OTHCC Chapter 38: items 741 - 760

The Old Testament in the Heart of the Catholic Church < > All Chapters

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Isaiah sees God, trembles at his own lack of holiness, and is called to prophecy a coming desolation, with only a remnant to survive it. Read Isa 6. Now read in a similar vein Isa 5:1-7. However, Israel is a light to the whole world (to the nations). Read Isa 2:1-5. Also read Isa 9:2-7. The Church refers to Isa 9:6 in the Entrance Antiphon of masses on Christmas day.

Second Isaiah is a collection of short poems proclaiming the liberation of Israel and the restoration of Israel. Read Isa 40:1-5. This famous poem is the beginning of Second Isaiah. Even in translation you may notice differences in style between it and First Isaiah. Second Isaiah contains the Servant Songs particularly treasured by the Catholic Church as showing forth the reality of Jesus the Messiah. >>

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Many scholars say that Third Isaiah, chapters 56-66, may have been compiled from several sources but at least in part portrays a post-exilic community having returned to Jerusalem and now in conflict and disarray. Read Isa 58:12. The problem evidently was that the ''ancient ruins'' were not being rebuilt quickly, and that there was much poverty. Isaiah links the two. Helping the needy will create what is needed to restore Jerusalem. Read Isa 58:1-12.

The prophet Haggai, prophesying around the same time and seeing the exact same situation, takes a completely different view: God is punishing the people for neglecting his Temple. Rebuild the Temple, and prosperity will follow. Read Haggai 1:2-11. The Old Testament preserved both viewpoints.

Third Isaiah ends (Isa 66:24) with a grisly image of doom for the enemies of the LORD (if you must know, their dead bodies are consumed by fire and eaten by worms for all eternity), but prior to that is a message of great hope which is picked up in the book of Revelation. Read Isa 65:17-25. Finally, read Isa 61:1-2, which Jesus taught referred to himself (read Luke 4:16-21). <<

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah >> Jeremiah << Lamentations Baruch* Ezekiel Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

Read the prophet Jeremiah's call from God, Jer 1:4-19. Now read Jer 15:10-18. From these passages it is apparent that Jeremiah

a.   answered God's call reluctantly and felt fierce opposition to his message.
b.   did not hear God's call until late in life and his message was well-received.
c.   found it very difficult to be eloquent and never spoke about his own fate.

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Jeremiah lived during the time that Jerusalem was invaded and destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC. Read Jer 7, one of the most famous of Jeremiah's sermons, which outlines his basic message. It is:

a.   God is pleased with moderation and prudence in worldly affairs.
b.   Reform your lives and believe, or even the Temple will be destroyed.
c.   The Temple can not be destroyed, but God is greatly displeased.

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Read Jer 36:1-8. Jeremiah had a secretary who wrote down many of his prophecies. These became the foundation of the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah's secretary was

a.   Baruch.
b.   Josiah.
c.   Neriah.

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Jeremiah had prophesied that Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed, and it happened as Jeremiah had foretold, but there are passages in Jeremiah that are prophesies of great hope, especially chapters 30-31. The people will return from their exile. Read Jer 30:1-22.

However, the most famous and important prophecy from Jeremiah from the point of view of the Catholic Church is contained in Jer 31:31-34, the prophecy of the new covenant. A new covenant is coming in which the law will be kept because of God's intervention. He himself will give men the power to respond to his holiness.

Catholics call this power to keep covenant with God and be in intimate union with him, brought about by the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, grace. Read Jer 31:31-34. St. Paul in 2 Cor 3-5 and the author of the letter to the Hebrews in Heb 8:6-9:15 explicitly use Jeremiah's prophecy of the new covenant to develop central doctrines of the Catholic faith.

(For additional context, you may read these chapters from second Corinthians and Hebrews now, if you like).

Many details of Jeremiah's life are included in the book of Jeremiah - even many details of his feelings, as in the passage Jer 15:10-18. He was eloquent, sensitive, and did not want to be a prophet, but he was called by God to criticize kings, excoriate the morals and the worship of both people and priests, and prophesy doom and destruction for both the nation and the Temple.

He was absolutely right, but his reward during his lifetime (as the book of Jeremiah records) was that his own relatives plotted his death, and that he was nearly executed for blasphemy against the Temple. He had to be in hiding for years at a time, and legend has it that he was killed by his own people while living in hiding in Egypt. <<

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah >> Lamentations << Baruch* Ezekiel Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

The book of Lamentations appears to be a collection of five

a.   histories.
b.   poems.
c.   prophecies.

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Read Lam 1:1-3. Lamentations appears to be concerned with

a.   reflections on suffering not tied to any specific event.
b.   the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile in Babylon.
c.   the political context explaining why Jerusalem fell.

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If you read Lamentations 1 in Hebrew, you would notice that each stanza in the poem

a.   begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet.
b.   has a radically different theme than the one before.
c.   rhymes with the verse just preceding it.

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The first four poems in Lamentations are acrostics - each stanza in the poem begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Poets from many different times and cultures have sometimes combined a rigid formal structure (such as an acrostic) with expressions of overwhelming emotion. For example, read Lam 2:18-22.

Read Lam 5:16-22. When Lamentations is read in the synagogue Jews repeat 5:21 again after finishing the reading of Lamentations. In this way they emphasize the teaching of Lamentations that, in the midst of devastation, God will yet save his people. <<

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations >> Baruch* << Ezekiel Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

Most modern scholars believe that the book of Baruch originated

a.   among Jews living late in the exile in Babylon or after the exile ended.
b.   prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile in Babylon.
c.   with Jeremiah's secretary, Baruch, during the exile in Babylon.

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Baruch's six chapters are concerned with:

- exiles and their faithfulness to the Temple and its worship in Jerusalem (read Bar 1:1-7)

- inculcating an understanding that the exile was a proper punishment for sin (read Bar 1:13)

- pleas for deliverance (read Bar 2:13-15)

- instruction to learn wisdom and follow the Lord (read Bar 3:9 and Bar 3:35-4:2)

- words to Jerusalem that her mourning will end (read Bar 5:1-6)

- (in chapter 6) strengthening faith by attacking and ridiculing the worship of idols, using the form of a letter from Jeremiah. <<

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Baruch* >> Ezekiel << Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

Read Ezekiel, Ezek 1:1. Ezekiel is the first Old Testament prophet to prophesy

a.   after having a vision from God.
b.   in vivid and highly poetic language.
c.   outside of the land of the Jewish people.

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The ''glory of the LORD'' is the luminous cloud, God's presence, that normally dwelt in the Temple. Read Ezek 1:26-29. Most scholars agree that, whatever the full meaning of the awesome vision Ezekiel had when God called him, it does confirm that

a.   the LORD is not tied to Jerusalem and could follow his people into exile.
b.   the LORD is pleased with his people and knows that they will listen to him.
c.   the time spent in exile in Babylon will be of a very short duration.

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A prophet would say, ''Thus says the LORD'' the way that a king's messenger would say, ''Thus says the King.'' Read Ezek 2, 3:1-11 (all of chapter two, then 3:1-11). Ezekiel is commanded by God to make certain that at least the people

a.   know that a prophet is among them.
b.   repent of their sins and see their failings.
c.   share their bread with the needy.

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The question of what to do and to believe after Jerusalem has fallen arises. Specifically, what good will it do to be faithful to God and his law, when we are doomed to live in exile forever because of our fathers' sins? (The children are tasting the bitter green grapes that the fathers have eaten). Read Ezek 18. The LORD tells Ezekiel that the present generation

a.   has personal responsibility for its own actions.
b.   should follow the law even though it doesn't matter.
c.   will be judged by the sins of its fathers.

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The Jews of Ezekiel's time, suffering in Babylon with no end in sight, ask a good question: what point is there in doing good when you are suffering already? Catholics understand that no suffering makes moving away from Christ a good thing.

Yet there is no question that suffering can severely restrict our ability to draw near to God. Furthermore, at our death, and perhaps in moments of great suffering, we are completely powerless. We are not able to draw near to God at all. However, in those moments we can still allow God to draw near to us.

Even when we are powerful and resourceful, we can not draw near to Christ without his help: ''Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.''

We know that Jesus was a man like us. He was tempted by the devil and absolutely was capable of sin, yet he remained completely innocent even during great suffering. The torture and death that Jesus endured was completely unjustified, yet never once did he turn away from his Father.

It is the faith of the whole Catholic Church that Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, made re-present at the Eucharist, is the answer to all suffering. His Eucharistic sacrifice of himself to his Church is the reason why we can with confidence continue to do whatever is in our power to draw near to Jesus, even when we are suffering.

He is Lord over death itself, and he will never abandon those who, even in their suffering, draw near to his beloved bride, the Catholic Church. He sends the Holy Spirit to console us and strengthen us always and bring us to his Father. <<

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The people of Judah are in exile in Babylon, and despair. Eternal death in Babylon appears to be their fate. Ezekiel has a vision. Read Ezek 37:1-14. In the vision the LORD says that

a.   the hope of the people is truly lost and they are cut off from life.
b.   they will rebuild but will be an empty skeleton without union with God.
c.   they will rebuild themselves as a people under their own power.

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Baruch* Ezekiel >> Daniel << || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

The book of Daniel says that the Babylonian (Chaldean) king was defeated by Darius the Mede. Read Daniel, Dan 5:30-6:1. As the Old Testament itself records in several other places, Babylon was defeated by a king who (in 538 BC) issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem. This king was

a.   Cyrus the Persian.
b.   Darius the Persian.
c.   Darius the Mede.

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The setting of the first six chapters of Daniel is the exile in Babylon. It is likely that Jews in exile in Babylon would quickly have forgotten the name and country of the king who liberated them.

a.   Yes.
b.   No.
c.   Maybe.

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