In today’s section, we read about:
Obadiah’s prophecy against Edom
Jonah goes to Nineveh eventually, they repent but he doesn’t
Micah prophecies against the injustice in Israel, particularly of their prophets and leaders
Prophecies of the future reign and the birth of the Messiah
Promises of future hope in accordance with the character of God
Nahum’s prophecies the complete destruction of Nineveh
Some thoughts that struck me today:
You half wonder why Obadiah is included at all, being just one chapter against a hostile neighbour, Edom (descendants of Esau – Gen 36). The message is simple – Edom is doomed to destruction and to disappear from history (Ob 16) on account of their evil deeds, in particular gloating at and exacerbating Israel’s misfortune, when God was punishing them. However, God will restore Israel, unlike Edom. Od 20-21, “The exiles of Israel will return to their land / and occupy the Phoenician coast as far north as Zarephath. / The captives from Jerusalem exiled in the north / will return home and resettle the towns of the Negev. / Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem / to rule over the mountains of Edom. / And the Lord himself will be king!”
Jonah’s story is so well known, it is very easy to skate over it and not really take it in. Jonah is so much the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, getting into a strop when God relents from sending his judgment against the oppressive Assyrians. Some other details that stood out: in 1:10, we read that Jonah had already told the sailors he was running away from God – he never doubted the reality of God’s power, he just didn’t like the generosity of God’s love; 1:16, “the sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him” – did they do so, and if so how?
Jonah seems to come to his senses inside the fish, and confesses God’s grace in answering him in the midst of his trouble (2:1,4, 6-7). What a profound insight there is in 2:8 – “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs” (NIV). This leads inexorably to the conclusion in 2:9, “For my salvation comes from the Lord alone”.
I like the simplicity on 3:3 – “this time Jonah obeyed”. When you compare the content of Jonah’s message – “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” – with some of the imagery of some of the other passages we have read, it brings home just how it is the Spirit of God, which convicts, not our clever words.
Ch 4 is all about the unregenerate heart of Jonah, and his sulk – “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died? “Yes”, Jonah replied, “even angry enough to die!”” Kevin the teenager couldn’t have expressed it any better. Yet God’s rebuke is more stinging than if he had really laid into Jonah. Instead, he shows Jonah up as he really is, by revealing his own heart of mercy and compassion.
Micah opens with God bringing charges against unjust, complacent and idolatrous Israel and Judah. I particularly like 2:11, “Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, / “I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!” / That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!” There is also the contrast between the false prophets who will only prophecy of they are paid (3:11) and Micah (3:8). This was also a theme of Amos.
There are plenty of promises and insights into what God’s reign will involve – people will come from all over the world to hear God’s word (4:1-2), God will settle disputes (4:3), there will be no more war (4:3) and great prosperity (4:4). Before that day, however, the people will go into exile, “but the Lord will rescue you there; / he will redeem you from the grip of your enemies” (4:10).
Best of all, we read in 5:2, “you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, / are only a small village among all the people of Judah. / Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, / one whose origins are from the distant past.” Ephrathah is the village where Ruth settled (Ruth 4:11) and where Rachel was buried (Gen 35:19). 5:4, “he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, / in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God,” and “he will be the source of peace” (5:5).
God is sovereign over all history – he will restore the remnant of Israel (5:7,8), but “will pour out my vengeance on all the nations that refuse to obey me” (5:15).
God has done everything to show us his love and teach us how to live, “I, the Lord, did everything I could / to teach you about my faithfulness” (6:5). He sums it up in one very simple verse – 6:8, “O people, the Lord has told you what is good, / and this is what he requires of you: / to do what is right, to love mercy, / and to walk humbly with your God.” “Fear the Lord if you are wise”, 6:9.
The second part of ch 7 is full of hope and joy and promise – 7:7, “As for me, I look to the Lord for help. / I wait confidently for God to save me, / and my God will certainly hear me.” 7:8-10, “For though I fall, I will rise again. / Though I sit in darkness, / the Lord will be my light. / I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, / for I have sinned against him. / But after that, he will take up my case / and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies. / The Lord will bring me into the light, / and I will see his righteousness. / Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side.”
““Yes”, says the Lord, “I will do mighty miracles for you” – 7:15
7:18-20 – “Where is another God like you, / who pardons the guilt of the remnant, / overlooking the sins of his special people? / You will not stay angry with your people forever, / because you delight in showing unfailing love. / Once again you will have compassion on us. / You will trample our sins under your feet / and throw them into the depths of the ocean! / You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love / as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.” The amazing forgiveness of God, who tramples our sins under foot and throws them in the depths of the sea.
Nahum prophecies against Nineveh, but unlike with Jonah, there is no remission of the penalty. Instead, the Lord “will sweep away his enemies in an overwhelming flood”(Nah 1:8) – a tsunami of judgment, “there is no healing for your wound; your injury is fatal” (3:19).
One verse from today - "This is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Mic 6:8)
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