MINOR PROPHETS

Today, I started reading in Micah, and continued reading Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Haggai.  These Minor prophets deal with judgment except for Haggai.  This book deal with the rebuilding of the temple.  Micah is about God's judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem; Nahum is about God's judgment on Nineveh; Habakkuk is about God's judgment in general and has many great truths found in it; Zephaniah contains God's judgment against Judah and Jerusalem; and Haggai is about rebuilding the temple after the captivity is over.  Now in these books, there are some great thoughts, here are but a few: 1) Micah 2:7 "do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?"  God's Word works, if we work God's Words!!  What a thought! 2) Peace At Last! - Micah 4:3 "...they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."  The "peace niks" will not bring about peace, but God one day will!!  This will the the 1,000 year reign of Christ on the earth, after the Great Tribulation.  Peace at last. 3) Micah 6:8- What Does The LORD Require of Us?  "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God".  This is the answer to the posed question.  These three things is what God wants to see in our lives.  Justice, Mercy, Humility!  These are three winning combinations to ensure the blessings of God upon your life. 4) Nahum 3:1 "Woe to the bloody city!"  Nahum writes about Nineveh.  Nineveh was a city that was feared.  Historians tell us that the outside walls of Nineveh were covered with the skins and skulls of the people they conquered.  It was a terrible sight to see.  No wonder Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh.  But it also shows us the depth of God's mercy.... even Nineveh could have God's mercy if they repented of their wicked ways.  You might enjoy doing a study of this ancient city, Nineveh! 5) Habakkuk 1:13- "Thou are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity".  Perhaps this is why when Jesus carried the sins of the whole world upon Himself that He cried out on the cross:  "My God (the Father), My God (the Holy Spirit), why hast thou forsaken me?"  They turned their back on the Son because they were of "purer eyes than to behold evil", even when it was on Jesus the Son. 6) Zephaniah 1:12 "that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil."  This was the great sin of the nations.  They didn't believe God did anything, good or evil.  When this happens, God has no choice but to show them He is God through His judgments.  YET, Zephaniah ends with 3:20- "... when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD."  God ends the book with MERCY!! 7) Haggai is about the Rebuilding of the Temple, the house of God.  God says to consider their ways in 1:5, because:  (verse 6) "Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes."  God is saying because they have not given to rebuild His house, they are suffering lack and need.  Build the House God says and I will bless it!  The message is simple:  Give God His tithes and offerings so that His church and ministry on earth is funded, and God will start blessing us when we put His house before ours!! Well, so much more, but I'm writing a blog, not a commentary.  Have a blessed day and see you tomorrow!   Pastor Mike Mutchler