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Sometime after 663 B.C., but before 612 B.C.

Like Obadiah, Nahum’s call is specifically to a foreign nation: Assyria, whose capital was Nineveh.  This ancient city on the Tigris was the primary capital of the emperor Ashurbanipal, and had been known since before Jonah’s time as a den of treachery.  Unlike his predecessor, though, Nahum was able to preach God’s judgment from a distance. 

And this is probably best, for Nahum’s opening oracle declares: The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries and keeps wrath for His enemies.  After acquainting Assyria with the power of the LORD, the prophet alerts Nineveh of its fate: “No more shall your name be perpetuated; from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the metal image. I will make your grave, for you are vile."

Remember that Assyria had wiped out the Northern Kingdom of Israel, destroying its capital and scattering its people.  Here Nahum steps on a prominent prophetic theme: while the LORD had removed His protection from His people, allowing them to be punished by foreign nations, these nations were nonetheless responsible for the evil they had done.  This nuance in the LORD’s character is consistent throughout the prophets, and He feels fully justified in His vengeance, for Nineveh is vile. 

In chapters 2 and 3 water is used both as metaphor and as illustration.  Nahum foresees the siege that will take Nineveh in 612, how the Medes and Babylonians will surround it, how flood waters will breach the wall, and how it will be left desolate.  Like Thebes – the Egyptian capital that Assyria had plundered – Nineveh would not be saved either by water, or by its walls, or by its army. 

As you read, remember that it’s unclear how exactly Nineveh was to get this message.  It’s possible that this was written mainly for a Jewish audience to be encouraged that Assyria would soon fall.  It’s also possible that Assyria had sent an emissary to Judah seeking help against the rising Babylonians and Medes – hence the “worthless counselor” noted in chapter 1 – and this is an intended response.  Irrespective of Judah’s alignment with Assyria, her God would have nothing to do with them, for: “There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?”

Our verse for this week is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

The prophet Nahum.  Now let’s read it!

Like many of the prophets, Micah’s attention now turns to the future, when the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains.  This is, however, no mere ascension of downtrodden Zion, for in this new order the tables will be turned. 

Remember Micah’s accusations yesterday, that the powerful among his countrymen covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance… they hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones…

Well, in latter days, the LORD will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.  Furthermore, as in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things. 

The oracle in chapter 6 models a courtroom, with the LORD as prosecutor, Israel playing the defendant, and the mountains acting as judge.  Listen as the LORD carefully unwraps the indictment: His opening question, the memory of His own faithfulness, His summary of the law, the damning evidence, and the final judgment.  

Chapter 7 turns reflective, as though Micah is once again speaking to fellow countrymen.  Listen to the end, as Micah offers his own response to the LORD’s promise, and encouragement to his countrymen: “…As for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”

Our verse for this week is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Micah 4 through 7.  Now let’s read it!

Like many of the prophets, Micah’s attention now turns to the future, when the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains.  This is, however, no mere ascension of downtrodden Zion, for in this new order the tables will be turned. 

Remember Micah’s accusations yesterday, that the powerful among his countrymen covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance… they hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones…

Well, in latter days, the LORD will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.  Furthermore, as in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things. 

The oracle in chapter 6 models a courtroom, with the LORD as prosecutor, Israel playing the defendant, and the mountains acting as judge.  Listen as the LORD carefully unwraps the indictment: His opening question, the memory of His own faithfulness, His summary of the law, the damning evidence, and the final judgment.  

Chapter 7 turns reflective, as though Micah is once again speaking to fellow countrymen.  Listen to the end, as Micah offers his own response to the LORD’s promise, and encouragement to his countrymen: “…As for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”

Our verse for this week is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Micah 4 through 7.  Now let’s read it!

Sometime before 722 B.C. 

From the opening verse we learn that Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah.  His oracles against Samaria indicate that he served before the fall of Israel’s capital, a time when the North was collapsing under succession crises and corruption.  Things in the South were more stable, but nonetheless corruption and injustice were flourishing, and form the backdrop against which Micah preaches.

In the first chapter Micah’s attention is focused primarily on two things: first, that Samaria, capital of Israel (which he refers to as Jacob) and its idols will be beaten to pieces, made a heap in the open country.  And second, that her incurable wound…has come to Judah; it has reached the gate of my people, to Jerusalem. 

In the ensuing chapters you’ll hear many of Amos’s accusations against Samaria repeated by his contemporary to both capitals.  Capture this from the end of chapter 3:  Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity.  Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the LORD and say, "Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us."  Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

There are multiple charges here, and I’m sure you can notice them.  The rest of today’s reading builds around these themes.  Listen for Micah’s emotional concern for his people and land as he calls on the rulers to repent. 

Our verse for this week is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Micah 1 through 3.  Now let’s read it!

Sometime before 722 B.C. 

From the opening verse we learn that Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah.  His oracles against Samaria indicate that he served before the fall of Israel’s capital, a time when the North was collapsing under succession crises and corruption.  Things in the South were more stable, but nonetheless corruption and injustice were flourishing, and form the backdrop against which Micah preaches.

In the first chapter Micah’s attention is focused primarily on two things: first, that Samaria, capital of Israel (which he refers to as Jacob) and its idols will be beaten to pieces, made a heap in the open country.  And second, that her incurable wound…has come to Judah; it has reached the gate of my people, to Jerusalem. 

In the ensuing chapters you’ll hear many of Amos’s accusations against Samaria repeated by his contemporary to both capitals.  Capture this from the end of chapter 3:  Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity.  Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the LORD and say, "Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us."  Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

There are multiple charges here, and I’m sure you can notice them.  The rest of today’s reading builds around these themes.  Listen for Micah’s emotional concern for his people and land as he calls on the rulers to repent. 

Our verse for this week is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Micah 1 through 3.  Now let’s read it!

Around 760 B.C.

We first met Jonah, son of Amittai, in 2 Kings 14.  He served, like Hosea and Amos, during the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel, a time when the LORD saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, and He turned their fortunes in their favor for a time.  Remember, though, that this was also a moment of Assyrian weakness.  This was not a permanent decline, however, and within a few decades Israel and all its neighbors, save Judah, would be under Assyrian control.

But that is not what this book is about.  It is unique among these prophets in presenting a narrative – the story of when Jonah was called by the LORD to go to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrians.  Jonah, however, heads in the opposite direction.

Notice that the first chapter doesn’t tell us why Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh.  In fact, aside from his prayer in chapter 2, Jonah’s only lines of dialogue in the first three chapters are to the sailors: “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you…” and to the people of Nineveh: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”  Aside from that, all of Jonah’s motivations must be inferred from his actions. 

Finally, in chapter 4 this character takes shape, when Jonah’s redirected mission has proven successful – too successful in his mind.  As we’ve seen elsewhere in the Bible, dialogue reveals character.  Listen closely to Jonah’s complaint, to the feelings he repeats, and to the LORD’s response. 

Try to place yourself, also, in the shoes of Jonah’s contemporaries.  How would an Israelite farmer, priest, or king, feel about the word of the LORD to Jonah?  How would this story impact your sense of who the LORD is and who you are as one of His covenant people? 

Our verse for this week is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

The Prophet Jonah.  Now let’s read it!