The Old Testament: Selected Themes

I. Abraham : God's Call
God approached men by choosing Abraham and his descendants to be a people to whom he would reveal himself, so that through them blessing would come to all mankind.

Passages for study:
Genesis:   11:26-32    12:1-9    15:1-21    17:1-27    21:1-7    22:1-19

II. Moses: The Covenant People
Centuries later, Abraham's descendants through Israel (Jacob) entered into a covenant with God at Mt. Sinai. They were taught by Moses to live and act as God's covenant people.

Passages for Study:
Exodus:   1:1-22    2:1-25    3:1-22    12:21-39    14:1-30    20:1-24    24:1-8    32:1-35    34:1-16

Deuteronomy:   1:1-9    3:1-17    24:1-29    30:15-20    34:1-12

III. David: Kingship Under God: Messiah
The people of Israel become a nation. It was through the family of King David that blessing was expected to come.

Passages for Study:
1 Samuel:   1:1-28    3:1-21    8:1-22    16:1-23    17:1-54

2 Samuel:   5:1-9    6:1-5    7:1-20

1 Kings:   2:1-4

IV. Jeremiah: A New Covenant
The Prophetic Ministry from David to Jeremiah Meaning and responsibilities of the covenant. The promise of blessing through the line of David.

Passages for Study:
1 Kings:   5:1-18    8:1-11    17:1-24    11:1-13    12:1-33    21:1-24    8:1-46    19:1-21

2 Kings:   17:1-18

Micah:   1:1-7    2:1-2    3:1-12    4:1-7    5:2-4    6:6-16    7:18-20

Jeremiah's Ministry
Message of impending disaster. Promise of a new covenant written in the hearts of men. New insights concerning the People of God. The Covenant. The Temple. The Righteous King.

Passages for Study:
Jeremiah:   1:1-10    5:1-5    7:1-15    11:1-13    21:1-10    23:1-6    29:1-14    31:31-34    32:37-41    36:1-32    39:1-18