July 28, 2024 • 15 mins
Welcome to another engaging episode of The Heartbeat of Faith Podcast, hosted by Dr. Andrew Farley. In this episode, the focus is on addressing a fundamental question: What exactly is the Bible? How can its intricate composition and profound messages be understood? hBefore this episode, we have devoted significant time to unraveling the mysteries of the Bible. Today, the mission is to dive into the tales of the past, connecting them to the grand themes and timeless imagery that continue to shape faith and culture.
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The historical books intricately weave five pivotal events that molded the nation of Israel and underscored its need for a redeemer. From the triumphant shouts at Jericho's walls to the rise of King David, the episodes unveil how God's providence intersected with human frailty. Listeners are invited to embark on a compelling journey to explore these historical books and their enduring impact on faith, culture, and the human spirit.
Download the Pray.com app today to experience the vivid revelation of God's divine presence through cinematic storytelling, guided by the influence of the Holy Spirit.
For more encouragement in God's grace visit AndrewFarley.org.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray for I know the thoughts that I
think toward you. Saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and
not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah
chapter twenty nine, Verse eleven. Lord, I thank you for
your plans to prosper and not to harm, to give
(00:24):
me a hope and a future. You have filled my
new heart with your spirit, and you have taught my
mind to look to you for life. You lead me
in the path you have chosen, and I wish to
walk faithfully in it. I am forever rooted in you,
even in seasons of uncertainty. You are so faithful to
(00:46):
me amidst all storms and trials I encounter. Thank you
for my new life in you. You are my everything
in Jesus name, Amen, Thank you for praying with me today.
Now discover the profound intricacies of scripture through pre dot
(01:06):
COM's podcast The Heartbeat of Faith with Doctor Andrew Farley.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Welcome back to another episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
I'm doctor Andrew Farley and it's a joy to have
you here with me today. We are taking time to
answer the question what is the Bible, how is it comprised?
And how do we make sense of it. Of course,
we've already taken some time to understand the Bible, but
(01:41):
how do we look back at past stories and grasp
grander themes and deeper meanings. That's our mission for today.
The modern Bible can be organized into six categories, Law, History, Poetry, Prophecy,
the Gospel, and the Letters. In the last episode, we
(02:03):
delved into the first five books of the Bible, known
as the Law or the Torah, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
and Deuteronomy. Today we look at the historical books of
the Bible Joshua, Judges, Ruth first and second, Samuel first
and second, Kings, first and second, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
(02:28):
The historical books begin in Joshua, narrating God's faithful dealings
with Israel, pointing forward to the fulfillment of his promises
in the coming of Christ. They culminate in Neemiah and Esther,
which highlight God's preservation of his people and ultimately foreshadow
(02:50):
the eternal inheritance all believers have in Christ. The Bible
continually binds us inextricably to its time life message redemption.
The books of history are interlinked through five significant events
that shaped the nation of Israel and showcased its need
(03:11):
for a redeemer. The first event began in Joshua and
ended in Judges, when the nation of Israel ventured out
of the wilderness to claim the promised land.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
With a passionate voice, Joshua cried out, shout, shout, for
the Lord has given you this city. Today, the city
of Jericho will fall as an offering to God. Shout,
so the people shouted. A thunderous roar boomed from the
army of Israel. Cries of war and trumpets echoed and
(03:49):
shook the earth. One by one, the stones of the
wall began to shift in their place, the walls of
Jericho began to split. Cracks and clanging pierced the ear
of everyone in the city. As the walls began to crumble,
the battle cries of Israel continued like the roar of
a lion. The great walls of Jericho bowed before the
(04:11):
might of God. The earth trembled as the wall fell
to the ground.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
The conquest of Canaan was not easily won. Military prowess
gave way to moral compromise, and Israel found it difficult
to claim victory when sin was in their midst. When
the Israelites obeyed God, he stood by them and drove
away their enemies. However, when they lost faith and no
(04:41):
longer followed him, their foes easily defeated them.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Truth had been forsaken, The generation that fought for the
promised land had passed away. God's mighty axe had been
buried and forgotten with the past. Now Israel lived in comfort,
sinning on the graves of those who bled before them.
Israel abandoned the Lord and adopted the gods of the natives.
(05:10):
Since they forsook God, all their military exploits went without victory.
In vain, they marched to conquer new lands, but they
were left with heartache and bloodshed. Israel spiraled into a
whirlpool of defeat. They had forgotten that Israel's strength was
not in their military might, but in the sovereignty of God.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
The Book of Ruth took place in the time of
Judges and showcased the themes of loyalty and redemption, something
Israel sorely needed during that time. The Book of Ruth
also revealed the lineage of a significant person and the
central figure of the historical books King Davis.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
The time had come when all of Bethlehem was there
to witness the union of Ruth and her redeemer, Bohes.
Boaz watched as his bride, Ruth approached the altar. She
was beautiful despite her brokenness. Ruth looked at her redeemer
and groom, Bohaz. He was strong, yet gentle, and worthy
of her devotion. The two of them were married and
(06:19):
experienced the bliss and unity of marriage. Together. They conceived
a child and named him Obed. He was the father
of Jesse, the father of David, Israel's king.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
The second major event the historical books highlight is the
transition from a tribal led community to a king led monarchy.
The most notable king was Israel's second King, David. Throughout
First and Second Samuel, David is a picture of Israel
at its best, imperfect, but ultimately seeking to please God.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
This interaction between David and God truly showed why David
was chosen to be king. David was passionate after pleasing
the heart of God, he was still flawed and deeply
naive in many ways, yet his heart sought to cling
to gods, as Jacob once did many years prior. Together,
David and God shepherded the people of Israel into an
(07:23):
era of prosperity and growth. As God gave David strength
as a shepherd to defeat lions and wolves, so he
gave David the strength to protect the people of Israel.
Many other kings sought to destroy David, but ended up
crushed by the power of God. David reigned over the
land with strength and mercy. With each victory, the small
(07:44):
and helpless nation of Israel rose to a place of
prominence an influence. Yet David was not just a mighty warrior.
Each week he would lead the congregation and worship, singing
his psalms before the people, drawing them closer to the
presence of God God. He would write songs of God's goodness, power, salvation,
and joy. He taught the people how to be honest
(08:08):
before God while showing him reverence. Slowly, David's heart for
God began to translate onto the people of Israel. The
once far off, rebellious and fickle people of Israel were
finally pursuing the Lord. Once again.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
God gave David the same promise as Abraham, a promised
redeemer would come through him. He would be a king
that would ultimately slay the greatest evil of them all,
Sin and usher in God's perfect kingdom. King David brought
Israel back to the heart of God, and his son
(08:47):
Solomon ushered Israel into an unprecedented era of wealth and peace. However,
Solomon was corrupted by idolatry, and through small compromisees, everything
began to unravel. Israel was thrust into its third major event,
a divided kingdom.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Once again, Israel was a split kingdom. There were no
perfect kings. The entirety of Israel pointed to the faithfulness
of God to work in imperfect people. Solomon, for all
his wisdom and tact as a king, fell prey to
the grips of sin. His sins trickled down into the
heart of his son. God would not excuse this, nor
(09:33):
would he abandon Israel altogether. Instead, God would weave Israel's
goodness and evil into one tapestry, ultimately pointing to his grace.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
The books of Second Kings and Second Chronicles tell the
story of the mighty nation of Israel being split into
two separate and weaker nations, the Northern Kingdom Israel and
the southern Kingdom Judah. God's promise to bless David and
his descendants continued through the Kingdom of Judah, but the
(10:09):
Kingdom of Israel had no such heritage. Both kingdoms struggled
and slowly fell away from God. Weak, divided, and compromised,
the two domains were vulnerable to Babylon and Assyria. The
fourth major events surveyed in the historical books of Second
(10:30):
Kings and Second Chronicles is the bondage of foreign nations.
God sent prophets to warn Israel of their inevitable downfall
if they continued in sin, but they would not listen.
Sin created division. The division created weakness, and weakness was
(10:52):
like blood in the water for the sharks of foreign powers.
The Assyrians came after the Northern Kingdom of Israel, binding
them with fish hooks and setting their kingdoms ablaze. Babylon
took the Southern kingdom. Thousands of God's people were forced
out of the Promised land and sent into captivity.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
In the last two hundred years since King Solomon, they
had erected pillars for other gods. They had condoned human sacrifice.
They even gave their own children as burnt offerings. They
had forsaken charity, kindness towards foreigners, and humility. They served
idols and themselves. The Lord had sent countless prophets to
(11:40):
warn them. He warned them of how unstable they were becoming.
He warned them that their might as a nation was
only as strong as their relationship with him. But they
would not listen. They were stiff necked. They hated the
law of the Lord. They adopted the practices of other nations.
As a result, they were captured like other nations. So
(12:00):
the Israelites were given to their own desires. Now they
were truly like other nations. They faced the demise and
humiliation of kingdoms that lived in a chaotic world. All
but Judah were carted off like cattle to Assyria. Their
pain filled moans echoed across the canyons, as did the
screams of fish hooks being ripped off of children's lips.
(12:23):
The sight filled God with sorrow, and he waited for
them to cry out to him, but they did not.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Not all was lost. God spoke through the prophets that
redemption would come amidst captivity and exile. Hope budded from
the ashes the Book of Esther showcased a lowly Jewish
girl who rose to prominence and used her influence to
save her people. She would be a foreshadowing of Israel's
(12:54):
inevitable salvation through Jesus.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Victory was shouted in the streets of Susa. Families shouted
for joy. Not only were they spared, but they were
able to play a role in their own liberation. They
were afforded the opportunity to defend themselves. They felt empowered
for the first time since captivity. This was all thanks
to the noble character of Esther. She would remain in
(13:24):
the palace and watch over her people. She would create
a legacy of kindness and establish a kingdom that looked
towards Jerusalem with favor.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
The final event surveyed in the historical books of the
Bible is the return to the Promised Land. The books
of Ezra and Nehemiah highlight the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the Temple,
and Israel's shared identity. Even though Israel would be conquered again,
(13:56):
rebuilding galvanized them as a people. The fires of tragedy
and captivity forged them together, preparing them for the trials ahead.
They rededicated themselves to worshiping God, pouring over his word,
and sacrificing at the temple.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
After fifty two days of labor in the hot eastern sun,
the walls stood as a monument of hope for the
entire nation. For the first time since exile, God's people
were able to sigh a breath of relief. They no
longer had to live in constant fear of ambush and violence.
They could live in peace. They could worship in peace.
(14:43):
Nehemiah called for Ezra to come before the people and
read the word of God. There they bowed before the
Lord and confessed their sin. They bassed in his forgiveness
and responded to the call to be better.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Through war, chaos, and civil unrest, God showed his faithfulness.
Thank you for listening to today's episode of the Heartbeat
of Faith podcast. Follow the podcast so you can learn
the Bible in this entertaining and inspiring way. Download the
Prey dot com app, and for more encouragement in God's grace,
(15:21):
visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's Andrewfarley dot org.
Let us pray for I know the thoughts that I
think toward you. Saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and
not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah
chapter twenty nine, Verse eleven. Lord, I thank you for
your plans to prosper and not to harm, to give
(00:24):
me a hope and a future. You have filled my
new heart with your spirit, and you have taught my
mind to look to you for life. You lead me
in the path you have chosen, and I wish to
walk faithfully in it. I am forever rooted in you,
even in seasons of uncertainty. You are so faithful to
(00:46):
me amidst all storms and trials I encounter. Thank you
for my new life in you. You are my everything
in Jesus name, Amen, Thank you for praying with me today.
Now discover the profound intricacies of scripture through pre dot
(01:06):
COM's podcast The Heartbeat of Faith with Doctor Andrew Farley.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Welcome back to another episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
I'm doctor Andrew Farley and it's a joy to have
you here with me today. We are taking time to
answer the question what is the Bible, how is it comprised?
And how do we make sense of it. Of course,
we've already taken some time to understand the Bible, but
(01:41):
how do we look back at past stories and grasp
grander themes and deeper meanings. That's our mission for today.
The modern Bible can be organized into six categories, Law, History, Poetry, Prophecy,
the Gospel, and the Letters. In the last episode, we
(02:03):
delved into the first five books of the Bible, known
as the Law or the Torah, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
and Deuteronomy. Today we look at the historical books of
the Bible Joshua, Judges, Ruth first and second, Samuel first
and second, Kings, first and second, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
(02:28):
The historical books begin in Joshua, narrating God's faithful dealings
with Israel, pointing forward to the fulfillment of his promises
in the coming of Christ. They culminate in Neemiah and Esther,
which highlight God's preservation of his people and ultimately foreshadow
(02:50):
the eternal inheritance all believers have in Christ. The Bible
continually binds us inextricably to its time life message redemption.
The books of history are interlinked through five significant events
that shaped the nation of Israel and showcased its need
(03:11):
for a redeemer. The first event began in Joshua and
ended in Judges, when the nation of Israel ventured out
of the wilderness to claim the promised land.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
With a passionate voice, Joshua cried out, shout, shout, for
the Lord has given you this city. Today, the city
of Jericho will fall as an offering to God. Shout,
so the people shouted. A thunderous roar boomed from the
army of Israel. Cries of war and trumpets echoed and
(03:49):
shook the earth. One by one, the stones of the
wall began to shift in their place, the walls of
Jericho began to split. Cracks and clanging pierced the ear
of everyone in the city. As the walls began to crumble,
the battle cries of Israel continued like the roar of
a lion. The great walls of Jericho bowed before the
(04:11):
might of God. The earth trembled as the wall fell
to the ground.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
The conquest of Canaan was not easily won. Military prowess
gave way to moral compromise, and Israel found it difficult
to claim victory when sin was in their midst. When
the Israelites obeyed God, he stood by them and drove
away their enemies. However, when they lost faith and no
(04:41):
longer followed him, their foes easily defeated them.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Truth had been forsaken, The generation that fought for the
promised land had passed away. God's mighty axe had been
buried and forgotten with the past. Now Israel lived in comfort,
sinning on the graves of those who bled before them.
Israel abandoned the Lord and adopted the gods of the natives.
(05:10):
Since they forsook God, all their military exploits went without victory.
In vain, they marched to conquer new lands, but they
were left with heartache and bloodshed. Israel spiraled into a
whirlpool of defeat. They had forgotten that Israel's strength was
not in their military might, but in the sovereignty of God.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
The Book of Ruth took place in the time of
Judges and showcased the themes of loyalty and redemption, something
Israel sorely needed during that time. The Book of Ruth
also revealed the lineage of a significant person and the
central figure of the historical books King Davis.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
The time had come when all of Bethlehem was there
to witness the union of Ruth and her redeemer, Bohes.
Boaz watched as his bride, Ruth approached the altar. She
was beautiful despite her brokenness. Ruth looked at her redeemer
and groom, Bohaz. He was strong, yet gentle, and worthy
of her devotion. The two of them were married and
(06:19):
experienced the bliss and unity of marriage. Together. They conceived
a child and named him Obed. He was the father
of Jesse, the father of David, Israel's king.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
The second major event the historical books highlight is the
transition from a tribal led community to a king led monarchy.
The most notable king was Israel's second King, David. Throughout
First and Second Samuel, David is a picture of Israel
at its best, imperfect, but ultimately seeking to please God.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
This interaction between David and God truly showed why David
was chosen to be king. David was passionate after pleasing
the heart of God, he was still flawed and deeply
naive in many ways, yet his heart sought to cling
to gods, as Jacob once did many years prior. Together,
David and God shepherded the people of Israel into an
(07:23):
era of prosperity and growth. As God gave David strength
as a shepherd to defeat lions and wolves, so he
gave David the strength to protect the people of Israel.
Many other kings sought to destroy David, but ended up
crushed by the power of God. David reigned over the
land with strength and mercy. With each victory, the small
(07:44):
and helpless nation of Israel rose to a place of
prominence an influence. Yet David was not just a mighty warrior.
Each week he would lead the congregation and worship, singing
his psalms before the people, drawing them closer to the
presence of God God. He would write songs of God's goodness, power, salvation,
and joy. He taught the people how to be honest
(08:08):
before God while showing him reverence. Slowly, David's heart for
God began to translate onto the people of Israel. The
once far off, rebellious and fickle people of Israel were
finally pursuing the Lord. Once again.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
God gave David the same promise as Abraham, a promised
redeemer would come through him. He would be a king
that would ultimately slay the greatest evil of them all,
Sin and usher in God's perfect kingdom. King David brought
Israel back to the heart of God, and his son
(08:47):
Solomon ushered Israel into an unprecedented era of wealth and peace. However,
Solomon was corrupted by idolatry, and through small compromisees, everything
began to unravel. Israel was thrust into its third major event,
a divided kingdom.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Once again, Israel was a split kingdom. There were no
perfect kings. The entirety of Israel pointed to the faithfulness
of God to work in imperfect people. Solomon, for all
his wisdom and tact as a king, fell prey to
the grips of sin. His sins trickled down into the
heart of his son. God would not excuse this, nor
(09:33):
would he abandon Israel altogether. Instead, God would weave Israel's
goodness and evil into one tapestry, ultimately pointing to his grace.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
The books of Second Kings and Second Chronicles tell the
story of the mighty nation of Israel being split into
two separate and weaker nations, the Northern Kingdom Israel and
the southern Kingdom Judah. God's promise to bless David and
his descendants continued through the Kingdom of Judah, but the
(10:09):
Kingdom of Israel had no such heritage. Both kingdoms struggled
and slowly fell away from God. Weak, divided, and compromised,
the two domains were vulnerable to Babylon and Assyria. The
fourth major events surveyed in the historical books of Second
(10:30):
Kings and Second Chronicles is the bondage of foreign nations.
God sent prophets to warn Israel of their inevitable downfall
if they continued in sin, but they would not listen.
Sin created division. The division created weakness, and weakness was
(10:52):
like blood in the water for the sharks of foreign powers.
The Assyrians came after the Northern Kingdom of Israel, binding
them with fish hooks and setting their kingdoms ablaze. Babylon
took the Southern kingdom. Thousands of God's people were forced
out of the Promised land and sent into captivity.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
In the last two hundred years since King Solomon, they
had erected pillars for other gods. They had condoned human sacrifice.
They even gave their own children as burnt offerings. They
had forsaken charity, kindness towards foreigners, and humility. They served
idols and themselves. The Lord had sent countless prophets to
(11:40):
warn them. He warned them of how unstable they were becoming.
He warned them that their might as a nation was
only as strong as their relationship with him. But they
would not listen. They were stiff necked. They hated the
law of the Lord. They adopted the practices of other nations.
As a result, they were captured like other nations. So
(12:00):
the Israelites were given to their own desires. Now they
were truly like other nations. They faced the demise and
humiliation of kingdoms that lived in a chaotic world. All
but Judah were carted off like cattle to Assyria. Their
pain filled moans echoed across the canyons, as did the
screams of fish hooks being ripped off of children's lips.
(12:23):
The sight filled God with sorrow, and he waited for
them to cry out to him, but they did not.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Not all was lost. God spoke through the prophets that
redemption would come amidst captivity and exile. Hope budded from
the ashes the Book of Esther showcased a lowly Jewish
girl who rose to prominence and used her influence to
save her people. She would be a foreshadowing of Israel's
(12:54):
inevitable salvation through Jesus.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Victory was shouted in the streets of Susa. Families shouted
for joy. Not only were they spared, but they were
able to play a role in their own liberation. They
were afforded the opportunity to defend themselves. They felt empowered
for the first time since captivity. This was all thanks
to the noble character of Esther. She would remain in
(13:24):
the palace and watch over her people. She would create
a legacy of kindness and establish a kingdom that looked
towards Jerusalem with favor.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
The final event surveyed in the historical books of the
Bible is the return to the Promised Land. The books
of Ezra and Nehemiah highlight the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the Temple,
and Israel's shared identity. Even though Israel would be conquered again,
(13:56):
rebuilding galvanized them as a people. The fires of tragedy
and captivity forged them together, preparing them for the trials ahead.
They rededicated themselves to worshiping God, pouring over his word,
and sacrificing at the temple.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
After fifty two days of labor in the hot eastern sun,
the walls stood as a monument of hope for the
entire nation. For the first time since exile, God's people
were able to sigh a breath of relief. They no
longer had to live in constant fear of ambush and violence.
They could live in peace. They could worship in peace.
(14:43):
Nehemiah called for Ezra to come before the people and
read the word of God. There they bowed before the
Lord and confessed their sin. They bassed in his forgiveness
and responded to the call to be better.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Through war, chaos, and civil unrest, God showed his faithfulness.
Thank you for listening to today's episode of the Heartbeat
of Faith podcast. Follow the podcast so you can learn
the Bible in this entertaining and inspiring way. Download the
Prey dot com app, and for more encouragement in God's grace,
(15:21):
visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's Andrewfarley dot org.
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