“Keynotes” Of Genesis – Proverbs
Categories: Bible Study LessonsFrom time to time a short refresher course is needed to refresh our memory (2 Peter 1:12) regarding key words, key verses, key phrases and key messages contained within the books of the Old Testament. With this in mind, the following are “keynotes” of the books of the Old Testament:
___________________________________________________________
Book – Genesis
Key Words – “Beginning”
Key Verses – Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:15; Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 22:18
Key Phrase – “In the beginning God.”
Messages – Origin of heaven and earth and all things therein.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Exodus
Key Words – “Deliverance” and “Redemption”
Key Verses – Exodus 3:8; Exodus 3:14-16; Exodus 6:2-8; Exodus 12:23
Key Phrase – “Let my people go.”
Messages – God remembering, rescuing, and redeeming His chosen people.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Leviticus
Key Words – “Holiness”
Key Verses – Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7-8
Key Phrase – “I am the Lord your God.”
Messages – Holiness to God.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Numbers
Key Words – “Wanderings” or “sojouring”
Key Verses – Numbers 14:22-23; Numbers 20:12; Numbers 22:18; Numbers 32:23
Key Phrase – “Because ye believed me not.”
Messages – God’s people are saved to serve and they must beware of unbelief (Hebrews 3:12).
___________________________________________________________
Book – Deuteronomy
Key Words – “Remember”, “obey” and “covenant”
Key Verses – Deuteronomy 5:29; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Deuteronomy 29:29; Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Key Phrase – “Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God”
Messages – (1) God’s love of man is the motive of His government; (2) Man’s love for God is the motive of his obedience.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Joshua
Key Words – “Conquest” and “possess”
Key Verses – Joshua 1:5-6; Joshua 22:5
Key Phrase – “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15).
Messages – Faithfulness of God in keeping His promises.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Judges
Key Words – “Confusion”
Key Verses – Judges 2:20-22; Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25
Key Phrase – “Right in his own eyes.”
Messages – (1) The certainty of human failure and divine punishment when men disobey God; (2) the power of the effectual fervent prayer of the penitent in obtaining God’s favor, forgiveness and blessings.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Ruth
Key Words – “Kinsman” (redeemer); “love”, “faith”, “rest”, “redemption”.
Key Verses – Ruth 1:16-17; Ruth 3:11
Key Phrase – “Entreat me not to leave thee.”
Messages – As Ruth found rest through redemption and union with her redeemer (Boaz), so we find peace and rest in Christ, our Redeemer (Matthew 11:28-30; Ephesians 1:3, 7; Philippians 4:6-7).
___________________________________________________________
Book – 1 Samuel
Key Words – “Prayed” or “Prayer”
Key Verses – 1 Samuel 13:14; 1 Samuel 15:22
Key Phrase – “Asked him of the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:20).
Messages – (1) God’s purpose is advanced in spite of the success or failure of men; (2) God’s victories are accomplished through the obedient and disobedient alike; (3) God’s will will be done on earth.
___________________________________________________________
Book – 2 Samuel
Key Words – “Before the Lord”
Key Verses – 2 Samuel 7:12-13; 2 Samuel 22:21
Key Phrase – “Thou art the man” (2 Samuel 12:7).
Messages – (1) God is no respecter of persons (2 Samuel 14:14; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11); (2) Our victories come from God (2 Samuel 5:12; 2 Samuel 5:20; (3) Death does not end our existence (2 Samuel 12:23).
___________________________________________________________
Book – 1 Kings
Key Words – “Glory” and “division”
Key Verses – 1 Kings 2:2-3; 1 Kings 3:9; 1 Kings 9:4-5; 1 Kings 11:11
Key Phrase – “As David his father” (1 Kings 11:6; 1 Kings 11:33; 1 Kings 15:11).
Messages – (1) The importance of choosing God’s word and wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-14); (2) the importance of prayer in serving God (1 Kings 8:22-53); (3) God dwells even in “the thick darkness” (1 Kings 8:12); power, wealth, and knowledge often corrupt and lead to destruction; (5) we cannot serve two masters (1 Kings 18:21; Matthew 6:24).
___________________________________________________________
Book – 2 Kings
Key Words – “Downfall” and “captivity”
Key Verses – 2 Kings 12:2-3; 2 Kings 17:22-23; 2 Kings 21:13-15; 2 Kings 23:25-27; 2 Kings 24:1-3
Key Phrase – (1) “According to the word of the Lord” (2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 24:2); (2) “Because they have done that which is evil in my sight” (2 Kings 21:15); (3) “The man of God.”
Messages – (1) God’s anger is kindled against His unfaithful people (2 Kings 17:23; 2 Kings 24:2); (2) God is pleased with giving from the heart (2 Kings 12:4); (3) God’s people should “take root downward, and bear fruit upward” (2 Kings 19:30).
___________________________________________________________
Book – 1 Chronicles
Key Words – “Worship”, “praise”, “prayer”, and “glory”
Key Verses – 1 Chronicles 16:29; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13; 1 Chronicles 29:18-19
Key Phrase – “Thou reignest over all” (1 Chronicles 29:12).
Messages – All men need to learn the necessity of giving unto the Lord the glory due His name and of worshipping Him “in the beauty of holiness” (1 Chronicles 16:29).
___________________________________________________________
Book – 2 Chronicles
Key Words – “Restoration” and “worship”
Key Verses – 2 Chronicles 1:10-13; 2 Chronicles 7:14; 2 Chronicles 16:9
Key Phrase – “Prepareth his heart” (2 Chronicles 30:19).
Messages – “The road to captivity”; the tragic consequences of spiritual decline and departure from God.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Ezra
Key Words – “Restoration” (of the temple) and “the house of the Lord”
Key Verses – Ezra 1:1-3; Ezra 7:9-10
Key Phrase – “The word of the Lord” (Ezra 1:1; Ezra 9:4)
Messages – (1) To show how God fulfilled His promise in the return of His people to Jerusalem after the 70 years of captivity in Babylon; (2) the restoration of the temple and the spiritual, moral, and social restoration of the remnant of God’s people.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Nehemiah
Key Words – “Rebuilding”, “prayer”, and “work” (in regard to the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem).
Key Verses – Nehemiah 4:6; Nehemiah 4:9; Nehemiah 4:17; Nehemiah 4:20; Nehemiah 6:15-16; Nehemiah 8:8
Key Phrase – “For the people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).
Messages – Work, prayer, reverence for God, humble obedience and vigilance are essential to success in our service to God and to our salvation and everlasting happiness in Christ.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Esther
Key Words – “Providence” and “protection”
Key Verses – Esther 4:14; Esther 4:16; Esther 8:17
Key Phrase – “For such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
Messages – (1) The reality of God’s providence; (2) Always be ready to serve God and our fellow-man.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Job
Key Words – “Suffering”, “trials”, “tested”, “patience”, “trust”, “God’s sovereignty”
Key Verses – Job 13:15; Job 23:10; Job 28:28; Job 37:23-24
Key Phrase – “For I know that my redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25).
Messages – We must patiently endure the trials of life, with unswerving trust in God.
___________________________________________________________
Book – Psalms
Key Words – “Worship”, “praise”, and “prayer”
Key Verses – Psalm 1:1-2; Psalm 8:1-4; Psalm 19:1; Psalm 19:14; Psalm 90:1-2
Key Phrase – “For the Lord is good” (Psalm 100:5).
Messages – The majesty of God, the grandeur of His works, and the greatness of His word (Psalm 19; Psalm 33; Psalm 119).
___________________________________________________________
Book – Proverbs
Key Words – “Wisdom”
Key Verses – Proverbs 1:5-7; Proverbs 3:5-6
Key Phrase – “The fear of the Lord.”
Messages – “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Related Articles:
- “Keynotes” Of Ecclesiastes – Malachi
- “Keynotes” Of Matthew – Revelation
___________________________________________________________
Source – Frank J. Dunn, “Know Your Bible” (Frank and Yvonne Dunn Publications – 1997), 430-648.