Themes of the Old Testament
Names
God gave and changed people’s names in the Bible. God changed their names based on meaning. In the Bible, names showed character or what their heart was like. God wants a relationship with us so that is why one of his names is Yahweh. Yahweh means caring and loving relationship. Another one of his names is Elohim. Elohim means the creator God. These names have meaning behind them just like when God changed people’s names. My name means emblem of peace. Most people now don’t think of the meaning behind their names but in the Bible, God put a lot of thought into a name if he changed it. I picked this picture for my visual because it reminds me that God gave us names for a reason. What I learned was that the names in the Bible are important. I also learned that the names in the Bible have meaning and that is why God changes people’s names.
Covenant
A covenant is a deal or promise between two groups. In the Bible, God made covenants with his people. If the people obeyed God they would get blessed. If the people disobeyed God they would get a consequence. If God made a conditional covenant with the people that would mean that if they do something God will do something in return. An unconditional covenant is when God does something and the people didn’t have to do anything in return. I picked this visual because it reminds me of a promise and God made promises to his people. I learned that there is more to a covenant than what it seems.
Call
God called his people in the Bible just like how he calls people today. He calls us in many different ways. One way he calls us is with Christian friends. Christian friends are a great influence on people. Another way we are called is by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit speaks to us and puts things on our hearts. When we are called we should trust and obey. In the Bible, God called Abraham to move to a different place. He had to trust God in that circumstance. I picked this visual because when God calls you there is the option to answer him or to decline him. I learned that when God calls you he puts things on our hearts and if you accept his call the Holy Spirit will guide you.
Conflict/Doubt
We doubt sometimes and so did the people in the Bible. One person who doubted God was Jacob. Jacob didn’t always follow God. He “wrestled” with God. Even though we go through times of doubt God still loves us just like he loved Jacob. God knows we will go through times of doubt. This doesn’t make us a bad Christian. God will surround you with the right people. God won’t wander away from us he will always be ready for us to come back to him. I picked this picture as my visual because it reminds me of doubt and how doubt doesn’t make you a bad person. I learned that even if you doubt it is okay because God is waiting for you to come back to him.
Symbol of a Lamp
God promised that through David the “lamp” will never go out. David was a man after God’s own heart. Even though David sinned God still promised him this. David’s line will eventually lead to Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate light of the world so that is why the “lamp” will never go out. I picked this picture as my visual because it reminds me of the lamp and that it won’t go out. I learned that the lamp will never go out because Jesus came and he is the ultimate light of the world.
Something is Rotten
Israel had one lousy king after another. God sent prophets to tell them what he wanted them to do and to teach them. Elijah was one of those prophets. He showed that God was more powerful than any of the idols. God wanted the people to choose him or the idols and they couldn’t go in between the two. Now instead of a golden calf or something similar sometimes we may prioritize sports, money, tech, shopping, etc. I picked this picture as my visual because it reminds me of all the rotten kings that Israel had. I learned that God sent the prophets to prove to the people that he was more powerful than any of the idols.
A Savior
The people in the Bible wouldn’t keep the Sinai covenant so God offered a new one. Instead of being written on stone tablets, it would be written on their hearts and no sacrifices would be needed. They wouldn’t need sacrifices anymore because Jesus was going to be the ultimate sacrifice. Jeremiah gave the new covenant which was based on God’s grace and forgiveness. Isaiah gave many pictures of the new savior. I picked this picture because Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice for us and to be our savior. I learned that God changed the covenant to one that the people could keep and the sacrifices wouldn’t be needed.
Slide to Destruction
Israel had only one good king but they still worshipped Baal. God sent Assyria to scatter them. Judah had two good kings the rest of the kings worshipped idols. The Babylonians took over them. The bad kings focused on power and popularity but not God’s law. If God gives you a prophet you should listen to what they have to say. There are consequences for doing it your own way. I picked this picture for my visual because it was a slide into having bad kings and worshipping idols. I learned that Assyria came to scatter Israel.
