Habakkuk 3:16-19 Introduction Wicked Kings Wicked people Wicked Nation Babylon The book is broken into three sections. The first section is a Q & A. Habakkuk looks around and sees God’s people acting wicked, sinful and against God’s word. They reject God, His word and live worst than the pagan nations…

Jonah 1:1-16 introduces us to a literary masterpiece. It is rich in irony both poetically and theologically. Jonah, a prophet, is commanded to call Nineveh, the seat of Assyrian culture, to repentenance. However, this divine act of mercy was repulsive to the prophet. So we read of the only prophet who ever tried to run from God. His fleeing the presence of God become illogical and suicidal as he endured loving chastisement through a storm that nearly destroyed his boat. As we learn about Jonah, we begin to understand the sinfulness and smallness of people in conrast to the might, wisdom, and mercy of God. We are left considering whether our faith is big enough to consider the mercy of God?

When Everything Falls Apart! The Bible is relevant to today – God’s Word is eternal, it speaks just as much to us in the 21st Century as in Habakkuk’s day. But the world today is different – there were no medical laboratory scientists in Habakkuk’s day, nor AA mechanics or cable factories. To appreciate…

[Read v.1-13] יהוה is looking for fruit [v.1] Who has a grape vine? I know that Robin has several. We have our one or two and enjoy the fruit; some like Ivan even make wine. But it is a hobby, an interest; our livelihood doesn’t depend on it. In recent years, with the growth of the wine industry we have…

If you have your Bible this morning, and I hope that you do… Turn with me to Luke chapter 24. And let me just quickly put a plug in here… If you do not have a Bible, please let me, or someone from our church know… We would love to put a Bible in your hands before you leave today. There’s nothing more…

History, comfort, hope As New Testament Christians who live under grace through faith there is still much we can learn from history. History that can bring comfort and hope (Rom15:4) as well as instructions for our protection (1Cor10:11) The study of the Old Testament is profitable (2Tim3:14-17) and…

Haggai 3. Haggai [P] delivered five prophecies that are recorded in Scripture; they are all carefully dated – fixed to a specific historical time and setting. Last time we looked at the first of them last time: a message of rebuke [P] in [Haggai 1:1-11]. It was given on the first day of the sixth month…

Minor Prophets - A survey Yep, that is what this series is, a survey, an overview of the Minor Prophets and here is what we have looked at so far. Jonah - the running prophet Jonah (about 790 B.C.) prophesied to Nineveh Amos - the unlikely prophet Amos (755 B.C.) - to Israel Hosea - the loving prophet…

Zephaniah 4. Intro – context: Suppose you were about to enter a room, but you overheard some people talking: “I’ll murder you!” Sinister words! What do you do? Call the cops? Well it depends … you may have heard a sister reacting to her brother who has just sprinkled salt on her wheatbix, you may have…

Zephaniah 6. I am no expert on gems, but apparently, when you display diamonds it is best to place them on black velvet [P] – the luster and brightness are best appreciated against the contrasting dark background that absorbs all the light. The gleam and brightness is seen in all its glory. And we come…

I. HOSEA A. Introduction 1. Date a. During reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah - Jeroboam II of Israel (793 – 753 BC) b. Uzziah (790 – 739 BC) to Hezekiah (728 – 686) - (inclusion of Jeroboam II of little help because time of Hezekiah would indicate other kings of Israel) c. Contents…

Haggai 6. Intro: The prophet Haggai [P] delivered five messages from יְהוָה to the remnant of the Jews who had returned from exile in Babylonia. Their country was in ruins and their job was to rebuild, and in particular, to rebuild the temple of יְהוָה that had been torn down by the Babylonian invaders.…

Nahum 1. Recap intro: Remember the introduction to Nahum – who was the prophecy against? (clue v.1) – Nineveh, the capital of that cruel and wicked empire of Assyria that oppressed God's people for years. Do you recall what the name "Nahum" means? And do you remember what I said that Assyria signified?…

Micah 3. Leaders [1-4] Sin: injustice: v.1 - Micah goes straight to the top - to the civil leaders - rulers and judges. Micah’s concern always is injustice – does it irk you? The rulers’ office is to preserve justice and control and order within society. It was their place to know justice and enforce…

Zephaniah 5. Turn to Zephaniah chapter 3 [pray] [P] Let’s read [Zephaniah 3:1-4 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the tyrannical city! She heeded no voice, she accepted no instruction. She did not trust in יְהוָה, she did not draw near to her God. Her princes within her are roaring lions, her…

HABAKKUK Does evil bother you? Turn to the book of Habakkuk – today I want to return to the rather extended series I have been doing on the minor prophets. They were all written thousands of years ago now, before Christ came to earth, before the new covenant and before salvation had been revealed. What…

Zephaniah2 [P] [P] [Zephaniah 1:1-13 /The word of יְהוָה which came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah: “I will completely remove all things from the face of the earth,” declares יְהוָה. “I will remove man and…

Zephaniah. Intro: Who believes the Bible? Did God write it? Is what He wrote true? – Good, well let’s read it! [P] [read Zephaniah 1:1-3 This is the message that יְהוָה gave to Zephaniah during the time that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. (Zephaniah was descended from King Hezekiah through Amariah,…

Who is like יהוהּ? When יהוהּ speaks from His holy temple! (v.1, 2) What is יהוהּ like? What is your concept of what He is like? Who would you liken Him to? There is no one like Him. (Exodus 15:11 “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working…

Amos 5 Seek the LORD and Live: [1-27] v.1 – Amos, a prophet, he could see the coming judgement, mourns before it happens. Takes up a lament for the nation because of the judgement she must suffer. To Amos, with prophetical insight, יהוה’s word of judgement was so sure that he could view it as already…

Malachi - intro Could we all turn to the book of angels, please? What? It is not in your Bible?! Am I teaching some heresy from some extra canonical book? No, it is in your Bible – the Hebrew for angel is מַלְאָךְ - simply a “messenger”. Malachi means: “My messenger” – although I am sure that it was…

Nahum [*1] What do you think of the name “Paul”? – having fine Christian parents, probably named after the great apostle – but do you know what it means? – “small and stubborn” – when Mum was particularly frustrated and irritated by my stubbornness, I would remind her who named me! What about the name…

Micah 5. Assyria invades (v.5): Who is Assyria? In Daniel 2 king Nebuchadnezzar had a dream – its meaning was of human empires, the first being Babylon, the second Medo-Persia, then Greece and a fourth. Babylon is the great human empire that speaks of human effort and pride that pits itself in independence…

Introduction to Malachi Introduction to the Book: Dating of the Book: Specific dating of the book of Malachi is difficult. Although, traditionally, the book of Malachi is dated between 450 and 430 BC. Unlike most other prophets, Malachi mentioned no datable persons or events in his brief prophecy. Any…