Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Saturday, January 10: The History books

Law, HISTORY, Poetry/Wisdom, Prophets: Major/Minor,

We now move on to the twelve "History" books of the Old Testament. The books of the Law left us with Moses going to heaven, and Joshua taking the reins to lead the Hebrews to the Promised Land. Now it is time to take it. The History books will take us from here to the point where God's patience finally wears out, and they are taken away from the Land for 70 years as prophesied by Jeremiah, and brought back by the order of King Cyrus, who himself was prophesied by Isaiah centuries earlier.

There is a dozen of them in our Old Testament Canon, neatly packaged in a 3-6-3 pattern: 3-Single, 3-Pair, 3-Single sets. The first three singles are "Pre King" books, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. The second three "pairs" are "1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, and 1&2 Chronicles", which I call the "Pairs of Kings" books. Finally, the last three books are "Post King" books, "Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther."

Remembering the Christmas Hymn "We Three Kings" helps you remember the 3-3pr-3 pattern.

We'll concentrate on the "Pre Kings" today. I remember them by the mnemonic "Joshua Jr." (Joshua, Judges, Ruth)

Joshua is all about Israel's relatively successful conquering of the Land. At least at first. They never did get it all, and still have not. I had heard recently that, even in their heyday with David, that they only occupied about one-tenth of the land promised to Abraham. That is an eternal covenant, so this is a prophecy still waiting to be fulfilled, which will be accomplished fully when Jesus returns during the Millennium.

Judges is a book of "cycles": Disobedience, judgement, deliverance by "judges", and peace. The people get progressively worse. Here you find memorable names like Gideon and Samson.

Ruth is a beautiful love story, but I think its main purpose is to show that she is the Great-Grandmother of David the King chosen by God to rule Israel in the future. An interesting thing to remember is that both Single book sets end with women: Ruth and Esther.

I think that is enough for today. You may want to run through these three books, but be prepared. The first two are not pretty, and Judges ends up downright awful. You truly wonder how God can be patient with us sinners. Judges' very last verse ends with the people basically repeating the sin of Adam: "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25)

And we know from Christ and the Scriptures that, like birth pangs, the world will become even worse, and without the restraining power of the Holy Spirit, we would destroy ourselves. But we have "inside information" from the Scriptures, and can be assured that Jesus will return, cleanse this world from itself, and rule. We are not to fear, but to "continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed" (2 Timothy 3:14), and become more and more "acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (3:15b)

And the more we study His words, the wiser we will be: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (3:16-17)

All Scripture. That's why we study the whole Bible.

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

Memory Helps:

Memory process:

HISTORY BOOKS:

A "dozen" of them. 3 single-3 pair-3 single. (3-6-3)

Remember "Three Kings" Pattern: Three "Pre-Kings", Three "Pairs of Kings", Three "Post Kings"

PRE-KINGS: JOSHUA, JUDGES, RUTH (remember "Joshua Jr." as a mnemonic for Joshua, Judges, Ruth)

REVIEW:

I hope you let the Five books of the Law "GEL". Don't forget the acronym "GELND"