A Theme-by-Theme study of the Historical Books of the OT What are the Historical Books? They are the books we find between Deuteronomy and Job. (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther) These books cover a period of about 1000 years of Israel s history, from about 1406 443 B.C. This period deals with Israel s entry into the Promised Land under Joshua, its life in the Promised Land under the judges and the transition to kingship, the division of the nation into two kingdoms (Israel and Judah), and life in both, the downfall and exile of each kingdom, life in exile, and Judah s return from exile. The historical books give a prophetic view of history, showing the direct connection between Israel s obedience or disobedience to God and the blessings and curses of the Old Covenant. The Jews refer to call Joshua, Judges, and the books of Samuel and Kings as "the Former Prophets" even though they re historical, because of the prophetic view from which they are written. The reason we want to go through them is that, first of all, they re part of God s infallible, inspired, inerrant Word. 2 Tim. 3:16 says that all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for us, so that we can be complete and thoroughly equipped to live the Christian life and do the things God wants. We want to hear what God wants to say to each of us individually, so we can know Him better and become all He wants us to be. A couple of clarifications are in order: You might think these books are in chronological order, but that would be wrong. For example, Ruth doesn t really take place at the end of Judges where we find it. The events recorded there actually happened back in the middle of the time of the judges. And though 1 Chronicles comes after 2 Kings, it doesn t pick up where 2 Kings leaves off. In fact, 1 Chron. actually goes all the way back to Adam, and its contents overlap all the preceding books. Its main narrative actually parallels 2 Sam. through 2 Kings, but it s written from a different perspective, and with a different purpose. Also, did you know that these books are placed differently in our English Bibles than they are in the Hebrew OT? Our Bibles were translated and copied out from earlier versions like the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the OT, and the Latin Vulgate. But in the Masoretic Text, the most popular Hebrew version, the books are in a different order. The reason that s important is because it alerts us to the fact that the Jews saw these books in a different light and as accomplishing a different purpose than we have. In the Hebrew Bible, we find Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings right after Deuteronomy, and the books are called The Former Prophets. Because they follow Deuteronomy, they re often called Deuteronomic History, because they seem to evaluate Israel on the basis of how they applied the values and teachings of Deuteronomy to their lives. Thus, their primary purpose wasn t just to recount history, but rather, to show how Israel failed to keep God s covenant, and how that affected their lives negatively. The other six books (Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 & 2 Chron., Esther), appear in the third section of the Hebrew Bible, known as The Writings. Again, this alerts us to the fact that the Jews saw these writings in a different light and fulfilling a different purpose than we might. Even though they sometimes overlap and speak about the same events and times, they seem to come at things from a different perspective and for a different purpose. We ll talk about this in more detail as we go along. 1
Again, the main point is always to know God more, to hear what He would say to us, so we can be the kind of people He wants us to be and live as He wants us to live. All of God s Word is inspired and profitable for us! I. Let s do a quick flyover of the historical books, just to get an overview. A. There are 12 books included in the historical section: 1. Joshua, a book about warfare and conquest, tells the story of the man who took over leadership from Moses and brought the Israelites into the Promised Land. For the most part, Joshua is a story of a people who obeyed God (except for Achan), were faithful to God, and as a result, He was faithful to fulfill all His promises to them. There is also one story (that of the Gibeonites), which illustrates that even Joshua sometimes forgot to pray. But for the most part, he was a faithful, godly leader and that made all the difference. While his generation was around, Israel did what was right. 2. The Book of Judges follows Joshua, and tells of Israel s downward spiral into apostasy and chaos. The people failed to stay in relationship with God, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. As a result there were repetitive cycles of sin, which would bring judgment and oppression, then the people would cry out to God, He would deliver them, and they d go back to sin. 3. Ruth is a wonderful little story to fill in the background and genealogy of King David. But it also shows how God preserves, protects, and blesses faithful people like Ruth, a Gentile, and provides redemption through a kinsman redeemer. Ruth was blessed to be a part of Messiah s line. 4. 1st and 2nd Samuel tell the story of Samuel, the last judge of Israel and one of its greatest prophets, who bridged the gap between the judges and kings. He was used to anoint Israel s first and second kings, Saul and David. 1 Samuel tells of Samuel and Saul. 2 Samuel is all about David. 5. 1st and 2nd Kings, tell the story of Israel under monarchial rule from the time of David up through the division into two kingdoms, and describing how Israel was eventually defeated by the Assyrians and Judah carried into captivity by the Babylonians. It s a sad story of repeated disobedience to the Law of God, which eventually resulted in total defeat and exile. 6. 1st and 2nd Chronicles tell the story of Israel all the way from Adam, with the emphasis being on how Israel was blessed when they sought God and obeyed Him, and how they were cursed and eventually destroyed when they ignored or disobeyed Him. 7. Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of the return from exile, how God restored Israel, but even with His supernatural oversight, the people were constantly sinning and on the verge of destruction. 8. Esther, a little book in which God is never mentioned, shows how He was watching over His people from behind the scenes during the time when some had returned from exile and others were still scattered all over the known world. Esther is so interesting it has been made into a movie, because it has a great plot with a beautiful young Jewish girl who ends up becoming the Queen of Persia, and saving the Jews through fasting, prayer, and her influence on the great king Xerxes. Tonight, we re going to begin with the first book in the section, the Book of Joshua. Joshua 1:1-9 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying: 2 "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with 2
Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." NKJV A. The transition from the leadership of Moses to that of Joshua. 1. Imagine how great a transition and adjustment this must have been for the people! Moses was the greatest prophet who ever lived (there s an explanation as to why Jesus said John the Baptist was.) 2. Moses was a type of Christ, the greatest Leader of God s people who would ever be. God even said His Messiah would be a prophet like you, (meaning Moses, Deut. 18:15.) Moses delivered God s people out of Egyptian bondage with more signs and wonders than anyone else would ever do until Christ Himself. He gave them the laws of God and principles of worship and relationship with Him. He led them to sacrifice the Passover lamb, took them through a baptism in the Red Sea, followed God s lead to provide water in the desert and manna from heaven to eat. He led them in deliverance from Pharaoh and the defeat of other enemies as well. Everything Christ would later do in a spiritual sense, Moses did in the physical sense. There s never been a greater spiritual leader but Christ Himself. 3. Moses spoke to God face-to-face, and everything that came up, he could go directly to God to get an answer for it. He worked directly under the direction and command of Almighty God! 4. Imagine how intimidating this could have been for Joshua! To have to take over after such a great leader, a man who went up on a mountain and spoke with God face-to-face?! What if he couldn t perform like Moses? What if the people wouldn t follow him or listen to him? He no doubt knew he didn t have the same skill set or spiritual gifts Moses had. He must ve been afraid, for God told him not to be 3 times! 5. How would he face and handle all the challenges that lay ahead? Think of it all: directing maybe as many as 3 million people through a barren desert, people who d been slaves for 400 years and knew basically nothing about warfare or setting up a nation-state, surrounded by hostile enemies, having to conquer a land dominated by people who d been there for generations, a place where some of the inhabitants were even rumored to be giants, people who were actually more advanced in most ways than his own! 6. That s why it s so important to read the Book of Joshua, so we can see what God said to him and did with him. Joshua has much to teach all of us about God s ways to face challenges and succeed in life! B. There are several principles we learn from Joshua s story of victory, things he did, and things God did for him. 1. First of all, notice that it was God who instated him. God gave him the position he was to take over and called Joshua to step up into leadership. We see this here in chapter 1, but we also see it in Deut. 31:14 as well, where Moses passed the baton of leadership to Joshua. 2. That is the most important thing for any of us to know we re doing what God wants us to do, and not just presuming or arrogantly forcing our way in to a place we don t belong. 3. Joshua must ve had had self-doubts, like any of us. But he knew God had called him to do what he had to do. That was a fact he must ve had to remind himself of over and over when the going got tough! 4. BTW, even Joshua s name is very significant. In Hebrew, Joshua is Yehoshua or Yeshua, which is Jesus in English! The name means Yahweh is salvation. As we know, Moses, the Law-Giver and Liberator, couldn t take God s people into the Promised Land. Yeshua had to do it! Even the man s name is another proof Joshua was called of God to lead Israel after Moses died! Even his name has a message for us! 3
4. Secondly, God had prepared him for service. He began working with Moses and serving him way back in the beginning of the liberation and Exodus. The first mention of Joshua in the Bible is in Ex. 17:8, where Moses chose him to lead Israel into battle against the Amalekites. 5. Later on, he was charged with leading Israel into other battles, and he was also one of the 12 spies sent in to spy out the Promised Land. God leads us step by step if we re willing to step out in faith and take whatever little assignments He might give us along the way. Each little step in important! 6. Which brings us to another principle. Joshua was a man of character. Moses would never have put him in charge of troops if he were not submissive and trustworthy. The men wouldn t have followed him, and the enemies might have defeated Israel and ruined everything. He had to be a man Moses and the people could trust. To be recognized as trustworthy takes character over the long haul. 7. He also seems to have been humble and willing to serve, because he was Moses assistant (Ex. 24:13), and the Bible indicates he stayed at Moses side all the time. He was with Moses when he came back the first time with the Ten Commandments (Ex. 32:17), which means he d been nearby on the mountain waiting attentively for him a month and a half! What a loyal and faithful servant! 8. In Ex. 33:11 we re told Joshua never left the Tabernacle, even when Moses had to. He truly had a fervent desire to be with God and with Moses, God s servant. At one point he was jealous for Moses when others began to prophesy. (Nu. 11:28) He was concerned for his leader s reputation, and didn t want anyone usurping his position. That would certainly indicate his loyalty and respect for Moses, which indicates he was a man of honor, who in turn honored others. 9. Now Joshua was apparently a natural leader, but he was also filled with God s wisdom. Deut. 34:9 says Moses had laid hands on him, and he was filled with the spirit of wisdom. That shows how he did what he did by God s power and abilities within him, not by his own strength. God gives us our natural talents and abilities, but we must learn to let Him augment them and use them in His way. 10. The greatest promise Joshua clung to was the promise of God s presence with him, which shows he was a man of faith. It was because God promised to be there with him that he was able to accomplish all he did in life. It wasn t his own giftedness. He had to often face fears, but when he did, he always placed his trust in God, and that got him through victoriously! 11. Joshua faced his fears by trusting God, who told him to be strong and courageous three times! This required him to make a deliberate decision to take on an attitude of courage and strength. There s a lot that s mental about these attributes. We must decide to be strong and courageous! It doesn t mean we re not afraid, that we never feel fear. It just means we choose to do what God has told us to, trusting in Him to give us the victory in spite of emotions and fears. 12. In addition, Joshua was to purpose to regularly read the Word of God given through Moses. He was to read it, memorize it, and obey it constantly. That was the way in which God would lead and guide him, and keep him in a condition which made him ready to receive God s blessing and favor. 13. The secret wasn t some brilliant technique or strategy. It was being a godly man! It was character. It was loving God and doing things His way. It was staying in God s Word. It was trusting His presence and His promises. God would take care of the rest. The book of Joshua certainly proves that! C. How can we apply these principles to our lives? 1. First, notice what things God did, and what things Joshua was called upon to do. God gave Joshua his abilities, and God raised Joshua up to be the leader in Moses place. Joshua didn t just decide he wanted that! God filled Joshua with the spirit of wisdom. He also saw to it that Joshua was given many opportunities to gain experience in leadership so he could learn and grow. God prepared him. 2. But Joshua was faithful to God and to God s leader. It seems obvious that he took care of the inward issues of character, determining to be diligent and godly in his spirit. Somehow that caught the attention of Moses. You could see that the young man had potential. But he was also submissive. He honored the 4
man God had put over him and the people, and he sought to serve him. Those who serve will be elevated to positions of leadership in God s Kingdom. 3. Later in the Book, we are told that Joshua stayed faithful to God throughout his life, and influenced others to do so as well. He stayed in God s written Word daily, and obeyed it. He always sought to do whatever God told him to do, to the letter. 4. Like any human being, he made mistakes. But because he pleased God, even those were turned around to become steppingstones to greater success eventually. 5. Joshua was faithful to God and to serve the leader over him. He was faithful to serve God s people. He trusted and obeyed God. He was in the place God wanted him to be, and he did what God wanted him to do, step by step. 6. So even though he never did the miracles Moses had done, he did God s will and lived a victorious life. You and I can certainly expect the same, if we follow his lead! 5