JOURNEYS THROUGH THE BIBLE #26. MINOR PROPHETS - GROUP THREE NAHUM, HABAKKUK, AND ZEPHANIAH 1. Key Themes f Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah Gd will bring lw in rder t lift up. Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah - cntinue the message f Judgment, yet they emphasize the Lrd s purpse is the ultimate restratin f His peple. The writer f Hebrews tells us that chastisement is a vital element f the Christian Life (Hebrews 12:4-11). Its purpse is t assure ur status as sns wh are cnnected t ur Father, wh is the surce f ur spiritual life (Jhn 15:1ff). This tri f prphets cntinues t instill cnfidence in Yahweh, wh is a truly just and merciful Gd. The enemies f The Lrd will be destryed. Thse wh belng t Him shall be restred! Nahum assures Israel that part f Gd s justice invlves retributin as well as restratin. The prphet reminds us that Gd is slw t anger, but His patience is nt limitless. Nineveh had been shwn incredible mercy thrugh the ministry f Jnah. Apparently the Assyrians returned t their careless ways, and they frustrated the grace f Gd extended t them. Judgment n Nineveh was as certain as salvatin was fr Israel. Habakkuk is representative f thse wh had grwn weary waiting fr the Lrd s vindicatin f His wn hnr and peple. Like Asaph in Psalm 73, everything he bserved tld him it was pintless t serve Gd; evil was prevailing. Gd prmised He wuld nt nly wrk in Habakkuk s lifetime, but He wuld eventually purge the whle wrld f wickedness (1:5; 2:14-20). Habakkuk cmpsed a sng f victry based n these prmises (3:17, 18), and it reminds us f the victry sng f Revelatin 15:2-4. Zephaniah std alngside King Jsiah t prclaim a pure mve f Gd fr Israel. Even if it was nly upn The Remnant, Gd wuld bring t Himself a peple f hnr wh wuld be vessels used fr Gd s Glry. Thugh the branches be pruned, they will be regrwn (Rmans 9-11). 2. The Bk f Nahum The Authr: Nahum, wh may be the namesake fr Capernaum (city r village f Nahum) f the New Testament. He prphesied during the time f Zephaniah, Habakkuk and Jeremiah Dr. J. Stephen Chitty 1
This bk is essentially a sequel t Jnah and was written between 663BC (the date f the fall f Thebes, described in 3:8-10) and the fall f Nineveh, which ccurred in 612BC. The destructin f Nineveh is the theme dminating the bk f Nahum. The Assyrians were particularly treacherus and were knwn fr the brutality assciated with their military campaigns. In 722BC, they cnquered the nrthern kingdm f Israel. Only Gd s interventin prevented a similar destructin f Jerusalem in 701BC (1 Kings 17-19). The predictin f Nineveh s cllapse was as dramatic and incmprehensible as a predictin f the fall f Cmmunist Russia wuld have seemed in the mid-20th century. Yet Gd s Wrd abides, and the pwers f this wrld fall like leaves in autumn. Assyria was at the height f her pwer, but her precipitus fall wuld begin in 626BC with the death f Ashurbanipal. By 612BC, prud Assyria wuld be cnsumed and replaced by Babyln. Nahum means full f cmfrt. It is a shrtened frm f Nehemiah. Key Verses The Lrd is gd, a strnghld in the day f truble, and He knws thse wh take refuge in Him. 8 But with an verflwing fld He will make a cmplete end f its site, and will pursue His enemies int darkness. 9 Whatever yu devise against the Lrd, He will make a cmplete end f it. Distress will nt rise up twice. Nahum 1:7-9 NASB Key Peple Nineveh - the capitl city f Assyria that had been spared in the days f Jnah. Judah - the suthern kingdm, whse Gdly remnant harbred hpe fr Messiah. Key Places The message f Nahum cncerns the kingdms f Assyria (Nineveh) and Judah (Jerusalem). The Themes f Nahum Retributin - uncnfessed sin is a magnet fr judgment. Restratin - Gd s lve is persistent and restrative when we repent. The Cntents f Nahum Dr. J. Stephen Chitty 2
The destructin f Nineveh is predicted (1:1-15). The destructin f Nineveh in detail (2:1-13) The destructin f Nineveh assured (3:1-19) Wrth Remembering During this time Judah was smewhat a vassal state t Assyria. Nahum prphesied against Assyria at a time when it was extremely dangerus t d s. The significance f Nahum fr us tday is the fact that the utter destructin f Nineveh was prphesied when there was n lgical reasn t assume the empire wuld fall. Whenever we place ur trust in Gd, ur faith may nt appear lgical r even pssible. Yet Gd knws the end frm the beginning, and He can be trusted! When Reading Nahum Remember Nahum s style is similar t Micah s. We see vivid imagery and descriptive language. The backgrund f Nahum s day is recrded in 2 Kings 17-23 and 2 Chrnicles 33-34. 3. The Bk f Habakkuk The Authr: Habakkuk, wh may have been invlved in Temple wrship as a member f the Levitical family (3:19). The date f writing is difficult t determine, but it prbably emerged between 620 and 605BC. Habakkuk means embrace. The name may mean t be embraced by Gd, r it may mean Habakkuk was t embrace Judah with wrds f cmfrt during difficult times. He was a cntemprary f Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Zephaniah. Under Nabplassar, wh came t pwer in 626BC, Babyln was emerging as the new wrld pwer. His sn Nebuchadnezzar waged successful military campaigns against Assyria frm 612-605BC n his way t Jerusalem. Judah was abut t feel the crush f Babylnian pwer. Dr. J. Stephen Chitty 3
The Egyptian King Nech allied with Assyria against Jsiah f Judah at Megidd in 609BC. Jsiah was killed, leaving his thrne t a quick successin f three sns and a grandsn (2 Chrnicles 35:20-24). The message f Habakkuk was t the suthern kingdm f Judah. Her legal system had cllapsed int injustice and inefficiency. Jsiah s refrms were lst as the natin descended int vilence and ppressive treatment f its citizens. Habakkuk s stry fllws the path f Asaph s testimny in Psalm 73. We see the prphet s persnal jurney invlving a return frm dubt back t faith. Chapter 1 begins with the prphet s declaratin f despair, but thse verses are nticeably different frm the affirmatin f faith fund in the clsing verses (3:17-19). We see Habakkuk successfully navigate the waters between dubt and trust. His path f renewal is seen in 2:4, The Just will live by His faith. Key Verses Hw lng, Lrd, must I call fr help, but yu d nt listen? Or cry ut t yu, Vilence! but yu d nt save? 3 Why d yu make me lk at injustice? Why d yu tlerate wrngding? Destructin and vilence are befre me; there is strife, and cnflict abunds. 4 Therefre the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteus, s that justice is perverted. Habakkuk 1:2-4 NASB Thugh the fig tree des nt bud and there are n grapes n the vines, thugh the live crp fails and the fields prduce n fd, thugh there are n sheep in the pen and n cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejice in the Lrd, I will be jyful in Gd my Savir. Habakkuk 3:17, 18 NASB Key Peple Habakkuk - a prphet f Judah, prbably a Levite. The peple f Judah and Babyln Key Places Habakkuk s racle is centered arund Judah. The Themes f Habakkuk Dr. J. Stephen Chitty 4
Dubt - all Gd s children have seasns f spiritual struggle. Hpe - it has been said that man can survive three days withut water; three minutes withut air; and three secnds withut hpe. Gd ges t great lengths t fill ur hearts with cnfident expectatin fr the future. The Cntents f Habakkuk The Seasn f The Dubting Mind (1:1-2:20) The authr (1:1) Habakkuk s first cmplaint (1:2-4) Gd s first respnse (1:5-11) Habakkuk s secnd cmplaint (1:12-2:1) Gd s secnd respnse (2:2-20) The Seasn f the Settled Heart (3:1-19) Habakkuk s request fr mercy (3:1,2) Habakkuk praise fr Gd s pwer (3:3-15) Gd s prmise f sufficiency (3:16-19) Wrth Remembering Paul uses Habakkuk s declaratin f faith twice t accentuate his teaching n the dctrine f justificatin by faith (Rmans 1:17; Galatians 3:11). Habakkuk illustrates that faith is a way life, nt just a singular event. When Reading Habakkuk Remember t read the bk as a dialg between the prphet and Gd ver the questin f injustice. The structure is clear and the flw is easy t fllw. The backstry f Habakkuk is fund in 2 Kings 22, 23; 2 Chrnicles 34-36. Dr. J. Stephen Chitty 5
4. The Bk f Zephaniah The Authr: Ams, a shepherd/farmer frm Teka in Judah, which was abut ten miles suth f Jerusalem. This bk was written in abut 755BC, s he was a cntemprary f Jnah. Uzziah was king in Judah, and Jerbam II ruled in Israel. It was abut tw years befre a catastrphic earthquake ccurred (1:1; Zechariah 14:5). Interestingly, Ams was a citizen f Judah wh was called upn t prphesy t Israel. Due t Nineveh s repentance, tensin with Assyria had been minimized, and it was a time f great prsperity in Israel and Judah. Spiritually hwever, apstasy was becming mre evident in bth kingdms. Ams name means burden r burden-bearer. Key Verses Seek gd and nt evil, that yu may live; And thus may the Lrd Gd f hsts be with yu, Just as yu have said! 15 Hate evil, lve gd, and establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the Lrd Gd f hsts May be gracius t the remnant f Jseph. Ams 5:14, 15 NASB We t thse wh are at ease in Zin And t thse wh feel secure in the muntain f Samaria, The distinguished men f the fremst f natins, t whm the huse f Israel cmes. Ams 6:1 NASB Then Amaziah said t Ams, G, yu seer, flee away t the land f Judah and there eat bread and there d yur prphesying! 13 But n lnger prphesy at Bethel, fr it is a sanctuary f the king and a ryal residence. 14 Then Ams replied t Amaziah, I am nt a prphet, nr am I the sn f a prphet; fr I am a herdsman and a grwer f sycamre figs. 15 But the Lrd tk me frm fllwing the flck and the Lrd said t me, G prphesy t My peple Israel. 16 Nw hear the wrd f the Lrd: yu are saying, Yu shall nt prphesy against Israel nr shall yu speak against the huse f Isaac. 17 Therefre, thus says the Lrd, Yur wife will becme a harlt in the city, yur sns and yur daughters will fall by the swrd, yur land will be parceled up by a measuring line and yu yurself will die upn unclean sil. Mrever, Israel will certainly g frm its land int exile. Ams 7:12-17 NASB Key Peple Ams - the farmer frm Teka Amaziah - the wicked priest f Bethel wh persecuted Ams Dr. J. Stephen Chitty 6
Jerbam II - king in Israel Key Places Bethel and Samaria The Themes f Zephaniah Sbriety - the need t take Gd seriusly. Respnsibility - we will all answer t Gd fr the way we have lived. Cmpassin - it is a sin t ppress the helpless. Integrity - Gd is lking fr peple with sincere hearts. The Cntents f Zephaniah Gd will judge the natins (1:1-2:16). Intrductin f Ams (1:1,2) Judgment against Israel s enemies (1:3-2:3) Damascus (1:3-5) Gaza (1:6-8) Tyre (1:9,10) Edm (1:11,12) Ammn (1:13-15) Mab (2:1-3) Judah (2:4,5) Israel (2:6-16) Judgment against Judah (2:4, 5) Judgment against Israel (2:6-16) Israel s Specific Sins (3:1-6:14) Irrespnsible living (3:1-15) Idlatry (4:1-13) Lack f ethical behavir (5:1-6:14) Dr. J. Stephen Chitty 7
Visins f Judgment and Eventual Restratin (7:1-9:15) The Lrd will have mercy (7:1-6). The Visin f Lcusts (7:1-3) The Visin f Fire (7:4-6) The Lrd will n lnger have mercy (7:7-9:10). The Visin f the Plumb Line (7:7-9) Cnflict between Ams and Amaziah (7:10-17) Visin f the Fruit Basket (8:1-14) The Visin f the Altar (9:1-10) The Lrd will restre Israel (9:11-15). Wrth Remembering Remember that Zephaniah may have been a member f the ryal family thrugh Hezekiah. Remember that Gd s prmise f restratin is directed tward the remnant f faithful Jews. When Reading Zephaniah Remember he is a cntemprary f Hsea. Gd used his backgrund as a farmer and shepherd t illustrate Gd s heart fr Israel. Dr. J. Stephen Chitty 8