Nahum, Zephaniah & Habakkuk
We have been covering the Bible
by time sequence, phase by phase
OT1: Five Books of Laws incl Job.
OT2: History Up to King David
from Joshua to 1 Chron + Psalms
as well as Reign of King Solomon
in 2nd Chron & Wisdom Poetry.
In OT Phase 3, we see decline
of the two Divided Kingdoms.
OT3A: 1 Kings, Obadiah & Joel
OT3B: 2K1-17: Ministry of Jonah,
Amos, Hosea, Micah & Isaiah in run
up to Israel’s Dispersion in 722BC.
OT3C: 2 Kings 18-25 as well as
ministry of Jeremiah in the run up
to Judah’s Dispersion (605/586BC)
and thereafter Lamentations.
Continuing, we will cover three
minor prophets chronologically
over two weekends. Listed below
are the contextual background in
the southern kingdom during the
ministry of the three prophets.
Nahum’s Ministry (664-612BC):
By the time Nahum comes on
the scene, Nineveh is even more
wicked than it had been during
the time of Jonah about 100 years
earlier. The repentant spirit of
the people and the revival that
stemmed fr Jonah’s visit is gone.
Now a terror to the entire world,
the fortress city of Nineveh
seems impenetrable. But God
will no longer overlook the city’s
horrible sins, and he sends Nahum
to deliver message of impending
destruction. The entire Assyrian
empire will be destroyed and
the mighty city of Nineveh
will be gutted by a raging fire.
Zephaniah’s Prophecy (612BC):
Writing at one of the lowest
points in the spiritual life of Judah
Zephaniah’s primary concern is
the impending Day of the Lord.
That day signifies the final
judgment of God on earth and
the ensuing time of blessing
and peace. However, Zephaniah
knows that when judgment
is over, God will once again
look with favour on His people,
restore their fortunes, rejoice
over them & dwell among them.
Habakkuk’s Prophecy (605 BC):
Habakkuk prophesies in Judah
before it’s final overthrow by
Babylonia. Honestly concerned
with how God could chasten Judah
by means of a nation even more
sinful than itself, Habakkuk deals
with some perplexing questions:
Why is a just God silent? Why do
the pleas of the faithful seem to
go unheard? The reply comes
in the statement of a timeless
principle of God’s sovereignty:
God will deal with the wicked
in His way and in His time.
Meanwhile, righteous people
must continue to trust God.
Friends, Look out for them as they
will enable you to have a better
understanding of the contextual
background and appreciate the
mega themes of the prophets,
besides nudging u to Fear the Lord.