← Contents Subject Index

Subject Index


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | V | W | Y | Z


A

Aaron, 165

Abraham, 156, 251, 283, 288, 303

abuse, physical and psychological, 186–88, 237, 262–65

accountability, 194

adultery, 105, 275

agricultural societies, 21

aliens and laborers in, 275, 276

animals used in, 54–56

called to battle, 124–26, 128–29, 134–36

criminals in, 170–71

destruction and deprivation in, 54–56, 286–87

destruction by locusts, 42–43, 47, 96–97

link between farming and religion in, 61

rain in, 109–10

restoration of, 136–37

types of crops in, 48–50

Ahab, King, 147, 151–52, 304

Ahlström, G. W., 95

Alexander of Macedon, 207

Alexander the Great, 23

aliens, 275, 276

Amaziah, King, 150

Amos, 302, 303

animals

destruction of, 54–56

sacrifice of, 229, 232, 242

used in metaphors, 44–45, 299

appearance of God, 76–79

Arminianism, 85

Ashdod, 23

Ashkelon, 23

Assyrians, 60–61, 118, 198, 289

breach of covenant by, 157

referring to selves as kings, 233–34

authority

modern acceptance of, 236–37

parental, 226–27

B

Baader-Meinhof group, 236

Baal, 105, 199, 254

Babylonian Empire, the, 60–61, 118, 123, 147, 289

breach of covenant by, 157

exiles, 198

Bakker, Jim, 168, 193

Benjamin, 197–98

blood theophanies, 101–2

Borowski, Oded, 50

C

Canaan, 127, 150, 151, 198, 199, 254

celebration and praise for God, 94–96

Chronicles of Narnia (Lewis), 77

chronological context

of Joel, 24–27

of Malachi, 207–10

of Obadiah, 146–48

churches, modern, 141–42

dependence on the state, 173–74

ethical relativism in, 193–94

minimal worship and, 278

and the political process, 279–80

secularization of, 237–38, 279–80

cloth

and clothing used in metaphor, 84–85

manufacturing, 271–72

communication in human relationships, 141–43

written, 165

communion, 307–8

communities, Christian, 88–89

composition of the book of Obadiah, 153

consequences, logical, 192–94

Copeland, Gloria, 290

Copeland, Kenneth, 290

covenants

admonition and, 243

breached by Israel, 157, 253–54, 282–83, 288

faithfulness to, 252, 255–58

between God and priests, 223–24

language of, 110–11, 218–19

love, 222–24

marriage, 255–56

and obedience to the law, 299–302

in the Old Testament, 247–48

relationships, 172–73

Crenshaw, J. L., 25, 43–44

Cyrus (Persian king), 60, 207

D

darkness and the Day of the Lord, 69–70, 77–78

Day of the Lord, the, 28–29, 30, 52–53, 69, 121, 211

and the appearance of God, 76

Edom and, 182–83

effect on nation, 135

nature of, 71–76

rituals and, 302–4

salvation and, 271

warnings concerning, 69–70

death and mourning, 46–47, 48, 50–51, 87–88

decision-making, ethical, 305–7

deliverance, 103–4, 116

deontology, 306

destruction and deprivation

of agricultural societies, 54–56, 286–87

God’s promises regarding, 96–98

modern examples of, 64–66

disputes with God, 234

dissociative identity disorder, 278, 280

divorce

in the Bible, 142–43, 223, 254, 257–63

domestic violence and, 262–65

used metaphorically, 261

domestic violence, 259–60, 262–65

Dr. Seuss, 88

drunkards addressed in Joel, 43–46, 59

E

earthquake, 76

Edom, 120, 122

alcohol metaphor and, 190–91

defiance of, 220–21

destruction of, 138, 207

enemies of, 169–72, 183–84, 196

intimidation of other nations by, 180–81

leadership in, 175–76

military advantages of, 164–65, 166

people and geography of, 149–52

prophetic messages to, 162–65

reasons for destruction of, 178–79

violence against Judah, 24, 25, 147–48, 179–84

education, formal and informal, 63–64

Egypt

animosity toward Judah, 24

destruction of, 25, 138

invasion by Philistines, 151

plague of locusts in, 40–41

Ekron, 23

elders of Judah, 38–40

Elijah, 147, 199

and the Messiah, 304–5, 308, 309

ministry of, 300–301

Elisha, 304

Ephraim, 197

Erikson, Erik, 187

Esau

God’s hatred of, 223

and Jacob, 150, 179–80, 185, 206, 219–20, 222, 227

the name, 192

ethical decision-making, 305–7

ethical relativism, 193–94

evil

depicted in literature, 77

of neighbors of Israel, 118–19

exile

as foreign policy, 195–202

of Israelites, 122–23, 127, 221–22

refugees and modern, 202–4

“eye for an eye,” 185

Ezra, 208, 261–62, 277

F

faithfulness, 252, 255–58

faith movement, 290–91

false prophets, 167, 168, 217

family relationships, 184–85, 191–92, 222–23

honoring in, 226

fasting, 51

festivals, 242

fire, 76, 101–2

and burning chaff, 297

forgiveness and repentance, 139

G

Gath, 23

Gaza, 23

Geisel, Theodore, 88

geopolitical context

of Joel, 22–24

of Malachi, 206

of Obadiah, 145–46, 148

gifts. See also sacrifices

of nature, 112–13

to rulers, 229–30

Gilead, 197–98

God

addresses neighbors of Israel, 119–23

appearance of, 76–79

blessings of, 98–99

celebration and praise for, 94–96

control over nature, 77–78, 112–13

covenant language of, 110–11

and the Day of the Lord, 28–29, 30, 52–53, 69–76, 121, 135, 182–83, 211, 304

demanding and refusing sacrifice, 235–36

disputing with, 234

dwelling on Zion, 135–36

as Father, 251–52

hope and, 21

immutability of, 86–87, 281–82, 287–88

Israel’s disputes with, 266–68, 293–95

jealousy of, 98, 104–5, 112

judgment of, 274–75, 296–99

justice of, 267–68

known through prayer, 139–41

love of, 218–20

monotheism and, 97–98

names for, 37–38, 57, 230–31

openness theology and, 85

oracles of, 216

people seeking, 269–70

plundering the treasure of, 121–22

promises of, 96–104, 108–9, 268–71, 286–87

prosperity and peace as gifts from, 111–12

referred to as Yahweh, 37–38, 57

remembering, 307–309

responds to his people, 92–94

self-identification with, 62

sovereignty of, 87–88, 156

Spirit of, 100–101, 105–7

testing of Israel by, 285–86

tithes to, 284–85

as warrior, 166

grace, 157

grain offerings, 47

Great Commission, the, 305–6

H

Haggai, 210–11

Hagin, Kenneth, 290

Hagin, Kenneth, Jr., 290

Harry Potter, 77

hate, 222–23

Hickey, Marilyn, 290

Hill, Andrew E., 254

Hinn, Benny, 290

holy war, 124–26, 128–29, 131–32

honor

for family relationships, 226

between masters and slaves, 226–27

and shame, 179–80, 184

hope, 21, 71–72, 77–78

repentance and, 83–84

Horton Hears a Who (Dr. Seuss), 88

Hugenberger, Gordon P., 268

I

identification of prophets, 37, 56, 161, 216–17

immutability of God, 86–87, 281–82, 287–88

imperatival forms, 38

incest, 262

individualism, 88–89

integrity, 305–7

Ionians, 22, 23

Islam, 131

Israel. See also Judah

breach of covenant by, 157, 253–54, 282–83, 288

curses on, 241–42

disputation against God, 266–68, 293–95

exile of Israelites and, 122–23, 127, 221–22

final dispute with God, 293–95

foreign domination of, 147

Jerusalem, 129–30, 136

Judah and, 24, 25

judgment of people of, 274–75

land and self-identity of, 126–28, 198

people included in, 148–49

powerless people of, 275–76

prehistory of, 219

priests of, 276–78

promises of God to, 286–87

restoration of, 103–4, 272, 274, 283–84, 288–89, 295–96, 301–2

rituals of, 302–3

slaves of, 100–101, 122, 128, 308

tested by God, 285–86

warnings to, 254

warnings to neighbors of, 116–26

J

Jacob, 185, 191–92, 206

and Esau, 150, 179–80, 185, 206, 219–20, 222, 227

God’s love of, 223

jealousy of God, 98, 104–5, 112

Jehoram, King, 150

Jehoshaphat, King, 150

Jeremiah, the book of, 153–55

Jerusalem, 129–30, 136, 199, 253

fall of, 190

sacrifices of, 273–74

Jesus Christ, 304–5

communion and, 307–8

Jezebel, 152

Joel, the book of

chronological context of, 24–27

covenant language in, 110–11

and the Day of the Lord, 28–29, 30, 52–53, 69–76, 76, 121, 135

drunkards addressed by, 43–46, 59

fasting addressed in, 51

geopolitical context of, 22–24

illustration of the link between farming and religion in, 61

and Joel the person, 22

as literary art, 27–28

meaning of “Joel” and, 57

military destruction addressed in, 48, 71–76, 105

mourning addressed in, 46–47, 48, 50–51, 87–88

outline of, 31

prescription and description structure in, 43–44

priests and producers addressed by, 46–51, 83–84

prophecies directed at other nations, 116–26

repentance addressed in, 80–86

revelation in, 107–9

ritual disruption in, 48, 55, 59–61

text of, 35–37, 68–69, 80, 90–91, 115–16, 133

theology in, 28–30

use of “Yahweh” in, 37–38

warnings to Judah in, 38–51, 66

wine and alcohol in, 43–46, 58–59

Zion in, 29–30

John the Baptist, 305, 309

Jones, Jim, 168, 217

Jordan River, 137, 151

Joseph (husband of Mary), 261

Joshua (priest), 207

Judah. See also Israel

breach of covenant by, 157

elders of, 38–40

enemies of, 22–24, 25, 136–39, 147–48, 179–84

Jerusalem in, 199

love of God for, 221–22

prophecies of Joel directed at, 22–23

restoration of, 116–17, 157, 189–90, 289

sacrifices of, 273–74

slave traders of, 123–24

unfaithfulness of, 253

warnings to, 38–51

judgment of God, 274–75, 296–99

destruction and, 303–4

and the law, 299–302

repentance and, 301–2

justice

for criminals, 170–71, 232–33

of God, 267–68

and responsibility, 156

K

Keller, C.-A., 43

kidnapping, 128. See also slaves

Koresh, David, 168, 217

land and self-identity of Israel, 126–28

law, obedience to the, 267, 299–302

and remembering God, 307–9

L

leaders and leadership, 176–77, 233–34, 274

Lebanon, 199

Levi and Levites, 244–46, 296

restoration and purification of, 272–73

Lewis, C. S., 77

libation offerings, 47

literary context

of Joel, 27–28, 57–58

of Malachi, 210–11

of Obadiah, 152–55

literature, modern, 77

locust plagues

crop destruction by, 42–43, 47, 96–97

in Egypt, 40–41, 42

entomology of words used in Joel to describe, 41–42

expulsion of and victory over, 94–96

lessons using examples of, 63–64

used metaphorically, 44–45, 72, 93–94, 105

looting and plundering, 169–70

Lord of the Rings (Tolkein), 77

love of God, 218–20

contemporary relationships and, 223–24

covenantal, 222–23, 223–24

for Judah, 221–22

M

Malachi, the book of

chronological context of, 207–10

and the Day of the Lord, 271, 302–4

geographical context of, 206

literary context of, 210–11

and Malachi the person, 205–6, 215–16

outline of, 212

text of, 215, 218, 225, 240, 250, 266, 281, 292

marriage, 46–47, 105

adultery and, 105, 275

as a covenant, 255–56

divorce and, 142–43, 223, 254, 257–63

mixed, 261–62

rightful, 255

used metaphorically, 253–54

violence in, 259–60, 262–65

megachurches, 141–42

Meier, S. A., 26

merisms, 95, 100, 120–21

Mesopotamia, sacrifices in, 59–60

metaphors, 27

alcohol used in, 190–91

animals used in, 44–45, 299

divorce used in, 261

locusts used in, 44–45, 72, 93–94, 105

marriage used in, 253–54

pain, 72–73

repentance, 81–82

sun used in, 297–98

Meyer, Joyce, 290

Milosevic, Slobodan, 194

mixed marriages, 261–62

modeling of behavior, 244–46, 248–49

monotheism, 97–98

Moses, 165, 215–16, 245, 300, 304

Mount of Transfiguration, 305

mourning, 46–47, 48, 50–51, 87–88

Muslims, 131

N

Nabonidus, 207

names

for God, 37–38, 57, 230–31

personal, 56–57, 62, 228

Naomi, 276

nationalism, 164–65, 166

and covenants as treaties, 247–48

and exile as foreign policy, 195–202

and responsibility of nations, 193–94

nature, gifts of, 112–13

nature of the Day of the Lord, 71–76

Nebuchadnezzar, 147

Negev towns, 200

Nehemiah, 208–9, 261–62, 277

O

Obadiah, the book of

audience of, 148–49

chronological context of, 146–48

composition of, 153

and the Day of the Lord, 182–83

geopolitical context of, 145–46, 148

hope expressed in, 145

literary context of, 152–55

literary form of, 152–53, 195

and Obadiah the person, 146

outline of, 158

parallels with other Old Testament books, 153–55

return of those exiled described in, 195–201

text of, 161, 169, 175, 178, 189, 195

theology in, 156–57

offerings, grain and libation, 47

Oklahoma City bombing, 65

On the Banks of Plum Creek (Wilder), 65

openness theology, 85

oracles, 215, 216

orphans, 275, 276

outpoured Spirit, 100–101, 105–7

outward versus inward repentance, 85–86

P

pain and suffering experienced by Christians, 113

parallelism, 39–40, 284

parent/child relationships, 226–27, 237, 248–49

Passover, 308

Paul (Apostle), 107, 261, 262–63, 307

peace activists, 236

Persia, 209

personal pride, 167–68

Peter (Apostle), 107, 304

Peterson, Eugene, 142

Philistines, 22–23, 25, 119–21

destruction of, 138

invasions by, 151

Phineas, 243–44

politics and modern churches, 279–80

pornography, 130

postmodernism, 268

powerless people, 275–76

prayer

God as responsive to, 91–92

knowing God through, 139–41

preachers as messengers of God, 217

prescription and description structure in Joel, 43–44

pride

national, 164–65, 166

personal, 167–68

priests

curses on, 241–42

failures of, 245–47

God’s covenants with, 243–44

impure, 276–78

of Israel, 276–78

marriage of, 261

and producers addressed by Joel, 46–51, 83–84

sacrifices brought by, 228–29, 232

as teachers, 244–46, 248–49

warnings to, 241

Prinsloo, Willem S., 27, 61

promises of God

in blessing Judah, 300

to Israel, 96–104, 108–9, 268–71, 286–87

modern interpretations of, 290–91

prophets

false, 167, 168, 217

on God’s promises to Israel, 97

identified as speakers for God, 37, 56, 161, 216–17, 268

oracles and, 215

people disregarding word of the, 267

personal lives of, 22, 146

responsibility of, 113–14

using earlier prophecies, 53, 82

visions of, 161–62

warnings issued by, 38–51

prosperity and peace

contemporary circumstances of, 66–67

as gifts from God, 111–12

of modern churches, 173–74

prostitution, 119

psychological abuse, 186–88

Q

quietism, 204

R

rain in agricultural societies, 109–10

Rauschenbusch, W., 279

refugees, modern, 202–4

relationships

abusive, 186–88, 237, 262–65

communication in, 141–43

faithfulness in, 252, 255–57

family, 184–85, 191–92, 192–93, 222–23, 248–49

honor in, 226–27

love, 223–24

parent/child, 226–27, 237, 248–49

restoration of, 309

revenge in, 185

religious relativism, 268

repentance

forgiveness and, 139

metaphors, 81–82

outward versus inward, 85–86

restoration following, 295–96, 301–2

return and, 80–84, 283–84, 288–89

response of God to his people, 92–94

responsibility

and justice, 156

logical consequences and, 192–94

of nations, 193–94

personal, 192–93

prophetic, 113–14

revelation in the Old Testament, 107–9

revenge, 185

righteousness, 95–96, 273

sun metaphor for, 297–98

rituals

cultic, 254, 269

and the Day of the Lord, 302–4

purity of, 255

robbery, 170–71, 232, 285

sacrifices, 48, 55, 59–61, 226. See also gifts

animal, 229, 232, 242

brought by priests, 228–29, 232

deceitful, 232–33, 235, 254–55

festivals and, 242

God demanding and refusing, 235–36

of Judah, 273–74

S

salvation, 103–4, 153, 271

judgment and, 300–301

Samaria, 197

scribes, 215–16

scroll of remembrance, 295

secularization of modern churches, 237–38, 279–80

self-identification with God, 62

Sepharad, 152, 199

Serbia, 202

shame and honor, 179–80, 184

contemporary issues in, 186

Shittim, 137

Sidon, 22–23, 25, 119–20, 151, 198–99

destruction of, 138

slaves

contemporary examples of, 130–31

honor between masters and, 226–27

Israelites as, 100–101, 122, 128, 308

pornography and, 130

protection of, 275–76

slave traders as, 123–24

Solzhenitsyn, Alexandr, 128

Somalia, 202

sorcerers, 274–75

sovereignty of God, 87–88, 156

Spirit, outpouring of the, 100–101, 105–7

split personality disorder, 278

Students for a Democratic Society, 236

Sudan, 202

sun metaphor, 297–98

Swaggart, Jimmy, 168

Syria, 151, 198

T

talion law, 183–84

Tamar, 276

teaching tools from the Bible, 63–64, 248–49

teleology, 306

terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 64 , 65

theology

in Joel, 28–30

in Obadiah, 156–57

theophany, 76, 101–2, 108

Tilton, Robert, 290

tithes, 284–85

Tolkein, J. R. R., 77

treaties, covenants as, 247–48

Tyre, 22–23, 25, 119–20, 151, 199

destruction of, 138

V

Valley of Decision, 134–36

Valley of Jehoshaphat, 116, 118, 135

Verhoef, P., 208

W

wars

advantages of Edom in, 164–65

and calls to battle, 124–26, 128–29, 134–36, 152–53

destruction by, 48, 71–76, 105

and God as warrior, 166

modern holy, 131–32

psychological, 186–88

and war crime tribunals, 194

Wendland, E., 251

widows, 275, 276

Wilder, Laura Ingalls, 65

William of Occam, 196

wine and alcohol, 43–46, 58–59, 96

contemporary use of, 62–63

restoration and, 136–37

used metaphorically, 190–91

Wolff, H. W., 120

women, marriage of, 46–47

worship

deceitful, 232–33, 235

and ethical decision-making, 305–7

and the Great Commission, 305–6

meaningful, 236, 238–39

modern, 278

remembering God in, 307–9

written communication, 165

Y

Yahweh, meaning of, 37–38. See also God

Z

Zarephath, 151–52, 199, 200

Zechariah, 210–11, 305

Zerubbabel, 25, 207

Zion, God dwelling on, 135–36