3/JESUS
3/4 OLD TESTAMENT, 1000 BC to 1BC
KING DAVID. David reigned for 40
years about 1000 years before the birth of Jesus. He was a shepherd from
Bethlehem who was in the service of King Saul. He was a brave warrior and in
battle killed a giant enemy warrior. God commanded the prophet Samuel to anoint
David who then became the second king of Israel after the death of King Saul.
He made Jerusalem his capital. During his reign, he made Israel rich, powerful,
and had extended its boundaries becoming very large. David was Israel's greatest King. As he was
dying, he appointed one of his sons, Solomon, to succeed him as king.
KING SOLOMON. Solomon, the son of
King David, reigned around 950 years before the birth of Jesus. In a dream God
told Solomon to ask for a gift. He did not ask for power, riches or a long life
for himself but for wisdom to be a good king. Pleased with this answer, God
granted him the wisdom he requested. Solomon built the magnificent temple in
Jerusalem which became the center of their religion. He was famous not only for
his wisdom but also for his riches and for the grandeur of his kingdom. Unfortunately upon his death, his kingdom
became divided into the north called Israel and the south called Judea.
THE CALL OF ISAIAH. Isaiah preached
for 40 years in the southern kingdom off Judea. He preached a message of
disaster which was rejected by the leaders and the people. One day while
praying in the Jerusalem temple, he had a vision of God's holiness. He realised
that he was sinful in comparison with God's holiness. Yet an angel purified him
by removing his sins. He heard God was looking for a messenger. Isaiah
responded to this request and became God's messenger and prophet. He faithfully
carried God's message to the King, princes, leaders and to the people.
