EZEKIEL (active 593-571 BC)

Warning

  Call (Ezek 1-2)

  Vision of idolatry in Temple (Ezek 8)

  Glory of the Lord departs (Ezek 10-11)

  Individual responsibility (Ezek 18)

  Wife’s death— silence (Ezek 24)

Promise

  Ezekiel can speak (Ezek 33)

  Good Shepherd (Ezek 34)

  Dry bones come to life (Ezek 37)

  Glory of the Lord returns (Ezek 40-48)

 

GOD & SUFFERING

 

OBADIAH (after 587 BC)

 

  Edom contributed to Judah’s suffering

  Edom will suffer also

 

LAMENTATIONS (after 587 BC)

 

  Content: anger, grief, hope

  Form: acrostic

 

HABAKKUK (ca. 620-590 BC)

 

  Why do the righteous suffer? (Hab 1)

 The righteous live by faith (Hab 2:4)

 Faith sustains despite suffering (Hab 3:17-19)

 

JOB

 

  Probing the meaning of suffering

  (outline on back of this sheet)

 

 

OUT OF EXILE (539 BC)

People Set Apart –People Called Out

  Cyrus’ decree permits return (Ezra 1)

  Temple foundation laid (Ezra 3)

  Opposition halts building (Ezra 4)

HAGGAI (520-516 BC)

  Rebuild the temple (Hag 1)

  God will restore the nation (Hag 2)

ZECHARIAH (520-516 BC)

  Visions of restoration

 

**Temple rebuilt 515 BC**

 

MALACHI (ca. 460 BC)

  Warning: Improper worship (Mal 1)

                  Messenger will purify (Mal 3)

  Promise: Sun of righteousness (Mal 4)

                  Elijah will return to help

 

JOEL (5th cent. BC)

  Threat: Locust plague (Joel 1)

  Call: Turn to the Lord (Joel 2)

  Promise: God will pour out Spirit (Joel 2)

 

EZRA & NEHEMIAH

 

EZRA (beginning 458 BC)

  Scribe trained in Law (Ezra 7:1)

  Ends mixed marriages (Ezra 9)

 

NEHEMIAH (beginning 445 BC)

  Governor (Neh 1)

  Rebuilds wall (Neh 2-5)

  Ezra publicly reads Law (Neh 9-10)

  Walls dedicated (Neh 12)

 

 

 

 

JONAH

 

On the Sea (ch. 1)

  Jonah runs from God

  Sailors turn to God 

 

             In the Fish (ch. 2)

               Jonah thankful that God

               graciously delivered him

           

In the City (ch. 3)

  Jonah obeys God

  Nineveh turns to God

 

             Outside the City (ch. 4)

                Jonah angry that God

                graciously delivered them