RCIA Session #5 September 17, 2009 Salvation History in the Old Testament

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1 1 I. Salvation History--God has a plan to save us RCIA Session #5 September 17, 2009 Salvation History in the Old Testament A. Deeds wrought by God in history B. Deeds and words have an inner unity C. It is within time that the whole work of creation and salvation comes to light D. Series of covenants between God and man. covenant--agreement between God and mankind made through an individual; establishes a bond of sacred kinship 1. Adam 2. Noah and his household after the flood 3. Abraham and his whole tribe 4. Nation of Israel through Moses 5. All nations through David and Solomon 6. New Covenant with all humanity through Jesus Christ 7. End of Time as fulfillment of New Covenant E. Important events in the salvation history timeline 1. Creation and the Fall 2. The Flood 3. Abraham, the Father of all nations 4. The Exodus 5. Giving of the Law 6. David 7. Exile 8. Return II. Old Testament The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. Its books are divinely inspired and retain a permanent value, for the Old Covenant has never been revoked. (CCC 121) A. The Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy B. History: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (1 & 2 Kings), 1 & 2 Kings (3 & 4 Kings), 1 & 2 Chronicles (Paralipomenon), Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther C. Wisdom: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (Canticle of Canticles), Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) D. Prophecy: 1. Major: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel 2. Minor: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi 3. After Prophets and before NT: 1 & 2 Maccabees

2 2 III. Outline of Old Testament History A. Beginning to 1635 B.C. (Genesis) ~2120 BC God calls Abram ~1906 BC Jacob and sons go to Egypt ~1836 Joseph dies in Egypt ~Events of Job: three theories, that it was written during patriarchal times; second, during the Babylonian Captivity; and third, during post-exilic times. B. Exodus and Journey to the Promised Land (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Job) ~1571 BC Moses is born ~1446 BC God appears to Moses, Israelites escape from Egypt ~1406 BC Moses dies within sight of Promised Land C. Conquest of Canaan and Time of the Judges (Joshua, Judges, Ruth) ~1406 BC Israel begins conquest of Canaan under Joshua ~1366 BC Joshua dies ~ BC Events in the book of Ruth ~1120 BC Samson is born D. The United Kingdom (1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Kings to chap 11, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles through chap 9, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom) ~1155 BC Samuel is born ~1050 BC Saul becomes the first king of Israel ~1010 BC David becomes king ~970 BC Solomon becomes king ~930 BC Solomon dies E. The Divided Kingdom (1 Kings from chap 12, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles from chap 10, Tobit, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah ~930 BC Rehoboam becomes king ~926 BC 10 northern tribes revolt against Rehoboam; kingdom divided into Israel and Judah ~912 BC Elijah begins to prophesy ~896 BC Elijah taken up into heaven ~721 BC Assyrians conquer Israel and take 10 tribes into captivity ~705 BC Events in the book of Tobit F. The Babylonian Captivity (Judith, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel) ~586 BC Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and carry Judah into captivity ~539 BC Cyrus conquers Babylon G. Return from Exile (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Sirach) ~537 BC Decree of Cyrus allows Jews to return to Jerusalem ~515 BC Second Temple built H. Maccabean Revolt (1 & 2 Maccabees) ~336 BC Alexander the Great begins conquests

3 3 ~175 BC Antiochus Epiphanes becomes king ~167 BC Persecution of the Jews, revolt begins ~164 BC Temple rededicated ~134 BC John Hyrcanus becomes high priest IV. Typology in the Old Testament A. New Testament hidden on the Old B. Discerning God's works of the Old Covenant as prefigurations of his what he will accomplish in the person of the Incarnate Son C. All history has a unity because God is the author of history. D. God's plan of salvation never varied. E. Events point forward to the New 1. Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac points to God's sacrifice of His Son 2. Crossing of the Red Sea points to Christ's Passion and Death 3. Institution of the Passover meal points to the Institution of Holy Eucharist 4. Raising of bronze serpent in the desert points to the raising of Christ on the Cross 5. Manna from heaven points to the Bread of Life who is Christ F. Typology is the study of earlier events that lead to a later thing (foreshadowing) CCC 1094: "...it reveals the newness of Christ on the basis of figures (types) which announce him in the deeds, words, and symbols of the first covenant.

4 4 Books of the Old Testament: The Law Genesis: Beginning -- tells story of creation of the world and beginning of nation of Israel Origins of people and customs. Ends with Joseph and 12 tribes of Israel living in Egypt Exodus: going out tells story of Israel s escape from slavery in Egypt; wandering in the desert; includes laws of OT (10 Commandments); Israel s failure to live up to covenant Leviticus: Levitical priests of Israel book of laws of religious observances; details of worship life Numbers: census of the tribes of Israel; 40 years in the desert; constant rebellion against God and Moses. Deuteronomy: Second law repeats some of laws of earlier books; new laws about how to live in Promised Land; prophesy of Israel s history History Joshua: led by Joshua, successor of Moses, Israel begins conquest of Canaan Judges: continues story of conquest after Joshua s death; God sends judges to be their leaders to save them Ruth: in the time of the Judges, story of foreign woman who converts; marries a wealthy Israelite; grandson is David; ancestor of Jesus Christ 1 Samuel: tells story of King Saul; starts out well but loses God s favor; involves Israel in long civil war against David, his successor 2 Samuel: continues story of David after Saul s death; God s everlasting covenant; builds Israel as a strong nation; suffers in consequence to his sins 1 Kings: reign of David s son, Solomon; famous for his wisdom; building of the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem; falls into idolatry; God sends prophets to rebuke 2 Kings: tells story of Divided Kingdom; become more divided by falling away from God; both kingdoms fall and are conquered 1 Chronicles: same history as 1 & 2 Samuel but from religious point of view 2 Chronicles: continues retelling some of events in 1 & 2 Kings with emphasis on kingdom of Judah Ezra: return of Jews to Jerusalem after long exile; rebuilding of the Temple; restoration of the worship of True God Nehemiah: continues story of restoration and return of exiles; promise to live by Law of Moses Tobit: story of pious man in exile following the Law; his son is faithful also Judith: heroic woman saves Israel by clever strategy; success came from trusting in God Esther: heroic Israelite who becomes Queen of Persia; saves Jewish exiles from plots of evil enemies Wisdom Job: long poem asking hard questions Why does God let bad things happen to good people?; long debate between Job and friends Psalms: collection of religious poems; attributed to King David; new way to worship God through canticles Proverbs: collection of wise sayings attributed to King Solomon Ecclesiastes: long meditation on vanity of worldly things Song of Solomon: world s most famous love poem; seen as allegory of Christ s love for the Church Wisdom: poem in praise of wisdom; God s patience with human folly

5 5 Sirach: how to live a good life without compromising faith Prophecy Major: Isaiah: clear prophecies of Christ; warns of disaster if Judah doesn t return to God; promises of redemption Jeremiah: called by God to foretell destruction of Judah; calls for repentance Lamentations: book of poems about destruction of Jerusalem; used in Jewish liturgies on site of destroyed Temple Baruch: written at Babylon by a disciple of Jeremiah; prophesies New Covenant; has wisdom characteristics Ezekiel: contemporary with Jeremiah; strange visions; foretelling destruction; God can bring people back to life Daniel: Jewish prophet who gained high place in court of Babylon during exile; prophecies; strange visions Minor: Hosea: story of Hosea s marriage to an unfaithful woman; metaphor for God s relationship with Israel Joel: warns of divine judgment on Judah; Return to the Lord, for he is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love ; foretells of Spirit being poured out on all people Obadiah: shortest book in OT; foretells the downfall of Edom, traditional enemy of Judah; Edom takes advantage of Judah but God brings justice Jonah: story of reluctant prophet who tries to run away from calling to go to wicked city of Ninevah Micah: judgment against wicked who take bribes and exploit the poor; foretells of savior who will come to rule Israel; ruler coming from Bethlehem Nahum: end of Nineveh, center of Assyrian Empire Habakkuk: judgment against the wicked and comfort to the righteous who live by faith Zephaniah: God s judgment against the whole earth; message of joy; judgments taken away; renewal by God s love Haggai: leads efforts to rebuild the Temple; chastises people for living in luxury while Lord s house is in ruins Zechariah: contemporary of Haggai; works to have Temple rebuilt; visions of new King coming humble riding on an ass Malachi: warns returning exiles that God is not satisfied with forms of worship; token offerings; predicts coming of Lord s messenger refiner s fire Between the Prophecies and New Testament 1 Maccabees: story of Maccabean revolt; Alexander the Great s conquest of the East 2 Maccabees: tells same story from religious point of view; author sees hand of God in everything