before which nations
will righteousness and praise spring forth?
Is 61:11
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
25) Who will cause this to
happen?
Is 61:11
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
26) Where will God's name
be great?
Mal 1:11
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
27) How great will be the
knowledge of the Lord?
Hab 2:14 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
28) Who will bow before the
Almighty?
Zeph 2:10-11 ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
29) Who will be king over
all the earth?
Zech 14:9
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
30) Read Zeph 3:8-9.
Meditate upon this scripture and think about the Covenant (the Ten
Commandments) with the blessing and the
curse. What is God's goal?
Zeph 3:9 ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
31) Who is Jesus?
Rev 1:5
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
32) Is God concerned with
all the nations?
Rev 10:11 and Acts 17:26-27
____________________________________
__________________________________________________________
33) Who is king of all the
nations? Who will worship the Lord?
Rev 15:3-4 and Jeremiah 10:7
__________________________________
___________________________________________________________
34) How long will Jesus
reign in heaven?
1 Cor 15:25
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: Clearly God is ruler
over all the nations. His desire is to see them all obey his commands and
receive his blessings.
NOTE: According to
Deuteronomy 4:6-8, all the other nations would look upon Israel and its law and
be amazed and would say "surely
this great nation is a wise
and understanding people."
1) Read Isaiah 2:2-4. Where
will the nations go?
Is 2:2-3
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) What will go forth from
Zion?
Is 2:3
______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3) Read Micah 4:1-5. Who
will go to Zion?
Mic 4:1-2
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4) What will go forth from
Zion and Jerusalem?
Mic 4:2
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) Who will seek the Lord?
Zech 8:22 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
This section will
illustrate the continuity between the "old" covenant and the
"new" covenant. The difference between the two is certain
and important; but also
often misunderstood. Human nature tells us that the 'new' is always better than
the 'old,' and so it is. Thus, the
New Covenant is better than
the Old Covenant. However, Christian tradition has assigned names to the
scriptures we read, calling one
section 'old' and another
'new.' This usually leads to the conclusion that the Old Testament books really
are not all that important
compared to the books
referred to as the New Testament. This is an unfortunate misundertanding.
Nowhere in the Bible are
the books preceding the Gospels referred to as 'old.' On the contrary, the
books called the New Testament
presuppose a knowledge of
and the authority of all the scriptures that have come before. The entire Christian
church up until at least the
300s A.D. relied on all the
'old' testament books. There was no 'new' testament books at that time. Jesus,
Paul, and all of the Apostles
preached from, and only
from, the books we call 'old.'
The continuity between the
Old Testament and the New Testament are profound. This chapter explores the
differences between the old
and the new covenants, and
lays out some of the similarities as well.
1) The center of the
evangelical Christian experience is usually characterized as being "born
again." This comes from John 3:3. Read
John 3:1-12 carefully.
Jesus is speaking to a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, who knew the Law very
well. He had probably memorized all
of the Holy Scriptures.
Jesus was explaining to him the need to be born again. What did Jesus tell him?
John 3:7
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) What was the response
from Nicodemus?
John 3:9
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3) Obviously, Nicodemus
didn't understand what Jesus was talking about. But, what did Jesus tell him in
reply?
John 3:10
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: This is very
important. Jesus fully expected this man to know what he was talking about.
Becoming "born again" should not
have been foreign to any
expert in the Law and the Prophets. Yet, what was Jesus talking about?
4) Read Jeremiah 31:31, 33.
What kind of covenant is God going to make?
Jer 31:31 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) What is this "new
covenant"? What is God going to do with his law?
Jer 31:33
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: A crucial difference
between the New Covenant and the Old Covenant is that the Old Covenant
(Testament) was written of
tablets of stone while the
New Covenant is written on the tablets of our heart.
6) What does God write on
both the stone tablets and on the human heart in both covenants?
Jer 31:33 and Deut 10:4
________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7) Now turn to Ezekiel
36:26-27. Read this carefully. What will God give to his people?
Ezek 36:26
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8) What will God put inside
of his people?
Ezek 36:27
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
9) What will God cause his
people to do? What will they be careful to do?
Ezek 36:27
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: From these two
scriptures it should be clear that God spoke to the prophets of a time when he
would transform the heart of an
individual through what
Jesus referred to as being 'born again.' God writes his law on our hearts. He
causes us to walk in his statutes
and ordinances. He gives us
a heart of flesh instead of hearts of stone. In the Old Testament, the Law was
engraved on tablets of stone
(Deut 9:9). In the New
Testament, the Law is engraved on hearts of flesh (Jer 31:31-33 and Ezek
36:26-27).
Re-read John 3:1-12,
Jeremiah 31:31-33, Ezekiel 36:26-27 and Deuteronomy 9:9, and Deuteronomy 4:13.
Let this sink into your heart.
God spoke of being born
again in the Old Testament. This new covenant is where God takes the Ten
Commandments and writes them on
our hearts. God does not do
away with the Law. He gives the ability to live by the Law by changing our
hearts through faith in Jesus.
10) Re-read Deuteronomy
4:6. Now turn to Matthew 5:14-16 and read it. Hopefully the parallels will be
apparent. What do these have in
common? Who is the light of
the world in both respects? Who will look upon them?
Deut 4:6 and Matt 5:14
_________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
11) Read Matthew 5:17-19.
What was Jesus' attitude toward the Law?
Matt 5:17
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
12) Did Jesus come to
abolish the Law?
Matt 5:17
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13) How long shall the Law
last? Was it to be done away with shortly?
Matt 5:18 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
14) What did Jesus say of
those who would annul even the least of the commandments? What does he say of
those who teach that the
Law is unimportant?
Matt 5:19
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
15) Who shall be called
great in the Kingdom of heaven?
Matt 5:19
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: In the passages that
follow, Jesus goes on to teach about the law, quoting extensively from the (old
testament) scriptures. In no
case does he annul any of
the laws he mentions. Rather, he teaches the people how to obey them. Jesus was
careful to make sure they
abided by the spirit, or
intent, of the law, as well as its outward forms. This reflects the New
Covenant emphasis on the emplacement of
the Law within a person, on
their heart.
16) What does the Law do?
Gal 3:24.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: God created man to
work. He placed Adam in the garden of Eden to tend and keep the garden God had
planted. This work came
before Adam sinned. Labor
is not part of the curse; man was designed from the very beginning to work. In
this, man imitates God who
spent six days working and
creating the universe. Work produces wealth. Work increases value. God worked,
created the heavens and
earth, and called it good.
Man also is called to work and bring forth an increase.
1) Abraham, the first
believer, is the father of our faith. We look to him as an example. God called
Abraham to leave his homeland and
travel to a new land. Was
Abraham a poor beggar, or did he have wealth when God called him to leave the
land of Haran and go to
Canaan?
Gen 12:5 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) Abraham left Haran, and
arrived in Canaan, went down into the Negev, and then passed over into Egypt
because of a famine. Then
Abraham returned to the
Negev. What was his financial condition at that time?
Gen 13:2 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3) Abraham traveled with
his nephew Lot. Lot also was wealthy (Gen 13:5). Why was it that Abraham and
Lot had to go their separate
ways?
Gen 13:6 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4) So we see that Abraham
was affluent when God called him. Abraham and Lot were so rich, they later had
to part ways so they could
have enough land to feed
all of their livestock. What happened as Abraham grew older? Who made this to
come about in his life?
Gen 24:2 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) Abraham was then
concerned about a wife for his son. He sent his servant to bring a wife back
for Isaac. When the servant arrived at
Laban's home, what did he
tell Laban? What did the Lord do to Abraham. What was his financial position.
Who caused this to come
about?
Gen 24:35 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
6) What did the Lord give
to Abraham?
Gen 24:36 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7) So then Abraham died at
a "ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life." What happened
to Abraham's wealth?
Gen 25:5 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8) Isaac was wealthy as
well. Nevertheless God continued to bless him. What happened when Isaac sowed
in that land?
Gen 26:12 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
9) Isaac reaped a hundred
fold, in that same year! What continued to happen over time?
Gen 26:13 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10) Later, Isaac had two
sons, Jacob and Esau. Jacob fled from Esau because Jacob had stolen his elder
brother's blessing when Isaac
died. He lived for a while
in the land of his relatives. There he met his wife (Rachel) and Isaac worked
for her father (Laban) for seven
years in order to marry
her. When the time was up, Laban gave Jacob the wrong girl! Rachel's sister,
Leah, married Jacob that night.
Jacob was upset, but Laban
gave him Rachel as well with the stipulation that he had to work another seven
years. So he married Rachel
and began to work for his
father-in-law again. Jacob made an agreement with Laban to work for certain
wages that seemed highly unfair
and disadvantageous. You
may want to take some time and review this story. (Genesis, chapters 25 through
36) But, what was the end
result?
Gen 30:42-43
________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
11) What happened to Jacob?
Gen 31:43 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: We can see from this
that God chose for himself men who had possessions already, and then made them
much wealthier.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
are the fathers of our faith. From this we should understand that God does not
look down upon wealthy
people simply on the basis
of what they have. It did not seem appropriate to God to make these men poorer
in order to make them more
spiritual or better human
beings. God blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with even more material prosperity
than they started with.
Wealth is a blessing; it is
good. Poverty is not a prerequisite to godliness.
12) Let us look at another
example. Who was Hezekiah?
2 Chron 29:1
________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13) What kind of king was
Hezekiah?
2 Chron 29:3
________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
14) Was Hezekiah always
perfect?
2 Chron 32:24-25 _____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
15) Read 2 Chronicles
32:27-29. What did Hezekiah have?
2 Chron 32:27-29
_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
16) How did he get all of
these things?
2 Chron 32:29
_______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
17) What does God delight
in?
Ps 37:27b
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
18) What does God give to
us?
Deut 8:18
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: In the previous
chapter, you should have learned that God has nothing against wealth or wealthy
people simply because they are
prosperous. In fact,
material prosperity is a blessing. But God is less concerned with the outward
attributes of a man than his inner
character. Here, we will
learn more about our attitude toward wealth.
1) A person's character is
the moral quality, strength and stature of the inner man. What should our
character be free from?
Heb 13:5 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) Should we wear ourselves
out to get wealth? Should we think about getting wealthy all the time?
Prov 23:4
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3) What happens if we set
our eyes on wealth? What happens to the wealth?
Prov 23:5
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4) What have we brought
into the world? What can we take out of it when we die?
1 Tim 6:7
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) What does God want us to
be content with?
1 Tim 6:7
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: God says if we have food
in our belly and clothes on our back we are to be content. We must be content
with what we have
right now.
6) What happens to those
who want to get rich?
1 Tim 6:9
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7) What is the root of all
sorts of evil?
1 Tim 6:10
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8) What might happen to those
who have set their heart on getting rich?
1 Tim 6:10
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
9) Read James 5:1-6. To
whom is James writing this passage?
James 5:1 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10) What was happening to
their riches?
James 5:2 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
11) What was happening to
their clothes?
James 5:2 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
12) What was happening with
their gold and silver?
James 5:3 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13) What will be a witness
against them?
James 5:3 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
14) What did these people
do with their treasure?
James 5:3 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
15) Read James 5:4. How did
they treat their employees? What did they do to their employees?
James 5:4 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
16) How have these people
lived on the earth?
James 5:5 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
17) What kind of lives did
they lead?
James 5:5 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
18) What also did they do
to the righteous man?
James 5:6 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
19) Read Ecclesiastes
5:13-17. What did Solomon, the wisest man in the world, call a grievous evil?
Eccl 5:13 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: These wealthy people
were being rebuked for how they used their wealth, not because they had wealth.
What one does with the
wealth counts, not the mere
possession of it. The people James was rebuking had so many clothes in the
closet that they couldn't use
them all and the moths ate
them up. The gold and silver was just lying around and rusting. It was the rust
that would be a witness against
them, not the gold and
silver itself. They were leading wanton and wasteful lives, living selfishly.
They did not properly pay those who
worked for them. They
arranged to have honest men destroyed, perhaps because they posed a threat to
their riches. For these reasons
they are called to weep and
howl for the miseries that will come upon them in judgment against their sins.
20) Read Matt 19:16-26.
There was a rich man who had a desire to please God. What did Jesus tell him to
do?
Matt 19:21
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
21) How did the man
respond?
Matt 19:22
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: The wealthy man was
not willing to obey Jesus. This man decided that it was more important for him
to hold onto this wealth
than it was to be obedient
to God. We must not permit anything, including riches, to prevent us from being
totally obedient to God's will
for our lives.
22) Riches and wealth have
a power that commands men's loyalty. For this reason, is it hard or easy for a
wealthy man to enter heaven?
Matt 19:23 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
23) But, is it impossible
for God to bring wealthy men into his kingdom?
Matt 19:26
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
1) What should we do with
our wealth?
Prov 3:9
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) If we honor the Lord
with the first fruits of all we produce, what will happen?
Prov 3:10
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3) What makes a man rich?
Prov 10:22
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4) Does much sorrow come with
wealth when God gives it?
Prov 10:22 and Gen 25:8
_______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) What kind of man will
prosper?
Prov 11:25 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
6) What is the reward of
humility and the fear of the Lord?
Prov 22:4
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7) What is the fear of the
Lord?
Prov 8:13
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8) Read Proverbs 8:12-21.
Who is speaking?
Prov 8:12
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
9) What comes with this
wisdom?
Prov 8:18-20 ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10) What is on the house of
the wicked?
Prov 3:33 and Deut 28:15-68
____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
11) What does God do to the
dwelling of the righteous?
Prov 3:33 and Deut 28:1-14
_____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
12) What will happen to the
man who finds wisdom?
Prov 3:13-26
________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13) What is the beginning
of wisdom?
Prov 9:10 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
1) What kind of people
should we be if we want to prosper?
Prov 10:4 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) What should be our
attitude toward work?
Eph 6:5-7 (especially verse 7)
___________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3) What will happen to
those who work hard?
Prov 12:24
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4) What will happen to the
sluggard?
Prov 12:24
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) What happens to the soul
of the diligent?
Prov 13:4 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
6) Is it enough to crave
something? What happens to the sluggard who desires, or craves something?
Prov 13:4 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7) What happens to wealth
that is obtained by fraud, or by deception?
Prov 13:11 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8) What happens to the
wealth of someone who works hard?
Prov 13:11
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
9) What happens to sinners?
Prov 13:21
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10) With what will the
righteous be rewarded?
Prov 13:21 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
11) What is a sluggard?
What happens to him?
Prov 21:25
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
12) What does the sluggard
do all day long?
Prov 21:26
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13) While the sluggard is
worrying about what he does not have and while he is too lazy even to work,
what does the righteous do?
Prov 21:26
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
14) What will happen to the
man who works hard and becomes skilled in his work?
Prov 22:29
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
15) What should the rich
avoid?
1 Tim 6:17a
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
16) Name four things the
rich should do.
1 Tim 6:18 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
17) As a result of avoiding
the things in verse 17, and doing the things in verse 18, what will they gain?
1 Tim 6:19 __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
18) What does God supply us
with? How abundantly does he supply them? Why does he supply them?
1 Tim 6:17b _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
19) If a person loves
money, will it satisfy him?
Eccl 5:10 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
20) Should men enjoy the
wealth and riches that God has provided to them?
Eccl 5:18-19 ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
1) What things can be an
inheritance passed down through the generations?
Prov 19:14
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) What does a good man
leave to his children and grandchildren?
Prov 13:22
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3) What did Isaac inherit
from his father Abraham?
Gen 25:5 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4) Read Ecclesiastes 11:2.
What sort of advice does this suggest to the prudent investor?
Eccl 11:2
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) What does the Scripture
suggest about the timing of investments?
Eccl 11:6
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: The Ten Commandments
form the foundation for all moral and civil law. In Exodus 20, the Ten
Commandments are given for
the first time and in the
following chapters specific examples of how these laws may be applied are
outlined.
1) What is the punishment
for premeditated murder?
Gen 9:6 and Ex 21:12-14 _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) What is the punishment
for kidnapping?
Ex 21:16 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3) What is the punishment
for rape?
Deut 22:25-27
_______________________________________________
4) How many witnesses are
required to convict someone of a capital crime?
Deut 17:6
_________________________________________________
Deut 19:15 ________________________________________________
Num 35:30 ________________________________________________
5) Reread the Fifth commandment
in Exodus 20:12. Now read Exodus 21:15 and Exodus 21:17. What does this say
about the respect we
owe our father and mother?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: Respect for our
parents is extremely important to the Lord. We respect them by obeying them,
listening to
their counsel, and caring
for them in their old age or time of need.
6) What happens if a man
strikes another and injures him?
Ex 21:18-19
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7) What happens if innocent
bystanders are hurt? What does the following passage say about the protection
of
unborn children?
Ex 21:22
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8) Read Exodus 21:23-25 and
Leviticus 24:17-21. What does this say about how punishment for criminals
should
be approached?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
9) Read Exodus 22:1-15. If
something is stolen, what is the punishment?
Ex 22:1 ________________________________________________
10) What did the tax
collector agree to do when he decided to repent?
Luke 19:8 ______________________________________________
11) If the thief cannot pay
restitution for his crime, what happens to him?
Ex 22:3 ________________________________________________
NOTE: Jesus taught
extensively on the Law. Read Matthew 5:38-42. Here, a simple reading might
suggest that
Jesus does away the
principle of an eye for an eye. But, he is instructing those who were
maltreated not to seek
vengeance. In this passage,
Jesus was addressing the heart attitude of his own people, not the
administration of
legal justice by the civil
government. The same is true with the entire chapter in Matthew 5. When he
teaches, for
example, on adultery, he
does not do away with the commandment forbidding adultery, he adds to it that
our
hearts must be clean as
well. Vengeance is from the Lord, not from individuals. The state is charged by
God with
carrying out vengeance
(justice) -- an eye for an eye -- not the individual people to whom Jesus was
speaking.
The books of the New
Testament teach mostly about the individual and the church. The books of the
Old
Testament focus more on
entire nations and societies. The key to changing entire nations will always be
to change
the hearts of the people
first. But we also need to know how to reorder our communities and nations.
12) Read Exodus 21:28-33.
This speaks to the owner's responsibility for the actions of his animals. The
owner is
liable for what his beasts
do. If an animal is known to be wild and the owner does not adequately protect
those
around from the
consequences of its actions, what is to be done?
Ex 21:28-33
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13) What if an accident
happens, innocently and unintentionally?
Ex 21:28
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
14) What if a person
creates a hazardous situation without making adequate protections for innocent
bystanders?
Ex 21:33-34
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
People long for justice.
Just governments. Justice in the courts. Justice in the workplace. Justice at
home between family members. Just
punishment for evil people
and justice for those who have been abused. No matter how diligently even the
best governments pursue
thieves, murderers, and
other criminals, it seems that justice is always just beyond their grasp. And
all too often, the biggest criminals are
beyond the reach of police
forces and courts. Some of history's most infamous men seem to have worked
their own will on others and
escaped justice all the
while. The heads of governments, from Hitler to Stalin to the Khmer Rouge, to
slave traders of the 18th century, to
your generic corrupt law
officer, judge, and politician all too often live out their lives without any
recompense for their evil deeds.
The problem of evil in the
world is an old question, one which has occupied the best minds for as long as
men have had the time to think
on these questions. Evil
men harm innocent people and justice seems forgotten. But in the long run,
God's justice will prevail. On the
Judgment Day, every man,
woman, and child will give an account of every thought, word, and deed
committed in their life time. Every
motive will be weighed. At
this final tribunal, justice will be served.
Evil comes from choices men
make. God has so constructed humans that we are able to choose good or bad. A
consequence of the moral
freedom God has granted is
the ability to harm innocent human beings. At the judgment seat, justice for
the guilty and the innocent will
be carried out in full.
There are two types of
judgment the Bible talks about. First is the judgment that comes in time, in
history. This judgment may take the
form of a murderer being
tried and punished for his crime. Or it may take the form of wars or natural
disasters which destroy nations.
The second type of judgment
comes on the last day, when Jesus Christ judges every person and gives them
their due. No one will
escape. Everyone will get
their just reward, whether good or bad, based on how they lived their lives on
this earth. Knowledge of the
Final Judgment should be
kept in mind when we choose the things we do in life.
1) What will God bring into
judgment?
Eccl 12:14
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) Will God remember the
deeds of our youth in judgment?
Eccl 11:9
___________________________________________________
3) What will God remember
at the judgment?
Matt 12:36
__________________________________________________
John 5:29
___________________________________________________
2 Cor 5:10
__________________________________________________
4) Read Hebrews 6:1-2. Here
it lists the "elementary" teachings of Christ. Is "eternal
judgment" part of the teachings of Christ?
Heb 6:2 ____________________________________________________
5) What happens after men
die?
Heb 9:27 ___________________________________________________
6) Who is the judge?
John 5:22
___________________________________________________
7) Before whose judgment
seat will we appear?
2 Cor 5:10
__________________________________________________
8) Who will judge the
living and the dead?
2 Tim 4:1
___________________________________________________
9) Read Revelation
20:11-15. How will men be judged?
Rev 20:12b
__________________________________________________
10) What happens to anyone
whose name is not found written in the book of life?
Rev 20:15
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
11) Read Acts 4:10-12. In
what name does salvation come? Does it come in any other way?
Acts 4:10-12
________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
12) What did Jesus say
about finding the Father (God)?
John 14:6 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
13) Who is the only
mediator between God and man?
1 Tim 2:5
___________________________________________________
14) Who is the propitiation
for our sins?
1 John 2:1-2
_________________________________________________
15) Jesus Christ was killed
by hanging on a cross. He was an innocent man. He bore our sins in his body on
the cross so that we might
have forgiveness with God.
What does 1 Peter 3:18 say?
1 Peter 3:18
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
16) Read Romans 5:6-11. How
does a person become reconciled to God?
Rom 5:10 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
17) Read Romans 10:9-12.
How does a person become saved?
Rom 10:9 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Fritz Berggren received a B.B.A. from
the University of Washington, an M.A. from Washington State University, a Ph.D
from the University of Miami. Fritz and his wife and children reside in Miami,
Florida and attend JesusFellowship church. You can contact him at fwb@text.net.
Hand written notes for this
work book sat in a three ring binder for over a decade, until one week in 1995
when I unilaterally suspended all my homework assignments (I was a graduate
student then) and actually typed these things into my computer. From time to time, I update and edit the
manuscript, butI’ve been working on it since at least 1985.
All material herein is
copyright.
This electronic document
may be duplicated and distributed electronically provided that no changes,
additions, or deletions are made. Feel
free to put this on
CD-ROMs, but please tell me about it, too. Covenant For The Nations is a freely
distributable, copyrighted
program, otherwise known as
"freeware". There is no registration process, no fee requested or required,
no obligation on your part, and
no guilt. I only request
that no hardcopies of Covenant For The Nations be sold for profit. If you print
it up, charge no more than the cost
of the paper. I reserve at
all times the right to restrict distribution of this material. I would
appreciate a note letting me know how you are
using this material.
Fritz Berggren
Copyright 1995 – 2002
©
All rights reserved.
Fritz Berggren
Miami
USA