The Bible Book by Book Part 19

1. Jonah's anger, 1-4.

2. The lessons of the gourd. 5-11.

For Study and Discussion. (1) The different elements of character noticeable in Jonah. (2) The dangers of disobedience, to self and to others. (3) The possibilities of influence for the man commissioned of G.o.d. Jonah's influence on the sailors and on Nineveh. (4) G.o.d's care for heathen nations (4-11), and its bearing upon the Foreign Mission enterprise. (5) The nature of true repentance and G.o.d's forgiveness.

(6) The prophet, or preacher-his call, his message and place of service.

Micah.

The Prophet. His name means "who is the Lord?" and he was Moresheth. a small town of Gath. He was a younger contemporary of Isaiah and prophesied to both Israel and Judah during the time of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah; and of Pekah and Hoshea, the last two kings of Israel. He sympathized deeply with the common people, being moved by the social wrongs of his time (Ch. 2-3), and became the people's advocate and defender as well as their accuser. He clearly sets forth the wickedness of Judah and Israel, their punishment, their restoration and the coming Christ. As compared with Isaiah, he was a simple countryman, born of obscure parentage and recognized as one of the peasant cla.s.ses, while Isaiah was a city prophet of high social standing and a counselor of kings.

The Great Truths of the Prophecy Are: (1) The destruction of Israel (1:6-7) (2) The desolation of Jerusalem and the temple (3:12 and 7:13). (3) The carrying off of the Jews to Babylon (4:10). (4) The return from captivity with peace and prosperity and with spiritual blessing (4:1-8 and 7:11-17). (5) The ruler in Zion (Messiah) (4:8).

(6) Where and when he should be born (5:2). This is his great prophecy and is accepted as final in the announcement to Herod.

I. The Impending Calamity, Ch. 1.

II. The Sins That Have Brought on This Calamity. Chs. 2-3.

1. In their wickedness they refuse to hear the prophets and are led into captivity, 2:1-11.

2. The promised restoration, 2:12-13.

3. The sins of the rich and of those in authority. Ch. 3.

III. The Promised Restoration and Glory, Chs. 4-5.

1. The promised restoration of the city Zion, 4:1-5.

2. The restoration and glory of Israel, 4:6-13 (end).

3. The mighty messianic king to be given, Ch. 5.

IV. G.o.d's Controversy With Israel. Chs. 6-7.

1. G.o.d's charge and threat against them, Ch. 6.

2. In lamentation and patience the righteous must wait for a better time, 7:1-13.

3. G.o.d will have mercy and restore, 7:14-20.

For Study and discussion. (1) The several accusations and threatenings against Israel and Judah. (2) The different things mentioned to describe the coming prosperity of Israel and of the Messianic period.

(3) The false authority of civil rulers, of moral leaders, of spiritual teachers.

Chapter XXI.

Nahum and Habakkuk.

Nahum.

The Prophet. His name means "consolation", and he was a native of Elkosh, a small town of Galilee. We do not know where he uttered his prophecy, whether from Philistia or at Nineveh. It is thought that he escaped into Judah when the Captivity of the Ten Tribe began and that he was at Jerusalem at the time of the a.s.syrian invasion.

The Prophecy. The date, if the above conclusions are to be relied upon, would be in the reign of Hezekiah, King of Judah, which would be between 720 and 698 B. C. Others put it between the destruction of Thebes, 664 B. C. and the fall of Nineveh, 607 B. C. claiming that it might be either during the reign of Josiah, 640-625 B. C. or in the reign of Mana.s.seh, 660 B. C. The theme of the book is the approaching fall of Nineveh, the capital of a.s.syria, which held sway for centuries and has been regarded as the most brutal of the ancient heathen nations. The purpose, in keeping with the name of the author, was to comfort his people, so long hara.s.sed by a.s.syria, which was soon to fall and trouble them no more. The style is bold and fervid and eloquent and differs from all the prophetic books so far studied in that it is silent concerning the sins of Judah. It is a sort of outburst of exultation over the distress of a cruel foe, a shout of triumph over the downfall of an enemy that has prevented the exaltation of the people of Jehovah.

a.n.a.lysis.

I. The Doom of Nineveh p.r.o.nounced, Ch. 1.

II. the Siege and Fall of Nineveh, Ch. 2.

III. The Sins Which Will Cause Nineveh's Ruin, Ch. 3.

For Study and Discussion. (1) The striking features of the Divine character seen in the book. How many in 1:2-3? (2) The description of Nineveh-not only her wickedness, but her energy and enterprise. (3) The doom predicted for Nineveh-a.n.a.lyze the predictions to the different things to which she is doomed. (4) Pride as a G.o.d-ward sin and its punishment. (5) Cruelty, The man-ward sin and its punishment.

Habakkuk.

The Prophet. His name means "embracing," and he very likely was a contemporary of Jeremiah and prophesied between 608 B. C. and 638 B.

C. at a time of political and moral crisis. He may have been a Levite connected with the Temple music.

The Prophecy. As Nahum prophesied the fall of a.s.syria for its oppression of Israel, Habakkuk tells of G.o.d's judgments upon the Chaldeans because of their oppression. The style is poetical and displays a very fine imagery. (1) There is a dialogue between the prophet and the Divine ruler. (2) There is a prayer or psalm which is said not to be excelled in any language in the grandeur of its poetical conceptions and sublimity of expression.

Its purpose grew out of the fact that they were no better off under the rule of Babylon (Chaldeans) which had overthrown a.s.syria than they were formerly while a.s.syria ruled over them. It intended to answer the questions: (1) How could G.o.d use such a wicked instrument as the Chaldeans (Barbarians) to execute his purposes? (2) Could the Divine purpose be justified in such events? G.o.d's righteousness needed vindicating to the people. (3) Why does wickedness seem to triumph while the righteous suffer? This is the question of Job, applied to the nation.

a.n.a.lysis.

I. The Problem of the Apparent Triumph of Sin, Ch. 1.

1. Why does sin go unpunished? 1-4.

2. G.o.d says he has used the Chaldeans to punish sin, 5-11.

3. Are they confined to evil forever, 12-17.

II. The Impending Punishment of the Chaldeans, Oh. 2.

1. Waiting for the vision, 1-3.

2. Vision of five destructive woes, 4-20.

III. An Age of Confidence in G.o.d, Ch.3.

1. Prayer of the disquieted prophet, 1-2.

2. Past history has shown that G.o.d will finally destroy Israel's enemies, 3-15.