May Belinda Abellano – Hong Kong

8th September, 2023

Introduction to Biblical Studies – Takeaway thoughts assignment

1. 1 and 2 Kings
1 and 2 Kings helps us put the whole Bible together.
Studying 1 and 2 Kings provides us with a richer
understanding of God’s desire to dwell among his people,
lost since Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden
(Genesis 3), and ultimately fulfilled on the new earth
(Revelation 21).

1 and 2 Kings teaches us what revival looks like.

First and 2 Kings feels very different than the book of Acts.
In Acts, God’s kingdom is surging forward. In Kings, it often
seems languishing. But precisely for that reason, 1 and 2
Kings can make a unique contribution to our understanding
of reformation and revival among the people of God.

1 and 2 Kings shows us how God is at work during difficult seasons.

1 and 2 Kings spans the time from Israel’s highest moment

to her lowest—from the glory of Solomon to a burning
rubble. There are some bright moments along the way, but
the overall picture is one of division, decline, and continual
downward spiral.

It ends in utter devastation with Nebuchadnezzar’s final

siege on Jerusalem. The city is razed, the leaders are
executed, the people are deported. Even the temple is
destroyed and its precious metals stolen. The Babylonian
exile is like an atomic bomb in the biblical storyline. To
human eyes, it may look like the story is over.
 And yet, in the midst of it all, God was at work. His
purposes are never thwarted, and he will use even the exile
to judge and purify His people as history moves forward.

Reading 1 and 2 Kings helps us trudge onward during the

painful and grinding seasons of life. In the midst of the
frustrations and failures of real life, God is at work. Chaos
does not mean his absence.

1 and 2 Kings reminds us how badly we need Jesus.

The resounding takeaway from 1 and 2 Kings is how badly

God’s people need a Savior King, and how grateful we should
be that Jesus has come to be this for us.

2. 1 and 2 Chronicles
Chronicles looks forward with hope to the coming of the King
who “will be established forever” (1 Chr. 17:14). Having the full
revelation of God’s word, including the New Testament, we
now see that He has come. The promised Ruler from David’s
seed has arrived. He is the hope of the world and the Saviour
from sin. His Kingdom is not simply a throne or temple in
Jerusalem, it is the hearts and lives of all who would believe in
Him.

The lives and blessings of the kings who sought the Lord are
great examples for us. The miraculous victories and the faith-
building exploits of these rulers remind us that God is able to
deliver us from any enemy, problem, or difficulty and bring
about victories in our lives. We are motivated to be counted
among those who are fully-devoted to the Lord and are whole-
heartedly seeking Him. We should diligently listen to and obey
His word.

The Church, as the people of God, can look at the emphasis on

the Temple, it’s construction and dedication, and conclude
that congregational worship, it’s planning and execution, is
important and should be valued. While our worship services
generally will not be as elaborate (David and Solomon
employed 288 musicians (1Chr. 25:7)!), we are justified to do
things with excellence and organization.

3. Ezra

God moved the hearts of secular rulers (Cyrus, Darius, and

Artaxerxes) to allow, even encourage and help, the Jewish
people to return home. He used these unlikely allies to fulfill
His promises of restoration for His chosen people. Have you
encountered unlikely sources of blessing? Have you
wondered how God can really work all things together for
the good of those who are called by His name (Romans
8:28)? Take time today to acknowledge God’s sovereignty
and mercy in your life. Recommit to Him your trust, your
love, and your obedience.

4. Nehemiah
Nehemiah led the Israelites into a respect and love for the
text of Scripture. Nehemiah, because of his love for God and
his desire to see God honored and glorified, led the
Israelites towards the faith and obedience God had desired
for them for so long. In the same way, Christians are to love
and revere the truths of Scripture, commit them to memory,
meditate on them day and night, and turn to them for the
fulfillment of every spiritual need. Second Timothy 3:16–
17 tells us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” If we
expect to experience the spiritual revival of the Israelites
(Nehemiah 8:1-8), we must begin with God’s Word.
Each of us ought to have genuine compassion for others
who have spiritual or physical hurts. To feel compassion,
yet do nothing to help, is unfounded biblically. At times we
may have to give up our own comfort in order to minister
properly to others. We must totally believe in a cause before
we will give our time or money to it with the right heart.
When we allow God to minister through us, even unbelievers
will know it is God’s work.

5. Esther
he Book of Esther shows the choice we make between
seeing the hand of God in our circumstances in life and
seeing things as merely coincidence. God is the sovereign
Ruler of the universe and we can be assured that His plans
will not be moved by the actions of mere evil men. Although
His name is not mentioned in the book, His providential care
for His people, both individuals and the nation, is evident
throughout. For instance, we cannot fail to see the Almighty
exerting influence over King Xerxes’ timely insomnia.
Through the example of Mordecai and Esther, the silent love
language our Father often uses to communicate directly to
our spirits is shown in this book.

Esther proved to have a godly and teachable spirit that also

showed great strength and willing obedience. Esther’s
humility was markedly different from the attitude of those
around her, and this caused her to be elevated into the
position of queen. She shows us that remaining respectful
and humble, even in difficult if not humanly impossible
circumstances, often sets us up to be the vessel of untold
blessing for both ourselves and others. We would do well to
emulate her godly attitudes in all areas of life, but
especially in trials. Not once is there a complaint or bad
attitude exposed in the writing. Many times we read she
won the "favor" of those around her. Such favor is what
ultimately saved her people. We can be granted such favor
as we accept even unfair persecution and follow Esther’s
example of maintaining a positive attitude, coupled with
humility and the determination to lean on God. Who knows
but that God put us in such a position.

6. Job
The greatest lesson we learn from the book of Job is that
God does not have to answer to anyone for what He does or
does not do. Job’s experience teaches us that we may never
know the specific reason for suffering, but we must trust in
our sovereign, holy, righteous God. His ways are perfect
(Psalm 18:30). Since God’s ways are perfect, we can trust
that whatever He does—and whatever He allows—is also
perfect. We can’t expect to understand God’s mind
perfectly, as He reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. . . . For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah
55:8–9).

7. Psalms
The book of Psalms expresses worship. Throughout its many
pages, Psalms encourages its readers to praise God for who
He is and what He has done. The Psalms illuminate the
greatness of our God, affirm His faithfulness to us in times
of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His
Word. As the Psalms present a clear picture of God lovingly
guiding His people, the responses of praise and worship to
God are never far from the psalmists’ pens. The portrayal of
worship in the Psalms offers us glimpse after glimpse of
hearts devoted to God, individuals repentant before Him,
and lives changed through encounters with Him.

8. Proverbs
The recurring principle of the Book of Proverbs is that those
who choose wisdom and follow God will be blessed in
numerous ways: with long life (9:11); prosperity (2:20-22);
joy (3:13-18); and the goodness of God (12:21). Those who
reject Him, on the other hand, suffer shame and death (3:35;
 10:21). To reject God is to choose folly over wisdom and is
to separate ourselves from God, His Word, His wisdom, and
His blessings.

9.Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes shows us in stunning ways that the key to life is
not in life itself. Pleasure, materialism, wisdom, and money are
all futile and folly. True happiness comes from centering our
lives on God, not ourselves. Thus Ecclesiastes dodges two
extremes. Instead of asceticism (“give up”) believers are
encouraged to enjoy life. And instead of hedonism (“give in”)
believers are encouraged to fear God.

Solomon tried everything—pleasure, wine, wisdom, building

projects, slaves, animal husbandry, silver and gold, singers,
and a harem (2:1–8). But he had to admit that when he
surveyed it all, “everything was meaningless, a chasing after
the wind” (2:11). The secret to life, then, is not in things.
Instead two keys open the door to fulfillment, meaning, and
joy: Enjoy life and fear God!