Video Review: What's in the Bible? Vol 6 - A Nation Divided

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Entertaining way to gain Bible knowledge

Cons: Humor not as fresh as some videos

The Bottom Line:

Divided kingdom

And consequences of sin

Covered on this disc

Two Shows on the Split Kingdom

A Nation Divided.  No, we aren't talking about American politics.  Instead, it's the 6th volume in What's in the Bible? a DVD series from Phil Vischer, creator of VeggieTales.  As he continues his broad strokes survey through the Bible, we've reached the period of history in which Israel was divided into two kingdoms.  As always, Phil and his puppets entertain while teaching us some important lessons.

All the videos in this series feature a variety of Muppet like Puppets that Phil uses to entertain while still teaching about the Bible.  There are two half hour segments here that really flow together.  In fact, I have a hard time remembering exactly where they were broken.  Phil himself appears on screen at times, usually when an important point has to be made.  Most of the lesson itself is taught by Sunday School Lady and her magic flannel graph.  In other news, Ian and Clive get out of the jungle and sing songs from a biplane while Pirate Pete tries to get in on the act.  And reporter Buck Denver actually gets into his role as reporter.

Behind all the silliness from the various puppets, there is plenty of Bible knowledge imparted.  As with the other videos in the series, very few Bible stories are retold point blank, although Ian does get a new favorite Bible story.  Anyway, the purpose of these videos is to give a broad overview of the Bible and point out the important parts of God's redemption plan contained here.  The books of the Bible included in this video are Kings and Chronicles, and those include lots of kings.  All of them are mentioned, although very little detail is given about each of their reigns.  We do get a little bit about Ahab, Jezebel, Elijah, and Elisha, but again it's minimal.

Instead, the video shows us how the people of Israel continually turned their back on God and how God used Assyria and Babylon to judge the sin in the nations as a result.  It's a sober lesson in the consequences of sin.

These videos build on each other, as Phil and the characters make reference to things that we have already learned.  Yes, they do offer some brief explanations and definitions, but it really is best to watch them in order.

Of course, that does bring up my only real complaint with the videos, it seems like the jokes are becoming familiar and a bit repetitive.  Likewise, the songs seemed especially corny this time around.  Even so, I did laugh a few times in the hour and was entertained most of the time.

So that the show doesn't end on quite the downer, they do bring in God's prophecy through Isaiah of the coming Messiah followed by a choir of puppets doing one song from Handel's Messiah.  (I bet this is the first time puppets have ever done that.)  I find it interesting since the prophecy, while taking place chronologically during the time recorded here, doesn't happen in any of the books discussed.  And Isaiah isn't the next book in line, either.  Complaint aside, it does make for a more hopeful ending than we would have gotten.

Volume six of What's in the Bible? has the normal mix of humor and important Biblical truth.  While a bit predictable, A Nation Divided does a good job of tackling a serious message.