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 – Lamentations
Key Words – “Sorrow” (Lamentations 1:12) and “how” (Lamentations 1:1; Lamentations 2:1; Lamentations 4:1).
Key Verses – Lamentations 1:12; Lamentations 2:5-6; Lamentations 2:17; Lamentations 3:25; Lamentations 3:33; Lamentations 3:40
Key Phrase – “Renew our days as of old” (Lamentations 5:21).
Messages – (1) Sin brings misery and judgment; (2) God still loves sinners, even when He must punish them, and He will show compassion upon all who repent.
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Book – Ezekiel
Key Words – “Glory”
Key Verses – Ezekiel 18:4; Ezekiel 18:20; Ezekiel 33:11; Ezekiel 36:24-26; Ezekiel 36:33-35
Key Phrase – (1) “They shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 6:10; Ezekiel 6:14; Ezekiel 7:27; Ezekiel 12:15; Ezekiel 12:16); (2) “The glory of the Lord” (Ezekiel 1:28; Ezekiel 3:12; Ezekiel 3:23; Ezekiel 10:4; Ezekiel 10:18; Ezekiel 11:23; Ezekiel 43:4).
Messages – (1) The terrible nature of sin. It destroys both men and nations; (2) Individual responsibility (Ezekiel 18:20). Men suffer for their own sins (Ezekiel 18:1-4; Ezekiel 33:10-16); (3) The necessity of repentance in obtaining forgiveness of sins (Ezekiel 14:1-20; Ezekiel 18:20-32; Ezekiel 33:1-22).
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Book – Daniel
Key Words – “Dominion”, “sovereignty”, and “triumph”
Key Verses – Daniel 2:20-22; Daniel 2:44; Daniel 2:47; Daniel 4:24-25; Daniel 4:37; Daniel 6:26
Key Phrase – “The Most High ruleth” (Daniel 4:17; Daniel 4:25; Daniel 4:32).
Messages – The universal sovereignty of God over the affairs of men and nations.
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Book – Hosea
Key Words – “Return” (Hosea 2:7; Hosea 2:9; Hosea 3:5; Hosea 5:15; Hosea 6:1).
Key Verses – Hosea 4:1; Hosea 4:6; Hosea 11:7-9
Key Phrase – “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love” (Hosea 11:4).
Messages – (1) To realize the nature and enormity of sin; (2) the necessity of divine judgment; (3) the triumph of loyalty and love.
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Book – Joel
Key Words – “Desolate” or “desolation”
Key Verses – Joel 2:11-13; Joel 2:28-29; Joel 2:32
Key Phrase – “The day of the Lord” (Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1; Joel 2:11; Joel 2:31; Joel 3:14).
Messages – A call to repentance and restoration.
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Book – Amos
Key Words – “Judgment”, “punishment”, “captivity”, and “restoration”
Key Verses – Amos 3:1-2; Amos 3:3; Amos 4:12; Amos 5:14-15; Amos 6:1; Amos 8:11-12
Key Phrase – (1)“Thus saith the Lord”; (2) “Seek ye the Lord.”
Messages – (1) There is no possible way to escape the consequences of persistent sin; (2) Worship without truth and religion without morality are an insult to God.
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Book – Obadiah
Key Words – “Calamity”
Key Verses – Obadiah 1:10; Obadiah 1:15; Obadiah 1:21
Key Phrase – “Thou shouldest not have” (Obadiah 1:12-14).
Messages – (1) The folly of pride, self-trust, and of the certainty of divine judgment; (2) God’s judgments are right and His providence is over all nations and men.
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