If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times: The God of the Old Testament is a God of anger, and the God of the New Testament is a God of love. God is wrathful in the Old Testament and loving in the New. The God of the Old Testament is an evil demiurge and the God of the New Testament is the supreme God. (Alright, I haven’t heard that one a thousand times, though it is what the early Christian sect called the Marcionites actually believed.)
But is any of this actually true? For believers in the Book of Mormon, the picture is much more complicated that a simple love/ wrath dichotomy. In 1 Nephi 11:17, for example, Nephi testifies that He knows God loves His children. But how did he know this? If the Old Testament were really all about a wrathful god, all Nephi would have known about God from his scriptures (a version of the Old Testament) was that God was angry all the time. Yet his statement suggests exactly the opposite.
Of course, it may well be that the Plates of Brass had a lot more about God’s love than the Old Testament as we have it today. It is also possible that Nephi simply knew about God’s love through revelation. However, it is even more likely that many Christians simply have not read the Old Testament very carefully and have missed the astronomical number of verses in the Old Testament that show God’s love for humanity. How do I know there are so many verses about God’s love in the Old Testament, you ask? I read the entire Old Testament, all 1,184 pages of it, and made a note of every verse that shows God’s love.
Obviously, this is a subjective process. Some might think that a few verses could be added to the list, and some might think that a few could be removed. However, the number of Old Testament verses I identified that show God’s love is 5,871. That raw number probably means nothing to you, so let me put it into perspective. The Old Testament has 23,145 verses in it. This means that roughly 1/4 of the Old Testament is about God’s love. Even more surprising, the New Testament only has 7,957 verses in it. This means that if the verses about the love of God in the Old Testament were compiled into a book, that book would be ¾ the length of the New Testament.
The implications of this for that old, tired, love/ wrath dichotomy is obvious. Even if half of the New Testament were directly about God’s love (and it is really much less than that) there would be 50% more verses about God’s love in the Old Testament than the New Testament. This is not to say that God does not get angry in the Old Testament. He certainly does. But Jesus gets angry in the New Testament as well. Ultimately, caricaturing Jehovah as always angry and Jesus as always kind robs us of the opportunity to see the beautiful complexity of the scriptures and of the God that we worship.
If you would like to read the Old Testament in a new way and see God’s love a little bit more, I have included all the verses that show God’s love in the Old Testament, along with a description of what the passage contains. I have included the number of verses that show God’s love in each book before the title of each book, so you can compare how the various books of the Old Testament compare in this regard. Hopefully these verses can give you a new perspective on the Old Testament and also help you to see God’s love a little bit more in your life.
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Genesis
Genesis 1:1-2:9 – The Lord created the earth and planted Garden of Eden for man out of love
Genesis 2:18-24 – The Lord created the animals and woman out of love for humanity
Genesis 3:21 – The Lord clothes Adam and Eve when they were found naked out of love for them, even after they transgressed
Genesis 4:7 – The Lord, in his love for Cain, tries to bring him back to the light
Genesis 4:15 – The Lord puts the mark on Cain so people will not kill him, out of love
Genesis 6:8 – The Lord has mercy on Noah, when he could have just wiped out all of humanity
Genesis 6:9 – The Lord walks with Noah, out of love for him
Genesis 6:14-7:3 – The Lord gives specific instruction to Noah about the best way to save him and his family, and even made provision to save the animals
Genesis 7:16 – The Lord even helps Noah close the door of the ark
Genesis 8:1-3 – The Lord remembers Noah, and stops the flood
Genesis 8:21-9:17 – The Lord blesses Noah and his seed
Genesis 12:1-3 – The Lord blesses Abraham
Genesis 12:7 – The Lord blessed Abraham again
Genesis 13:14-17 – The Lord blesses Abraham with land
Genesis 14:20 – The Lord saves Lot from his enemies by helping Abraham win the battle
Genesis 15:1-21 – The Lord blesses Abraham with land
Genesis 16:7-13 – The Lord comforts Hagar
Genesis 17:1-21 – The Lord blesses Abraham again
Genesis 18:1-33 – The Lord visits Abraham, blesses Sarah, and promises to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if a ridiculously small number of righteous people can be found there
Genesis 19:12-22, 29 – The Lord spares Lot, some of his family members, and the city of Zoar
Genesis 20:17-18 – The Lord heals Abimelech’s family
Genesis 21:1-2, 6-7 – The Lord blesses Sarah to conceive
Genesis 21:17-20 – The Lord spares Hagar and Ishmael
Genesis 22:13-18 – The Lord spares Isaac and blesses Abraham for his obedience
Genesis 24:12-52, 56 – The Lord helps Abraham’s servant find a wife for Isaac
Genesis 25:21 – The Lord blesses Rebekah to not be barren
Genesis 26:2-5, 12-14, 22-24 – The Lord blesses Isaac
Genesis 28:13-15 – The Lord blesses Jacob
Genesis 29:31-33 – The Lord blesses Leah with children
Genesis 30:22-24 – The Lord remembers Rachel
Genesis 30:27-30 – The Lord blesses Laban
Genesis 31:3-13, 16, 29, 42 – The Lord blesses Jacob with enough wealth to be able to go return to Canaan
Genesis 32:1-2 – The Lord sends angels to help Jacob
Genesis 32:24-30 – The Lord gives Jacob confidence for his meeting with Esau
Genesis 33:5, 11 – The Lord had blessed Jacob with children and means
Genesis 35:1, 5, 9-12 – The Lord helps Jacob find a place to live and protects him
Genesis 39:2-5 – The Lord blesses Joseph in Potiphar’s house
Genesis 39:21-23 – The Lord blessed Joseph in prison
Genesis 41:16, 25-39, 46-49, 51-57 – The Lord, through Joseph, interprets Pharaoh’s dream and saves Egypt
Genesis 46:2-4 – The Lord blesses Jacob
Genesis 48:3-4 – Jacob recalls the times the Lord blessed him
Genesis 48:9 – The Lord blessed Joseph with posterity in Egypt
Genesis 48:15-22 – Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh with blessings that the Lord eventually fulfills
Genesis 49:8-28 – Jacob blessed his sons with blessings that the Lord eventually gives to them
Genesis 50:20, 25 – The Lord turned the trials of Joseph into a blessing, and will bring them out of Egypt
271
Exodus
Exodus 1:21 – The Lord blessed the midwives who saved the Hebrew children
Exodus 2:23-25 – The Lord hears the cries of the Hebrews
Exodus 3:2-22 – The Lord calls Moses to save the Hebrews and encourages him
Exodus 4:1-12 – The Lord continues to encourage Moses
Exodus 4:27 – The Lord sends Aaron to comfort Moses
Exodus 4:31 – The Lord helps the Hebrews
Exodus 6:1-13 – The Lord promises to save the Hebrews
Exodus 7:1-11:3 – The Lord tries various non-lethal options to free the Hebrews from bondage, showing his love for both the Egyptians and Israelites
Exodus 12:13, 21-27, 51 – The Lord spares the Hebrews who put blood on their doors and delivers them from Egypt
Exodus 13:3, 5, 8-11, 14-16, 19, 21-22 – The Lord saved the Hebrews from Egypt
Exodus 14:13-16, 19-22, 29-30 – The Lord took the Hebrews across the Red Sea on dry ground
Exodus 15:17 – The Lord will give the Hebrews land
Exodus 15:23-26 – The Lord blesses the Hebrews with water in the desert
Exodus 16:4,6-7, 12-15 – The Lord blesses the Hebrews with bread in the desert
Exodus 17:5-6 – The Lord blesses the Hebrews with water
Exodus 18:1, 10 – The Lord helped Hebrews
Exodus 19:3-11 – The Lord has Moses make preparations for everyone to see Him
Exodus 20:2, 6 – The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt and will be merciful to them
Exodus 20:11 – The Lord created Sabbath
Exodus 20:20 – The Lord wanted Israel to see him
Exodus 23:9-11 – The Lord makes sure that the poor and displaced are taken care of
Exodus 23:20-31 – The Lord will keep Israel from getting sick and help them get land
Exodus 24:9-11 – The Lord was willing to personally appear to 70 of the elders of Israel
Exodus 29:43-46 – The Lord will meet with the children of Israel and dwell among them
Exodus 31:17: The Lord made the world
Exodus 31:18: The Lord wrote down commandments personally, with His own hand
Exodus 33:1-3: The Lord will still help the Israelites enter the promised land, in spite of their sins
Exodus 33:9-19: The Lord will be merciful to Israel
Exodus 34:1-11 – The Lord made new tablets for the people despite the golden calf incident
Exodus 40:34-38 – The Lord’s glory fills the tabernacle and stays with them in the wilderness
86
Leviticus
I only included explicit references here, however, if one considers that the Law of Moses prefigures the Atonement, much of the book of Leviticus relates to the sacrifice of Christ – the ultimate sign that The Lord loves His children.
Leviticus 9:23-24 – The Lord accepts Israel’s offerings by burning the sacrifice Himself
Leviticus 11:43-44 – The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt and wants them to be holy like He is
Leviticus 17:11 – The Lord put in place a way for us to make atonement with Him
Leviticus 9:9-10 – The Lord cares about the poor
Leviticus 19:14-15 – The Lord cares about the disadvantaged
Leviticus 19:29 – The Lord cares about women
Leviticus 20:7-8 – The Lord will help us to be holy
Leviticus 20:24-26 – The Lord will give Israel a good land and they belong to the Lord
Leviticus 22:32-33 – The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt and will make us holy
Leviticus 23:22 – The Lord cares about the poor
Leviticus 24:22 – The Lord cares about the displaced
Leviticus 25:1-55 – The Lord makes slavery very difficult
Leviticus 26:3-13 – The Lord will bless us for obedience
Leviticus 26:40-45 – The Lord will remember us when we remember him
135
Numbers
Numbers 6:23-27 – The Lord will bless us all and give us peace
Numbers 7:89 – The Lord speaks to Moses directly
Numbers 9:15-23 – The Lord stays with the Israelites and tells them when to travel through the cloud over the tabernacle
Numbers 10:29-36 – The Lord’s blessing rests on the Israelites and all who are with them
Numbers 11:16-17 – The Lord takes pity on Moses and gives him help
Numbers 11:24-29 – The Lord sends his spirit upon the elders of Israel
Numbers 14:7-9 – The Lord will bring them into the land of Israel
Numbers 14:18-20 – The Lord pardon’s Israel’s sins
Numbers 15:41 – The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt
Numbers 20:11 – The Lord gave Israel water
Numbers 20:16 – The Lord delivered Israel from Egypt
Numbers 22:9-41 – The Lord makes sure Balaam blesses Israel
Numbers 23:1-24:25 – The Lord blessed Israel through Balaam
Numbers 25:10-15 – The Lord makes provision for people who have accidentally killed someone
290
Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 1:6-10 – The Lord made Israel numerous and gave them land
Deuteronomy 1:20-21 – The Lord encouraged Israel and gave them the land
Deuteronomy 1:29-31 – The Lord took care of Israel like a man takes care of his son
Deuteronomy 1:36, 38-39 – The Lord gave the land to the Israelites children and to Joshua and Caleb
Deuteronomy 3:18-22 – The Lord will fight for Israel
Deuteronomy 4:1-20 – The Lord will bless Israel if they are obedient
Deuteronomy 4:29-40 – The Lord will bless Israel if they repent
Deuteronomy 4:41-43 – Will make provision for those who accidentally kill someone
Deuteronomy 5:1-6, 10, 15 – The Lord was with Israel, covenanted with them, and will have mercy upon them
Deuteronomy 5:33 – The Lord gave commandments to Israel as a blessing to them
Deuteronomy 6:2-11, 17-25 – If Israel keeps the commandments, the Lord will richly bless them
Deuteronomy 7:7-9 – The Lord loves Israel
Deuteronomy 7:12-24 – The Lord encouraged Israel and gave them the land
Deuteronomy 8:1-18 – The Lord was with Israel throughout their time in the wilderness
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 – The Lord blessed Israel and loved them
Deuteronomy 11:1-32 – The Lord will richly bless Israel if they are obedient
Deuteronomy 12:9-12 – The Lord will give Israel rest from their enemies
Deuteronomy 15:4-11, 18 – The Lord will bless Israel with riches and make provision for poor
Deuteronomy 17:20 – The Lord will prolong the days of the king if he is righteous
Deuteronomy 22:6-7 – The Lord cares about animals
Deuteronomy 23:5 – The Lord loves Israel
Deuteronomy 24:19-22 – The Lord cares about orphans and widows
Deuteronomy 26:5-19 – The Lord will bless Israel if they keep the commandments, just like He blessed them in the past
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 – The Lord will bless Israel in all things
Deuteronomy 29:1-15 – The Lord spared Israel from all other nations, and even kept their clothes from falling apart
Deuteronomy 30:1-20 – The Lord will bless Israel if they are obedient
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 – The Lord encourages Israel to not be afraid
Deuteronomy 32:7-14 – The Lord blessed Israel in all their traveling
Deuteronomy 33:1-29 – The Lord blesses all the tribes of Israel
39
Joshua
Joshua 1:4-15 – The Lord will bless us if we are courageous and meditate on the scriptures
Joshua 2:9-11, 24 – The Lord gave Israel Canaan
Joshua 3:5, 7, 10-11 – The Lord helped Israel across the Jordan
Joshua 10:12-14 – The Lord made the sun stand still for Israel
Joshua 21:42-45 – The Lord blesses Israel with all the blessings he said he would give them
Joshua 23:1-3, 9-10 – The Lord fought for Israel
Joshua 24:1-13 – The Lord helped Israel throughout the conquest
103
Judges
Judges 2:1, 7, 18 – The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt and preserved them from their enemies
Judges 3:9-10, 15 – The Lord delivered Israel from various enemies
Judges 4:9, 14-15 – The Lord delivered Israel from Sisera
Judges 5:2-13 – The Lord delivered Israel from their enemies
Judges 6:7-23, 34-40 – The Lord encouraged and reassured Gideon
Judges 7:7-23 – The Lord delivered Israel from the Midianite with only 300 men
Judges 8:34 – The Lord delivered Israel from all their enemies
Judges 10:11-12, 16 – The Lord took pity on Israel when they repented
Judges 11:29, 32 – The Lord delivered Israel’s enemies into the hands of Jephthah
Judges 12:3 – The Lord delivered the Ammonites into Jephthah’s hands
Judges 13:2-25 – The Lord blessed Manoah’s family and Israel through Samson
Judges 15:18-20 – The Lord gave Samson water
23
Ruth
Ruth 1:6 – The Lord saved Israel from a famine
Ruth 2:2-20 – The Lord ensured that the employer Ruth found was a relative
Ruth 4:13-15 – The Lord blessed Ruth with children
181
1 Samuel
1 Samuel 1:17-28 – The Lord heard Hannah’s prayer and blessed her with a child
1 Samuel 2:1-10 – The Lord blessed Hannah and will bless all who are weak
1 Samuel 2:20-21 – The Lord blessed Hannah with more children
1 Samuel 2:26-28, 30 – The Lord blessed Israel, and will bless those and honor him
1 Samuel 3:4-10, 19-21 – The Lord spoke to Samuel and blessed him
1 Samuel 7:3-10 – The Lord saved Israel out of the hand of the Philistines
1 Samuel 8:6-7 – The Lord comforted Samuel when the people rejected him as judge
1 Samuel 9:15-17 – The Lord appointed a king over the Israelites even after they rejected Him
1 Samuel 10:1-13 – The Lord gave Saul a sign to reassure him that the Lord is with him
1 Samuel 10:17-26 – The Lord confirmed Saul as king, so the people would have confidence in him
1 Samuel 11:13 – The Lord saved the Israelites from their enemies
1 Samuel 12:6-14 – The Lord delivered Israel in the past
1 Samuel 12:20-24 – The Lord will save Israel if they obey Him
1 Samuel 14:6-10, 23 – The Lord can save others with as many or few people as he wants
1 Samuel 16:1-13 – The Lord chose David as king based on what was in his heart
1 Samuel 17:32-51 – The Lord helps David kill Goliath
1 Samuel 18:14 – The Lord was with David
1 Samuel 19:5 – The Lord was with David
1 Samuel 20:15 – The Lord fought for David
1 Samuel 23:2-14 – The Lord helped David save the city of Keilah from the Philistines, and then saved David from Saul
1 Samuel 25:28-31 – The Lord blessed David
1 Samuel 26:12, 24-25 – The Lord put Saul and his men to sleep to protect David, and the Lord will bless David
1 Samuel 30:1-25 – The Lord helped David rescue his family members
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2 Samuel
2 Samuel 2:5-7 – The Lord blessed the people of Jabesh-gilead because they risked their lives to give Saul a proper burial
2 Samuel 3:18 – The Lord saved Israel from the Philistines through David
2 Samuel 5:2-3, 10, 12, 19-25 – The Lord established David on the throne and helped him beat Israel’s enemies
2 Samuel 6:11 – The Lord blessed Obed-Edom when the Ark was in his house
2 Samuel 7: 1-29 – The Lord gave David rest from his enemies and established him and his seed forever
2 Samuel 8:14 – The Lord preserved David wherever he went
2 Samuel 10:12-13 – The Lord helped Israel beat their enemies
2 Samuel 12:7-8, 13 – The Lord blessed David in all things and spared him even after the Uriah debacle
2 Samuel 12:24 – The Lord loved Solomon
2 Samuel 14:14 – The Lord has devised a way that His children can return to Him
2 Samuel 18:28, 31 – The Lord saved Israel from Absalom’s coup
2 Samuel 22:1-51 – The Lord preserved David through all his troubles
2 Samuel 23:1-5 – The Lord blessed David
2 Samuel 24:16 – The Lord spared Jerusalem
194
1 Kings
1 Kings 1:29, 48 – The Lord blessed David and Solomon
1 Kings 2:15 – The Lord gave the kingdom to Solomon
1 Kings 2:33 – The Lord gave David’s house peace
1 Kings 2:45 – The Lord gave the kingdom to Solomon
1 Kings 3:5-28 – The Lord blessed Solomon with wisdom, which allowed him to judge cases wisely
1 Kings 4:29-33 – The Lord gave Solomon wisdom about many things
1 Kings 5:4, 7, 12– The Lord blessed Solomon with peace and wisdom
1 Kings 6:11-14 – The Lord said he would dwell with Israel
1 Kings 8:9-66 – The Lord accepted the temple of Solomon and blessed Israel when they were obedient
1 Kings 9:2-5 – The Lord accepts temple
1 Kings 10:6-9 – The Lord blessed Solomon with wisdom and riches
1 Kings 11:36-38 – The Lord will bless David’s descendants, but will also bless Jeroboam if he is righteous
1 Kings 12:21-24 – The Lord stopped a war between Israel and Judah
1 Kings 13:6 – The Lord healed Jeroboam’s hand
1 Kings 15:4 – The Lord blessed Jerusalem
1 Kings 17:2-24 – The Lord saved Elijah, a widow in Zarephath, and her son
1 Kings 18:37 – The Lord can change people’s hearts
1 Kings 18:41-46 – The Lord gave the Israelites rain
1 Kings 19:1-21 – The Lord comforted Elijah when Jezebel was trying to kill him
1 Kings 20:1-20 – The Lord helped Israel defeat their enemies
1 Kings 20:22-29 – The Lord helped Israel defeat the Syrians
206
2 Kings
2 Kings 2:1-22 – The Lord took Elijah to heaven and blessed Elijah with power
2 Kings 3:15-24 – The Lord helped the Israelites defeat their enemies
2 Kings 4:1-44 – The Lord, through Elisha, helped many people
2 Kings 5:1-19 – The Lord, through Elisha, healed Naaman
2 Kings 6:1-7 – The Lord, though Elisha, helped a man get his borrowed ax back
2 Kings 6:8-23 – The Lord, through Elisha, helped Israel defeat their enemies in a non-violent way
2 Kings 7:1-19 – The Lord miraculously saved Samaria from a siege and got everyone food
2 Kings 8:19 – The Lord spared Judah from destruction
2 Kings 13:4-5 – The Lord delivered Israel from their enemies
2 Kings 13:14-25 – The Lord delivered Israel from their enemies and brought somebody back to life
2 Kings 14:6 – People are only to be punished for their own sins
2 Kings 14:25-27 – The Lord restores Israel to its former glory
2 Kings 17:36-39 – The Lord will deliver Israel if they are obedient
2 Kings 19:1-34 – The Lord delivered Israel from the Assyrians
2 Kings 20:1-11 – The Lord lengthened Hezekiah’s life
2 Kings 22:18-20 – The Lord blessed King Josiah
125
1 Chronicles
1 Chronicles 5:20 – The Lord helped Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh defeat their enemies
1 Chronicles 11:2, 9, 14 – The Lord blessed Israel through David
1 Chronicles 12:18 – The Lord helped David
1 Chronicles 13:14 – The Lord blessed Obed-edom
1 Chronicles 14:2, 10, 14-17 – The Lord blessed David and his kingdom
1 Chronicles 16:8-36, 41 – The Lord blessed Israel, His mercy endures forever
1 Chronicles 17:3-27 – The Lord will bless the house of David forever
1 Chronicles 18:6 – The Lord preserved David wherever he went
1 Chronicles 19:13 – The Lord helped Israel defeat the Syrians
1 Chronicles 21:15, 27 – The Lord spared Jerusalem
1 Chronicles 22:8-19 – The Lord gave Israel rest and will bless them for building the temple
1 Chronicles 27:23 – The Lord would make Israel numerous
1 Chronicles 28:4-20 – The Lord will help Solomon build the temple
1 Chronicles 29:10-19, 25 – The Lord blessed Solomon to be a good king
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2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 1:1-17 – The Lord blessed David and Solomon when they were righteous
2 Chronicles 2:11-12 – The Lord blessed Israel with a good king
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 – The Lord accepts the temple
2 Chronicles 6:4-42 – The Lord will be merciful to Israel when they repent
2 Chronicles 7:1-6, 10 – The Lord’s mercy endures forever
2 Chronicles 7:12-18 – The Lord will bless Israel if they are righteous
2 Chronicles 9:5-8, 23 – The Lord blessed Solomon with wisdom and riches
2 Chronicles 11:1-4 – The Lord peacefully resolves a war between Israel and Judah
2 Chronicles 12:6-7, 12 – The Lord blessed Israel when they repented
2 Chronicles 13:5 – The Lord blessed David
2 Chronicles 13:10-16, 18 – The Lord blessed Judah when they were righteous
2 Chronicles 14:6-7, 11, 13 – The Lord gave Judah rest, and helped them beat their enemies
2 Chronicles 15:1-4, 15 – The Lord will bless all those that turn to Him
2 Chronicles 16:8-9 – The Lord delivered Judah from its enemies
2 Chronicles 17:3-5 – The Lord blessed Jehoshaphat when he was righteous
2 Chronicles 19:7 – The Lord does not take bribes
2 Chronicles 19:11 – The Lord will bless those who are good people
2 Chronicles 20:1-22, 27-30 – The Lord helped the Israelites become free from their enemies
2 Chronicles 21:7 – The Lord blessed Jerusalem because He remembered His covenant with David
2 Chronicles 25:4 – The Law does not kill children for the sins of parents
2 Chronicles 25:5-9 – The Lord blessed Judah for having faith in God’s power
2 Chronicles 26:5-15 – The Lord blessed Uzziah because he sought the Lord
2 Chronicles 30:6-12 – The Lord will bless those who repent
2 Chronicles 31:10 – The Lord blessed Israel with plenty
2 Chronicles 32:7-8, 21-22, 26-29 – The Lord defended Jerusalem from the Assyrians and saved Hezekiah
2 Chronicles 33:19 – The Lord heard Manasseh when he repented
2 Chronicles 34:26-28 – The Lord had mercy on Josiah
2 Chronicles 36:15 – The Lord sent prophets to Judah
82
Ezra
Ezra 1:1-11 – The Lord inspired Cyrus to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple
Ezra 3:11 – The Lord’s mercy endures forever
Ezra 5:1-17 – The Lord supports the Jews in rebuilding the temple
Ezra 6:1-22 – The Lord helped the Jews get imperial support in rebuilding the temple
Ezra 7:6-28 – The Lord blessed Ezra
Ezra 8:18, 22-23, 31 – The Lord prospered the returning Jews
Ezra 9:8-9, 13, 15 – The Lord blessed the returning Jews
57
Nehemiah
Nehemiah 1:1-11 – The Lord will bless scattered Israel if they repent
Nehemiah 2:1-8, 18, 22 – The Lord blessed Nehemiah to be able to go back to Jerusalem
Nehemiah 4:14-15, 20 – The Lord is strong and can deliver us
Nehemiah 6:16 – The Lord helped the Jews rebuild the wall of Jerusalem
Nehemiah 9:5-36 – The Lord blessed Israel in all they did
Esther
The book of Esther never mentions God. However, His influence is implied throughout the book. One might argue that most of the book shows the love of God for His people because God is presumably the one that raised up Esther to save the Jews. However, because He is never explicitly mentioned, we now move on to Job.
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Job
Job 1:10 – The Lord blessed Job
Job 5:8-27 – The Lord will bless people with many blessings
Job 10:11-13 – The Lord visited job
Job 19:25-27 – The Lord will redeem Job
Job 29:1-25 – The Lord blessed Job
Job 33:4-6, 24-30 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Job 34:12 – The Lord is just
Job 36:4-33 – The Lord is righteous
Job 42:7-17 – The Lord blessed Job with more than he had lost
1461
Psalms
Psalm 1:1-3 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Psalm 2:6-7, 12 – The Lord has blessed his kings
Psalm 3:1-6, 8 – The Lord will bless us even when we go through hard times
Psalm 4:3-8 – The Lord will bless us in hardship
Psalm 5:11-12 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Psalm 6:8 – The Lord will hear our prayers
Psalm 7:10, 17 – The Lord will save the righteous
Psalm 8:1-9 – The Lord is great, yet still cares about mankind
Psalm 9:7-14, 18 – The Lord is merciful to the poor and lowly
Psalm 10:1-14, 16-18 – The Lord will care for the poor who experience adversity
Psalm 11:1-4, 7 – The Lord will reveal himself to the righteous
Psalm 12:5-7 – The Lord will help the poor
Psalm 13:1-6 – The Lord will bless us in our trials
Psalm 14:5-7 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Psalm 15:1-5 – The Lord will bless righteous people
Psalm 16:1-11 – The Lord will redeem us from hell
Psalm 17:1-15 – The Lord will bless the righteous but not the wicked
Psalm 18:1-6, 16-36, 49-50 – The Lord will strengthen us in times of trouble
Psalm 19:1-14 – The heavens declare the glory of God and all He has made for us
Psalm 20:1-9 – The Lord will save us
Psalm 21:1-7 – The Lord will bless the king
Psalm 22:22-31 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Psalm 23:1-6 – The Lord will care for us like a shepherd cares for sheep
Psalm 24:1-10 – The Lord made the earth for us
Psalm 25:1-22 – The Lord will deliver us from evil
Psalm 26:1-12 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Psalm 27:1-14 – We can wait on the Lord with confidence
Psalm 28:6-9 – The Lord blesses us when we pray to Him
Psalm 29:1-11 – The Lord will give His people peace
Psalm 30:1-12 – The Lord will turn mourning into dancing
Psalm 31:1-5, 7-16, 19-24 – The Lord has redeemed us
Psalm 32:1-11 – The Lord will be merciful to those who trust in Him
Psalm 33:1-22 – The Lord will deliver those that rely on Him
Psalm 34:1-19, 22 – The Lord redeems his servants
Psalm 35:9-10 – The Lord will bless us when we go through difficult times
Psalm 36:5-10 – The Lord will bless the upright
Psalm 37:3-9, 11, 18-19, 21-37, 39-40 – The Lord will deliver those that trust in Him
Psalm 38:1-22 – The Lord will hear us when we pray to Him
Psalm 40:1-13, 16-17 – The Lord will bless the weak
Psalm 41:1-13 – The Lord will deliver us from evil
Psalm 42:1-11 – The Lord will help us
Psalm 44:1-4 – The Lord gave Canaan to the Israelites
Psalm 45:2, 6-17 – The Lord will give us peace
Psalm 46:1-11 – The Lord brings peace to the world
Psalm 48:9-14 – The Lord will be a guide to us
Psalm 49:15 – The Lord will redeem us from the grave
Psalm 52:8-9 – The Lord will take care of those that trust in Him
Psalm 53:6 – The Lord will bring His people out of captivity
Psalm 54:1-7 – The Lord will save those that trust in Him
Psalm 56:1-13 – The Lord will deliver us from death
Psalm 57:1-11 – The Lord’s mercy is great
Psalm 59:16-17 – The Lord is merciful
Psalm 61:1-8 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Psalm 62:5-12 – The Lord is merciful
Psalm 63:1-8 – The Lord upholds us
Psalm 65:1-13 – The Lord will bless us with what we need to survive
Psalm 66:19-20 – The Lord will not turn away His mercy
Psalm 67:1-7 – The Lord will bless us
Psalm 68:1-35 – The Lord will save Israel from all their enemies
Psalm 69:1-36 – The Lord will save those who are in trouble
Psalm 71:1-23 – The Lord will protect us
Psalm 72:1-19 – The Lord will bless the poor
Psalm 73:22-26 – The Lord will hold us by the right hand
Psalm 77:1-20 – The Lord delivered Israel out of Egypt
Psalm 78:1-7, 14-17, 23-29, 37-39, 68-72 – The Lord delivered Israel from Egypt
Psalm 81:1-16 – The Lord will bless us when we repent
Psalm 84:1-12 – The Lord blessed those who trust in Him
Psalm 85:1-13 – The Lord is merciful to the repentant
Psalm 86:1-17 – The Lord blesses the poor and comforts us
Psalm 87:1-7 – The Lord will bless Jerusalem
Psalm 89:1-8, 11-22, 24-29, 33-37 – The Lord will bless his servants
Psalm 90:14-17 – The Lord will make us glad
Psalm 91:1-16 – The Lord will deliver us from evil
Psalm 92:1-5, 12-15 – The Lord will make the righteous flourish
Psalm 94:13-22 – The Lord blesses the righteous
Psalm 95:1-7 – The Lord is the rock of our salvation
Psalm 96:1-13 – The Lord will judge the people with truth
Psalm 97:8-12 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Psalm 98:1-9 – The Lord is a righteous judge
Psalm 99:1-9 – The Lord answers prayers
Psalm 100:1-5 – The Lord made all things for us
Psalm 101:6 – The Lord will bless the faithful
Psalm 102:12-28 – The Lord will hear the prayer of the poor
Psalm 103:1-22 – The Lord will be merciful
Psalm 104:1-34 – The Lord made the earth for humanity to enjoy
Psalm 105:1-15, 39-45 – The Lord saved Israel from Egypt
Psalm 106:1-9 – The Lord’s mercy is on Israel
Psalm 107:1-43 – The Lord’s mercy endures forever
Psalm 108:1-6 – The Lord’s great mercy is on Israel
Psalm 111:1-10 – The Lord is full of compassion
Psalm 112:1-9 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Psalm 113:1-9 – The Lord blesses the weak
Psalm 114:1-8 – The Lord delivered Israel
Psalm 115:8-18 – The Lord will bless those that respect him
Psalm 116:1-19 – The Lord will save us from death
Psalm 117:1-2 – The Lord is merciful
Psalm 118:1-9, 13-29 – The Lord’s mercy endures forever
Psalm 119:1-176 – The Lord will bless us when we repent
Psalm 121:1-8 – The Lord will help us
Psalm 122:1-9 – The Lord will give peace to Jerusalem
Psalm 123:1-4 – The Lord will have mercy on us
Psalm 124:1-8 – The Lord will help us in times of trouble
Psalm 125:1-5 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Psalm 126:1-6 – The Lord will bring Israel from captivity
Psalm 128:1-6 – The Lord will bless those that honor him
Psalm 130:1-8 – The Lord will bless Israel
Psalm 132:1-18 – The Lord blessed Israel
Psalm 134:1-3 – The Lord will bless those that love Him
Psalm 135:1-7, 13-18 – The Lord blessed Israel throughout their history
Psalm 136:1-26 – The Lord’s mercy endures forever
Psalm 138:1-8 – The Lord will not forsake us
Psalm 139:1-18 – The Lord will take care of us
Psalm 140:12-13 – The Lord will preserve the weak
Psalm 142:1-7 – The Lord will bless us in our trials
Psalm 143:1-11 – The Lord blesses the righteous in their affliction
Psalm 144:10-15 – The Lord will bless those that love him
Psalm 145:1-21 – The Lord is slow to anger
Psalm 146:1-10 – The Lord will bless the downtrodden
Psalm 147:1-20 – The Lord binds up our wounds
Psalm 148:1-14 – The Lord empowers people
Psalm 149:1-6 – The Lord loves Israel
Psalm 150:1-6 – The Lord’s might acts are praiseworthy
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Proverbs – One might add many more to this list from Proverbs if one considers Wisdom to be a reference to God, as some ancient texts suggest.
Proverbs 2:6-9 – The Lord gives people wisdom
Proverbs 3:5-12, 26, 32-34 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Proverbs 8:22-35 – The Lord created us all
Proverbs 10:3, 22, 27-29 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Proverbs 11:1, 20 – The Lord loves justice and the upright
Proverbs 12:2, 22 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Proverbs 14:26-27 – The Lord blessed those that respect Him
Proverbs 15:8-9, 25-26, 29 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Proverbs 16:1-3, 9, 11 – The Lord will bless those that consecrate their work to Him
Proverbs 18:10 – The Lord will protect us like a fortress
Proverbs 20:10, 12, 22-24 – The Lord made us all and values justice
Proverbs 21:31 – The Lord brings victory
Proverbs 22:2, 4, 12, 23 – The Lord made everything that we have and will support the poor
Proverbs 28:5, 25 – The Lord will give us understanding and will bless us
Proverbs 29:13, 25-26 – The Lord can enlighten and protect us
Proverbs 30:4-9 – The Lord’s teachings bless us
Proverbs 31:30 – The Lord will bless those that love him
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Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 3:10-15 – The Lord blesses us with good work to do in this life
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 – The Lord blesses us with many gifts
Ecclesiastes 7:18, 29 – The Lord will bless those that respect Him, God made man upright
Ecclesiastes 8:12 – The Lord blesses those that respect Him
Ecclesiastes 9:7 – The Lord has accepted our works in this life
Ecclesiastes 12:7 – The Lord gave us life
Song of Solomon
The Song of Solomon never mentions God, so there are no verses that obviously mention God’s love for humanity. However, one of the main reasons the book was included in the bible was because many ancient readers interpreted it as an allegory of God’s love for Israel, making the entire book about God’s love. However, since it is not entirely clear how this should be interpreted, we now move on to Isaiah.
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Isaiah
Isaiah 1:2, 16-19, 25-27 – The Lord raised up Israel, and will bless us when we repent
Isaiah 2:2-5 – The Lord will bring the gentiles to his temple
Isaiah 3:10 – The Lord will bless the righteous
Isaiah 4:2-6 – The Lord will make Judah holy
Isaiah 5:1-4 – The Lord cared for Israel
Isaiah 6:1-8 – The Lord comforted Isaiah when he felt insecure about his abilities
Isaiah 9:2-7 – The Lord will cause those that walk in darkness to see light
Isaiah 10:10-27 – The Lord will have mercy on Israel, in spite of their sins
Isaiah 11:1-16 – The Lord will deliver Israel from captivity
Isaiah 12:1-6 – The Lord is our salvation
Isaiah 14:1-3, 32 – The Lord will give us rest from sorrow
Isaiah 18:1-7 – The Lord will bring Sub-Saharan Africans to the temple in Jerusalem
Isaiah 19:18-25 – The Lord will one day take care of Egypt, Assyria, and Israel
Isaiah 25:1-9 – The Lord will wipe away tears from all faces
Isaiah 26:1-4, 7-9, 12-15, 19-20 – The Lord has increased Israel
Isaiah 27:2-6, 12-13 – The Lord will cause Israel to blossom
Isaiah 28:5-6, 16, 29 – The Lord will bless those that believe in Him
Isaiah 29:7-8, 14, 17-24 – The Lord will protect Jerusalem
Isaiah 30:15, 18-26 – The Lord wants to help us
Isaiah 31:5 – The Lord will defend Jerusalem
Isaiah 32:1-8, 15-20 – The Lord will give Israel peace
Isaiah 33:13-24 – The Lord will forgive our sins
Isaiah 34:16-17 – The Lord will give the land to Israel to possess forever
Isaiah 35:1-10 – The Lord will bring the people out of captivity
Isaiah 37:1-35 – The Lord saved Jerusalem
Isaiah 38:1-22 – The Lord saved Hezekiah
Isaiah 40:1-31 – The Lord will bring his cosmic power to bear to bless Israel
Isaiah 41:1-20 – The Lord will strengthen us
Isaiah 42:1-21 – The Lord will deliver the prisoners from Assyrian captivity
Isaiah 43:1-25 – The Lord will bring the Judahites back from Assyria
Isaiah 44:1-8, 21-28 – The Lord will cause Judah to be re-inhabited
Isaiah 45:1-6, 11-25 – The Lord created the earth for us
Isaiah 46:3-13 – The Lord will bring salvation to Israel
Isaiah 48:9-13, 15-21 – The Lord has redeemed Jacob’s seed
Isaiah 49:1-25 – The Lord will raise up Israel
Isaiah 50:1-10 – The Lord will suffer for us
Isaiah 51:1-16 – The Lord will deliver the captives
Isaiah 52:1-15 – The Lord will comfort His people
Isaiah 53:1-12 – The Lord will suffer for us
Isaiah 54:1-17 – The Lord’s kindness will not depart from us
Isaiah 55:1-13 – The Lord will bring captives home with joy
Isaiah 56:1-8 – The Lord will accept the gentiles
Isaiah 57:13-19 – The Lord will give peace to the righteous
Isaiah 58:6-14 – The Lord will bless those that observe the fast
Isaiah 59:1, 16-17, 20-21 – The Lord has the power to save us
Isaiah 60:1-22 – The Lord will give Israel peace
Isaiah 61:1-11 – The Lord loves justice for the weak
Isaiah 62:1-12 – The Lord has not forsaken us
Isaiah 63:1-2, 7-9, 11-19 – The Lord gave us rest
Isaiah 64:4-5 – The Lord prepares good things for those that love Him
Isaiah 65:1-10, 17-25 – The Lord will forgive our sins
Isaiah 66:1-2, 5-13, 18-23 – The Lord will bless the gentiles
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Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:4-9, 17-19 – The Lord calls Jeremiah and encourages him
Jeremiah 2:2-9 – The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt and pleads with them to repent
Jeremiah 3:7, 12-23 – The Lord begged Judah to return to Him
Jeremiah 4:1-2, 14 – The Lord wants us to repent
Jeremiah 6:16-17 – The Lord begs His people to turn to Him
Jeremiah 7:1-7, 22-23 – The Lord will allow Israel to stay in their land if they repent
Jeremiah 9:23-24 – The Lord delights in lovingkindness
Jeremiah 10:12 – The Lord made the earth
Jeremiah 11:4-5 – The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt
Jeremiah 12:15-16 – The Lord will return the exiles
Jeremiah 14:8-9 – The Lord will not abandon us
Jeremiah 15:11, 19-21 – The Lord will deliver us
Jeremiah 16:14-16 – The Lord will bring back scattered Israel
Jeremiah 18:1-8 – The Lord will bless us if we repent
Jeremiah 20:10-12 – The Lord will defend us from our enemies
Jeremiah 22:1-4 – The Lord will bless Judah if they repent
Jeremiah 23:3-8 – The Lord will cause the exiles to return
Jeremiah 24:4-7 – The Lord will support the exiles that return
Jeremiah 25:3-4 – The Lord sent prophets to get the people to repent
Jeremiah 26:3, 12-13, 17-19 – The Lord will bless Judah if they repent
Jeremiah 27:5 – The Lord made the earth
Jeremiah 29:10-14 – The Lord will bring us back from captivity
Jeremiah 30:1-11, 17-22 – The Lord will be with Judah
Jeremiah 31:1-40 – The Lord will reveal himself to everyone
Jeremiah 32:1-22, 37-44 – The Lord will bring the exiles back to the land
Jeremiah 33:6-26 – The Lord will never break his covenants
Jeremiah 34:13 – The Lord delivered Israel from Egypt
Jeremiah 35:18-19 – The Lord will bless the Rechabites
Jeremiah 39:17-18 – The Lord will deliver Ebed-melech the Ethiopian
Jeremiah 42:10-12 – The Lord will deliver Judah from the Babylonians
Jeremiah 44:4 – The Lord sent prophets to get the people to repent
Jeremiah 46:27-28 – The Lord will save scattered Israel from afar
Jeremiah 48:47 – The Lord will bring the captive Moabites back to Moab
Jeremiah 49:39 – The Lord will bring the captive Elamites back to Elam
Jeremiah 50:4-8, 19-20, 33-34 – The Lord will bring Israel back to their land
Jeremiah 51:5 – The Lord will help Judah
Lamentations
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Lamentations 3:21-36, 55-59 – The Lord is merciful to His people
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Ezekiel
Ezekiel 2:1-3:3 – The Lord comforted Ezekiel
Ezekiel 11:16-20 – The Lord will give the people of Judah a new heart
Ezekiel 14:11 – The Lord will be Judah’s God if they listen to Him
Ezekiel 16:3-14, 53-55, 60-63 – The Lord blessed Israel when it was at its lowest point
Ezekiel 17:22-24 – The Lord will cause Israel to prosper
Ezekiel 18:1-32 – The Lord will bless those that repent
Ezekiel 20:5-22, 33-44 – The Lord spared Israel despite their sins
Ezekiel 28:24-26 – The Lord will give Israel peace
Ezekiel 29:13-14, 21 – The Lord will have mercy on Egypt and Israel
Ezekiel 33:11-16 – The Lord will bless those that repent
Ezekiel 34:11-31 – The Lord will take care of His people like a shepherd
Ezekiel 36:8-15, 24-38 – The Lord will cause Israel to flourish
Ezekiel 37:1-28 – The Lord will make an everlasting covenant with Israel
Ezekiel 38:8-9 – The Lord will give Israel peace
Ezekiel 39:25-29 – The Lord will our out His spirit upon Israel
Ezekiel 40:1-49 – The Lord will cause a massive temple to be built and cause the people to return
Ezekiel 41:1-26 – The Lord will cause a massive temple to be built and cause the people to return
Ezekiel 42:1-20 – The Lord will cause a massive temple to be built and cause the people to return
Ezekiel 43:1-27 – The Lord will come back to dwell with Israel
Ezekiel 44:1-31 – The Lord will restore the old rituals to the temple
Ezekiel 45:1-25 – The Lord will make it so that Israel can offer their offerings in peace
Ezekiel 46:1-26 – The Lord will accept the offerings of Israel
Ezekiel 47:1-23 – The Lord will heal the Dead Sea and make everything live
Ezekiel 48:1-35 – The Lord will give Israel land again and live with them
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Daniel
Daniel 1:17-20 – The Lord blessed Daniel and his companions
Daniel 2:20-30, 37-38, 44-47 – The Lord saved the wise men of Babylon
Daniel 3:17-29 – The Lord delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego from the flames
Daniel 4:2-3, 8-9, 18, 34-35, 37 – The Lord helped Daniel
Daniel 5:18-19 – The Lord had blessed Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel 6:16-23, 25-28 – The Lord saved Daniel from the lions
Daniel 7:27 – The Lord will bless His saints
Daniel 9:4, 9, 14-25 – The Lord is merciful
Daniel 10:11-21 – The Lord comforted Daniel
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Hosea
Hosea 1:7, 10-11 – The Lord will bless the house of Judah
Hosea 2:1, 14-23 – The Lord will love Israel forever
Hosea 6:1-3, 11 – The Lord will heal His people
Hosea 7:1, 13-15 – The Lord wanted to heal Israel, despite all they did against Him
Hosea 10:12 – The Lord will bless those that seek Him
Hosea 11:1-4, 8-12 – The Lord blessed Israel, but they rebelled against Him
Hosea 12:13 – The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt
Hosea 13:4-6, 9-10, 14 – The Lord is Israel’s savior
Hosea 14:1-9 – The Lord will bless Ephraim
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Joel
Joel 2:12-32 – The Lord will pour out His spirit on everyone
Joel 3:16-18, 20-21 – The Lord will live in Zion with His people
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Amos
Amos 2:10-11 – The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt
Amos 5:4, 6, 8, 14-15, 24 – The Lord
Amos 7:3, 6 – The Lord will preserve his people
Amos 9:11-15 – The Lord will cause Israel to return to their land
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Obadiah
Obadiah 1:17, 21 – The Lord will bring Israel back to their land
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Jonah
Jonah 1:1-17 – The Lord makes sure Jonah goes to preach to the Assyrians and saves Jonah from drowning, even though he disobeyed Him
Jonah 2:2, 6, 10 – The Lord saved Jonah
Jonah 3:1-10 – The Lord blessed the people of Nineveh when they repented
Jonah 4:1-11 – The Lord saved Nineveh because they repented
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Micah
Micah 1:15 – The Lord will perpetuate various nations
Micah 2:7, 12-13 – The Lord will bless those that are righteous
Micah 4:1-13 – The Lord will bring the gentiles to the temple
Micah 5:2-7 – The Lord will bless Israel again
Micah 6:8 – The Lord loves justice and charity
Micah 7:7-20 – The Lord will remember His covenant with Israel
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Nahum
Nahum 1:3, 7, 15 – The Lord is slow to anger
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Habakkuk
Habakkuk 1:12 – The Lord will save us
Habakkuk 3:2-3, 17-19 – The Lord is our strength
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Zephaniah
Zephaniah 2:3, 7 – The Lord will put an end to the captivity
Zephaniah 3:9-20 – The Lord will put an end to the shame of Judah
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Haggai
Haggai 1:12-14 – The Lord was with His people when they repented
Haggai 2:4-9, 18-19, 23 – The Lord blessed His people with prosperity when they listened to Him
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Zechariah
Zechariah 1:3, 16-17 – The Lord will turn to us when we turn to Him
Zechariah 2:1-13 – The Lord will make Jerusalem a good place to live again
Zechariah 3:1-10 – The Lord blesses Joshua the high priest
Zechariah 4:6-14 – The Lord will bless Zerubbabal
Zechariah 6:9-15 – The Lord will cause His temple to be built
Zechariah 8:1-23 – The Lord will bless the people and cause the gentiles to come to Jerusalem
Zechariah 9:8-17 – The Lord will gather scattered Judah
Zechariah 10:6-12 – The Lord will gather His people from exile
Zechariah 12:6-8 – The Lord will defend Jerusalem
Zechariah 13:9 – The Lord will be Judah’s God, and they will be His people
Zechariah 14:4-11, 20-21 – The Lord will make sure everything is holy
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Malachi
Malachi 1:2 – The Lord loves us
Malachi 2:4-7, 10 – The Lord blessed the descendants of Levi
Malachi 3:1, 3-4, 6, 10-12, 16-18 – The Lord blesses those that respect Him
Malachi 4:2, 4-6 – The Lord will send Elijah to bless His people
