Obadiah 1-21

Dear RTB’ers,

Obadiah, our final minor prophet during this stretch of RTB readings. Our STS authors give us a good introduction to Obadiah. I would especially encourage you to read their citation of Numbers 20:14-21. Those verses tell of Edom’s refusal to allow Israel to pass through their territory on their journey from the Wilderness to the Promised Land, even though Edom and Israel were “brother nations” due to their ancestry from Jacob and Esau. You might want to read the long history of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25, 27, 32-33) for a better understanding of that brotherly relationship.

Obadiah is all about Edom’s destruction. Some scholars read “Edom” to reflect any (or all) of those nations that fought with Israel, but for now we’ll just imagine that Obadiah meant Edom itself, the mountainous nation from the southern tip of the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Obadiah tells Edom that it will fall: The pride of your heart has deceived you, who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD. (vv. 3-4)

The word “day” appears a dozen times in this one chapter. Mostly it is used as “that day” or “the day”, in conjunction with the Lord’s eight “do not…” commands in verses 12-14. That changes in the next verse, however, where “the day of the LORD”, suggests something more eschatological: For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. (v. 15) Again, as with other “end times” prophecies that we have read, the Lord will rule from Jerusalem: But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy… Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s. (vv. 17a, 21) It’s worth noting that the NASB translates “saviors” as “deliverers”, suggesting a time more contemporary than an end-times prophecy. So it’s your call – current or end-times prophecy? Thoughts?

Blessings!

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See also: August 11 (2023) / Psalm 137; Obadiah; Jeremiah 52:28-30; Ezekiel 33:1-20.

Habakkuk 3

Dear RTB’ers,

We are covering two STS assignments today to make up for one of the four we fell short last year.

Without the STS intro and my Study Bible I would have been lost in today’s reading. Habakkuk is using poetic environmental images to describe Israel’s escape from Egypt and entry into the Promised Land. The mountains saw You and writhed; the raging waters swept on; the deep gave forth its voice; it lifted its hands on high. The sun and moon stood still in their place at the light of Your arrows as they sped, at the flash of Your glittering spear. (vv. 10-11, as an example…)

We end Habakkuk with one of the strongest statements of faith that we will find in all of Scripture: Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (vv. 17-18)

Finally, one more time, a call to wait: Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. (v. 16b) Habakkuk has been told to expect the Babylonian invasion – it will happen. But in the end it is the Babylonians who will be defeated. In the end of all the trouble that we see around us, God will win out. Yes, wait.

Blessings!

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See also: July 6 (2023) / Habakkuk (again).

Habakkuk 2:6-20

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we continue the Lord’s second response to Habakkuk’s questions. We began this response yesterday with a one-word message: Wait. Today He pronounces five woes on the Chaldeans (Babylonians). Mostly I see the essence of those woes as chastisement on the Babylonians for plundering, for taking what is not theirs and using it for their own comfort. But, as we often see, the Babylonians will get theirs: The cup in the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and utter shame will come upon your glory! (v. 16b) And I love the Lord’s taunting of the idol-makers in verses 19-20.

Two well-known verses today: For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (v. 14) and But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him. (v. 20) Enjoy!

Blessings!

Habakkuk 1:1-2:5

Dear RTB’ers,

Habakkuk – the fifth of six minor prophets during this stretch of RTB readings. I feel like the STS authors should have done a better job at laying out this book. The text is actually a conversation between Habakkuk and God, with Habakkuk questioning and God answering. You’ll see God speaking in Hab. 1:5-11 and in Hab. 2:2-20. All the rest of the text in the first two chapters is Habakkuk questioning God, then all of chapter 3 is Habakkuk’s prayer of praise and rejoicing.

In today’s first four verses Habakkuk is asking God why the evil around him (presumably in Judah, particularly in Jerusalem) is going unpunished. God responds with these famous words, Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans… (vv. 5-6a) God tells Habakkuk that He is doing something unbelievable, that He will be punishing Judah by using the Chaldeans (Babylonians) as His instrument! Habakkuk is horrified! He responds, …why do You idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? (v.1:13b) That is, how can God send the godless Chaldeans up against the God-fearing (but sinful) Judeans? Essentially, Habakkuk asks if God doesn’t have other instruments that He can use to punish the sin in his midst?

God then responds with a good word for us: WAIT. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. (v. 2:3) For us in our everyday lives, God is doing what He will do. Whatever in our lives seems to be going in a wrong direction – it is known to God. If we are uncomfortable with situations around us and are powerless to do anything about them, we just need to wait. God knows all that is going on. We just need to trust Him and wait. And pray. Yes, wait and pray, pray and wait.

Blessings!

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See also: July 6 22 (2023) / Habakkuk.

Nahum 2-3

Dear RTB’ers,

I noted yesterday that the book of Nahum is all about Nineveh and its judgment and destruction. That’s what today’s reading is all about, that final destruction. It gets confusing as to whether some of the text is referring to the advancing armies or to defenders in Nineveh itself. See especially Nahum 2:3-4. Beyond that, most of the text is clear; it’s not hard to imagine oneself in the middle of the city as it is being ravaged by invaders, and as officials, leaders, and traders flee before the onslaught.

Finally, Nahum leaves no doubt but that the Lord is responsible for the destruction of Nineveh: Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame. I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle. And all who look at you will shrink from you and say, “Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?” Where shall I seek comforters for you? (vv. 3:5-7)

Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC and never built again. According to my Study Bible, archeologists finally began to uncover her ruins in 1845.

Blessings!

Nahum 1

Dear RTB’ers,

Both the STS introduction and my Study Bible’s notes tell us that the book of Nahum is all about Nineveh and its judgment and destruction. We’ve seen Nineveh before, you’ll recall, in the book of Jonah. He was told to go there, went the other direction, repented of that error and finally did go. As he preached, much to his disappointment the Ninevites repented. Evidently that repentance did not last long, because now Nahum is speaking out against them and all they stand for.

Evidently the Assyrians were a wicked, evil people. Here’s a description from my Study Bible: “The Assyrians were brutally cruel, their kings often being depicted as gloating over the gruesome punishments inflicted on conquered peoples. They conducted their wars with shocking ferocity … The leaders of conquered cities were tortured and horribly mutilated before being executed. No wonder the dread of Assyria fell on all her neighbors!”

God had used Assyria in their defeat of the Northern Kingdom (Samaria, Israel) in 722 BC. However, no one gets a free pass from Him. After speaking of His vengeance in verse 2, Nahum lays out God’s ultimate position: The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. (v.3) The Assyrians will get theirs!

In the midst of Nahum’s denunciation of Nineveh, he offers some words of comfort for Judah and the Israelites. First, The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. (v. 7) Then, Thus says the LORD, “Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds apart.” (vv. 12-13)

More of Nahum tomorrow…

Blessings!

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See also: July 4 (2023) / Nahum.

Zephaniah 3:8-20

Dear RTB’ers,

Today’s reading is a bit confusing for me. (Nothing new about that…! ) Early on we see another picture of complete destruction: For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of My jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. (v. 8) All the earth consumed…? That’s what we saw two days ago, that I repeated yesterday. But then, immediately, God has a plan for a separate people? For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him with one accord. … the daughter of My dispersed ones shall bring My offering. (vv. 9-10) Then the rest of the chapter seems to be a “salvation” of sorts for these special people, likely the Israelites. They will have been cleansed from all their wrongdoings; they shall be safe and secure: The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. (v. 15)

Yes, the Lord will have His special people. We close today with “At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD. (v. 20) So, what peoples? The Israelites? What time? In Zephaniah’s life, or the End Times or when? What place? Jerusalem? A bit confusing to me…

Blessings!

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See also: June 29 (2023) / II Kings 22; Zephaniah (again).

Zephaniah 2:1-3:7

Dear RTB’ers,

Yesterday we saw God’s judgment on all humanity, the Day of the Lord, a full and sudden end He will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. (v. 1:18b) We also saw His warnings for Judah, particularly Jerusalem. Today we back off that final day a bit and see judgment against Israel’s enemies – from the north (Assyria, Zeph. 2:13-15), south (Cushites, Zeph. 2:12 and Moab (Zeph. 2:8), east and southeast (Moab, Ammon (Zeph. 2:8-11), and west (the Philistine cities, Zeph. 2:4-7). Judah is again warned in Zeph. 3:1-5.

Today’s reading ends with another warning to either Judah or the nations (or both!), one which, sadly, they will ignore: I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you’. But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt. (v. 3:7)

So, do we hear God’s warnings? Is He warning us today? Yes or no, what is our response to all that we know of Him, to all that He has said to us? He wasn’t joking back then, I don’t think that He is joking today.  

Blessings!

Zephaniah 1

Dear RTB’ers,

Zephaniah, the third of the six minor prophets that we are covering in this two-week stretch of RTB readings. The introductory information in STS and in my Study Bible provide the same focus – the Day of the Lord. And we see that focus develop quickly in today’s reading: “I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth… (vv. 2-3) And in case we missed it in these first couple of verses, Zephaniah repeats himself: In the fire of His jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end He will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. (v. 18b) Zephaniah is clear – we will all be gone from the face of the earth. That “day of the LORD” (or “day” only) is mentioned more than a dozen times in this one chapter. And it will be a harsh day. See especially verses 14-16.

Not a good beginning for our reading of Zechariah…!

Blessings!

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See also: June 29 (2023) / II Kings 22; Zephaniah.

Joel 2:18-3:21

Dear RTB’ers,

One item that I failed to mention yesterday was that yesterday’s passage was all about Israel, with nothing said about its neighbors or its enemies. The devastation, the call to repentance, God’s reply – they were all about Israel. Today however, we are only two verses into our reading when we see a different picture, Israel in the larger context: … I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. (v. 2:19b) Today’s passage continues with the Lord’s restoration of the land that the locusts have destroyed, but then Joel 2:28 begins a time frame centuries into that future (that Peter quotes at Pentecost) and even into times that we have not yet seen.

That future is paramount in Joel 3, beginning with its first verse: For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem… (v. 3:1) The chapter continues with the Lord’s judgment upon those nations who have defiled Israel and ends with the glory of the Lord radiating from Jerusalem: The LORD roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge to His people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, Who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it. … Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations. (vv. 3:16-17, 20)

We have a future to look forward to!

Blessings!

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See also: October 2 (2023) / Joel (again).