BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
Old Testament at a Glance

 

Genesis	The creation and early history of the human race, and the birth of the nation of Israel.  Almost all major doctrines are introduced, which sets the stage for the rest of scripture.
Exodus	God's rescue of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, their establishment as a Holy nation, and the giving of the law.
Leviticus	The ceremonial law, establishing how Israel is to fulfill their call as a kingdom of priests, primarily by holiness and worship.
Numbers	Israel's wandering in the wilderness due to rebellion against God, a time of testing and preparation for taking the Promised Land (Canaan).
Deuteronomy	The law is re-confirmed to a new generation of Israelites, and the death of Moses.

 

Job	Wrestles with the question "Why do bad things happen to good people", and stresses the sovereignty of God.
Psalms	An assortment of poems, covering the full range of human emotions on such diverse topics as war, peace, judgment, prophecy, worship, prayers and more.  Written by David and others, it serves as a hymnbook, prayer and devotional guide.
Proverbs	Practical instruction for dealing with the challenges of everyday life.
Ecclesiastes	The search for satisfaction and meaning to life on earth apart from God.
Song of Songs	A love song, filled with allegories, metaphors and imagery.

 

Isaiah	A series of visions and prophecies to Judah, including justice and judgment, redemption and restoration, and the glorious coming of the Messiah and the Messianic Age.
Jeremiah	A harsh message of doom for the people of Judah, tempered with compassionate pleas for repentance and obedience to God.  The people's rejection of the message results in the fall of Jerusalem, but Jeremiah also forecasts the future restoration of Jerusalem and the promise of the new covenant.
Lamentations	Intensely emotional lament by Jeremiah over the destruction of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel	Series of prophetic visions and dramatic stories to the exiles, providing the basis of judgment on Judah and surrounding nations, and the promise of restoration for the kingdom of Israel.
Daniel	Story of Daniel's exile in Babylon, his life of integrity under intense political pressure, including extensive prophecies of historical kingdoms and the end times.

 

Hosea	Addresses the moral corruption and spiritual adultery of the nation of Israel (northern kingdom) prior to their fall to the Assyrians.
Joel	Warns the nation of Judah (southern kingdom)  of approaching judgment, but also gives them hope of the coming day of salvation that will follow.
Amos	Addresses self-indulgence, the excessive pursuit of wealth and pleasure, oppression of the poor, and other  social issues during a period of great prosperity in Israel.
Obadiah	Pronounces condemnation on the nation of Edom, descendants of Esau, twin brother of Jacob (Israel), for persistent opposition to Israel and Judah, God's chosen people.
Jonah	Delivery of message of repentance to the city of Nineveh in Assyrian.  Because Assyria was Israel's enemy, Jonah initially refuses to deliver the message, resulting in a big fish (true)  story.
Micah	The most diverse book of the minor prophets, predicts judgment and restorations, pleas for repentance, and includes several messianic prophecies.
Nahum	Proclaims the downfall of Nineveh, when the Ninevites returned to their violent and idolatrous ways about one hundred years after the preaching of Jonah.
Habakkuk	Depicts the prophet's struggles with the question of God's timing and method concerning His response to injustice in Judah just prior to it's fall.
Zephaniah	Prophesizes the coming day of the Lord (judgment day), followed by blessings in the person of the Messiah.
Haggai	Admonishes the exiles, who had returned to Jerusalem, to get their priorities straight and rebuild the temple before remodeling their own houses.
Zechariah	Encourages the people to complete the rebuilding of the temple, so that it could be inhabited by the glory of the Messiah in the future.
Malachi	Condemns the corrupt priests, hypocrisy, infidelity, and general apathy that plagued the nation once again living in the land, calls the people back to obedience to God, and prophesizes  the coming of the Messiah and John the Baptist (which would occur 400 years later).