Prophets and Kings -- Study Guide

Ellen G. White Estate

Copyright © 2021, Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

1. Information about this Book

2. Introduction: The Vineyard of the Lord

3. Chapter 1: Solomon

4. Chapter 2: The Temple and Its Dedication

5. Chapter 3: Pride of Prosperity

6. Chapter 4: Results of Transgression

7. Chapter 5: Solomon’s Repentance

8. Chapter 6: The Rending of the Kingdom

9. Chapter 7: Jeroboam

10. Chapter 8: National Apostasy

11. Chapter 9: Elijah the Tishbite

12. Chapter 10: The Voice of Stern Rebuke

13. Chapter 11: Carmel

14. Chapter 12: From Jezreel to Horeb

15. Chapter 13: “What Doest Thou Here?”

16. Chapter 14: “In the Spirit and Power of Elias”

17. Chapter 15: Jehoshaphat

18. Chapter 16: The Fall of the House of Ahab

19. Chapter 17: The Call of Elisha

20. Chapter 18: The Healing of the Waters

21. Chapter 19: A Prophet of Peace

22. Chapter 20: Naaman

23. Chapter 21: Elisha’s Closing Ministry

24. Chapter 22: “Nineveh, That Great City”

25. Chapter 23: The Assyrian Captivity

26. Chapter 24: “Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”

27. Chapter 25: The Call of Isaiah

28. Chapter 26: “Behold Your God!”

29. Chapter 27: Ahaz

30. Chapter 28: Hezekiah

31. Chapter 29: The Ambassadors From Babylon

32. Chapter 30: Deliverance From Assyria

33. Chapter 31: Hope for the Heathen

34. Chapter 32: Manasseh and Josiah

35. Chapter 33: The Book of the Law

36. Chapter 34: Jeremiah

37. Chapter 35: Approaching Doom

38. Chapter 36: The Last King of Judah

39. Chapter 37: Carried Captive Into Babylon

40. Chapter 38: Light Through Darkness

41. Chapter 39: In the Court of Babylon

42. Chapter 40: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

43. Chapter 41: The Fiery Furnace

44. Chapter 42: True Greatness

45. Chapter 43: The Unseen Watcher

46. Chapter 44: In the Lions’ Den

47. Chapter 45: The Return of the Exiles

48. Chapter 46: “The Prophets of God Helping Them”

49. Chapter 47: Joshua and the Angel

50. Chapter 48: “Not by Might, nor by Power”

51. Chapter 49: In the Days of Queen Esther

52. Chapter 50: Ezra, the Priest and Scribe

53. Chapter 51: A Spiritual Revival

54. Chapter 52: A Man of Opportunity

55. Chapter 53: The Builders on the Wall

56. Chapter 54: A Rebuke Against Extortion

57. Chapter 55: Heathen Plots

58. Chapter 56: Instructed in the Law of God

59. Chapter 57: Reformation

60. Chapter 58: The Coming of a Deliverer

61. Chapter 59: “The House of Israel”

62. Chapter 60: Visions of Future Glory

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Information about this Book

Overview

This eBook is provided by the Ellen G. White Estate. It is included in the larger free Online Books collection on the Ellen G. White Estate Web site.

About the Author

Ellen G. White (1827-1915) is considered the most widely translated American author, her works having been published in more than 160 languages. She wrote more than 100,000 pages on a wide variety of spiritual and practical topics. Guided by the Holy Spirit, she exalted Jesus and pointed to the Scriptures as the basis of one’s faith.

Further Links

A Brief Biography of Ellen G. White

About the Ellen G. White Estate

End User License Agreement

The viewing, printing or downloading of this book grants you only a limited, nonexclusive and nontransferable license for use solely by you for your own personal use. This license does not permit republication, distribution, assignment, sublicense, sale, preparation of derivative works, or other use. Any unauthorized use of this book terminates the license granted hereby. (See EGW Writings End User License Agreement.)

Further Information

For more information about the author, publishers, or how you can support this service, please contact the Ellen G. White Estate at mail@whiteestate.org. We are thankful for your interest and feedback and wish you God’s blessing as you read.

Introduction: The Vineyard of the Lord

1. In the parable of Isaiah 5, God’s original plan for Israel is described. According to this passage, what do the following represent: the vineyard, the plant, the hedge, and the tower?

2. As a keeper of God’s vineyard, what can you do in your daily activities to give people a true picture of God’s character?

3. “In the teachings of the prophets, [God’s] love for the lost race and His plan for their salvation are clearly revealed.” How does Jonah’s mission to Nineveh demonstrate the truth of this statement?

4. As Seventh-day Adventists, what special truth about God’s character is revealed by one or more of our distinctive Adventist beliefs? [4]

Chapter 1: Solomon

1. Read Philippians 2:5-8. Compare Solomon’s request for wisdom with Jesus’ attitude in coming to earth to save mankind. What similarities do you see?

2. Solomon “was never so rich or so wise or so truly great as when he confessed, „I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.’” What characteristics of a child made Solomon great and can also make each of us great?

3. Solomon faced many difficult decisions, for which he needed great wisdom. Do you have specific challenges in your life, for which you need special wisdom from God? [5]

Chapter 2: The Temple and Its Dedication

1. What two notable events in Israel’s history took place on Mt. Moriah, where Solomon’s temple was later built?

2. What were some important traits of character revealed by Solomon during the dedication of the temple?

3. Why is it important to approach God with a sense of reverence?

4. Although God cannot be confined to temples or churches made with hands, and we must worship Him “in spirit and in truth,” what benefits do you see in gathering at a special place dedicated to Him for worship? [6]

Chapter 3: Pride of Prosperity

1. When Solomon was loyal to God, he displayed great wisdom in restoring a helpless infant to its true mother. What was sadly ironic about Solomon’s choice to worship gods such as Chemosh and Molech?

2. Solomon mistakenly thought he could lead his heathen wives from idolatry to the worship of the true God, but they ended up dragging him down to their level. What lesson does his example have for a Christian who is thinking about dating an unbeliever?

3. The prosperity that Solomon enjoyed ultimately became his undoing. Why can prosperity be dangerous to our spiritual life? [7]

Chapter 4: Results of Transgression

1. In what ways did Solomon’s choice of Huram of Phoenicia to oversee construction of the temple create problems?

2. When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon, what did she say about Solomon’s wisdom? To whom did she give the credit for Solomon’s wisdom?

Prophets and Kings Study Guide

3. Within Solomon’s kingdom, highways of commerce provided an opportunity to spread the knowledge of God throughout the world. How is your environment conducive to spreading the gospel? [8]

Chapter 5: Solomon’s Repentance

1. Why couldn’t Solomon’s kingdom be restored to its previous glory and strength after he sincerely repented?

2. If seeking earthly things as the mail goal of life brings disappointment and dissatisfaction, why do so many of us do this?

3. “In our relation to others . . . every act, every word, is a seed that will bear fruit.” How have you found this to be true?

4. Have there been times of decision in your life when you should have asked: “Is this the way of the Lord?” [9]

Chapter 6: The Rending of the Kingdom

1. Solomon has been described as the “wisest man who ever lived.” Why didn’t his son Rehoboam inherit that wisdom?

2. King Rehoboam built fortified cities for defense, but what was the secret of Judah’s prosperity during the early years of his reign?

3. Rehoboam possessed several negative character traits, but if he had “placed his trust wholly in God,” he would have developed a strong character. What negative trait in your own life needs to be removed with God’s help?

4. Think of one person over whom you have great influence. What can you say or do to bring this person closer to Christ? [10]

Chapter 7: Jeroboam

1. What are the dangers of worshiping God through images, as King Jeroboam did?

2. What methods did God use to lead Israel back to Him when His people went astray?

3. Why did the prophet who rebuked Jeroboam lose his life?

4. Has there been a time in your life when you went off course and God intervened through the counsel of faithful friends or the guidance of the Holy Spirit? How did you respond? [11]

Chapter 8: National Apostasy

1. How different was King Asa’s reaction to invasion from the northern kingdom of Israel from his earlier response when the king of Ethiopia invaded?

2. Read 2 Chronicles 14:11. How can relying on God enable you to overcome the major challenges that you are facing in your life?

3. What did Ahab do that made him a worse king than Jeroboam?

4. Idolatrous Israelites put the god Baal in place of the true Creator and Sustainer of all nature. How do modern materialism and the evolutionary theory compare with ancient Baal worship? [12]

Chapter 9: Elijah the Tishbite

1. How did the Israelites react to Elij ah’s warning of impending famine?

2. How does the persistent response of Jezebel and her people to the divinely inflicted famine compare to Pharaoh’s response to the ten plagues and the Pharisees’ response to Jesus’ miracles? What does this show about human nature?

3. Because Israel would not listen to God’s appeals and warnings, He had to speak to them by judgments, such as famine. Have you experienced adversity that brought you closer to God? [13]

Chapter 10: The Voice of Stern Rebuke

1. What was the test of faith to which the widow of Zarephath responded?

2. Describe the meetings between Obadiah and Ahab.

3. Have you ever risked something important by standing up for what was right, as Obadiah did? What was the outcome?

4. How can you faithfully rebuke a fellow Christian in such a way that he or she will come closer to Christ rather than be driven away? Are there times when causing an offense is unavoidable? [14]

Chapter 11: Carmel

1. In what sense is it true that “Elijah is not alone”? How can this encourage you?

2. The prophets of Baal screamed and cut themselves to get their “god” to hear them. How does this compare to what God requires of us in order to approach Him?

3. At Mt. Carmel, God performed a miracle. But in these last days, what will happen if we trust in miracles alone as evidence of God’s work?

4. As you examine your life, are there any areas in which you are “halting between two opinions?” How can you make a wise choice? [15]

Chapter 12: From Jezreel to Horeb

1. How can we have “large faith” as Elijah did? What will be the result?

2. What might have happened if Elijah’s faith had not wavered when Jezebel threatened his life?

3. What sometimes causes a spiritual lull following a spiritual high? How can we handle this?

4. “For the disheartened there is a sure remedy—faith, prayer, work.” How do each of these three elements work to change your state of mind? [16]

Chapter 13: “What Doest Thou Here?”

1. What are some similarities between the apostate condition of the world in the time of Elijah and today?

2. “Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on God.” Are you finding this to be true?

3. How should church leaders react “when everything looks dark”? [17]

Chapter 14: “In the Spirit and Power of Elias”

1. How is God’s law like a signpost?

2. What blessings and protection result from observing the biblical seventh-day Sabbath?

3. Of what is the Sabbath a sign? Why is this especially important near the Second Coming of Jesus? [18]

Chapter 15: Jehoshaphat

1. What reforms did King Jehoshaphat initiate?

2. Although Jehoshaphat at times displayed poor judgment, God still protected him when he called for help. How does his story encourage you?

3. For victory, Jehoshaphat relied on the Lord rather than on his well-prepared military defenses. What can we learn from his success?

4. Jehoshaphat’s victorious army was led by a choir singing praises to God. What is the point of praising God when you know that you are about to meet great difficulties? [19]

Chapter 16: The Fall of the House of Ahab

1. Was Ahab responsible for Naboth’s death, even though he was not directly involved in Jezebel’s plot against Naboth?

2. Because Ahab humbled himself when Elijah rebuked him regarding Naboth, the Lord reduced the king’s punishment. What does this tell us about God’s mercy?

3. Why did King Ahaziah seek help from the pagan god Baal-zebub rather than help from God? Why do many people turn for help to occult sources rather than to the Lord?

4. What are subtle forms of occultism, paganism, and/or spiritism (e.g., through entertainment) to which you and your family members are exposed? What can you do to protect yourself and your family from these influences? [20]

Chapter 17: The Call of Elisha

1. What were the positive character traits that Elisha developed as a farmer?

2. How did Elisha’s faithfulness in small things prepare him to handle larger responsibilities? How does the same principle work in your life?

3. “Success depends not so much on talent as on energy and willingness.” Why is this true?

4. How does knowing that Moses and Elijah were taken to heaven strengthen your faith? [21]

Chapter 18: The Healing of the Waters

1. “Many are the spiritual lessons to be gathered from the story of the healing of the waters. The new cruse [i.e., bowl or jar], the salt, the spring—all are highly symbolic.” What do these things symbolize?

2. What happens if a Christian receives only without giving or attempts to give only without receiving?

3. How can understanding the “spring of life” concept help you when you are feeling spiritually dry?

4. What does “drinking from Jesus” really mean? What can you do each day to ensure that you continue to drink from Him? [22]

Chapter 19: A Prophet of Peace

1. How did Elisha’s mission differ from that of Elijah?

2. What miracles performed through Elisha were strikingly similar to miracles later performed through Christ? What is the reason for this similarity?

3. Has Christ supplied your needs (e.g., spiritual, physical, financial) through other people? Has He used you to supply the needs of others?

4. How do the stories of Elisha and Christ encourage us when while doing God’s work we run short of resources? [23]

Chapter 20: Naaman

1. The captive Israelite girl’s conduct in the foreign household of Naaman is a “strong witness to the power of early home training.” How do parents contribute to their child’s understanding of God?

2. Why did God want Naaman to bathe in the Jordan River?

3. Why did Elisha refuse payment from Naaman for his healing? How did Gehazi undermine the message that Elisha was attempting to convey? [24]

Chapter 21: Elisha’s Closing Ministry

1. Although there seemed no escape, Elisha’s servant was allowed to see protective horses and chariots of fire. How does this experience encourage us?

2. What can we learn from the test of faith that Elisha gave to King Joash?

3. How can we gain devotion, zeal, courage, and a love for souls?

4. Faithful Elisha died after suffering from a lingering illness. What can those who suffer despite their faithfulness to God learn from his experience? [25]

Chapter 22: “Nineveh, That Great City”

1. What was Jonah thinking, and how was Satan affecting him, when he tried to escape the responsibility that God gave to him?

2. Why was Jonah displeased when God spared Nineveh?

3. Do you see the results of God gradually withdrawing His Spirit from the world as people continue to reject His mercy?

4. How is God working in the city nearest to where you live? What can you do to help? [26]

Chapter 23: The Assyrian Captivity

1. Why does false worship appeal to sinful human nature? Why does it lead to destruction?

2. What are the evils against which the Hebrew prophets spoke?

3. What was the Lord’s purpose in bringing various judgments on His people before they were finally taken captive?

4. How has God shown his mercy and patience toward you? [27]

Chapter 24: “Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”

1. What did Satan fail to take into account when he made repeated attempts to seduce the chosen nation into apostasy through idolatry?

2. Although God is incredibly merciful, what can we learn from events, such as the Flood and Sodom and Gomorrah, regarding the consequences of persistent human rebellion?

3. After the Assyrians conquered and scattered the ten tribes of northern Israel, how did God fulfill His plan to restore the promised covenant blessings?

4. How does Christ enable you to obey God, even though your own willpower is inadequate? [28]

Chapter 25: The Call of Isaiah

1. What was the economic and spiritual condition of Judah when God called Isaiah to prophetic ministry? Do you see similar economic and spiritual conditions today? What is the relationship between these conditions?

Prophets and Kings Study Guide

2. What vision did Isaiah see at the temple, and how did he respond? How would you have reacted, and how does this vision affect your view of reality?

3. Did God promise Isaiah that his ministry would be successful? How should we measure success as we take the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to others? [29]

Chapter 26: “Behold Your God!”

1. How does Satan misrepresent God’s character? How has God revealed His true character to you?

2. How is the prophecy that the entire earth will be filled with God’s glory being progressively fulfilled today? Can you contribute to its fulfillment?

3. How pure and worthy should you be before you come to Christ? [30]

Chapter 27: Ahaz

1. What appalling conditions prevailed during the reign of King Ahaz in Judah?

2. In what ways are modern Christians still “in danger of falling into habits of formalism and of forgetting to show mercy”? Why do people prefer formalism to mercy?

3. According to Christ, what are the two basic principles of God’s law? How does this affect your desire to keep God’s commandments?

4. How did the faithlessness of Ahaz at a time of crisis lead to disaster for his nation? What can we learn from his mistakes? [31]

Chapter 28: Hezekiah

1. What was the state of the temple and its services at the beginning of the reign of King Hezekiah? How did Hezekiah respond to this situation?

2. Why had the people of Israel and Judah not been keeping Passover as a national festival? Why did Hezekiah want to revive its observance?

3. When the Holy Spirit and the presence of Christ refreshes and revives us in corporate worship, how do we carry this experience back to our homes? What practical difference does it make in our lives?

4. If Hezekiah had not been a man of faith and a reformer, what would have happened to God’s people at this dangerous time in their history? [32]

Chapter 29: The Ambassadors From Babylon

1. What miracle did God perform to give Hezekiah a sign that he would be miraculously healed?

2. What opportunity for sharing God did the miraculous sign bring to Hezekiah? How did he miss it, and what was the result?

3. Why do we as humans exert such powerful influences over one another?

4. Has God done great things in your life that you can share with others? [33]

Chapter 30: Deliverance From Assyria

1. In preparing Jerusalem for an attack by the Assyrians, how did Hezekiah cooperate with God?

2. Why is it true that “nothing more quickly inspires faith than the exercise of faith”? Have you found this true in your own experience with God?

3. How did Hezekiah react to threatening messages sent to him by the Assyrian leaders? How would you react in such an emergency?

4. What can modern nations and individuals learn from the pride of Assyria and its fall? [34]

Chapter 31: Hope for the Heathen

1. What was God’s purpose in choosing and blessing the children of Abraham?

2. What does the fact that God “is the Maker of all mankind . . . and all are one through redemption” tell us about His attitude toward racial discrimination?

3. How did the prophet Isaiah encourage the Lord’s people to welcome others from all nations to worship the true God? In what way have you been welcomed into the community of Christ? Do you welcome others, even if they differ from you and do not belong to your culture? [35]

Chapter 32: Manasseh and Josiah

1. To what extent does God’s forgiveness, as when He forgave Manasseh, wipe out the bad results of what we have done?

2. How does the frankness of Habakkuk’s cry to God affect your confidence to pray what is on your mind?

3. Read Zephaniah 1:14-16. How does this prophecy of “the great day of the Lord” apply to people who live on earth when Christ comes a second time? [36]

Chapter 33: The Book of the Law

1. Josiah cleaned up Judah by getting rid of objects associated with idolatry. How can you remove the spiritual garbage from your life? Why is it important to do this?

2. King Josiah showed respect for the Prophetess Huldah. Who are the Lord’s messengers today? How do we show them respect?

3. Why was King Josiah’s reform not enough to prevent the destruction and exile of the kingdom of Judah?

4. Why can’t our zeal for removing evil, as good as it is, atone for our past failures? How does this point to the need for atonement through the sacrifice of Christ? [37]

Chapter 34: Jeremiah

1. God chose Jeremiah when he was very young. Does God continue to call young people to His service?

2. Why do you think God chose the prophet Jeremiah, who was naturally “of a timid and shrinking disposition”? Can God still use shy people to do a great work for Him?

3. Why does God go to such trouble to warn and reach out to those who reject Him? What does this say about His mercy and His desire to give everyone the right to make a free choice, even if it is the wrong one? [38]

Chapter 35: Approaching Doom

1. God had forbidden the Rechabites to drink wine, yet Jeremiah brought them into the temple and invited them to drink. Why did Jeremiah do this? What lesson does God want us to learn from this story?

2. God told Jeremiah to break a pottery bottle in the Valley of Hinnom. Why does God communicate through object lessons such as this?

3. Why did God want King Jehoiakim to act loyally toward King Nebuchadnezzar, even though the Babylonian king was a pagan idolater? [39]

Chapter 36: The Last King of Judah

1. How did Jeremiah dramatically emphasize to a council of nations that they should submit to Babylon? What was the response?

2. Why did King Zedekiah rebel against Nebuchadnezzar, in spite of the warnings of Jeremiah and Ezekiel? Are there times in our lives when we need to submit to God’s discipline so that something worse will not happen?

3. How does Christ’s kingship contrast with that of King Zedekiah? [40]

Chapter 37: Carried Captive Into Babylon

1. Why did Zedekiah seek information from Jeremiah privately, even though he was not following the prophet’s counsel?

2. Do you have a relationship with Christ that gives you strength to resist evil?

3. The people of Babylon destroyed Solomon’s temple. What happened to the sacred Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone?

4. God showed His mercy even though Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed and many of the people of Judah were exiled to Babylon. Have you seen God’s mercy in your life, even when bad things happen? [41]

Chapter 38: Light Through Darkness

1. Why does reverence for God’s holy Word make such a difference in peoples’ lives? Are you passing God’s Word on to the next generation by teaching it to your children and other young people?

2. Why did Jeremiah buy land outside Jerusalem when it was already under control of the Babylonians and Judah was about to be conquered? Wasn’t he just throwing away his money?

3. Jeremiah’s prophecy of a “new covenant” pointed to a renewed relationship with God through Jesus. During times of great trouble to what extent can we trust God to fulfill His covenant promises to us? [42]

Chapter 39: In the Court of Babylon

1. What does it mean to say that Daniel and his companions “lived their prayers”? How can you follow their example?

2. Daniel and his friends refused to eat the king’s unclean food. Why is physical self-control in the area of appetite vitally important?

3. The story of Daniel and his friends shows us the impact that followers of God, who pursue excellence for His glory, can have in the world, even among the rich, powerful, and famous. What was the key to their success? How may we follow their example? [43]

Chapter 40: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

1. God revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar His power over the kingdoms of this world. Is this message still true? How has God revealed His power in the nations of our day?

2. The prophecy of Daniel 2 teaches that God has foreknowledge of human history—even hundreds and thousands of years before events happen. What does this teach us about God’s ability to accomplish the “counsels of His own will” in these last days?

3. The story of Daniel and the Babylonian wise men shows us the value of human and occult sources of knowledge in comparison with the wisdom of God. In your daily life, do you first consult the news media and other people’s opinions to explain the present and future, or do you search the Bible and inspired writings to understand contemporary events? [44]

Chapter 41: The Fiery Furnace

1. Why did Nebuchadnezzar order construction of a huge and magnificent image made entirely of gold?

2. The king commanded all of his subjects to bow before the image he had made. What gave Daniel’s three friends the courage to refuse to obey even if it meant their death in a fiery furnace? Sometimes nations make laws that require disobedience to God. Do you have an obligation to obey God, even if it leads to punishment or death?

3. After casting the three men into the fire, the king observed that four people were walking in the fire. Who was the fourth Person? In the last days, God’s people will experience trials similar to those faced by the three young men. What will carry them through these experiences? [45]

Chapter 42: True Greatness

1. Through a dream and Daniel’s prophetic interpretation, God mercifully warned Nebuchadnezzar of pride. How does God warn us when we are in spiritual danger?

2. In the battle between good and evil, why is pride a serious problem?

3. Do you and your leaders know and live according to the principle “that true greatness consists in true goodness”? How did Jesus demonstrate this principle in His life on earth?

4. The story of Nebuchadnezzar shows God’s patience and mercy. In what ways has God been patient and merciful to you? [46]

Chapter 43: The Unseen Watcher

1. The writing on the palace wall decreed the final judgment of Babylon. Why didn’t God give King Belshazzar another opportunity to repent and change his ways? What does this teach us about the way God works with nations and people?

2. How did the conquest of Babylon by the Medes and Persians fulfill Hebrew prophecies and show that God knows the future?

3. In what ways do we see prophecy fulfilling through events occurring in our day? [47]

Chapter 44: In the Lions’ Den

1. Read Daniel 6:4, 5, 10. Daniel was strictly honest in his business dealings and refused to compromise his faith, even when in physical danger. What lessons can you draw from this story regarding your personal business dealings and public service?

2. God could have prevented Daniel from being thrown into the lions’ den. Why does God allow us to suffer danger and trial when He could prevent it?

3. Why should we study the books of Daniel and Revelation together? [48]

Chapter 45: The Return of the Exiles

1. Why did King Cyrus let the Judean captives go free?

2. The Judeans who returned to their homeland built an altar to God before getting settled in their own houses? Like them, do you put Christ before everything else?

3. Read Jeremiah 25:11. As the 70-year prophecy of Jeremiah neared fulfillment, Daniel was distressed that God might change His plan and extend the years. Observe how Gabriel’s explanation in Daniel 9 is connected to Daniel 8:14 and the 2,300 days.

4. Read Daniel 9. Daniel was a righteous man, so why did he identify himself with his people as a sinner when he prayed? Do you identify yourself with your people when you pray? [49]

Chapter 46: “The Prophets of God Helping Them”

1. Why did the Judean leaders refuse the offer of the Samaritans to help rebuild the temple? What lesson can we learn from this?

2. How did Christ help Gabriel to counteract evil forces against His people that were at work on the Persian rulers? Do you think similar battles may still be going on?

3. According to the prophet Haggai, what was the reason for his people’s lack of prosperity? How did his message help them?

4. As He did with Zerubbabel, God never leads His people “otherwise than they would choose to be led if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose that they are fulfilling.” How does this message apply to your life? [50]

Chapter 47: Joshua and the Angel

1. Satan tries to discourage God’s people “by holding before them their imperfections of character.” Is Satan accurate when he lists the sins that God’s people have committed? What does he claim on this basis? Why?

2. Read Zechariah 3. In Zechariah’s vision, God showed the power of Christ as the Mediator to defeat the accusations of Satan against His people. Does this vision give you new confidence that Jesus can forgive you and cleanse your life from sin?

3. How does Zechariah’s vision especially apply to the last-day experience of God’s people during the conclusion of the end-time Day of Atonement? [51]

Chapter 48: “Not by Might, nor by Power”

1. Read Zechariah 4. How does Zechariah’s vision of two olive trees show that God’s Spirit is the continual source of real power in the human life?

2. Why does God allow His people to confront apparently insurmountable mountains of difficulty?

3. What was the only way in which the second temple would be honored by God more than the first temple? [52]

Chapter 49: In the Days of Queen Esther

1. Why did most Jewish exiles not return to their homeland when they were given the opportunity during the reigns of Cyrus and Darius Hystaspes?

2. What deadly peril came upon the Jews during the reign of Xerxes the Great (or as he is known in Scripture, Ahasuerus)? How did God save His people through Mordecai and Esther?

3. Is there similarity between the experience of Mordecai and that of God’s true followers at the end of time who insist on keeping God’s Sabbath commandment? How would you react to a life-or-death test of loyalty to God? [53]

Chapter 50: Ezra, the Priest and Scribe

1. In what ways did the decree of King Artaxerxes Longimanus contribute to the restoration of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish people?

2. Why did Ezra need Levites to go to Jerusalem with him?

Prophets and Kings Study Guide

3. Why did Ezra and his company rely on God’s protection alone rather than asking the king for an armed escort? Do we live as though our ultimate security comes from God? [54]

Chapter 51: A Spiritual Revival

1. How can those of God’s community who turn from Him to live in open sin largely neutralize the efforts made by those who remain faithful to Him?

2. The “widespread iniquity prevalent today” is largely due to ignorance of Scripture and disobedience. What can we do to address this problem?

3. How does Christ’s sacrifice, resurrection, and gift of the Holy Spirit give us an even greater witness to the power of truth than that which Old Testament people, such as Ezra, could give? [55]

Chapter 52: A Man of Opportunity

1. How did Nehemiah’s position in the Persian court give him a special opportunity to help his people?

2. Why did Nehemiah offer a brief, silent prayer when King Artaxerxes asked him what he needed to restore Jerusalem? Do you ever pray like that?

3. If God and the king were on Nehemiah’s side, why did he put so much of his own effort into making sure his project would succeed? Did his efforts show a lack of faith in God?

4. Should we refuse to accept gifts for God’s work from those who have no faith in Christ? Why or why not? [56]

Chapter 53: The Builders on the Wall

1. Why did Nehemiah inspect the walls of Jerusalem in secret during the night?

2. How did Nehemiah inspire his people to undertake and complete the difficult task of restoring the of Jerusalem?

3. What elements of Nehemiah’s approach to motivation would work today to encourage you and Christians to accept challenging responsibilities for God? [57]

Chapter 54: A Rebuke Against Extortion

1. How did Nehemiah solve the problem of economic oppression? What can we learn from his course of action?

2. Read 1 Timothy 6:10. Why is the love of money the root of all evil?

3. How do the lives of Christians, including the ways we treat one another, affect Christ, who unselfishly sacrificed everything for us? [58]

Chapter 55: Heathen Plots

1. How did Nehemiah answer his enemies, who invited him to a peace conference in a village on the plain of Ono?

2. Under what modern circumstances is it appropriate for us to respond as Nehemiah did, recognizing that what is called “peace” is not always good?

3. Why did the non-Israelite Tobiah have a strong influence among the Jews? How could his influence have been prevented?

4. What kind of secret working by Satan is more to be feared than his open assaults? How should you react? [59]

Chapter 56: Instructed in the Law of God

1. As the people of Judea who were gathered at Jerusalem for the yearly festivals listened to the reading of God’s law, how did it affect them?

2. Why did the Jews write out and sign their covenant renewal with God? Would it help you to write and sign your commitments to the Lord?

3. In what ways would the community of God’s people benefit by corporate repentance and covenant renewal? [60]

Chapter 57: Reformation

1. How can the spirit of Christ be revealed by one who firmly rebukes evil? How can we know when to be tolerant and when to administer judgment?

2. Why were people willing to follow Nehemiah? What can Christian leaders learn from Nehemiah?

3. How does the work of restoration and reform under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah present “a picture of a work of spiritual restoration that is to be wrought in the closing days of this earth’s history”?

4. In what sense is the current work of God’s people in restoring the true Sabbath similar to the work of Nehemiah in repairing the walls of Jerusalem? [61]

Chapter 58: The Coming of a Deliverer

1. How do the many Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah strengthen your faith that Jesus of Nazareth is the one who saves you?

2. What was the purpose of the Old Testament animal sacrifices and sanctuary rituals?

3. How did the “seventy weeks” prophecy of Daniel 9 predict the precise time when Christ would begin His ministry on earth?

4. Satan’s success in wounding Christ contributed to Christ’s victory against him. How is that possible? [62]

Chapter 59: “The House of Israel”

1. How did God’s people in the centuries following the Babylonian exile fail to cooperate with His promise to bless all people through the descendants of Abraham?

2. When people refuse to cooperate with God and so give up their opportunity to receive His covenant blessings, does this keep His purposes from being fulfilled? If not, how does God accomplish His goals?

3. Our tithes and offerings are a response of love and trust to God for what He has done for us. According to the prophet Malachi, why was it important for the people to bring their tithes and offerings to the Lord? [63]

Chapter 60: Visions of Future Glory

1. Why do the messages of comfort and forgiveness of God, written by the Hebrew prophets thousands of years ago, still give us hope and cheer?

2. How did the Hebrew prophets depict the final judgments of God upon those who reject Him?

3. In what ways did the Hebrew prophets describe the ultimate deliverance and reward of those who accept the Lord? Can you see yourself in this scenario? What appeals to you the most?

4. When Christ appears again and the great battle over evil is finally won, what will we think of our former troubles?