Multiple Choice Bible Quiz

Certain words become attached to particular people.

In our recent Presidential campaign, (whether you agree with their claims or not), one candidate became associated with the word "change" while another became associated with the word "maverick".

Certain words become attached to particular places.

If you hear Eiffel Tower you think Paris. If you hear Fenway Park you think Boston.

The Bible is no different, I suppose, in that way. You hear particular words and you think of Scripture. Below are six of the great words the people of Scripture have used.

See if you can match the number of times each word occurs in the King James Version On the left is the word. On the right is the number of times the word occurs in the O.T./N.T. Match the correct word in column A with the correct numbers in column B.



1. Creation A. 42/1

2. Covenant B. 257/23

3. Exodus C. 79/16

4. Fatherless D. 0/6

5. Idols E. 623/14

6. Offerings F. 0/0


The answers are below (according to www.bible.com).

- "Creation" D. Occurs 0 times in the O.T. and 6 times in the N.T. "Create" and "Created"however, occur with more frequency.

- "Covenant" B. Occurs 257 times in the O.T. and 23 times in the N.T. It was #2 on our short list. It is a key component to understanding the way God views us. A covenant is based upon a relationship between two parties. Our understanding of living as people of faith in the world includes our partnering and interacting with God based upon that Covenant.

- "Exodus" F. Occurs 0 times in the O.T. and 0 times in the N.T. The idea appears all over the place and the Exodus Event is referenced often. But the word itself does not appear in Scripture.

- "Fatherless" A. Occurs 42 times in the O.T. and 1 time in the N.T. Surprised how often this one shows up? What does it say about how God thinks about the defenseless, those who are in need, and the importance of a healthy, highly functioning family?

- "Idols" C. Occurs 79 times in the O.T. and 16 times in the N.T. Another key concept in the Judeo-Christian theology. The Scripture tells us The LORD our God, the LORD is one. There are not multiple gods. We often attempt to make God in our own image or conform God to our idea. But Scripture is clear that every other idea or interpretation, ultimately, is a poor copy of the The Real.

- "Offerings" E. Occurs 623 times in the O.T. and 14 times in the N.T. Surprised how often this one occurs? Even I was. Among other things, this tells that me giving back to God is a key component in our relationship with God.

But the one that caught my attention initially was "fatherless". I was reading Psalm 10. Twice the Psalmist mentions this word and these people within the space of five verses:

But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are a helper of the fatherless (v14)

You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed...(v18a)

God is a "Helper of the Fatherless" and a "Defender of the Fatherless".

If those are descriptions of who God is, and we are God's people, then those should be descriptions of what we are like and what we do.

Who lives, sits, walks, laughs, yells, studies or works close to you? Do any of them fit in the categories of fatherless or oppressed?

What might you do today to carry God's help or defense to them?

Grace & peace