BibleSF

God's Final Words to Israel before the Messiah enters the world

BSF Global Lesson 28

Malachi invited God’s people to return to Him before the Messiah came. Malachi’s name means “my messenger.” The book’s opening verse emphasizes Malachi’s God-given message. Malachi aimed to stir God’s apathetic people to seek His tender love and honor His majestic holiness.

Malachi brought God’s words of judgment to Israel but first reminded the people of God’s love.

Serving God had become a chore for the priests and the people alike. God lovingly called them back to Himself with warnings, judgment, and promises of the coming Messiah. Malachi’s book opens with the Lord saying, “I have loved you.” These four powerful words set the stage for everything Malachi wrote. He even presented God’s judgment through the lens of His overpowering love. God reveals His faithful love through His judgment and blessing.

Divisions

1. God confronts Israels dishonor in sacrifice and unfaithfulness with priests. Malachi 1:1-2:17

2. God promises His Messenger coming and calls His people to return to Him with tithes. Malachi 3:1-15

2. God records scroll of the righteous and a day distinguishing righteous from wicked. Malachi 3:16-4:6

Aim- God confronts unfaithfulness and calls His people to return.

Application:

1. Where might your worship or obedience have become routine or careless?

2. Are there ways you are withholding from God and how is He calling you to return?

3. How does God’s view of the righteous and wicked shape how you live?

Lesson 27: Dedication and Renewal

The leaders and the people knew that rebuilding Jerusalem was central to God’s future plans for His people. And accordingly, it was His intention for Jerusalem to ultimately be inhabited by those ready to reinstitute spiritual elements that all pointed to God's picture for redemption through the Messiah. It started with the re-building of the temple, then re-establishing worship, rebuilding the walls and renewing God's covenant relationship; and now…the final step…moving in. Each step in this restoration was an expression of obedience and devotion to God. In this grand finale of the book of Nehemiah, it was time to bring it all together.…temple, walls, city and people. And although it’s clear that God’s plan for the restoration of Israel was perfect, we’ll see that even after their eagerness to hear and respond to the Law, their repentance and their oaths, God’s people continued to struggle with sin. Through God’s gracious provision of wise and godly leaders such as Nehemiah to hold them accountable, the people would learn, and we can learn, that devotion to God requires dedicating every aspect of life to Him.

Reflection questions:

1. Where are you intentionally investing in the faith of the next generation?

2. How are you using the gifts God has given you to express thanks to Him?

3. Is there an area of compromise you have been tolerating that needs attention and what will you do about it?

In Nehemiah 9-10, the people read the Word of God and remembered the goodness of the Lord.
Sometimes, we just don't realize how really good our lives are by God's gracious hand, because we're so busy thinking about what we don't have or how much more we still want. Instead of entitlement and dissatisfaction, God calls us to remember the very goodness of God's heart to us.
In this study, we see an affirmation to obedience. not by force or threat, but by a profound recognition of how wonderfully God created us for His purposes. How centrally devoted He is to our Salvation and Restoration. And how much He desires us to receive more and more of His goodness to the glory of His Name.

He shaped our minds and hearts for the purpose of knowing Him. Theologian J.I.Packard says the weakness of the modern church lies in its pervasive ignorance of the God they claim to serve. The modern mind has put God far off in the distance, while happily making things up about God from ungrounded guesses. Our best guesses about God never advances our relationship with God. We must know and remind ourselves of the marvelous God we serve. If we do not know how to know God, how can we enjoy and delight in Him? 

AIM: Causes the audience to learn that God’s faithfulness in pursuing us compels our daily repentance and sincere participation in His Will with glad obedience

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS, OUR FALTERING

I. Sincere Remembrance and Confession (Neh 9)

A.) Posture of Sincerity 9:1-6

B.) Prayer of Remembrance 9:7-30 (Formation, Liberation, Chastening)

C.) Plea for God’s grace 9:31-38

P1: Relationship with God comes through surrender, not self-righteousness.

II. Sincere Recommitments (Neh 10)

A.) Personal Recommitments 10:1-29

B.) Promises before God 10:30-39

P2: Remembering God’s faithfulness fuels faithful obedience.

BSF Lesson 25

Learning to notice what God is telling us through the Levitical Law and Festivals

In most protestant churches, the eucharist is once a month. When the communion is not given explicitly, it is given implicitly with the pastor giving a altar call, which is the sacrifice of our Decision and Devotion in thanksgiving for Christ's ultimate sacrifice.

So in this study, it's all about bringing back the worship. The enemies try to stop the efforts of God's people being unified in spiritual purpose. The genealogy is a symbol of the restoration of the people's heritage of faith passed on to generations who never forgot. And the Feast of Booths is remembrance of God's faithfulness in the past through the amazing Exodus, and His faithfulness to be with us always through the Incarnation of our Lord Yeshua - who tabernacled with us (John 1:14; Rev 21:3). He is the tabernacle of our worship. We are in this flesh for only a little while, but we shall enter the eternal Promised Land into a city built and made by God.

AIM: Experiencing God’s goodness & His word cause unity and sincere worship

I. God’s Work Completed -- People Complete the Wall (Nehemiah 6:15-7:3)

A. Despite opposition (6:15-19)

B. United and protected (7:1-3)

Princ 1: God’s work, done God’s way, prevails and silences critics.

II. God’s People Registered (Nehemiah 7:4-73)

A. The heritage of God gives future generations understanding of God’s purposes and inheritance.

Princ 2: God’s people are known to Him and built up by Him

III. God’s Word Renews and Revives (Nehemiah 8 )

A. Thru understanding the word (8:1-8)

B. Thru rejoicing in the word (8:9-12)

C. Thru OBEYING the word (8:13-18)

Princ 3: God’s word causes conviction that leads to joy when repentance meets grace.

Lesson 24 is called Encountering the Opposition because fighting and weathering the opposition is vital foramtive training and one of your most formative spiritual education. We grow the most and the fastest and with deeper understanding when facing opposition. It's so undesirable but so useful. And many Christians unfortunately don't face it head on, but have learn strategies to hide.... Hiding is not a spiritual gift but detrimental to who God wants us to become.

Nehemiah is a portrait of character, courage, and generosity in the midst of great opposition. Christian courage is quite different from worldly courage because we are warriors who rely entirely on our great God from whom we take orders and model our lives. Imagine what Nehemiah had to struggle with by reading between the lines. Then you'll realize how stressful and tense these days were for a Cupbearer! Then think about how this applies to you. You may feel out of your element in many spiritual challenges, but God will strengthen and teach us, shaping us in ways most needful for our good!

AIM: God’s purposes prevail when believers prayerfully obey and endure opposition.

1. Facing External Opposition (Nehemiah 4)

a. Mockery & Prayer (Nehemiah 4:1-6)

b. Threats & Vigilance (Nehemiah 4:7-23)

Principle: Believers endure opposition by relying on God’s strength through prayer and action.

2. Addressing Internal Conflict (Nehemiah 5)

a. Confronting Injustice (Nehemiah 5:1-13)

b. Modeling Selflessness (Nehemiah 5:14-19)

Principle: God works powerfully when believers courageously obey Him in the face of opposition.

3. Enduring Personal Attacks (Nehemiah 6:14)

a. Resisting Deception (Nehemiah 6:1-4)

b. Standing Against Slander (Nehemiah 6:5-9)

c. Rejecting Intimidation (Nehemiah 6:10-14)

Principle: When facing opposition, God empowers believers to remain steadfast, fulfilling His purposes.

The Call to the Wall Nehemiah 1-3

(lecture talk to accompany Lesson 23)

In ancient times, the wall symbolized ordering governance.

Without a wall, there was no way to structure a city and give it shape. Imagine your body without your outer skin to give you shape and order. A wall was often the place where city economic policy and direction was managed. Traders and commerce occurred by the dictates of the people who sat at the city gates to determine who can enter, conduct trade, do business, and participate in the life of the people within. The order and life of the city was secured by the king who protected it, cared for it with legislation, and executed justice by rightly judging on the matters of the people.

Without a wall therefore, a city was really no city.

AIM: God achieves His Work through surrendered obedience of His people.

I. A Burden That Breaks (1:1–11)

A. The Ruin Reported (1:1–3)

B. The Leader Mourns and Prays (1:4)D: (1:4) – The Cross begins with dying to comfort and carrying God’s burden.

C. Confession and Covenant Hope (1:5–11)D: PH2 (1:6–7) – Denying self includes surrendering personal agenda. 

Principle 1: God prepares the heart before He advances the work.

II. A Courage That Risks (2:1–20)

A. Fear Before the King (2:1–5) Doctrine PH3 (2:4–5) – Carrying the cross requires surrendering fear.

B. Provision for the Mission (2:6–9) Attribute: Provider (2:8–9) “The good hand of my God was upon me.”

C. Inspection and Invitation (2:11–18)

D. Opposition and Resolve (2:19–20)

Principle 2:God strengthens those who step forward in obedience.

III. A Community That Builds (3:1–32)

A. Leaders Lead First (3:1–2) (3:1 – Sheep Gate) – The Lamb would one day enter here.

B. Each Repairs Their Section (3:3–12, 23, 28)

C. “Next to Him…” (3:1–32) Doctrine PH5 (3:1–32) – The Cross produces selfless service.

Principle 3: God accomplishes His purposes through surrendered and united people.

God preserves the Testimony of His Gospel that each one of us has to bear into the world. 

Collectively, we bear the testimony of the faithfulness of God in building His Kingdom on this earth as He had promised even at the enormous resistance of the world’s empires, institutions, and people’s seeking to stop it from coming about. The overall aim of the lesson this week is this: Jesus Christ will eradicate evil and reign as King forever.

We have three divisions in this lesson:

I. God Rescues His People (12:1–9)

II. God Cleanses His People Through the Pierced Shepherd (12:10–13:9)

III. God Reigns Over All the Earth (Ch. 14)

Click on the play button to begin the audio lecture.

People of the Promise: Exile & Return

Lesson 21 - The Promise of the Coming King, ZECHARIAH 9-11

God calls us to be leaders as stewards of His righteousness, but human leaders are egotistical, selfish, greedy, self-serving, and opportunistic. We care less for others than we care for ourselves and our tribe. False leadership has a trickle down effect where their distortions, lies, and wicked ways cause distress and corruption in the way people live their own lives. Visible leaders have an unique opportunity to model exemplary behavior, but we see this failure in Zechariah 9-11. But we have hope, the the Messiah, the True Leader who shows us what true leadership looks like, One who humanity desperately needs and believers are called to live like.

Jesus Christ, the rejected Shepherd, will reign and rule eternally as conquering King.

Focus Verse

“The Lord their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.”   (Zechariah 9:16)

Aim: Though rejected by humanity, Jesus Christ will reign without rival.

I. The Promised King Who Comes (Zechariah 9)

A. The Fall of Earthly Powers (9:1–8) The Humble King Who Saves (9:9–10)

B. Eternal King who enters history in humility. Fulfilled in Christ’s Triumphal Entry.

C. The Victorious King Who Delivers (9:11–17) Covenant blood fulfilled in Christ.

Principle 1: The King who came in humility will return in authority.

II. The Faithful Shepherd Who Restores (Zechariah 10)

A. A Warning Against False Shepherds (10:1–3)

B. The Cornerstone and the Battle Bow (10:4) Jesus as foundation, stability, authority

C. The Shepherd Who Gathers and Strengthens (10:5–12)

Principle 2: Our security rests not in human leaders but in the Shepherd-King.

III. The Rejected Shepherd Who Will Reign (Zechariah 11)

A. The Coming Desolation (11:1–3)

B. The True Shepherd Rejected (11:4–14) Betrayal price fulfilled in Christ.

C. The Foolish Shepherd and Final Judgment (11:15–17)

Principle 3: How we respond to Jesus determines our destiny.

When faith becomes hollow — when practice replaces attentive devotion. Zechariah 7-8

In Zechariah 7, the leaders ask whether they should continue fasting — something they’ve faithfully done for decades.

On the surface, it sounds commendable. Disciplined. Devout. Consistent.

But instead of applauding their commitment, God asks a confronting question: 

“Who was this really for?” Were these fasts about listening to Him — or about maintaining a system that felt safe, familiar, and controllable?

What follows is sobering. God reminds them that religious activity had continued even while hearts had grown hard. Justice was ignored. Compassion faded. God’s Word was resisted. And eventually, religion continued — but relationship broke down.

God speaks words of hope, restoration, and joy. He talks about returning to dwell with His people. About peace replacing fear. About mourning turning into celebration. About a future so good that people from other nations will want to be part of what God is doing.

We’ll see both the danger of empty religion and the hope of a future shaped by God’s promises. And underneath it all is a truth that is as challenging as it is freeing.

Our aim today is simple:

God desires obedient hearts, not empty religious practice.

We’ll unpack this in two divisions from the text:

Aim: God calls people out of empty religion into a vibrant relationship with Him.

I. Empty Religion of Mechanical Devotion - Zechariah 7:1-14

A. Works-Based Religion: 7:1-3

B. Self-Satisfied Religion: 7:4-7

C. Self-Focused Religion: 7:8-12

D. God’s Just Correction: 7:13-14

PRINCIPLE: Rituals are no substitute for repentant hearts filled with love for God and others.

II. True Relationship with God, Feasting through Fruitfulness - Zechariah 8:1-23

A. Feast for Love: 8:1-6

B. Feast for Salvation: 8:7-13

C. Feast for Righteousness: 8:14-19

D. Feast for Witness: 8:20-23

PRINCIPLE: Just as Jesus bore fruits of our Salvation, God intends for His people to live lives of spiritual abundance that call others to Him.

APPLICATIONS:

1. Is your worship of God rooted more in what you do (tradition, rituals) or in God Himself?

2. Where have you seen God’s abundant blessing in your relationship with Him?

BSF GLOBAL LECTURE

Complete Resolution; Perfect Justice

The final three visions and the symbolic coronation don’t just comfort—they confront. God shows His people that He sees sin clearly, that He will not coexist with evil forever, and that His rule will not be challenged indefinitely. These visions answer the unspoken fear: Does God really act, or does He just observe?

What’s striking is how comprehensive God’s response is. He addresses personal sin, entrenched wickedness, global powers, and finally presents His own appointed ruler. This isn’t chaos management—it’s moral clarity. God is not wringing His hands. He is moving history toward a righteous and uncontested reign.

And right at the center of it all is a surprising image: a high priest wearing a crown. It’s unexpected. It’s symbolic. And it quietly points forward to God’s ultimate solution—not just judgment, but a representative who stands in for His people and reigns on their behalf.

So as we walk through Zechariah 5 and 6 tonight, we’ll see this big, steady truth come into focus:

God will judge sinners, abolish evil, and reign without rival.

Aim: CATL God's future plans of judgment and reigning without rival involves Israel

I. GOD's JUDGMENT (Zech 5:1-6:8)

a.) Removal of lawlessness [5:1-4]

b.) Removal of wickedness [5:5-11]

c.) Removal of world systems [6:1-8]

II. GOD CROWNS HIS KING-PRIEST (Zech 6:9-15)

a.) Current Symbolic Action [6:9-13]

b.) Memorial in Remembrance [6:14-15]

Principles:

1. God’s final judgment is a removal of all that causes humanity’s pain

2. Jesus intercedes now as righteous high priest and will rule as unrivaled king