Minor Prophets to Judah (Aug 1)
As the Bible is arranged by genre,
to enhance understanding context
we’re meditating by time sequence.
Old Testament Expository Phases:
OT1A: Genesis
OT1B: Poetry Book of Job
OT1C: Life of Moses (Exo to Deut)
OT2A: History to David (1Chron)
OT2B: Five Books of Psalms
OT2C: 1 Kings & Wisdom Poetry
OT3A: 2 Kings & Prophets
OT3B: 2 Chronicles & Prophets
OT3C: Return From Exile & Prophets
2 Chronicles spans four centuries of
Judah’s history from glory days of Solomon to end of Babylonian Exile.
Moving to prophets, Isaiah’s ministry
spans reigns of four kings of Judah
(722-681BC) stressing holiness and
justice of God as well as the Messiah
who comes to comfort His people.
Next, we will mediate on five minor prophets to Judah over 3 weekends
including Obadiah (840BC) and
Joel (830) as well as Micah (735-10)
Zephaniah (630) & Habakkuk (607).
Obadiah: One of the worst things
that can happen is to have your
enemies line up to destroy you.
However, defeat takes on a different
meaning when close friends and
brothers also join the opposition.
When Judah called out to her
Edomite cousins for help against
the advancing Babylonians troops,
Edom stood aloof & behaved like Judah’s foes. God’s displeasure
with Edom as it comes through the prophet Obadiah is clear: Edom be destroyed and Judah live in peace.
Joel: Addressing hearts that have
grown cold to the things of God,
Joel confronts the people of Judah.
He reminds them of the recent
destruction brought by a plague
of locusts. Yet that disaster, a
judgment in itself, will seem pale
beside the catastrophe still to come.
Unless the nation repents, it will be destroyed by an army from the north.
The only hope of escape is for the
people to repent. If they do, then
God will divert judgment and will
deliver an unparalleled blessing;
judgment on Judah’s enemies and
the matchless gift of peace to Zion.
Micah: Sin had infiltrated every
segment of society. False prophets
preached for money, immoral
princes oppressed poor, corrupt
judges allowed injustice to rule the land. Such were the days of Micah, country preacher turned prophet of God. Micah pleads with his country
men to turn away from sin & back to
God. But the message falls on deaf ears, that will soon instead hear
the glamour of invading armies. But within the hardness lies hope. When
justice is achieved, God will restore
His people to their covenant land.
Zephaniah: 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 & peace.
But 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 (3:14-18)
Habakkuk: Looking around his native
Judah, Habakkuk observes injustice.
What he sees causes him to cry out
to God with perplexing questions:
Why are the wicked prospering
in Your nation Lord? Why are
the righteous beaten down?
Why don’t You do something
to right the wrongs of society?
God’s reply is even more shocking
than the conditions in Judah:
I am about to use a nation even
more corrupt than Judah to cleanse
My people of their wicked ways.
In a stunned disbelief, Habakkuk
responds: How in the name of
holiness can You do that God?
And when God patiently answers
the prophet’s question, Habakkuk
responds in praise with faith.