Micah

Date Written: 742-687 B.C.

Author: Micah

Setting: The prophet Micah came from the small town of Moresheth, southwest of Jerusalem. His message is primarily for the southern kingdom. He is preaching at the same time as Isaiah. They were both preaching to the two tribes in the south while Hosea was preaching to the tribes in the north, just before they were exiled by the Assyrians.

Key People: The people of Samaria & Jerusalem

Purpose: To warn people of judgment & to offer hope.

Key Verses: He has showed, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly & to love mercy & to walk humbly with your God. 6:8

Chapter Outline:

1-5 Judgment & Deliverance

6-7 Confession & Restoration

Importance of reading Micah:

What we read: In these 7 short chapters, Micah shows us the true picture of God – the almighty God who hates sin & loves the sinner. Most of his book describes God’s judgment on Israel. He gives us a list of their sins: fraud, theft, greed, debauchery, oppression, hypocrisy, heresy, injustice, extortion, lying, murder & other offenses. But he also gives them hope if they will repent & turn from their wicked ways. What we can learn: Judgment comes only after countless opportunities to repent, to turn back to true worship & obedience.

What we read: Chapter 3:11, Micah warned the leaders, priests & prophets to avoid bribes. What we can learn: This can be seen today when pastors allow those who give the most money to control & influence what happens in the church. If the fear of losing money causes the pastor to water down the message, then the whole congregation will suffer.

What we read: Chapter 6:8, we read that God wants His people to be just, merciful & to walk humbly with Him. What we can learn: Examine these areas on a regular basis. Are you fair in your dealings with people? Do you show mercy to those who wrong you? Are you learning humility?

Things to think about as you read Micah:

• Think about everything you have learned about God the Father & the Son in this book. Meditate on these truths. Tell God you want to know Him more intimately & ask Him to give you understanding.
• Micah 4:12 says the nations don’t know the thoughts of the Lord, nor do they understand His purpose. Yet the child of God can know these things through studying His Word. God’s plan for the future is in the Word of God. Are you taking time to study His Word?
• What have you learned about the unchanging love & compassion of God in forgiving your sins?  
• Although you may not be able to trust in others, can you trust in God? Are you trusting Him? Can He trust you? In Micah 6:6-8, God tells us how to approach Him & what He requires. Are you living accordingly?  

Nahum

Date Written: Sometime during Nahum’s prophetic ministry, probably between 663 – 612 B.C.

Author: Nahum

Setting: 100-150 years earlier, Jonah had preached in the streets of Nineveh. The people had heard God’s message & had turned from their evil. But generations later, evil was once again reigning. The prophet Nahum is warning them that they will be judged for their sins. Nineveh is the capital of the Assyrian empire. The news of its coming destruction was a relief for Judah because they were subject to Assyrian domination. 

Key People: Nahum

Purpose: To pronounce God’s judgment on Nineveh & the Assyrian empire & to comfort Judah with this truth.

Key Verses: The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him, but with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh; He will pursue His foes into darkness. Whatever they plot against the Lord He will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time. 1:7-9

Chapter Outline:

1 Nineveh’s Judge

2-3 Nineveh’s Judgment

Importance of reading Nahum:

What we read: Although Assyria was the leading military power in the world, God would completely destroy this nation. Most don’t like to talk about God’s wrath much. Instead, they just want to hear about His love. But God truly hates sin & is uncompromising about how He will deal with it.  What we can learn: God cares deeply about His people & won’t let their oppressors go unpunished. But this also shows us how He won’t let sin go unpunished.

What we read: God is patient & slow to anger. He gives each of us time to repent. What we can learn: We don’t know when God’s patience will run out, so today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to repent & turn back to God.

Things to think about as you read Nahum:

• What do you learn about the justice of God & the certainty of His Word from this book? Is this the kind of God you can trust? Why?
• Is there anything that can stop God from doing what He says or plans?
• Can compassionate people give this kind of a message? What if you were told by God to bring this kind of warning to others, would you? What would motivate you or stop you?

Habakkuk

Date Written: between 612-588 B.C.

Author: Habakkuk

Setting: Babylon was becoming the dominant world power & Judah would soon feel Babylon’s destructive force. Habakkuk was a man with difficult questions & he sought those answers from God. He saw the world & it broke his heart. The prophets questions & God’s answers are in this book. 

Key People: Habakkuk, the Babylonians

Purpose: To show that God is still in control of the world despite the apparent triumph of evil.

Key Verses: Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. 3:2

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 3:18

Chapter Outline:

1-2 Habakkuk’s Complaints

3 Habakkuk’s Prayer

Importance of reading Habakkuk:

What we read:  Habakkuk was troubled by what he was seeing going on. He didn’t understand, so he took all of his questions & concerns to God. He couldn’t understand why a just God would allow such evil to exist. He wanted to know how long God planned to allow Babylon to continue its evil without judgment, without consequences. Babylon was conquering nation after nation; they seemed to be unstoppable. The bad guys were winning & he wanted to know why. What we can learn: God wants us to come to Him with our struggles & doubts. But His answers may not be what we expect. However, you can trust that He is perfect in all of His ways. His ways are not our ways, yet He can be trusted.

What we read: Chapter 2:1, after pouring out his heart to God, Habakkuk waits for the Lord’s reply. What we can learn: Waiting on the Lord is a much needed discipline in our lives. Many times we get impatient & move on with our plans before we have heard from God & that never ends well.

What we read: Habakkuk’s conclusion is that the only thing he really needs in order to keep going, even if the injustice doesn’t stop, even if he loses everything, is God Himself. He sees that the true source of life & joy isn’t a comfortable life without injustice & suffering, it’s God Himself. It’s in God that he will rejoice. What we can learn: We have to come to this same conclusion. Regardless of what is going on in our world, it’s our relationship with God that can bring us true life, true peace & true joy.  

Things to think about as you read Habakkuk:

• What do you learn about God – His ways, His Word, His character? If He is the same yesterday, today & forever, how would such insight into God influence your relationship with Him & His Word? How would this affect your response to your circumstances?
• What have you learned about pride? God says in James 4 that He resists the proud. Can you understand why? Can you see any bit of pride in your life which you need to deal with?
• Review the scriptures about the woes pronounced by God. Woe is an expression of great sorrow or grief that comes from His heart of love that is broken by the stubborn, rebellious people. Ask God to search you heart to show you if any of the woes apply to you.
• As you think about how Habakkuk begins & ends, think about what effected the difference in Habakkuk & then apply it to your own life. Are you questioning, doubting God & His ways? What do you need to do?

Video Link: https://youtu.be/Rjp0J6z_kFA?si=px59tTgx3dZow8Pr

Blessings,

Nichole Henson

Fullness of Joy Ministry

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