Tag: bsf answers questions lesson 17

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 4: Zechariah 1:4-5

December 17, 2025November 24, 2025 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 1:4-5

“Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. ⁵Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever?”

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17 Day 4: Zechariah 1:4-5

7a) Don’t be like your ancestors. Turn from your evil ways and practices.

b) To remember what it was like in exile. They remembered that their ancestors died in captivity, proving sin has deadly consequences. They realized that while the prophets were gone, their warnings had come true. This forced them to admit that humans are temporary, but God’s Word is eternal and inevitably overtakes those who ignore it.

8a) Because if you don’t learn from history, you’ll repeat the mistakes of the past. Reflecting on history exposes the undeniable link between actions and consequences. It prevents repeating past failures by showing that while generations pass, truth remains constant. We gain wisdom from our ancestors’ errors, allowing us to choose obedience today rather than suffering the same regrets.

b) I think people can get too caught up in the guilt of it all, when they need to let it go, learn from it, and move forward. Past failures can create a prison of fear, convincing people that history inevitably repeats itself. Shame paralyzes them, making them feel defined by old wounds rather than future potential. This mindset blocks hope, causing them to surrender to cynicism instead of trusting God for a new beginning.

A healthy response acknowledges past failures without being defined by them. It involves honest confession and learning from mistakes, then accepting God’s grace to break the cycle. We use history as a guide, not a shackle, trusting that repentance opens the door to a new, redeemed future.

c) I have seen His faithfulness in all that I do, how He helps and guides me, and this helps me to trust Him as I move forward in life.

We learn that we are fragile and prone to wandering, highlighting our deep need for grace. Conversely, the past reveals God as the faithful constant. We see that while we change, He remains patient and sovereign, proving that His mercy is greater than our mistakes and His plan outlasts our failures.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 4: Zechariah 1:4-5

Great lessons about learning from your past and using history to trust in God. So good!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 4: Zechariah 1:4-5

It’s important to learn from your ancestors the mistakes they made so that you do not repeat them.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

These verses act as a stern reality check regarding the consequences of ignoring God.

De-romanticizing the Past: Zechariah warns the people not to idealize their heritage. Their “fathers” (ancestors) had the same opportunity to repent when the “former prophets” (like Jeremiah and Isaiah) preached, but they stubbornly refused. Tradition is not an excuse for disobedience.
The Argument from Mortality: Verse 5 asks two haunting rhetorical questions: “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?” Zechariah is forcing them to look at the graveyards.
- The ancestors are dead (many in exile), proving they could not outrun God’s judgment.
- The prophets are dead, proving that the opportunity to hear God’s word through a specific messenger is limited.

Conclusion

Humanity is transient, but accountability is permanent. You cannot wait out God; the messengers will eventually pass away, and the stubborn will eventually die, but the window to repent is open now.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 3: Zechariah 1:2-3

December 16, 2025November 24, 2025 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 1:2-3

“The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. ³Therefore, tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17 Day 3: Zechariah 1:2-3

5a) That God gets angry. It reveals God as consistently just and faithful. By citing His anger at their ancestors, He proves He is not indifferent to evil and keeps His word. He addresses the past honestly, showing He takes the covenant seriously. This establishes that His mercy is a deliberate choice, not an oversight of sin.

b) God is slow to anger; whereas, humans are quick to anger. God is a jealous God. God offers judgment. Human anger is often impulsive, selfish, and uncontrolled, driven by wounded pride. God’s anger is a deliberate, righteous reaction to evil. It is always just, measured, and constructive. Unlike human rage, God’s anger is never a loss of control but a necessary defense of holiness and justice.

c) Through the blood of Jesus Christ.

6a) ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.

b) God loves us infinitely. He is our strength from the devil and temptation. If we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up. It reveals God as redemptive and responsive. He takes the initiative to invite sinners back, proving He desires relationship over judgment. His promise to “return to you” (Zechariah 1:3) or “draw near” (James 4:8) shows that He is not distant; He is waiting to embrace anyone who humbly turns to Him.

c) He calls me to be close to Him and be more like Jesus. Through blessing me every day. Through challenges that make me rely on Him. Through prayer, faith, Bible study, and others. He calls me every day.

God calls people through the initiative of His Word and the internal conviction of the Holy Spirit. He uses Scripture, human messengers, and sometimes difficult circumstances to awaken a spiritual need. His call is an invitation to relationship, promising that if they humbly turn to Him, He will meet them there.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 3: Zechariah 1:2-3

Great message of God’s great love for His people that He will never quit calling us to Him.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 3: Zechariah 1:2-3

This is a reminder that God was angry with the Jews’ ancestors, and they were banished. The same can happen to them, too.

God promises the people He is close, but they must choose to return to Him.

Remember, we are the ones who have moved away from God, not the other way around. James 4:8

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

These verses establish the ground rules for the post-exilic relationship between God and Israel, pivoted on acknowledgment and action.

Validation of History: God bluntly validates the trauma of the exile: “The Lord was very angry with your fathers.” He does not sugarcoat the past; the destruction of Jerusalem was a righteous judgment on previous generations.
The Invitation: The core message is a conditional promise of reciprocity: “Return to me… and I will return to you.” The Hebrew word for “return” (shuv) implies a literal change of direction, not just a feeling.
Urgency: The title “Lord of Hosts” (God of Armies) is repeated three times in one sentence, emphasizing that this is a supreme command, not a casual suggestion.

Conclusion

God is not holding a grudge over the past, nor is He distant; He is responsive. The restoration of His presence is guaranteed, but it waits upon the people’s initiative to move toward Him first.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 2: Zechariah 1:1

December 15, 2025November 24, 2025 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 1:1

“In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo”

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17 Day 2: Zechariah 1:1

3a) Zechariah was a prophet of the Lord who was called to prophesy to the people. His grandfather was a priest who returned with Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and with Joshua to Jerusalem, who was the head of a priestly family.

b) The timing of Zechariah’s prophecy sets it two months after Haggai’s first prophecy (Haggai 1:1) and within a month after another prophecy of Haggai (Haggai 2:1). This was between October and November of 520 B.C.

4a) Zechariah and Haggai were trying to get the people to rebuild the temple of the Lord. Jerusalem was paralyzed by fear and apathy. Temple construction had ceased for 14 years due to political enemies. The people prioritized their own luxury homes while God’s house lay in ruins, causing severe economic hardship. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah arrived to shatter this stagnation and spark immediate action.

b) That He cares about them and loves them infinitely. It reveals a relentless desire to dwell with His people. God refuses to abandon them to apathy or fear. By initiating contact, He shows that He remembers His covenant and values their relationship above their failures, actively intervening to restore their hope, purpose, and future glory.

c) He has guided me in the right direction and corrected me, too, if I misstepped. He always has the answers if we pray and listen and take the step we believe is right.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 2: Zechariah 1:1

Wouldn’t it be cool if God called us now like He did in OT times? I am grateful for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, but to have God’s direct words from others must have been something to behold!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 2: Zechariah 1:1

Zechariah is a prophet who lived at the same time as Haggai. He encouraged the Israelites to return to God and rebuild the temple. He wanted the Israelites’ spirits to renew and harken for God.

Zechariah means “Jehovah remembers.”

This is after the people have returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. Note that there is no king of Judah or Israel at this time. Darius sits on the throne of Persia.

Be on the lookout for pictures and symbols that Zechariah is fond of using.

Fun Fact: There are at least 27 different Zechariahs mentioned in the Bible.

Zechariah encouraged the people by telling them how much God cares for them and wants to use them for His purposes.

It’s interesting to note that Jesus mentioned Zechariah in Matthew 23:35

Fun Fact: Zechariah refers to Jesus more than any other Old Testament prophet except for Isaiah.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Zechariah 1:1 serves as the historical and theological anchor for the entire book.

Historical Reality: By dating the prophecy to the “second year of Darius” (approx. Oct/Nov 520 BC), the text acknowledges that Israel is currently under foreign (Persian) domination, not a sovereign kingdom. It places the message two months after Haggai began preaching, creating a united front for spiritual renewal.
Thematic Hope: The prophet’s name, Zechariah, means “Yahweh remembers.” His lineage (son of Berechiah) implies “Yahweh blesses.” This immediately counters the people’s fear that God had forgotten them in their post-exile struggle.
Divine Authority: The phrase “the word of the LORD came” validates that this is a direct revelation from God, not merely social commentary or human wisdom.

Conclusion

God is sovereign over human calendars and foreign kings; even in times of political weakness and delay, He remembers His covenant and intervenes in history at the exact right moment.

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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 5: John 13:22-30

December 28, 2023December 22, 2023 by atozmom, posted in BSF John's Gospel: The Truth 2023/2024

Summary of John 12:22-30

The disciples were confused and wanted to know who would betray Jesus. Jesus said whomever he gave the bread to would betray him. He gave the bread to Judas, and Satan entered him. Jesus told him to betray him quickly, and Judas left. The rest of the disciples presumed he was sent on an errand by Jesus, not that he was the betrayer.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 5: John 13:22-30

13a) Satan had a hold of Judas’ heart, and it was night.

b) Satan is always lurking, and we must constantly be vigilant in order to keep him at bay.

14) Jesus loved Judas no matter what sins he would commit. Unconditional love. So we must show this, too.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 5: John 13:22-30

I love how Jesus spared the other disciples the knowledge of Judas’ betrayal. It probably would have distracted them from the important last day of Jesus and the lessons he would teach. In addition, it shows how Jesus often spares us from knowledge for our benefit.

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 5: John 13:22-30

Peter desperately wanted to know who the betrayer was, so he asked John (the disciple whom Jesus loved who was sitting next to Jesus) to ask.

Fun Fact: John refers to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved” 4 times in his Gospel (John 13:23), (John 19:26), (John 20:2), and (John 21:20).

They most likely were laying on their stomachs for the meal. John and Judas sat next to Jesus. Judas was in the place of honor on the left side of Jesus. He could easily speak to him without being overheard.

The dipping of the bread was an honor, which was a sign of love.

Jesus told John the identity of the betrayer, but he says nothing.

Judas has multiple chances to repent.

Judas had decided to betray Jesus earlier (John 13:2), but the devil entered after the giving of the bread. Judas chose to let Satan in, as we all have free will and choices.

If the disciples had known who the betrayer was, they would have stopped him. This was not God’s plan, so the knowledge was hidden from them for the benefit of ours. We should well remember this when we don’t understand things in our lives, yet we petition God for answers who does not give them — often for our benefit.

Even those with the best teachers can (and do) fall, as we see pastors, too.

Even in the presence of the brightest Light of the World, Judas chose darkness. Never underestimate the power of Satan. Fortify yourself with the Word and power of God.

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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 3: John 13:6-17

December 26, 2023December 29, 2023 by atozmom, posted in BSF John's Gospel: The Truth 2023/2024

SUMMARY JOHN 13:6-17

Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet, but Jesus explained he would be clean this way.

Jesus told them that now they must wash the feet of others as he has. No servant is greater than his master, and if they do, they will be blessed.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 3: John 13:6-17

6a) By accepting Jesus as their Savior, their whole body was clean, not just a part. We must accept Jesus’ cleansing if we are to live.

b) All of the disciples except Judas was clean because he was about to betray Jesus. His heart did not believe in Jesus. I am clean because I believe in Jesus!

7) Because Jesus lowered himself below his disciples, and he is God. Jesus was a servant to others despite who he was.

8a) That it is an honor to serve others and be humble. It is something we should do often.

b) I think with my family.

c) Too many to list here. The more you give, the more you receive.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 3: John 13:6-17

Great example of accepting help when offered. Too many of us reject help when we need it, being too proud or self-sufficient. Let others serve you because they gain so much.

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 3: John 13:6-17

Peter goes from refusing too little to demanding too much here. Jesus must set him straight.

There is a sense that we must continually be bathed in Jesus’ graces as we grow with him, not to be saved mind you.

Jesus made sure to explain his actions to the disciples because it was so important. They are to show the same humble and sacrificial love to one another.

God blesses those who are servants to others.

We regularly acknowledge and confess our sins to be spiritually cleansed and closer to Jesus.

Anything we do for others is service, from holding the door open to giving someone a compliment or asking how they are doing. Cheering people up is service, too. It does not have to be as dramatic as actually washing feet.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 5: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; 2 Chronicles 36

December 29, 2022December 24, 2022 by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 23:31-25:30; 2 CHRONICLES 36

2 Kings 23:31-25:30

Jehoahaz^[a] was twenty-three years old when he became king. The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents^[b] of silver and a talent^[c] of gold. ⁴The king of Egypt made Eliakim, a brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Necho took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. The Lord sent Babylonian,^[a] Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by his servants the prophets.

Jehoiachin was eighteen^[e] years old when he became king. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He surrended to Nebuchadnezzar. He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. ¹⁹He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. They laid seige to Jerusalem and eventually captured it. They bound Zedekiah after killing his sons and putting his eyes out. He burned God’s temple and took Judah into captivity.

In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison

2 Chronicles 36:

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. He was taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar as a prisoner.

Jehoiachin was eighteen^[e] years old when he became king. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. ¹⁰In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, together with articles of value from the temple of the Lord, and he made Jehoiachin’s uncle,^[f] Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. ¹²He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God, and all the people became even more unfaithful to God.

God brought Babylon up against his people. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power, Cyrus king of Persia would begin building God’s temple once again.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 5: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; 20; 2 Chronicles 36

11)

Jehoahaz. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Jehoiakim. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh Necho the silver and gold he demanded. In order to do so, he taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments.

Joehoiachin. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Zedekiah. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁴Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

12a) God sent warnings to his people via messengers. He brought consequences down on them for their sin. He took their kings away in captivity and gradually he took them, too.

b) The messengers were mocked. They continued to sin. They continued to follow other gods. No one learned.

c) God is faithful even when you are not.

13) God postponed judgment for hundreds of years. God gave His people every chance. The consequences were just.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 5: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; 20; 2 Chronicles 36

Finally, the conclusion to Judah’s built-up sins. There were glimpses of light, but too few to make up for the darkness.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 5: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; 20; 2 Chronicles 36

2 Kings 23:31-25:30

Essentially, all of Judah’s final kings (who only reigned a total of 24 years) did evil in the eyes of the Lord as they were all exiled to Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar makes Judah a servant nation mainly because of where it was located near his enemies of Egypt and Assyria. The first invasion was 605 B.C. Jerusalem would be invaded again in 597 and 587 B.C. Jehoiakim rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, and it did not go well. He died, and more evil kings reigned.

Jerusalem was sacked, and the people were carried away by Nebuchadnezzar in 597. It was completely destroyed in 586 B.C. The skilled people were taken; the poor were left in Jerusalem. Jedekiah was made king by Nebuchadnezzar. He did evil and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar despite Jeremiah’s warnings Jeremiah 32:1-5. Zedekiah arrested Jeremiah and imprisoned him.

Jerusalem was under seige and finally fell. Zedekiah was taken prisoner and killed as prophesied (Ezekiel 12:13). The city was destroyed along with the temple. More people were taken except the poor. Gedaliah is made governor. He is killed. 2 Kings ends with King Jehoiachin receiving kindness from Babylon.

2 Chronicles 36:

The last 4 kings of Judah were evil. The Lord’s message is rejected, but the messengers were mocked. Jerusalem is destroyed. The people would be captives of Babylon for 70 years. They could return to their land when Persia conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. God allowed Persia to conquer the Babylonians when it was time to send his people back home. Isaiah 44:28-45:7 and Jeremiah 51:57-58 (Exodus 23:10-11).