From 18a74ad3f81469b229177b4a88e7c36187342008 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Gary Talent Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 23:52:05 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] Initial commit --- BibleBasics/Outline.md | 221 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Zechariah/Outline.md | 211 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 432 insertions(+) create mode 100644 BibleBasics/Outline.md create mode 100644 Zechariah/Outline.md diff --git a/BibleBasics/Outline.md b/BibleBasics/Outline.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0af7356 --- /dev/null +++ b/BibleBasics/Outline.md @@ -0,0 +1,221 @@ +# Bible Basics + +## Purpose + +The purpose of this resource is for people know and know how to read the Bible. + +If you are learning about ideas that are (supposedly) from the Bible, but you +are not learning the Bible, your discipleship is deficient. +We need to be able to go directly to the foundation that is God's Word. +Famously, our Lord, in Matthew 4:4, quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, in saying, "Man +shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of +God." +There is value in studying a wide array of resources, but no resource will feed +your soul like the Word of Yahweh. +No other resource is as essential and powerful as God's Word. +God can use anything in our lives, but there is no other resource that we can +have the same expectation that He will show up for us as when we honor Him by +going to Him in His Word. + +The original context in Deuteronomy 8 involves a lengthy, decades long, +teaching of our need for God's Word. +For some, this need is more readily apparent. +For me, like the Israelites of Moses' day, it was taught in time. +But these words now ring true to me, and so I set forth on this worthy mission +to help people know the Word of God. + +When I was a young believer, I remember getting great benefit from my early +readings of New Testament books. +Matthew and Mark really fleshed out my understanding of who the Lord Jesus is. +Matthew 5 and 6 taught me about the nature of sin. +Acts gave me a glimpse at life in the early years after our Lord's ascension. + +But then I decided to go to Jeremiah. +I had heard a bad sermon at a youth camp that talked about how Jeremiah was +young like us, and so I decided that would be my next book of the Bible to +read. +That was a big mistake. +Jeremiah can be a confusing book even for veteran readers of the Bible, as +someone barely versed in the New Testament, I got precious little out of it. +I soon stalled out and my Bible reading remained in a pretty discouraging state +for a long time. + +I came back to the Bible at times. +I was greatly blessed in my reading of John, as it fleshed out my understanding +the Holy Spirit. +But the Bible still seemed like too daunting of a thing ever be truly familiar +with. +There were certainly other problems in the mix for me, but those might have +been greatly mitigated with a better understanding of God's Word. + +Thinking back to my fist experience with Jeremiah, let us have a look at the +first paragraph and list all of the things I probably did not understand at the +time, but really should have before diving into this book. + +Jeremiah 1:1-3 (ESV): + +> The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in +> Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom the word of the LORD came in the +> days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of +> his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of +> Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of +> Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month. + +1. "the land of Benjamin" - I probably did not know anything about the tribes + of Israel, so the land of Benjamin would have been meaningless to me. + +2. Josiah, king of Judah - Again, I knew nothing of the tribes. I also knew + nothing of the split of Israel. So likely no idea why we were talking about + the king of a place called Judah! + + If I had read 2 Kings, I would know about Josiah, and I would know that he + was a very good king who live at a very unfortunate time. I would also have + learned about Josiah's successors, who are listed here and were not so good. + +3. "the captivity of Jerusalem" - I knew some about Jerusalem, as it features + heavily in the Gospels, but I had no real understanding of why it was + significant to this generation. Also, it speaks of the captivity of + Jerusalem as something I should already know about. I knew nothing of why + such a thing would be happening or why it might be significant. + +Perhaps we can infer some of what we need to know, but that is still a lot of +haphazard guess work to make it through one paragraph. +It is much better if we simply say that books like Jeremiah have prerequisites. + +That is the purpose of this resource. +I want to provide a tour through a series of books in the Bible that provide an +understanding of the overall narrative of Scripture so that we can then +understand the rest. +Understanding the narrative gives us a skeletal structure that gives form to +Scripture. +It takes us from a place of seeing the Bible as a messy blob to knowing it as a +masterfully crafted view of our holy God and his manifold wisdom in the Gospel. + +## The Gospel + +Speaking of which... +Before we dive into this resource, we really do need to discuss why any of +this matters. +Hopefully, you are already familiar with the Gospel and have experienced the new +birth. +Regardless, please do read this section before you go any further. + +Some might think of this as a spoilers section. +But while this resource does focus on a narrative, it is not about suspenseful +story telling. +We are where we are in history. +We want to know how we got here, but we already know, at least up til this +point in history, where this story goes anyway. +And our time has certain pressing realities that we can know without knowing +how we got here. +We *should* know the pressing realities of our time. + +And there is no more pressing of a reality than our sin and God's righteous +judgment against it. + +## Know Your Translations + +## Know Your Bible + +Below is a list of books of the Bible that should give a basic understanding of +the general thrust of the Bible. +This plan will lead us through 18 out of the 66 books of the Bible. +Some are only partial. + +My trusty little *ESV Personal Reference Bible* has 1439 pages in it (not +counting legal notices, concordance, and the like). +Below, I have counted out the number of pages in each of the books listed in +this plan. +You almost certainly have a different print and likely have a different +translation, and so the numbers will not match up, but this should give you +some idea of the proportions of what this skeleton looks like compared to the +whole Bible. + +| Book | Pages | +| ------------------ | ----------:| +| Genesis | 56 | +| Exodus | 46 | +| Numbers | 47 | +| Deuteronomy | 42 | +| Joshua | 27 | +| Judges | 28 | +| 1 Samuel | 35 | +| 2 Samuel | 30 | +| 1 Kings | 33 | +| 2 Kings | 34 | +| Daniel 1-6 | 9 | +| Ezra | 10 | +| Nehemiah | 15 | +| Matthew | 40 | +| John 14-17 | 4 | +| Acts | 38 | +| Galatians | 5 | +| 1 Corinthians 1-15 | 14 | +| | Total: 513 | + + +That is roughly 35.65% of the Bible. + +We certainly do not want to stop at 35% of Bible. +Shoot for 100%. Many times over. +Shoot for 5000%! + +But if you get through this 35%, the other 65% should be much easier to +approach than if you had not read this basic outline. + +## What To Expect + +### How To Read The Bible + +The Bible is not a novel, genres, etc. + +### Tripping Hazards + +Christianity has boundaries to what it considers orthodox. +While it is a bit less formal, cultures also have boundaries of orthodoxy. +There are certain beliefs that will put one outside the bounds of +respectability. +Sometimes Christ and culture agree. +Whether someone boasts of being an Arian or an Aryan, they are Biblically +heterodox. + +The Bible was not written in our time. +The Bible was not written in our grandparent's time, nor was it written their +grandparent's time. +The Bible was *finished* around 2000 years ago. + +The Bible is not of our time, but it was written for our time, because it was +written for all times. + +The Bible offends different times in different ways. +For many people in the 1800s, the Bible would be too anti-slavery. +For us today, it is often seen as too pro-slavery. +Though it is decidedly against our modern conceptions of slavery with Paul's +excoriating treatment of *enslavers*, so I do not think that is really the +biggest hurdle in the contemporary western world. + +Before we continue, consider again the enormous breadth of human experiences +across the vastness of years and continents that the Bible has addressed. +Do you expect that the eternal God, the Ancient of Days, who's Word this is +really shares all of your culture's values? +Is God basically a 21st century American? +Or should we expect that we, like all cultures of all times and all places, +need correction in some areas? + +God is holy. +He is otherly. +Calling God great is an appropriate, but somewhat strange adulation. +God is not simply great, He is greatness. +It is like calling Christ Christian. +Is Christ his own disciple? + + + +This is the God whose Word we are approaching. +You are a sinner who has distorted God's design for creation, He is holy. +He is not like you, and his ways are above yours. +Be ready to change. + +For us today, the biggest hurdles undoubtedly center around the sexual +revolution. +Namely feminism and homosexuality. diff --git a/Zechariah/Outline.md b/Zechariah/Outline.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..96ce10c --- /dev/null +++ b/Zechariah/Outline.md @@ -0,0 +1,211 @@ + +# Zechariah + +## Sections + +### 1 - Revelation 1 (1:1-6) + +Reflection on Israel's past sin, and call to repentance. + +### 2 - Revelation 2 (1:7-6:15) + +#### Part 1 - Man on Red Horse (1:7-17) + +Zechariah saw a man riding on a red horse. +Behind him were more horses: red, sorrel, and white. +Zechariah inquired about the meaning of this, and an angel agreed to explain. + +The man on the red horse says that God sent the other horses to patrol the earth. +The horses report that the earth is at rest/quiet. + +The Angel of Yahweh lamented the wrath of God against Jerusalem and Judah in the exile. +God affirms his he is still jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. +He is far angrier with the nations that are at ease than he was with Judah. + +God will return to Jerusalem, and will again build his house there. +Measuring line? + +#### Part 2 - Four Horns (1-18-21) + +Zechariah saw four horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. +He also saw four craftsmen that have come to terrify the horns that scattered +Judah. + +### Part 3 - God to rebuild Jerusalem (2) + +Zechariah sees a man with a measuring line. + +### Part 4 - Vision of Joshua the High Priest (3) + +#### Part 4.1 (3:1-5) + +Zechariah sees Joshua, the Angel of Yahweh, and Satan. +Satan is there to oppose Joshua (presumably because, as High Priest, he +represents God's people). +The Angel of Yahweh rebukes him, saying that Jerusalem is a brand plucked from +the fire. +The Angel of Yahweh removes Joshua's filthy garments and gives him rich robes. + +#### Part 4.2 (3:6-10) + +God reaffirms the Levitical priesthood, saying that the High Priest will rule +God's house (the temple) if they are faithful. + +God foretells that he will send Christ and remove the iniquity of the land in a +single day. + + +#### Part 5 - Golden Lampstand and Olive Trees (4) + +Zechariah sees a golden lampstand surrounded by two olive trees. + +The Angel says that Zerubbabel will succeed in finishing the temple, by the +power of the Spirit of Yahweh. + +The Angel then says that the olive trees are the two anointed ones. +He does not explain this. +Apparently, one common interpretation is that they represent Zerubbabel and +Joshua (the high priest from the previous chapter). + +Notes: + * Section starts with the question, "What do you see?" Compare to ch 5 beginning. + + +#### Part 6 - The Flying Scroll Against Thieves and Liars (5:1-4) + +Zechariah sees a flying scroll that is 10 x 20 cubits in size. +It pronounces a curse on the houses of perjurers and thieves. + +Notes: + * Section starts with the question, "What do you see?" Compare to ch 4 beginning. + + +#### Part 7 - Woman in Basket (5:5-11) + +Zechariah sees a woman that seems to represent Wickedness in a basket. +Two other women appear and haul her off to Shinar (Babylon) to build a house +for her there. +ESV SB this represents sin being purged from the land, which seems very sound. + +#### Part 8 - Four Chariots (6:1-8) + +Zechariah sees four chariots coming from between two mountains of bronze. + +The Angel says that they are spirits of heaven. + +| Chariot No. | Horse Color | Direction | +| ----------- | ----------- | ---------------- | +| 1 | red | n/a | +| 2 | black | North | +| 3 | white | Follow Chariot 2 | +| 4 | dappled | South | + +The Angel says the chariots going north have given his Spirit rest there. +Presumably, this means that they have executed judgment on the north (Babylon). + + +#### Part 9 - Joshua Crowned, Christ to Build Temple (6:9-15) + +Joshua is crowned with a crowned fashioned from goods brought by returning +captives, representing the joining of offices of priest and king in Christ. +The crown is to be kept in the temple as a reminder to the returning captives +of God's promise. +God will rebuild the temple, in part through those who are far off. + + +### 3 - Revelation 3 - (7:1-8:23) + +#### Part 1 - (7:1-14) + +This third revelation seems to be prompted by an inquiry from the people as to +whether or not they should keep a fast in the fifth month. + + +* 7:1-3 - The people inquire of God as to whether they should continue the fast + of the fifth month. + The reconstruction of the temple would be well underway by this time, so the + need for a fast of mourning seemed like it may have passed. + + Note: this appears to be answered positively in 8:19, after God prompts them + to reflect on their sin, judgment, and his continuing faithfulness to his + people. +* 7:4-14 + * 7:1-7 - God prompts them to examine their motives in the fast. + * 7:8-14 - God describes the sin that brought the judgement. + +#### Part 2 - (8:1-23) + +This section seems like it really focuses on more immediate blessings. + +* 8:1-10 + * 8:1-3: Section break and God affirming his devotion to Zion + * 8:4-8: God will restore His people to populate Jerusalem + * 8:9-13: God says that He has laid a heavy hand on Jerusalem, but He will + now bless them. + This shift would have come two years prior at the time of God's third + revelation to Haggai beginning in Haggai 2:10. + Compare to Haggai 2:15-19, focus on the laying of the + foundation of the temple and a reprieve from famine and lack. + * 9-10 - Focus on former curses + * 11-13 - Focus on present and future blessings +* 8:14-17 - God reiterates his purpose for bringing wrath upon Judah, and + reiterates His intent to prosper them now. + He then reiterates His call on them to act justly with one another. +* 8:18-23 + * 18-19 - Section break and answer to the question that prompted the third + revelation to Zechariah: yes, they may cease their fasts of mourning and + replace them with feasts. + * 20-22 - God will bring people from afar, from many nations, to worship + Him in Jerusalem. + * 23 - God will indeed bring so many people from afar, that they will + outnumber the Jews 10:1. + +### 4 - (9:1-10:12) + +* 9:1-8 - God will destroy many of the traditional enemies and potential + enemies of Israel. +* 9:9-15 - Appears to focus on the coming of Christ and the conquest of the + Gospel. + * 9-10 - Rejoice, your King is coming, lowly and mounted on a donkey. + He will speak peace to nations and His dominion will be from sea to sea. + * 11-17 - God will wield the sons of Zion against the sons of Greece. + Judah is His bow, and Ephraim its arrow. + Probably not talking about an actual military victory, but the advance of + the Gospel after the coming of Christ. +* 10 + * 1-2 - Seek Yahweh for rain rather than the household gods. + The household gods and their diviners give worthless dreams, leaving the + people who follow them as sheep without a shepherd. + * 3-5 - God is particularly angry at the leaders who lead them in their + worthless practices, because He cares for them as His battle horse, from + whom will come Christ. + * 6-7 - God will strengthen Judah and restore Joseph, making Ephraim like a + might man. + * 8-12 - God will gather His people in and scatter them among the nations. + They will remember God in far off lands, and will return from the foreign + lands. + Talk of the pride of Assyria being brought down lends credence to at + least a largely symbolic reading of this section, as Assyria had already + been broken by Babylon (which itself had since fallen to Persia). +* 11:1-3 - Lebanon and Bashan are stripped of their great trees. +* 11:4-17 + * 4-6 - God instructs Zechariah to feed the flock for slaughter, as Judah's + leaders do to His people. + * 7-9 - Zechariah does as God says, with particular prejudice against the + poor of the flock. + Zechariah takes up two staffs, Grace/Favor/Beauty and Unity/Union/Bonds + (if bonds, understand as "bonds of kinship"). + * 10-14 - Zechariah breaks Grace/Favor, and neglects the flock. + He is then paid 30 pieces of silver as his wages. + Zechariah then breaks Bonds, to signify the breaking of brotherhood + between Israel and Judah. + * 15-17 - God declares that He will raise up a worthless shepherd who + abuses the people, and God will judge that shepherd. +* 12:1-13:6 + * 12:1-9 - God will restore Jerusalem to be inhabited again. + Judah will be restored first, and then Jerusalem. + All nations that oppose Jerusalem will fail. + * 12:10-14 - God will stir up repentance, and they will grieve what they + have done to their King. + * 13:1-6 - False prophets will be ashamed, they will repent, forsaking + their illegitimate callings.