Scripture and Tradition Bible Studies

The Book of Esther records another epic story of how God delivers his people from disaster through an unlikely source. However, reading Esther can be very confusing in English Bibles because of the m…

The situation couldn't be bleaker for the Jews in Bethulia. They're hungry, thirsty, and desperate. It's precisely at this moment that God will use Judith, a wise, beautiful, and brave widow, to deli…

Judith 1-7 forms the first half of the book which focuses on painting a portrait of the enemy, who by all accounts is overwhelmingly powerful and unstoppable. Nebuchadnezzar sends his commander-in-ch…

Judith is an epic account of how God delivers his people from conquest through the wisdom and resourcefulness of Judith, a wise and beautiful heroine. However, before diving into the text, it's very …

Tobit's epic saga began in lesson 2 with "God's faithful suffering in exile." We've come full circle now and see "God's faithful rejoicing in exile." Sorrow has turned to joy, misery to praise. Hidde…

Confident that God will hear his prayer for a quick death, Tobit prepares his son Tobias for a journey to retrieve a silver deposit he made years prior. Though blind, Tobit sees far clearer than anyo…

Tobit was a righteous man his entire life, both before and after he was exiled from the Northern Kingdom. He is faithful to God, the Temple, the law, and his kinsmen. He is the model Israelite. 

Enjo…

Tobit is a fantastic book. It's a true historical account filled with powerful religious truths about how God provides for those who are faithful to Him, his law, and each other. Indeed, Tobit's very…

The Southern Kingdom of Judah continued to exist for approximately 150 years after Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC. During that time there were some terrific highs and terrifying lows for the Davidi…

God was patient and gentle with Israel for 200 years. Over and over again he called Israel to repent of their sins and come to him with open arms. Yet, they never did. The consequences of such impeni…

After the ministries of God's prophets Elijah and Elisha, Israel still persists in sin. As a consequence, further curses of the Deuteronomic covenant are unleashed resulting in war, famine, draught, …

If Elijah is "the father of the prophets," as we saw in Lesson 6, then his firstborn son will be his young protégée Elisha, who faithfully proclaims repentance and mercy to Israel. Elisha's ministry …

Elijah is the first of the great prophets in the Old Testament. In fact, he is called "the father of prophets" and for good reason. All of his miracles and deeds look backward to Moses and the Exodus…

Because of Solomon's sins, the kingdom was to be torn away from him as the prophet Ahijah foretold. However, this tearing away should be understood as a "divorce" between the Davidic king and the tri…

Solomon was given an abundance of grace, blessings, and wisdom to bless not only Israel, but all the gentile nations surrounding him. And that is exactly what we see happening at the high point of hi…

The construction of the Temple is arguably the high point of the entire Old Testament. It marks the occasion when Israel finally has "rest" from her enemies all around her in order to enter into the …

The beginning Solomon's reign was marked by some key dramatic problems, but he proved to be both humble and wise to establish the kingdom that was destined for him.

Enjoy this sample from Lesson 2, "…

It is always helpful and productive to spend some time looking at the introductory topics of a new book. We'll quickly cover issues like the title, dating, authorship, etc. of 1-2 Kings, but spend mo…

David's return to Jerusalem was not the triumphant victory and relief many thought it should be. He regained his throne but at the cost of his Absalom's life. Fully aware that such violence was the t…

David's sins are infamous, but how could he have committed such crimes after all that God had done for him throughout his life and sworn to him through the covenant just a few chapters prior? David's…