The kingdom divided after King Solomon's death due to King Rehoboam's harsh policies. The northern kingdom of Israel had a series of wicked kings who led the people to idolatry. The southern kingdom of Judah had some godly kings like Hezekiah and Josiah who destroyed pagan places of worship, but also many wicked kings. Both kingdoms suffered invasion and exile due to their disobedience to God.

1. GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS
Old Testament (OT) Journey
Lesson 24: A Royal Love Story - Song of Solomon
Old Testament Summary
The Patriarchal Ages
The Judges
The Reign of Royalty
The Prophetic Era

2. OT Walkthru- The Reign of Royalty
1. From Sovereign God to Earthly Kings
2. David leverages the win-win
3. The falls and recoveries of David
4. Royal Verses – Psalms
5. Royal Wisdom – Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes
6. A Royal Love Story – Song of Solomon
7. Division and Downfall of Israel
8. Esther, Queen of Persia

3. Presentation Overview
Read book of Song of Solomon
• Objectives
• Introduction
• The timeline
• The plot
• The players
• The dual referencing
• The difference
• The moral
• Too late!
• Discussion

4. Objectives
To:
• Understand the wealth of wisdom in what was probably
one of Solomon’s last writings
• Learn from His experience on lasting happiness in
marriage relationships
• Realize how the wisest king allowed folly to overtake
• Contrast it with a simple woman who chose the past of
wisdom

5. Introduction - Interpretation
While there are several theories in terms of both
authorship, date and interpretation of this book, based on
sources of:
 bible content and study itself in corroboration with
 archeological data, maps and
 studies of writings of various bible scholars,
the following are the best conclusions based on my
assessment.
.

6. The Timeline
• Date of events: 967 BC
• Same year temple building started
• Number of women he has – around 140 at this time (ch
6:8-9 - 60 queens and 80 concubines)
• Around 3-4 years after incident with David with Abishag
• Strong pointer to Shulamite being Abishag, also
considering Adonijah was killed over wanting her hand in
marriage

7. The Timeline
Date written by Solomon: around 931 BC (the year he died)
• If the King writes of why he was jilted he has come to
repentance, which was end of life
• Also chronologically placed last of his books
• He highlights the virtues and choice of the woman, wiser
than his.
• Being the last writing of the wisest King, it has a wealth of
wisdom hidden in it.

8. The Plot…
Enticed by the luxuries of the
palace and the charms of the
king, could she be faithful to
her shepherd lover?
A dramatic story!!
The players follow:

9. The Shulamite Woman
The star of the story. She:
 Is torn between king Solomon
and her shepherd lover
 Exercises a choice in an age
when women had very little
say.
What is the basis of her
decision?

10. The King
 Used marriage to build pacts
with his neighboring kingdoms.
 Tried to woo and entice this
lady with literally all the wealth
and comforts in the world
 He claimed to have loved her
above all (the other 140).
Did he regret not marrying and
being faithful to this one virtuous
woman?

11. The Beloved
Her true love. Always faithful,
patiently waiting. Ready to
receive her at all times.
Keeps coming back even
when she is busy lounging in
flirtation and luxury.
Brings her back to her home
town, Shunem, as soon as
she finally makes her
decision.

12. The Setting
Scenes, references from:
 Shunem, hometown of lady
and shepherd lover
 Solomon’s vineyards where
she was sent to work by her
brothers for 1000 shekels of
silver.
 Solomon’s palace where he
tried to woo her
 Romantic locations in
between Shunem and
palace

13. Daughters of Jerusalem
Echo the sentiments and mood
of the Shulamite woman

14. Dual Referencing
The dual referencing style of the Bible also allows a deeper
interpretation of:
 the shepherd as Jesus and
 the woman as the Church in parallel with factual data.
 The King as the attractions of the world
 The struggle between choosing the world and Jesus

15. The Difference
King Solomon Beloved
Lusts for her Loves her
Impatient, gets on with
other marriage alliances
Patient, even when she is
considering another.
Unfaithful, wants to have
the cake and eat it too
Faithful, even when she
does not receive him
Fantasizes on pleasure she
can give him
Fantasizes the
companionship
Shared with a thousand One and only

16. The Shunammite’s Decision Criteria
She Chose.. Over Reference
Commitment
– to her/God
Comfort “Where will you rest your sheep at noon? Why
should I wander like a prostitute among
your companions.” SoS 1:7
Commitment
– to her/ God
Wealth “If a man tried to buy love with everything
he owned, his offer would be utterly despised.”
SoS 8:7
Chastity Indulgence “…not to awaken love till the time is right.”
SoS 8:4
Contentment Craving “My lover is content with me” SoS 8:10 vs
“60+80+ SoS 6:8
Character Crown/
Chariots
“Solomon has a vineyard which he has
rented…as for my vineyard, I will give
it to those who care for its vines” 8:11,
“see the crown” 3:11

17. The Decision
• She eventually chooses to
return to Shunem.
• King Solomon allows her to
go after recognizing her
virtue.
• She marries the shepherd
from her home town.

18. The Moral
• The wisest King in the world relearns true spiritual wisdom
at the end of his life
• His worldly wisdom had conflicted with spiritual wisdom.
• He realizes the fruits direct violation of God’s command -
foreign wives
• He regrets his poor choice and recognizes her right
choice
• He humbly acknowledges that in this matter the Shulamite
woman is wiser than him
• He carefully reflects on her values in contrast with his

19. The Moral (Cont’d)
After his tryst with 1000 women it was:
• One woman
• True love
• The charm of purity and chastity
• A partner who worshipped God
• The power and integrity of building the foundations of
God’s kingdom together
That deeply impacted his thoughts in his final stage of life.

20. King Solomon Regrets.. Too Late
He desperately warns his sons not to
follow his footsteps but in vain. The
kingdom is ripped apart as God’s
judgment – after his death.

21. King Solomon Regrets.. Too Late
Children learn from
our examples far
more than from our
warnings.

22. The Quester Failed His Quest
In his quest for wisdom, he missed
out on true wisdom
In his quest for prosperity, he missed
out on true riches
In his quest for lovers, he missed out
on true love

23. Discussion
• What parameters would we consider for a choice of a
partner?
• How can it impact our life for generations?
• What does the much used phrase “do not awaken love till
the time is ripe” warn about? Why
• In the dual referencing, what do we learn about our
relationship with God?
“House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a
prudent wife is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 19:14)

24. References - People

25. References - Places

26. References
1. The house of the rising sun (song)
2. http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-song-of-solomon.htm
3. http://thruthebible.ca/notes/Ecclesiastes-Song_of_Solomon.pdf by by J. Vernon
McGee
4. http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-maps-timeline-chronology-
song-of-solomon-song-canticles-abishag-shepherd-boy-love-triangle-
960bc.htm by Steve Rudd
5. http://www.bible.ca/maps/maps-master-archeological-bible-study-map-israel-
promised-land-song-of-solomon-song-canticles-shulammite-shunem-abishag-
shepherd-boy-love-triangle-960bc.jpg by Steve Rudd
6. (map of places, dates)
7. http://www.bible.ca/archeology/genealogy-house-of-solomon-1000-wives-
abishag-bathsheba-david-haggith-adonijah-naamah-reheboam-abijam-asa-
song-of-solomon-song-canticles-shepherd-boy-love-triangle-960bc.jpg (events,
dates, people) by Steve Rudd
8. http://bereanbibleexpositions.org/assets/pdf/Eccl_Song.pdf by Dr. Jack B. Scott
9. http://www.gty.org/resources/bible-introductions/MSB22/song-of-solomon
10. http://www.biblenews1.com/docs/shulamit.htm

27. GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS
Old Testament (OT) Journey
Lesson 25: Division and Downfall of Israel
Old Testament Summary
The Patriarchal Ages
The Judges
The Reign of Royalty
The Prophetic Era

28. OT Walkthru- The Reign of Royalty
1. From Sovereign God to Earthly Kings
2. David Leverages the Win-Win
3. The Falls and Recoveries of David
4. Royal Verses – Psalms
5. Royal Wisdom – Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes
6. A Royal Love Story – Song of Solomon
7. Division and Downfall of Israel
8. Esther, Queen of Persia

29. Presentation Overview
• Read 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles.
• The Rapid Decline of the Kings
• God’s Warning
• Division Triggered
• Kings of Judah and Israel
• Highlights
• Leaving a Legacy

30. God had spoken to Rehoboam's father,
Solomon… The Lord said, "As for you, if you
walk before Me as your father David
walked, even to do according to all that I have
commanded you, and will keep My statutes and
My ordinances, then I will establish your royal
throne as I covenanted with your father David,
saying, "You shall not lack a man to be ruler in
Israel.' (2 Chronicles 7:17,18).
GOD’S WARNING

31. But if you turn away and forsake My
statutes and My commandments which I
have set before you, and go and serve
other gods and worship them, then I will
uproot you from My land which I have given
you, and this house which I have
consecrated for My name I will cast out of
My sight and I will make it a proverb and a
byword among all peoples.” (2 Chronicles
7:19,20).
GOD’S WARNING (CONT’D)

32. .. thus says the LORD, the God of
Israel, "Behold, I will tear the kingdom
out of the hand of Solomon and give
you ten tribes (but he will have one
tribe, for the sake of My servant
David and for the sake of Jerusalem..
(1 Kings 11:31, 32).
GOD’S JUSTICE

33. Rehaboam’s Pronouncement
My Father laid heavy
burdens on you but I’m
going to make them even
heavier (1 Kings 12:11)

34. Rehaboam’s Pronouncement – Cont’d
My father beat you with
whips.. (1 Kings 12:11)

35. Rehaboam’s Pronouncement Cont’d
…but I will beat you with
scorpions (1 Kings 12:11)

36. The Advice
The older men who had
been Solomon's advisors
counseled Rehoboam, "If
you will be a servant to this
people today, and will serve
them and grant them their
petition, and speak good
words to them, then
they will be your
servants forever." (1
Kings 12:7)

37. The Kingdom Divided
So the king did not
listen to the people; for
it was a turn of events from
the LORD, that He
might establish His
word, which the LORD
spoke through Ahijah the
Shilonite to Jeroboam the
son of Nebat. (1 Kings
12:14-15)).

38. Kings of Israel
Jehu, not good but better than
the rest, 841—814 BC
Jehoahaz, bad, 814—798 BC
Joash, bad, 798—782 BC
Jeroboam II (overlap), bad,
793—753 BC
Zechariah, bad, 753 BC
Shallum, bad, 752 BC
Menahem, bad, 752—742 BC
Pekahiah, bad, 742—740 BC
Pekah (overlap), bad, 752—732
BC
Hoshea, bad, 732—722 BC

39. Kings of Israel (Cont’d)
Jehu, not good but better than
the rest, 841—814 BC
Jehoahaz, bad, 814—798 BC
Joash, bad, 798—782 BC
Jeroboam II (overlap), bad,
793—753 BC
Zechariah, bad, 753 BC
Shallum, bad, 752 BC
Menahem, bad, 752—742 BC
Pekahiah, bad, 742—740 BC
Pekah (overlap), bad, 752—732
BC
Hoshea, bad, 732—722 BC

40. Kings of Judah
Rehoboam, bad mostly, 933—916 BC
Abijah, bad mostly, 915—913 BC
Asa, GOOD, 912—872 BC
Jehoshaphat (overlap), GOOD, 874—
850 BC
Jehoram/Joram, bad, 850—843 BC
Ahaziah, bad, 843 BC
Athaliah (queen), devilish, 843—837 BC
Joash/Jehoash, good turned bad, 843—
803 BC
Amaziah, good mostly, 803—775 BC
Uzziah/Azariah (overlap), GOOD mostly,
787—735 BC

41. Kings of Judah
Jotham (overlap), GOOD, 749—
734 BC
Ahaz, wicked, 741—726 BC
Hezekiah, VERY GOOD, 726—
697 BC
Manasseh, the worst, 697—642
BC
Amon, the worst, 641—640 BC
Josiah, THE BEST, 639—608
BC
Jehoahaz, bad, 608 BC
Jehoiakim, wicked, 608—597 BC
Jehoiachin, bad, 597 BC
Zedekiah, bad, 597—586 BC

42. Better Kings of Israel-God’s Patience
• Jehu – destroyed Baal
worshippers but retained
calves of Dan and Bethel –
did not honour God with an
undivided heart and turn from
sins of Jeraboam
• Joash – did not deviate from
sins of Jeraboam’Beat Aram 3
times (strike ground and
prophet story)
• Jeraboam – Did evil as
Jeraboam – but God did not
want to blot Israel out – gave
him victories

43. Better Kings of Judah
• Asa:Got rid of prostitutes
and threw out idols. Did
not get rid of local
sex-and-religion
shrines. War with
Baashah king of Israel.
• Jehoshaphat: Continued
in ways of Asa.
Maintained peace with
Israel. Did not get rid
of sex-and-religion
shrines

44. Better Kings of Judah (Cont’d)
• Joash: Renovated
temple but after
Jehoaida’s death joined
leaders of Judah and
took up with cult of
sex godesses. Killed
Johaida’s son Zechariah
who warned him.
Aramanean troops
attacked and wounded
Joash so badly that his
own had to kill him

45. Better Kings of Judah (Cont’d)
• Amaziah: Served God but
did not get rid of sex-
and-religion shrines
• Uzziah: Served God but
did not get rid of sex-
and-religion shrines –
skin disease
• Jotham: Served God but
did not get rid of sex-
and-religion shrines. God
sent Rezin king of Aram
and Pekah son of
Remaiah to attack Judah.

46. Best Kings of Judah
• Hezekiah: Destroyed sex-and-
religion shrines and pulverized
bronze serpent.
God saved them from Assyria
• Josiah: Destroyed all sex-and-
religion shrines including those
built by kings of Israel. There was no
king to compare with Josiah
– killed by Pharoah Neco.
God’s anger did not cool and he
decided to hand over Judah to
enemies

47. Highlights of the Kings [2]
• Evil rulers
• God’s patience
• God’s grace when King and people turned to Him
• God’s long delay before captivity
• Good father’s bad sons, vice versa
• Man’s total inability to rule for God.
• Prophets killed, pursued, ill-treated
• Prophets become more prominent, priests play a lesser
role

48. What Legacy Do We
Leave?
“For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law
in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should
teach them to their children, that the generation to
come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they
may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put
their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but
keep His commandments.” (Psalm 78:5-7).

49. Find us Faithful
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eERKnxzNzwg

50. Discussion
• What trends to we observe causing the decline of
the kings?
• What lessons do we learn?
• What steps can we take to leave a good legacy?

51. References
• http://www.gotquestions.org/kings-Israel-
Judah.html#ixzz3DTMm1eXE
• www.bible.ca

53. GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS
Old Testament (OT) Journey
Lesson 26: Esther, Queen of Persia
Old Testament Summary
The Patriarchal Ages
The Judges
The Reign of Royalty
The Prophetic Era

54. OT Walkthru- The Reign of Royalty
1. From Sovereign God to Earthly Kings
2. David leverages the win-win
3. The falls and recoveries of David
4. Royal Verses – Psalms
5. Royal Wisdom – Proverbs
6. A Royal Story - Ecclesiastes
7. Israel Divided
8. The Kings of Judah
9. Esther, Queen of Persia

55. Presentation Overview
• Read Book of Esther
• Background
• Timeline
• The King, Queen and Empire
• On God’s watch
• Esther, the vessel God used
• God behind the scenes
• The players today
• Discussion
• Lessons Learned

56. पृष्ठभूमि - यहूदियों पर कब्जा कर मिया
Background – Jews captured
• After the fall of the
kings, God hands
His people over to
the enemies
• Israel (northern
kingdom) is
captured by Assyria
in 722 BC;
• Judah captured by
Babylon in 597 BC.

57. Background - The Persian Empire

58. पृष्ठभूमि - कु स्रू पर भविष्यिाणी
Background - Prophecy on Cyrus
Over 200 years prior, Isaiah prophecied
• 27"It is I who says to the depth of the sea,
'Be dried up!' And I will make your rivers
dry.
• 28"It is I who says of Cyrus, 'He is My
shepherd! And he will perform all My
desire.' And he declares of Jerusalem,
She will be built,' And of the temple, Your
foundation will be laid.'“ Isaiah 44:27,28-
Isaiah probably prophesied over 200 yrs.
Definitely before he was born

59. Background
• The Jews were
scattered.
• King Cyrus permits
them to return.
• One group returns to
Jerusalem under
Zerubabbel.
• God’s providence is
demonstrated

60. Meaning of Names
• Hadassah, Esther's Jewish
name, means 'myrtle', a tree
whose leaves only release
their fragrance when
crushed.
• Esther means 'hidden': like
her Jewish identity.
• Ahasuerus means 'ruler of
heroes';
• Mordecai means warrior
• Vashti means the beloved
one, beautiful, best

61. The Jews Return [4]
1) Zerubbabel led the
first wave of Jewish
exiles to return in 536
B.C. (Ezra 1-6)
• In 535 B.C. the
construction of the
temple began.
• In Feb 18, 516 B.C. the
temple was completed
and dedicated.
• Big gap of 57 years -
Esther's time

62. The Jews Return [4]
2) Ezra led the second
in 455 B.C. (Ezra 7-10)
• Ezra left with about 1500
men and their families in
mid-March 455 B.C.
• In August of 455 B.C.,
the little group arrives
safely in Jerusalem.
3) Nehemiah led the
third in 445 B.C. (Neh 1-
3)

63. Timeline of Events in Esther [2]
483 BC Queen Vashti Deposed Esther 1
478 BC Esther Becomes Queen Esther 2
478 BC Mordecai Thwarts a Conspiracy Esther 2:21
474 BC Haman Seeks Revenge on the Jews Esther 3
473 BC Mordecai Informs Esther of Haman's Plot Esther 4
473 BC Esther Prepares a Banquet Esther 5
473 BC The King Honors Mordecai Esther 6
473 BC Haman Is Hanged Esther 7
473 BC Xerxes' Edict on Behalf of Esther and
Jews
Esther 8
472 BC Purim Instituted Esther 9
472 BC Xerxes' Tribute to Mordecai Esther 10

64. The King
King Ahaseurus
traditionally identified
with Xerxes I of
Persia. Xerxes I of
Persia reigned from 486
BC when he was 36
until he was
assassinated in 465 BC.
Darius died in 485
BC [1]

65. The Persian Empire

66. Vashti Dethroned
What matters is that God planned for his people to lead this
nation and Vashti paved the way.
Some hail Vashti as
good – protecting
honour
Others bad –
disobedience
among other
issues.

67. On God’s Watch
For this is what the
LORD Almighty says:
"After the Glorious One
has sent me against the
nations that have
plundered you--for
whoever touches you
touches the apple of his
eye”—Zechariah 2:8

68. On God’s Watch
The king’s heart is in
the hand of the
LORD, like the rivers
of water; he turneth it
withersoever he will.
(Proverbs 21:l)

69. Satan’s Destructive Designs
• Satan strategy to
destroy God’s people
• Ever since the
kingdom was divided
• culminating in the 1945
holocaust where 6
million Jews were
killed.
Soon after was the birth
of Israel in 1948 – in
one day

70. Esther – the Vessel God used
Esther demonstrated
intelligence, beauty
and virtue by her:
• Unquestioning
obedience
• Unshakeable faith
• Unwavering
determination

71. Unquestioning Obedience
Obeyed
Hegai
• 15 When the turn came for Esther to go to the king, she asked for
nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of
the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw
her. Esther 2
Obeyed
Mordecai
• 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as
Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s
instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up. Esther 2
Disobeyed
Kings orders
• for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without
being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death
unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their
lives.Esther 4:11
• I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I
perish.” 4:16

72. Unshakeable Faith and Courage
Prepared all
Jews in
Susa by
fasting for
three days
(4:16)
Prepared to
face
consequences
even to death
(4:16)
Prepared to
face enemy
in the
eye(5:4,8)

73. Unwavering Determination
Esther saw the defense through to the end
12 The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed
and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of
Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the
rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It
will be given you. What is your request? It will also be
granted.”
13 “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews
in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow
also, and let Haman’s ten sons be impaled on poles.”
Esther 9

74. God Behind the Scenes
Haman rises
Haman plans destruction of Jews
Haman erects a gallows for
Mordecai
Mordecai rises
God turns it into defense for Jews and
destruction of Haman and his sons.
God converts it into gallows for Haman

75. Nations Feared God’s Hand
His advisers and his
wife Zeresh said to him,
“Since Mordecai, before
whom your downfall has
started, is of Jewish
origin, you cannot
stand against him—
you will surely come to
ruin!” Esther 6:13,14

76. Mordecai warns Esther of God’s Hand
12 When Esther’s words were
reported to Mordecai, 13 he
sent back this answer: “Do not
think that because you are in
the king’s house you alone of
all the Jews will escape.14 For
if you remain silent at this
time, relief and
deliverance for the Jews will
arise from another place, but
you and your father’s family
will perish. And who knows but
that you have come to your
royal position for such a time
as this?” Esther 4

77. by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as
"background reading" on Iran.
On Purim 2012 (eve of Wed, Mar 7- eve of Thur, Mar 8)
Obama Presented with Book of Esther

78. Israel’s Right for Self Defence 2014
The representative from Pakistan
insisted that it was “morally
abhorrent” and “legally incorrect”
to label Israel’s actions in Gaza
this summer as self-defense. The
United Arab Emirates agreed, and
asserted that as an occupying
power, Israel had no right to use
military force in self-defense. [3]
Muslim States Say Israel Has No Right to Self-Defense
Wednesday, September 24, 2014 | Israel Today Staff

79. Discussion
• Who was the real star of the story. Why?
• What do we see happening to the Jews through the
centuries?
• What will be the outcome?
Ref. Jeremiah 23:7-8; Ezekiel 36:24-32 ; Matthew 24:15-
22; Jeremiah 30:7 Zechariah 12:10; 13:1,8-9 ; Romans
11:25-32 Acts 3:19-26 ;Revelation 20:1-6 ; Zechariah 14:9-
21

80. Conclusion
• God was bringing them
back for Christ’s coming.
• With his rejection, they
are under attack till they
again receive Christ as a
nation – when He comes
again.
• Is Christ our Lord and
King?

81. Lessons Learned
• Day of destruction becomes day of deliverance
• God’s care over Jews within and outside his perfect plan
• When evil rises, God surprises
• Even in captivity God raised Esther and Mordecai as his
leaders to save his people

82. References
1. amazingbibletimeline.com
2. Biblehub.com
3. Israel Today
4. foundationsforfreedom.net