Welcome to Day 2574 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Day 2574– Old Testament Orientation – The Historical Books – Lessons from Israel’s Journey – Psalm 78:5-7

Putnam Church Message – 02/23/2025

Sermon Series: Old Testament Orientation

Message 7: Historiography, Conquest, Kingdom, Exile

Last week, we continued our Old Testament Orientation series; we covered an overview of The Books of Historical Narrative and how the ancient Israelites experienced and would have understood them.

This week, we will expand on last week’s lesson and dive into  Historiography, Conquest, Kingdom, and Exile. We will tie this into how the ancient Israelites experienced and would have understood them.

Core Verse: Psalm 78:5-7 (NLT)

“For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.”

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You today as students of history, seeking to understand Your hand in the rise and fall of nations, the victories and failures of Your people, and the ultimate fulfillment of Your promises. Open our hearts to the lessons You have woven into the Old Testament so we may live in obedience and trust in Your divine plan. May Your Spirit guide us as we learn. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction

Let’s climb back into the imagination station once again; as we become ancient Israelites, we stand among the elders of Israel in Babylonian exile. You hear them whisper about the glory days of King David, the majesty of Solomon’s temple, and the mighty victories of Joshua. Yet, here you are—strangers in a foreign land, serving a pagan king, with no temple to worship in, no kingdom to call your own.

How did this happen? How did God’s chosen people go from conquest and dominion to exile and shame?

The Old Testament provides more than just a record of Israel’s history. It reveals God’s hand in shaping, guiding, and disciplining His people. Unlike other ancient civilizations that saw history as a meaningless cycle, Israel understood history as linear—moving toward a divine purpose. The books of history teach us how God establishes His kingdom, how human failures lead to judgment, and how, even in exile, hope remains.

The story of Israel is not just about a nation—it is a spiritual journey that mirrors our own struggles with obedience, faith, and identity. The historical books of the Old Testament teach us that God is in control of history, that His promises are sure, but that our choices carry consequences.

Today, we will examine four major themes in Israel’s history:

1. Historiography: Seeing God’s Hand in History
2. Conquest: Establishing God’s Kingdom on Earth
3. Kingdom: The Rise and Fall of Leadership and Israel’s Monarchy
4. Exile: Judgment, Discipline, and Hope

Main Points

1. Historiography: Seeing God’s Hand in History

Introduction:

History is often written by the victors, but biblical history is different. The Old Testament does not just highlight Israel’s triumphs—it also records their failures, rebellions, and exiles. Why? Because the purpose of Israel’s history is not to glorify man, but to glorify God.

History is not a random series of events—it is God’s story unfolding. Many ancient cultures saw history as cyclical, meaning everything repeated in endless loops of time. But Israel’s understanding was different: they believed that God was moving history toward a purpose.

Narrative:

In contrast to the cyclical view of history held by many ancient cultures, Israel believed in a God who moved history toward a final purpose. The historical books of the Old Testament—Joshua through Esther—are theological narratives, written to demonstrate which God is truly sovereign.

Israel’s history was recorded not just as facts but as testimony. The Bible does not shy away from Israel’s failures—it openly records their sins, disobedience, and exile. Why? Because God wanted each generation to learn from the past.

Psalm 78:5-7 tells us that history should be passed down so that future generations would set their hope in God. It is not enough to know history—we must apply its lessons to our lives.

Let’s reread our core verses as the psalmist declares:

“For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.”

This passage reminds us that history is not just a record of events; it is a testimony meant to instruct future generations.

Object Lesson: The Map and the Compass

Hold up a historical map and a compass. A map records where people have traveled, while a compass provides direction. Israel’s history is both—showing where they have been and pointing them toward God’s ultimate plan.

Story/Illustration: The Rearview Mirror

Imagine driving a car. You glance in the rearview mirror to understand where you’ve been, but you must keep your eyes on the road ahead. If you focus only on the past, you’ll crash. Israel’s history is our rearview mirror—we learn from it, but we must keep moving forward in faith.

2. Conquest: Establishing God’s Kingdom on Earth

Introduction:

Picture yourself among the Israelites as they stare at Jericho’s mighty walls. No weapons, no siege engines—just faith. God had promised this land, but they had to trust Him to fight their battles.

As you are standing before the walls of Jericho, hearing Joshua’s command to march in silence for six days and trusting in God, realizing that Israel’s conquest of Canaan was not a military campaign but a divine assignment.

Narrative:

The conquest of Canaan was about more than land—it was about establishing a holy people in a holy place—it was about obedience. But God’s command was clear: they were to drive out the Canaanites not because of ethnic superiority, but because of their idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:1-3). However, Israel’s failure to fully obey led to future struggles, as Canaanite influences corrupted their worship of Yahweh. The book of Judges tells us that the people “did what was right in their own eyes,” leading to chaos.

Illustration: The beauty of a vine.

Picture an English vine that begins to grow on the side of your brick house. At first, it looks elegant, so you allow it to continue to grow. If left unchecked, that vine will take over the entire side of your house in a few years. You don’t realize that the vine also breaks down the mortar and bricks it clings to, weakening your house’s entire structure. So it was with the Israelites as they allowed the practices of the neighboring countries to attach to them, breaking down their devotion to the one true God, Yahweh.

Story/Illustration: The Unfinished Job

Think about a construction crew that builds a massive dam, but they miss putting in a seal at the bottom of the dam. Over time, water erodes the foundation, and the dam collapses. Israel’s partial obedience led to long-term consequences.

Key Scripture:

“Be sure to obey all the commands I am giving you today; then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.” (Deuteronomy 8:1, NLT)

3. Kingdom: The Rise and Fall of Leadership and Israel’s Monarchy

Introduction:

The people demanded a king to be like other nations (1 Samuel 8:19-20). ¹⁹ But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. ²⁰ “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”

God gave them what they wanted—first Saul, then David, then Solomon. Each king shaped Israel’s history, for better or worse. Earthly kings often fail. Leadership is only as strong as its faithfulness to God.

Narrative:

David was the model king—not because he was perfect, but because he sought after God’s heart. He was loyal to Yahweh his entire life. David never worshipped the gods of other nations. Solomon’s wisdom led to Israel’s golden age, yet his idolatry led to its division. The kingdom split into Israel (north) and Judah (south), leading to corruption, false worship, and eventually exile.

Key Scripture:

“And the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14, NLT)

Object Lesson: The Broken Chain

Hold up a chain and break one link. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Likewise, a kingdom is only as strong as its faithfulness to God. Israel’s kings failed to lead righteously, causing the nation’s downfall.

4. Exile: Judgment, Discipline, and Hope

Introduction:

Imagine being forced from your home; the temple, which you thought was the dwelling place of God, is destroyed. You are taken to a foreign land, forced into customs that you are not familiar with, and stripped of your cultural identity and religious practices. This was exile—a result of Israel’s persistent unfaithfulness. The exile was devastating—but it was also a wake-up call.

Narrative:

The Assyrians took Israel into captivity (722 BC), and Babylon exiled Judah (586 BC). The temple was destroyed, and Jerusalem lay in ruins. Exile was a consequence of disobedience, but it was also a path to restoration. Yet, even in exile, God had a plan and used His people in mighty ways even within the empires they were subjects in:

• Daniel remained faithful to God in Babylon under at least three different rulers. He was appointed to the highest positions in the government of a foreign empire, yet he never returned to his home country.
• Ezra and Nehemiah served in high positions in a foreign empire but had the privilege of returning to their home country and leading the restoration.
• Esther served as Queen in a foreign empire but also saved the Jewish people from destruction. Her cousin Mordecai, who raised Esther, also served as a high official in a foreign land.

¹³ Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. ¹⁴ If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14)

Through exile, Israel learned that God’s presence was not confined to a temple. He was with them even in foreign lands. God never abandoned them. No matter where God has placed us, we should serve Him faithfully.

Object Lesson: The Refining Fire

Show a picture of gold being refined. Exile was not just punishment; it was a refining process, purifying Israel for future restoration.

Story/Illustration: The Pruned Tree

Being raised on an Apple orchard, I learned a lot about growing apples. In winter, we learned how a tree is pruned. Yes, we would remove dead branches, but we also strategically pruned many areas of the trees so that they would be able to produce more fruit. Pruning allows the tree to grow stronger and produce more, healthier fruit. Israel’s exile was painful. It was a time of pruning, but it prepared them for renewal.

Application: Three Takeaways

1. History is God’s Story—We Must Learn From It

Introduction:

Let us imagine an elder of Israel sitting by the fire, telling his grandchildren about the mighty acts of God—about the parting of the Red Sea, the walls of Jericho tumbling down, and how David defeated Goliath. The children listen in awe, but will they take the lessons to heart?

History is not just a collection of stories—it is God’s testimony of His faithfulness and human failure. The Israelites were commanded to pass down their history so that future generations would trust in God.

Expanded Narrative:

Throughout the Bible, we see how God calls His people to remember.

• After crossing the Jordan River, Joshua instructed the Israelites to set up twelve stones as a memorial so that future generations would ask, “What do these stones mean?” (Joshua 4:6)
• In Psalm 78, the psalmist reminds Israel to teach their history to their children so that they do not repeat the sins of their ancestors.
• In the New Testament, Paul refers to Israel’s failures in the wilderness as a warning for believers not to fall into the same traps of idolatry and disobedience (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Object Lesson: The Rearview Mirror and the Windshield

Imagine once again you are in the driver’s seat of your car.

• A rearview mirror is small because you only need to glance at the past.
• A windshield is large because you must focus on where you’re going.
• If you only look at the past, you will crash. If you never look at the past, you will make the same mistakes.

Story/Illustration: The Forgotten Warnings

During World War II, a British intelligence officer warned that Pearl Harbor was a target for attack. His warnings were ignored, and history was forever changed on December 7, 1941.

In the same way, God warns us through His Word and history, but if we ignore these lessons, we will suffer consequences.

Each of us has one of three core personality types. Our focus is either primarily on the past, present, or future. I tend to be very future-orientated, while Paula focuses on the past. It is good that God has put us together to balance each other out, which also allows us to consider the present.

Personal Application:

• How often do we repeat the same mistakes?
• Do we truly learn from the past, or do we just move on and forget?

The Bible is our spiritual history book. Let’s read it, learn from it, and teach it so that we don’t repeat the mistakes of those who came before us.

Summary Statement:

“If we fail to learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. God’s Word teaches us through history, so we must study it, remember it, and live by it.”

2. Partial Obedience is Disobedience

Introduction:

Have you ever asked a child to clean their room, only to find that they just shoved everything under the bed? They technically “cleaned,” but they didn’t obey fully.

Israel did the same thing. They conquered much of Canaan but left pockets of idolatry, and those small compromises led to centuries of trouble.

Expanded Narrative:

Throughout the conquest, God commanded Israel to fully drive out the Canaanites. But instead, they left some alive, made treaties, and allowed their children to intermarry with pagans. This small act of disobedience eventually led to idol worship and national corruption.

Saul was commanded to destroy everything belonging to the Amalekites, yet he spared the best cattle and their king (1 Samuel 15). When Samuel confronted him, Saul tried to justify his actions, saying, “I was going to sacrifice them to the Lord.” But Samuel rebuked him, saying:

“Obedience is better than sacrifice!” (1 Samuel 15:22, NLT)

Partial obedience is not obedience—it is disguised rebellion.

Object Lesson: The Incomplete Puzzle (Large puzzle)

Hold up a puzzle with one missing piece. Ask the audience:

• Is this puzzle finished?
• Can we say we “completed” it if one part is missing?
• Even though 99% is done, the missing piece makes it incomplete.

God doesn’t call us to “almost” obey—He calls us to complete obedience.

Story/Illustration: The Unfinished Bridge

In Honduras, engineers built an incredible bridge over a river. But right after it was completed, there was a massive storm, the river changed course, and the bridge no longer connected anything. It became known as “The Bridge to Nowhere.”

Partial obedience leaves us spiritually stranded, just like that bridge.

Personal Application:

• What areas of our lives are we “almost obeying” God in?
• Have we let small compromises remain in our hearts, just like Israel did?

God calls us to full surrender, not halfway commitment.

Summary Statement:

“Small compromises lead to major downfalls. Partial obedience is still disobedience. We must fully trust and obey God’s commands.”

3. Even in Discipline, God’s Love Remains

Introduction:

A child breaks a rule and is disciplined. In the moment, they may cry, protest, and feel that it’s unfair. But later, they realize that discipline was for their good.

Israel’s exile was painful, but it was not abandonment—it was a loving discipline meant to bring them back to God.

Expanded Narrative:

When Israel abandoned Yahweh and worshiped other gods, God allowed them to be conquered by Babylon.

• The temple was destroyed.
• Jerusalem was burned.
• They were carried off as captives.

For 70 years, they lived in exile, wondering if God had forsaken them. But even in exile, God did not abandon them:

• Daniel remained faithful in Babylon and was exalted by the king.
• Esther, an exiled Jew, was placed as queen to save her people.
• Nehemiah was given favor to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

God’s discipline is never meant to destroy us—it is meant to restore us.

Object Lesson: The Refining Fire

Hold up a piece of gold or a picture and explain how it is purified.

• Gold is heated in extreme fire.
• The impurities rise to the surface and are removed.
• The end result is purer, stronger gold.

In the same way, Israel’s exile was a refining fire—it burned away their idolatry and renewed their faith in God.

Story/Illustration: The Pruned Tree

I just recently had Black’s Tree Service come in and remove a couple of hollow trees at the bottom and cut away dead branches from several trees. The process seems harsh, but the hollow trees, although they looked ok, could have fallen and destroyed property. The dead limbs removed result in a tree that grows stronger and healthier.

Israel’s exile was God’s pruning—cutting away sin so that they could grow in faith.

Personal Application:

• Have you ever faced a season of hardship and wondered, “God, where are You?”
• Sometimes, God allows trials to shape us, not to destroy us.

Even in our darkest times, God is with us—guiding, disciplining, and restoring.

Summary Statement:

“God’s discipline is not rejection; it is a refining fire. Even when we face trials, we can trust that God is working to restore us.”

Final Thought:

Israel’s history teaches us:

• God is in control of history.
• Obedience brings blessings; disobedience brings consequences.
• Even in judgment, God’s love never fails.

Closing Prayer

Lord, we see Your hand in history, guiding, correcting, and restoring. Help us learn from Israel’s journey so that we may walk in obedience. Even when we face trials, remind us, Lord, to thank You for teaching us through history. Help us to learn from the past, obey You completely, and trust that even in discipline, You are working for our good. May we surrender our hearts fully to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Next week, we continue with The Prophetic Books: God’s Call to Repentance and Restoration. Our core verses for next week are XX