Foundations 1.9 | Biblical Themes: Exile and Return

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Foundations 1.9 | Biblical Themes: Exile and Return Teacher’s Guide Theme Verse: 2 Chronicles 36:16, “They mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.”

Objectives  Students will know the historical context around the destruction of the north kingdom and the exile of the south kingdom.  Students will understand the consequences of sin.  Students will appreciate God’s goodness, mercy and restoring power.

Blueprint Sin has consequences; it has always been true. Tonight we see both the north and south kingdoms experience the consequences of their sin as foreign empires come in and take over. The Bible is clear that in both cases God’s people brought on their own demise by not following the covenant God had established with them. In Israel’s case (the north kingdom) it’s over. They will never be a kingdom again. In Judah’s case (the south kingdom) they’re sent to exile in Babylon. 70 years later they are allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild. Ezra reads them the Book of the Law and the people repent and seek to return to follow God alone. Skipping ahead to the New Testament we find Jesus speaking his first words in Mark, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.” The Exiles had to return to the kingdom for restoration. In Jesus God brings the kingdom to us. Small groups will work through several scenarios where wrong has been done. They’ll look at the consequences for the actions and how to set them right. And they’ll look to scripture to see how God give his mercy and saves us from ourselves.

Overview of the Evening 6:30

Students arrive Group check-in/Greater memorization 6:40 Opening game 6:50 Welcome and announcements 6:55 Teaching 7:15–7:20 (depending on how long you go) Break out into small groups 8:00 Class is over

Foundations 1.9 | Biblical Themes…Exile and Return

Teacher’s Guide

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Teaching Outline 2 Practice the books of the Bible. 3 Review last week. 4 Read the theme verse together. 1. 6 Let’s look at our timeline. We’ve added a new bad guy, an Assyrian, at 721 BC. Remember, the kingdom of Israel had been split in half. The north was called Israel and the south was called Judah. We’re 200 years later now and Hoshea is the king of the northern kingdom. 7 Turn in your Bibles to 2 Kings 17:5-8. Before we read that listen to God’s words in Exodus 19:4-6, “‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” Now read 2 Kings 17:5-8. Notice the “why” in verse 7…“because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them up out of Egypt…” Look at verses 13-14. God warns them through the prophets but they wouldn’t listen. Look at verse 18 for their punishment. The Lord “removed them from His presence.” Sin has consequences. 2. 8 Now, 125 years later we’re in 2 Chronicles 36:15 and following. It’s the same pattern all over again. This time the southern kingdom had just seen the north fall and still they follow the pattern. And again sin has consequences. Babylon is the current world power. They come in and conquer Judah and destroy the wall in Jerusalem, destroy the temple, carry away all the sacred things and deport a “remnant,” those who “escaped from the sword.” The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple was a huge morale blow to the Jews. The temple was God’s dwelling place, Jerusalem was His holy city. The Jews found their identity in these two things. And now they were gone. Destroyed. 9 It would be similar to having the White House destroyed for Americans. 3. 10 Look at 2 Chronicles 36:21. The Exile lasted 70 years. Adults who were exiled died in exile, children born in exile died in exile. Those who returned had never known their homeland.

Foundations 1.9 | Biblical Themes…Exile and Return

Teacher’s Guide

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11 Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah lead the people back and begin to restore Jerusalem. Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the people and they repent of their (and their ancestors’) sin. In this case the cycle is changed. 11.1 First comes the rescue (the return from Babylon) then the repentance (when they heard the Law read to them) then the follow (they repented of their sins and committed themselves to following God’s Law again). 4. 12 Jesus first words in Mark (1:15) are, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.” The rescue from the Exile in Babylon was the Jews returning to the kingdom, to Jerusalem. In our rescue from being exiled by sin the kingdom comes to us in Jesus. The new pattern holds…God sends the rescue: Jesus, then calls us to repent and believe/follow. 5. 13 After they return to Jerusalem the Bible goes silent. 400 years pass with no prophetic activity, no miracles, signs or wonders. 13.1 Remember how God created things back in Genesis 1? He spoke. Maybe in these 400 years He was taking a deep breath, preparing to say one final important word… 6. 13 Review the theme summaries. 7. 14 Read the theme verse. 8. 15 Next week…Our God is a God Who Saves!

Foundations 1.9 | Biblical Themes…Exile and Return

Teacher’s Guide

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