Tabernacle/Temple & Sacrificial System
Who built the first temple?
Solomon
Why did God give Israel a king?
They demanded one
What prophet lived in Babylon during the exile but stayed faithful to Yahweh?
Daniel
How long did the Babylonian Captivity last?
70 years
*BONUS* - Why was it 70 years?
Your friend asserts that the Christian faith is about their connection with Jesus and how they live doesn’t really matter. What books of the Bible might you turn to discuss this?
Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Psalms, Job, etc…
Where did the priests who served at the tabernacle/temple come from?
Tribe of Levi
Who were the three kings who reigned while Israel was a united nation?
Saul, David, and Solomon
*BONUS* - God grants Solomon one desire (1 Kings 3:5). What does Solomon ask for?
Define “wisdom” (chokhmah) according to the Bible.
“skill” or “applied knowledge” - not just intellectual knowledge but living rightly according to God’s ways
What empire eventually defeated Babylon and let the Jews return to Jerusalem?
Persia
Your friend is feeling insecure and unsure if they can serve in a new way. What OT figure and passage would you encourage them to read and reflect on?
Moses – Exodus 3
What is the difference between the holy place and the holy of holies?
Ark of the covenant and glory of the Lord in the holy of holies (most sacred space within the holy place)
*BONUS* – What was inside the ark of the covenant?
Name one big spiritual/moral failure of Saul:
Sacrificed to God before Samuel got there; Didn’t kill all the Amalekites (kept king alive) and kept some of the best booty for himself
What is one area the fool is contrasted with the wise in the Proverbs?
Work ethic, Speech, Money, Listening to wise council, Relationships, etc
What king of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC?
Nebuchadnezzar
Someone you’re reaching out to is confused why the God of the OT seems totally different from Jesus and the NT. What OT verse(s)/chapters could you bring up to show that God’s plan has always been about grace and rescuing humanity from sin?
Promise of a serpent crusher (Gen. 3:15); Abrahamic Covenant that all nations will be blessed through Israel (Gen. 12); etc
In what ways was the tabernacle/temple supposed to teach people about God? (Give two examples)
High quality of materials shows God’s excellence, holy of holies shows God’s separateness from sinful humanity, portable and central location showed God’s desire to be among his people, sacrifice was needed to enter God’s presence
Israel eventually split into a northern and southern kingdom. What were the names of the two kingdoms?
Northern – Israel
Southern – Judah
Name two key prophets to the southern kingdom.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
Name 2 issues that were a part of the Israelites rebellion from God that led to God allowing the nations to exile them.
Refused to listen to God, Engaged in idolatry, Engaged in child sacrifice
Someone questions why you don’t dress up for church and why our church doesn’t have priests. How might you respond (including a book and chapter anywhere in the Bible to support your answer)?
We are no longer under Old Covenant (Hebrews 9)
Name 4 festivals and/or holy days prescribed in the OT Law and give the reasoning for one of them.
Sabbath, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Tabernacles (or Booths), Firstfruits, Pentecost (or Weeks), Trumpets, Day of Atonement
What type of kings did each kingdom have post-division? (good, bad, mix of good and bad)
Southern – mix of good and bad
Northern – all bad!
Name two key prophets to the northern kingdom.
Elijah and Elisha
Match the Israelite leader with their main responsibilities during the post-exilic period:
Ezra, Zerubbabel, Nehemiah
Led first return and rebuilt temple, rebuilt Jerusalem's walls, led religious reform
Zerubbabel - led first return and rebuilt temple
Ezra – led religious reform
Nehemiah – rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls
Your friend tells you that they grow with God by doing their best to follow the 10 Commandments. What is one passage you could take them to to consider the greater purpose of the OT law?
Gal. 3:24 – leads us to Christ
Romans 7:7,8 – defines sin
Romans 3:19,20 – shows us what sin is
Romans 5:20 – increases sin