Announcements

1. Announcements • HW: Gospel Paper • See Gospel Paper Handout • This week…. • Chapter 15/Job/Psalms • Exam I –Tuesday Feb 18th • Review will be handed out on Fri

2. Chapter 15 Revolt of the Maccabees

3. Only one World to Conquer • Persians • Treat Jews well • Conquered by Alex the Great in 331 BC • Conquered Egypt, India and the rest of the Persian Empire • Made the world Greek overnight • Hellenized • Influenced commerce, art, literature, fashion, religion

4. Jerusalem in the Middle • Jews allowed to worship one True God • Not bothered • Unless it interfered with the civil routine of the Empire

5. Jerusalem in the Middle • Antiochus IV • Not respected • Greatly feared • Called himself Epiphanes • “God Manifest” • Is called Epimanes • “Out of his mind” • Stereotype of the antichrist • Wanted to Hellenize the world • Would not hear of any other culture

6. Jerusalem in the Middle • Antiochus IV • Sold the office of Jewish high priest to the highest bidder for 440 talents of silver • Law of Moses forgotten by many in power, adopted Greek customs and gods • Temple of God turned into a temple to Zeus • Temple worship also changed… • Harlots • Eating pork

7. The Final Desecration • Antiochus IV • To Hellenize Judaic worship • Tried to persuade Jews • Tried to “buy off” the Jews • Then forced the Jews • Tortured and killed those who refused

8. The Final Desecration • Antiochus IV • Most shocking…. “For the temple was filled with debauchery and reveling Gentiles, who dallied with harlots and had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts…” (2 Mc 6:3-5)

9. Success of the Maccabees • Mattathias • Old priest • Five sons and he organized a revolt • Unlikely success

10. Success of the Maccabees • Mattathias • Antiochus promises if he turns away from Judaism he will become nobility, rich • Refuses • When a fellow Jew comes forward to offer sacrifice at the new altar (apostasy) Mattathias is filled with rage and kills him

11. Success of the Maccabees • Mattathias • Flees to the mountains • With his sons • Anyone else who wishes to follow God • Why? • Better to be killed than abandon God • Hopeless • Hiding is not the answer, they must attack

12. Success of the Maccabees • Mattathias • Dying • Reminds his sons that many of the forefathers had suffered for what they believed in • Told his son Judas Maccabeus to lead the revolt • Judas is a good leader • Prays before all battles, praises God afterward

13. Success of the Maccabees • Within 3 years… • The Temple is purified and rededicated • Celebration lasted for 8 days • Hanukkah • “Dedication” • Least important of the Jewish feasts, but most well known

14. Success of the Maccabees • Judas’ brothers continued to conquer • Regained most of David’s kingdom • Made alliances with Sparta and Rome • Israel is finally free • All they need is the Messiah

15. The Book of Job

16. Job • Jew in exile • Folk tale to teach a religious lesson • Main issue: • Why do the just suffer? • Answer-We don’t know • We need to trust in God • We are not God, we are not meantto understand everything

17. Suffering… • Free Will • God desired the free love of humanity over forced obedience to His will • True evil • Result of placing oneself above God • Goodness • Develops in response to suffering (Irenaeus) • Perfect World • Truly good people would not exist • To make us realize that we are dependent upon God • Something many of us forget/reject

18. Job • Many bad things happen to Job • Loses his job, family, diseased, depressed • Friends - his fault • Must have sinned • Job has lots of ideas • God is too big to hear his problems • “Magnifying glass-ant” God • God made the world and left (deism)

19. Job • Job wants a hearing with God • Presents his case like a lawyer • Problem • His focus is himself • I, me, my, etc. • Not on God or others • See Job 38-39 • In the end… • He trusts in God

20. The Old Testament • The OT has almost all the teachings of the NT • ONLY missing is info on Jesus and the Holy Spirit • Can be summarized in TWO thoughts: • God loves us • Trust in Him

21. Psalms

22. Psalms • Called the Church’s prayer book • Roughly half are written by David • Can be read 3 ways: • 1. Spoken by Christ to the Father (62) • 2. By the Church, to the Father, about Christ (118) • 3. By the Church to Christ (31) • Written in Hebrew Poetry • Does NOT rhyme

23. Psalms: Parallelism • Embellishes or builds on a main thought, repetition • Ex: “Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary” (Ps 96:6) 2. Contrasting thoughts • Ex: “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5)

24. Psalms: Parallelism 3. Completing a thought • Ex: “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. (PS 127:1) 4. Acrostic/Alphabet • 1st letter of Hebrew alphabet for each line • Lost in translation

25. Psalms: “Bad Moods” 1. Lamenting • Reminds us of the painful human condition • EX: Jesus on the Cross • Pattern: • Intro: • Do you hear me? • Motive: • This is the problem • Statement of Trust: • You’ve heard me before, I can count on you

26. Psalms: “Bad Moods” • Curse • Misunderstood • Israel didn’t understand life after death, so they wanted to see God’s justice NOW! • Pattern: • Intro: • Hear me, help me! • Motive: • Clobber the enemies! • Statement of Faith: • I will praise God, He is just

27. Psalms: “Good Moods” • Thanksgiving • Usually within other psalms • Remember, God is good! • Hymn • All glory to God • Pattern: • Intro: • Call to praise • Motive: • Account of the acts of God • Statement of Faith: • Praise, asking for God’s blessing