Epitome of Bible Teachings
By Daniel Hull
In Genesis the world was made by God’s creative hand.
In Exodus the Hebrews marched to gain the promised land.
Leviticus contains the law, holy, just, and good.
Numbers records the tribes enrolled, all sons of Abraham’s blood.
Moses in Deuteronomy proclaims God’s mighty deeds,
While Joshua in Canaan’s land the hosts of Israel leads.
In Judges their rebellion oft provoked the Lord to smite,
But Ruth records the faith of one well pleasing in His sight.
In First and Second Samuel of Jesse’s sons we read.
Ten tribes in First and Second Kings revolted from his seed.
In First and Second Chronicles see Judah captive led,
While Ezra leads a remnant back by princely Cyrus’ aid.
The city walls of Zion, Nehemiah builds again,
While Esther saves her people from plots of wicked men.
In Job we read how faith will live beneath affliction’s rod,
And David’s Psalms are very dear to every child of God.
The Proverbs like a goodly string of choicest pearls appear,
Ecclesiastes teaches men how vain are all things here.
The mystic Song of Solomon exalts sweet Sharon’s rose,
While Christ, the Saviour and the King, the rapt Isaiah shows.
The warning Jeremiah, apostate Israel scorns,
His plaintive Lamentations their awful downfall mourns.
Ezekiel tells, in wondrous words, of dazzling mysteries,
While kings and emperors yet to come Daniel in vision sees.
Of judgment and of mercy Hosea loves to tell,
Joel describes the blessed days when God with man shall dwell.
Among Tekoa’s herdsmen Amos received his call,
While Obadiah prophesies of Edom’s final fall.
Jonah enshrined a wondrous type of Christ, our risen Lord,
Micah pronounces Judah lost—lost, but again restored.
Nahum declares on Nineveh just judgments shall be poured.
A view of Chaldea’s coming doom Habakkuk’s visions give.
While Zephaniah warns the Jews to turn, repent, and live.
Haggai wrote of those who saw the temple built again,
While Zechariah prophesies of Christ’s triumphant reign.
Malachi was the last who touched the high prophetic chord.
His final notes sublimely show the coming of the Lord.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John the holy gospel wrote,
Describing how the Saviour lived, His death, and what He taught.
Acts proves how God the apostles owns with signs in every place.
St. Paul in Romans teaches us how man is saved by grace.
The apostle in Corinthians instructs, exhorts, reproves.
Galatians shows that faith in Christ alone the Father loves.
Ephesians and Philippians tell what Christians ought to be.
Colossians bids us live to God and for eternity.
In Thessalonians we are taught the Lord will come from heaven.
In Timothy and Titus the bishop’s rules are given.
Philemon marks the Christians’ love, which only Christians know.
Hebrews reveals the gospel truth prefigured by the law.
James shows that without holiness love is but vain and dead.
St. Peter points the narrow way in which the saints are led.
John, in his three epistles, on love delights to dwell.
St. Jude gives awful warnings of judgment, wrath, and hell.
The Revelation prophesies of that tremendous day
When Christ, and Christ alone, shall be the trembling sinner’s stay.