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Well done! If you are opening this up it probably means that you are now half-way through this Bible Challenge. In fact, you are past half way because we will be reading the New Testament passages at a slightly slower pace than the Old Testament ones.

Most of us have found Tom’s Bible Challenge a hard slog thus far. The history books that are now behind us can be particularly challenging. Some have found themselves falling behind and battling their wills to keep going. During winter it is always hard to get out of bed earlier than is absolutely necessary. And yet despite all these things against us, I hope you have been learning some great lessons about the God we worship and how He deals with humanity.

A great way to learn as well as encourage others in their learning is to ‘talk it up’ with one another. Ask your fellow Bible Challengers how they are faring and what they have been learning from their readings so far. They might have made some helpful insights into the books you have both been reading. They may even have some handy hints they have learnt along the way about getting through the readings.

Keep at it. It is all downhill from here!

Proverbs continued…

Jude

Jude is written by the half-brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55 – Jude is another name for Judas). By the sounds of things there were people who had weaselled their way into the church and were corrupting the one true faith. He calls on the church to aggressively defend their church and its message from attack.

What is particularly interesting about this short letter is the way Jude draws on information from outside the Bible accounts (Jewish apocalyptic traditions like 1 Enoch and the Testament of Moses). It really makes you stop and scratch your head. Enjoy pondering it, but don’t let it distract you from his timely message to today’s church: contend for the faith once for all delivered, persevere to the end by resisting the false teachers and following the truth.

Key reflection question:

  • Where are the weaknesses evident in today’s global church where false teachers are accepted: internationally, locally, personally?

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes is written by King Solomon (the “teacher”) as he explores where real meaning and fulfilment comes from in life. He is the wealthiest, most powerful and wisest man of the time and so he has an excellent position to get to the bottom of this matter. He explores a smorgasbord of self-indulgence first-hard: building developments, wine, women, possessions, power, even workaholism and fame. He denies his eye no pleasure. Throughout all his exploring however, he is reminded that the certainty of death renders all his efforts in this world about as useful as adjusting deck chairs on the Titanic. They will not satisfy they will only disappoint. He concludes: ‘Life is vanity’ (or ‘a breath of wind’). This phrase occurs 38 times in this short book. And yet this book is not all doom and gloom. In fact Solomon’s message is a great encouragement for us to raise our eyes heavenward and see how God is the one who can give us the fulfilment we long for, and with it, a right perspective as we live in this world.

Key reflection questions:

  • If life ends in physical death where can we find contentment as we work in this world? What might that look like in our day to day grind?
  • Which of the lifestyles Solomon explores here is the main idol in your heart that you wrongly expect to bring you fulfilment?

Song of Solomon

Reading the Song of Solomon (or the Song of Songs) makes you feel like you have stumbled upon a series of intimate letters between two lovers! This book contains beautiful and sensuous poetry expressing the romantic love between a young shepherd and shepherdess in ancient Israel. Most think that Solomon is the man described here, however his 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3) suggest that he is not the one involved in this closed relationship. Perhaps it is better to view it that Solomon is outside this relationship looking in, and as he does he identifies the ‘true love’ that his many partners could not provide for him.

True love is shown to be intimate, monogamous, permanent and all-consuming. This book speaks of the purity and sacredness of love and reminds us that romantic love is a wonderful blessing God has created and given to us, to which we should give thanks. The book also draws our minds to the greatest love story ever told, that is, the love story between God and His church which all centres on the work of Jesus.

Warning: In order to not get lost as you read this ‘song’, pay close attention to who is speaking each section.

Key reflection questions:

  • What does this book say about where ‘true love’ is to be found?
  • Where does Solomon fit into this story?

Nehemiah

As you will be aware you are going to get this book from every direction: sermons, Bible Study groups and Bible Challenge – hopefully you will know it back to front by the end of the term!

Nehemiah is appointed by the king of Persia, to return to his homeland as Governor of Jerusalem. He oversees the major task of rebuilding Jerusalem’s city walls. Despite the discouraging opposition and disunity within the Jewish people the wall is completed and more exiles are returned and registered as Jewish citizens.

Nehemiah is both an encouraging and discouraging book. Time and time again in this book we are reminded that Israel’s God, who had tossed them out of their land in judgement, is now relenting (as He promised He would in Deuteronomy 30:1-6) and seeks the people’s re-establishment in the land. God is shown to be doing that through human and political means.

And yet there is a great sense of helplessness and despair as the book comes to an end. Sin, that same enemy that brought them undone the first time round is clearly still at large. For God to really build a kingdom with His people- there needs to be something else… but what?

Key reflection questions:

  • What encouraging signs are there that God still desires a relationship with his rebellious people?
  • At the end of the book, what crucial thing is still in need of repair?
  • Nehemiah is (historically) one of the last books of the Old Testament. How is Jesus then, a very fitting ‘next chapter’ to this book?

Isaiah

Isaiah is an epic book with lots of great gospel themes. (It is sometimes called the Romans of the Old Testament!) Isaiah focuses on three events in Judah’s history. Firstly, the exile – where he condemns Judah and tells them they are being kicked out for their idolatry and apostasy. Secondly, the return from exile – where he promises the people that God has not forgotten them, ‘His mighty arm’ will surely come to their rescue. Thirdly, back in the land- he calls them to keep their faith in God until He fulfils all His promises.

Some proper research into the political situation at the time would richly reward your reading of Isaiah, but here is a quick snap-shot: Judah has attempted to break free of its allegiance with Assyria (the world super-power at the time) and team-up with Egypt. Assyria doesn’t like that idea and invades and destroys Jerusalem, deporting many of its people to Babylon. The people sit in exile until Cyrus the Persian king rules, allowing them to return and rebuild their city.

It is in this context that God speaks to His people. Essentially the book of Isaiah is addressed to the city of Jerusalem. Isaiah describes how the city under judgement will be transformed into the heavenly Zion. He also promises to purify those survivors of the exile and renew the creation. And, despite all the carnage, God reaffirms His covenant promises to install His messianic king. However, in the latter part of the book the king takes a back seat to another figure- a servant who will lay down His life to purify the remnant. We come to see that the promised king and the servant are the same person.

Key reflection questions:

  • v1-27: Is God still committed to His promises to Jerusalem?
  • Who is this saviour of God’s people? How is He described? What will it take to save Israel?

Jeremiah

Jeremiah is not just a series of prophecies – it focuses upon Jeremiah the prophet himself. He really embodies the message he is sharing (sometimes quite literally). Jeremiah is often called the ‘weeping prophet’. He certainly had a lot to be sad about: he witnessed the dreadful spiritual state of his people, he was rejected and persecuted by them, and he endured the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.

Jeremiah’s message is far from academic. He tends to use word-pictures to convey his point. He passionately urges his people to repent from their sin, ignore the false prophets, submit to the Babylonian authority as the instrument of God’s judgement, and ultimately, to trust in their God. Sadly so much of his message falls on deaf-ears. And yet Jeremiah also has a message of great hope- they will be returned to their land after 70 years of exile and one day ahead God will deal with His people’s problems at their root – He will forge a new covenant with them and provide new hearts; hearts of flesh.

Lamentations

Lamentation means “to express suffering”, and the writer (who is probably Jeremiah) certainly does that pretty comprehensively in this book! The writer has witnessed the fall of Jerusalem and had gone into captivity and he expresses his great sorrow over these events through five connected poems. He emphasizes that what has occurred is the result of divine judgement for the sins of the people. He also underlines the lessons that Jerusalem and its people should learn from its troubles. And yet the book is certainly not all doom and gloom. It reflects God’s love and sorrow for the very people He is judging. And importantly, the writer affirms that belief in God’s mercy and faithfulness is the key to a restored relationship with God. Hope, not despair is the final word in Lamentations.

Key reflection questions:

  • How have the people been humbled through the exile?
  • What are the different aspects of God’s feelings towards Jerusalem described here?

Ezekiel

Ezekiel prophesied leading up to Jerusalem’s invasion, and during the people’s subsequent exile. He was a priest and the book outlines his activities during these tumultuous and very confusing times in Israel’s history. We are certainly provided a very priestly perspective on these events as well as the future hope of Israel. God’s glory and holiness are constantly on view in the book (along with the constant backdrop of the people’s sin). The Temple destroyed and the Temple renewed are also key themes.

Through many wonderful and very detailed images God communicates through Ezekiel that although He is leaving them, He will return again and restore His relationship with them; His covenant with them will not be forsaken. God’s Kingdom will rise after being levelled. His people will be regathered and revived and they will never again be cast out. God’s glory will again be front and centre in the world.

Key reflection questions:

  • What images/illustrations in this book particularly speak to you of God’s love and commitment to His people despite their fallen ways?
  • v40-48: What do you make of this new temple and its new dimensions? Why didn’t Nehemiah try to rebuild the temple according to these specifications?