By Mike Riley
From 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:
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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 lives” (Job 19:25).
Messages – We must patiently endure the trials of life, with unswerving trust in God.
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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).
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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).
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Book – Ecclesiastes
Key Words – “Vanity” and “under the sun”
Key Verses – Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Key Phrase – “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2; Ecclesiastes 12:8).
Messages – (1) Genuine happiness is not found in human wisdom, wealth, power, and pleasure; (2) Apart from God, life is futile, empty, and without meaning; (3) the supreme good is to “fear God and keep his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
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Book – Song of Solomon
Key Words – “Love”, or “beloved”
Key Verses – Song of Solomon 2:16; Song of Solomon 7:10; Song of Solomon 8:6-7
Key Phrase – “His banner over me was love” (Song of Solomon 2:4).
Messages – The beauty, happiness and power of faithful love.
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Book – Isaiah
Key Words – “Salvation”
Key Verses – Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53:6
Key Phrase – “Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 1:4; Isaiah 5:19; Isaiah 5:24; Isaiah 10:20).
Messages – (1) God’s judgment upon immoral and idolatrous men; (2) the grace of God in the promise of the Redeemer.
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Book – Jeremiah
Key Words – “Forsake” and “forsaken”; “backslider” and “backsliding”; “return”.
Key Verses – Jeremiah 3:11-12; Jeremiah 3:25; Jeremiah 5:30-31; Jeremiah 6:13-16; Jeremiah 7:23-24; Jeremiah 7:28; Jeremiah 8:20-22; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Jeremiah 10:23; Jeremiah 13:23; Jeremiah 23:1-8; Jeremiah 31:3; Jeremiah 31:31-34
Key Phrase – (1) “The Lord said”; (2) “I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9; Jeremiah 18:2, etc.).
Messages – God gives Jeremiah four messages to Judah (1) a note of denunciation; (2) a note of visitation; (3) a note of invitation; (4) a note of consolation. Judah will be restored from Babylonian captivity.
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