March 2021 – A Woman's Faith Walk

📜 ROMANS 💕

ROMANS is a letter written by Paul to the church of Rome. Division has risen up after exiled Jewish-Christians had returned to Rome and found Gentile-Christians in Rome ignoring key Jewish customs. Paul writes this letter to remind them of The Gospel – having the power to save all sinful humanity… both Israel and Gentile nations.

We are justified by faith, expressed in baptism, leaving our old sinful ‘Adam’ nature to embrace new life in Jesus. Paul points out our guilt in our inability to follow the law and God’s solution in Jesus and the Spirit – freeing us from sin and liberating us to Love God and Our Neighbor.

He ends the book calling them to see that the gospel unifies the church through love… serving one another… humility and forgiveness. And, for the healing of those cultural or ethnic divisions? Show some grace to one another on the non-essential issues!!!

🔥✝ ACTS 🌍⛪

ACTS of the Apostles, of Jesus & the Spirit Luke begins this with, ‘In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach…‘ implying that Jesus, through His Spirit, continues to work through this period of history. Before His ascension, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to enable them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And they do.

In this book, we see Pentecost and the transformation of Peter. We see the beginnings of communities that follow Jesus – selling their possessions, living together, and supporting the poor. Luke highlights that this is the fulfillment of the prophets ‘new temple’ – not a building but communities of believers and followers, living in the way that Jesus taught. (Originally, they were called ‘Followers of The Way‘… it was 300 miles north of Jerusalem, in Antioch, Syria, that disciples were first called ‘Christians‘. )

The Jewish leaders are opposed and continue to persecute these followers, driving them from Jerusalem into other areas of Judea and Samaria and beyond. We see the conversion of Paul, (formerly the persecutor Saul), witness to both Jews and Gentile communities. He is arrested often and during those times, he continues to teach others about Jesus the Messiah and write letters to the churches he’s planted. The book ends with Paul in prison in Rome, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance.

🎺 JOHN 🧬

JOHN – Unlike the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, that focus on the ministry of Jesus… what He said and what He did during the 3 years of traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem, John, a disciple and apostle of Jesus, writes this book with a focus on who Jesus is.

He begins his book with… In the beginning. It is clear that John chooses the known creation story to present this new Kingdom as a new creation story. He presents 7 signs of Jesus’ miracles and 7 occurrences of Jesus’ responding with ‘I AM’ – clear signs of Jesus being eternally God as well as God the Son sent from God the Father. Like when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and tells Martha, ‘I AM the resurrection…’ (Quite the sign, quite the statement! There are just some things too great for our human minds to grasp. But if we could, He wouldn’t be God, and we wouldn’t need faith.)

It in this gospel that we meet Nicodemus and hear that we must be born again, that God so loved the world… that God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him… that those who believe may have eternal life in Him – He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

He closes his book acknowledging that there were so many other things that could have been written, but… These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

📕 LUKE ✝

LUKE – The gospel of Luke, (and Part 2 -ACTS), written by Luke the physician. He was not one of the 12 disciples and not a lot is known about Luke’s story, except that he was a physician and companion of Paul’s. His gospel is also a 3-part story of Jesus’ ministry beginning in Galilee, followed by the long journey to Jerusalem, and ending with the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.

Luke addresses his history to most excellent Theophilus, most likely a Roman official and his orderly account is filled with eyewitness testimony and carefully investigated details. It is only in this gospel that we read about the birth of John the Baptist, Mary and Elizabeth, Mary’s Song, the ‘Christmas’ announcement to the shepherds, the Prodigal Son, the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Good Samaritan, and the Road to Emmaus.

Luke’s ‘orderly’ account is brilliant! Don’t look for meaning in an isolated paragraph… review the previous chapter or paragraph to see where Luke’s mind was… read the next section to see where he’s going next… and the section you are reading will come to life in new ways. 💖

📔 MARK ✝

MARK This gospel, written by John Mark, may be one of the earliest written Gospels. (Early 60s AD) Mark was not one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, but is known as a traveling companion of both Peter and Paul. His gospel is fast-paced. He begins by announcing his own conviction: The beginning of the Good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, then tells this account with a focus on how others react and what they believe about Jesus. He begins with Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and ends with Jesus in Jerusalem. The middle of the story includes the Transfiguration where three disciples get to hear God’s voice on a mountain confirming Jesus as His Son and seeing the appearance of Moses and Elijah – the Old Testament personification of The Law and The Prophets – and the two who climbed Mt. Sinai to talk with God.

The abrupt ending of Mark 16:8 is probably intentional… the women running away and being frightened. It would leave us hanging, call us into the story and ask us to examine how we respond to this incredible story of God’s love for us.

📖 MATTHEW ✝

MATTHEW– one of 4 gospels, announcing the Good News about Jesus. Matthew, one of His disciples – formerly a tax collector, focuses on Jesus’ fulfillment of God’s promises from the Old Testament. Jesus is the Messiah, from the line of both David and Abraham. Jesus is also the new Moses. (Moses delivered God’s people, the Israelites from Egyptian slavery… Jesus is delivering God’s people, from all nations, from their slavery to sin.) Like the 5 books of the Torah, Matthew structures his gospel account into 5 sections: (1) Announcing the arrival of God’s Kingdom (2) Bringing this Kingdom into people’s lives and selecting 12 new leaders, His disciples… like the 12 tribes of Israel. (3) Teaching about the kingdom and recording the people’s responses. (4) Exploring the different expectations of the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah in light of Jesus’ teachings, miracles, and warnings. (5) Jesus asserts His authority as the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) – challenging the Pharisees, by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey and calling out the hypocrisy at the temple.

The book concludes with the ‘last supper’, foreshadowing the death of the Passover lamb and how this now means our rescue and deliverance from our slavery to sin. The trial, crucifixion, and death of Jesus shows how great injustice can happen when men with power are driven by selfish ambition. Yet this is God’s plan for our redemption as the resurrection of Jesus affirms and the Great Commission begins.

🤔HABAKKUK🤔

Habakkuk is a Theological Realist. In the final decades of Israel’s southern kingdom Judah, he sees the Torah is neglected, there is violence and injustice and corrupt leadership. He questions God, 1:2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? God answers, V6, I am raising up the Babylonians! Habakkuk is shocked at God’s answer but vows to think about it. “I will stand my watch.” The Lord again answers – The enemy is puffed up, but the righteous person will live by faithfulness (2:4)

He pronounces five woes: Unjust economics from stealing and unjust gains, slave labor, irresponsible leaders, and idolatry. He ends with a prayerful song asking God to revive us and that no matter what, to be joyful in our savior.

💥ZEPHANIAH💖

During the final decades of Judah, Zephaniah the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah, pronounces judgment on the surrounding nations and Jerusalem itself – God will gather all the nations and pour our His burning indignation -not for destruction but for purification.

God’s Justice and His Love are shown through intense images – He has a passion to rescue His world from human evil and violence in order to create a world where everyone can flourish in safety and peace.

The book ends with a message of hope for the nations and Jerusalem of God transforming the nations into a united family.

🗣HAGGAI 🗣

After Babylon is defeated and Persia allows the Israelite exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, only the foundation is done, when they stopped. Haggai arrives 16 years later and accuses them of covenant rebellion as they are building their own homes and neglecting the temple. The finished temple lacks the splendor of Solomon’s temple – but Haggai reminds them of God’s promise of a future kingdom with a messianic king from the line of David.

The challenges of Haggai:

1. Our choices matter
2. The obedience of God’s people is part of how God works in the world.

This should motivate both Humility and Action.

🐎ZECHARIAH💥

Set at the time of Ezra-Nehemiah, along with Haggai as the exiles return to Jerusalem. God give him 8 visions. 1 and 8 show four horsemen on patrol, roaming Earth and declaring peace, 2 and 7 are symbolic reflections on Israel’s past rebellion, 3 and 6 show a new Jerusalem being measured and it should be a beacon to the nations as the Israelites are purified by the Scriptures, while 4 and 5 show the Messianic Kingdom, using Joshua and Zerubbabel, will only come if the people are faithful and success will only come if they depend on the Spirit.

9:9 – Rejoice… See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

In the midst of chaos, we’re invited to look above and hope for the coming of God’s Kingdom.

📜MALACHI💖

100 years after the exiles have returned to Jerusalem, he writes a scroll of remembrance for the faithful remnant – summarizing the Torah and prophets as a unified story that points to the future when God will send a new Moses and Elijah to restore God’s people and heal their hearts.

Ch 1-3 outline Israel’s corruption in 6 disputes: (1)Israel doubts God’s love (2)They despise God and the temple (3)They’ve turned against God and their wives through divorce and idolatry (4)Injustice reigns (5)They’re neglecting the tithe (6)Israel says it’s pointless to server God cause the wicked succeed

He responds with a short story – the creation of the Scroll. 📜The faithful read the scroll to remember God’s character and promises.

🌍 GENESIS 👫

The story of creation – of the world and of mankind created in the image of God. Intimacy with God and with each other is lost when Adam and Eve give in to the temptation of sin, offered by this serpent creature who was also in the garden with them. They’re cast away from God’s presence but not until God promises a future man, who, although wounded, would defeat the serpent.

The stories of man’s life in the presence of sin begins with Cain & Abel, then Lamech. The world is full of violence. Then God chooses Noah, there’s the Flood, and another promise. Man’s building the tower of Babel to create a name for himself leads God to scatter mankind. And He selects Abram and promises to bless all peoples through the family of Abraham… then Isaac, (not Ishmael), then Jacob, (not Esau), and the 12 sons of Jacob (i.e. the 12 tribes of Israel). The book ends with God working through the life of one son, Joseph, to lead the family to success in Egypt.

🌊EXODUS

Israel was fruitful, they multiplied, and filled the land of Egypt. The new Pharaoh enslaved them and ordered that all the boy babies be killed. Enter Moses – saved by Pharaoh’s daughter and called by God to lead His people out of Egypt – after 10 plagues – and through the parting of the Red Sea – to meet with God at Mt. Sinai.

Israel receives the Ten Commandments, enters a covenant relationship with God, then rebels and breaks the covenant.

Moses receives instructions to build a tabernacle so God could dwell among them – but after building it, Moses can’t enter!

💥Leviticus

God provides a way for sinful people to live in His presence. God is Holy – Creator and Author of Life – set apart and unique. He calls His people, Israel, to be set apart and unique, as well – different from their Canaanite neighbors.

Rituals of offerings, sacrifices, feasts, and covenant faithfulness are described. The priests’ qualifications and roles are defined. Rules for ritual and moral purity are given.

If they obey, then peace and abundance in the land. If they disobey, then disaster and exile from the land.

🔢 NUMBERS 🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️

Begins with a census of the Israelites and the arrangement of the tribes in the camp with God in the center. God then leads them through the wilderness and the people rebel over and over.

God shows judgment and mercy… the spies… the Manna.. people complain, even Moses rebels… The Bronze Snake and God’s involvement in the Moabite King Balak and prophet Balaam, show His continual blessings to the Israelites.

The original Israelite generation dies out and a new generation prepares to enter the land.

God is faithful to His promises but will let people walk away and face the consequences.

🧾DEUTERONOMY💬

Moses’ speeches to the next generation, includes a reiteration of their history and their laws and the Shema. “Listen Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD alone, and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” A call to wholehearted commitment and obedience.

Moses ends with poems of warnings and blessings – he know they will rebel because there is something wrong with their hearts. He predicts that God will transform their hearts so they can love God and live.

Moses climbs a mountain and dies.

🌊JOSHUA

Joshua leads the new generation into the promised land, battles the Canaanites, divides up the land and delivers final words.

The Jordan river is divided – an angel of the Lord is there to see that God’s will is done. Rahab helps the spies in Jericho. Achan steals and lies and dies.

Joshua’s final words are to be faithful to receive life and blessings in the new land; unfaithfulness would lead to divine justice and exile.

⚔ JUDGES 🔪🗡

A sobering explanation of the Human Condition.

Israel fails to drive out the remaining Canaanites as God had commanded them. They become more and more corrupt as they adopted the cultural and religious practices of moral corruption and child sacrifice. There are 7 stories of the cycle of sin –> oppression –> repentance –> deliverance –> peace… only to begin again. (*Deliverance does not equal endorsement.)

The Israelites become no different from the Canaanites!

IN THOSE DAYS ISRAEL HAD NO KING AND EVERYONE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYES.

🌾RUTH💖

A beautiful short story of Naomi – a widow, Ruth – her Moabite daughter-in-law who is also a widow, and Boaz – a farmer landowner and their Kinsman redeemer.

God is hardly mentioned, but His providence is seen everywhere in the lives of these characters. Boaz and Ruth are both people of noble character – they are bold, loyal, and generous.

Boaz marries Ruth and she gives birth to Obed, the grandfather of King David.

🤱🏻1 SAMUEL

Begins with Hannah’s grief, then joy, as God gives her a son, Samuel, who becomes a great prophet. The Israelites ask for a king like the other nations and they get one: Saul – tall, good-looking and full of promise. His character flaws become his downfall and God chooses the least-likely shepherd boy, David, as king to replace Saul.

David & Goliath reveal his faith and trust in God, but Saul is jealous and angry and hates David – he hunts David to kill him and despite having many opportunities, David won’t kill Saul.

Saul is killed in battle. Lesson? Be patient and trust God to work out His purpose to oppose the proud and exalt the humble.

👑2 Samuel 🛀🏻

Begins with David grieving the death of his enemy. David agrees to unite the tribes of Israel and be their king. He conquers Jerusalem and makes it the political capital and wants it to be their religious capital too, but instead God promises David the messiah will be from his line and will set up an eternal kingdom.

And then… David’s life falls apart when he sees Uriah’s wife, Bathsheeba, bathing. He sees… desires… takes… Then David’s son, Amnon, sees… desires… takes… his sister, Tamar. Amnon is then assassinated by his brother Absalom, who then decides to rebel against David – until Absalom is murdered.

The book ends with a reflection on David’s life, showing again, God at work opposing the arrogant and exalting humility.

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Ok, it’s taking longer than I thought.

🕍1 KINGS 🤴🏽

Solomon, Davids’ son, becomes king and asks for wisdom. He builds the temple, but then makes political alliances by marrying the daughters of other kings and introducing their gods into Israel. When he dies, Rehoboam takes over and civil war erupt with Jeroboam leading to 10 tribes in the North, called Israel to separate from 2 tribes in the South, called Judah.

Israel sets up a capital in Samaria with two golden calves set up in Bethel and Dan. Judah still has its capital in Jerusalem, worshiping at the temple.

The author reviews each king, in the North and the South, in order to reveal if they worshiped the God of Israel alone, di they rid Israel of Idolatry, were they faithful to the covenant.

We’re introduced to prophets like Elijah and Elisha, who speak on God’s behalf, challenging the kings to repent and be faithful.

👑👑2 KINGS ⛓⛓

Continues the stories of Israel’s civil war. Elijah is taken up to heaven and Elisha receives a ‘double spirit’. (14 miracles of Elisha vs. the 7 of Elijah!)

The Northern kingdom, Israel, during and after the reign of Ahab & his wicked wife, Jezebel, are exiled to Assyria.

The Southern kingdom, Judah, has some better kings, but they too are conquered and exiled to Babylon.

The story ends with Jehoiachin, a descendant of David, who would’ve been king, being invited to eat at the royal table in Babylon.

🧾1 CHRONICLES

This book is usually at the END of the Hebrew bible and its design is to summarize all of scripture with an emphasis on God’s promise of a future messianic king.

Begging with Adam, genealogies remind the reader of key historical figures and roles such as King and Priest.

David’s “Good” side is highlighted as a way for future generations to recognize the messiah.

2 CHRONICLES 📜

Other kings from Judah are reviewed as either:

Obedient to the Torah, Faithful to God, and their accompanying success to blessing
Disobedient and Unfaithful, resulting in failure and hardship.

This book is meant to remind future generations to be faithful to the God of Israel.

It ends reminding the reader that God moved the heart of Cyrus, the King of Persia, to allow God’s people to return from exile and rebuild the temple.

🛕 🧱EZRA

Begins the story of Israel’s return from exile and continues in the book of Nehemiah. It is 50 years after the exile when King Cyrus of Persia is moved to permit the exiles to return and begin to rebuild the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel.

Israelites who never went into exile want to help but are refused. 😞

70 years later, Persian King Artaxerxes sends Ezra to Jerusalem to teach the Torah and while he does this, he is adamant that the ‘sin’ of intermarriage is keeping the Israelites from being ‘pure’ so the foreign women and children are sent away. 😞

🧱NEHEMIAH 🧱

Continues the story of the returned exiles when Persian King Artazerxes allows Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. (Note Zechariah 2:3-11 The new Jerusalem would be a new city, without walls.) The people around Jerusalem oppose the walls and are told, again, you have no part in Jerusalem.

Ezra and Nehemiah hold a 7-day feast, reading the Torah, confessing their sins, and renewing their covenant commitment.

The book ends showing Zerubbabels’s work (the temple), Ezra’s work (Torah teaching), and Nehemiah’s work (City Walls) ALL being compromised. These stories point to the need of a new heart (Jer. 31, Eze. 36). The books began with hope and end with disappointment.

👑ESTHER💥

God is never mentioned, but the Will of God and His providence is everywhere in this story. 💫Characters are: King Xerxes, Haman, Mordecai, and Esther. It is the story of how Mordecai and Ester save the Jews and why they celebrate the 2 days of Purim.

In Chapter 4 – Mordecai asks, ‘Who knows? Maybe you’ve come to your position for such a time as this?’ Esther responds with, ‘If I perish, I perish.’

Such a fun, inspiring read! Despite exile, God’s seemingly absence, and Israel’s moral compromise – God has not abandoned His promises.

🧎‍♂️JOB🌏

A profound story that invites the reader to trust in God’s wisdom, not our own. We’re introduced to Job as blameless, righteous, and he honors God. Satan, the accuser, assert that Job’s righteousness is only because God rewards him.

God allows Satan to cause suffering in Job’s life

Job’s friends have a dialogue with Job showing their ideas of ‘Justice’. Good behavior is rewarded, therefore Job’s condition is his own fault. But Job is innocent and demands an explanation from God. God doesn’t answer Job’s question, instead He takes Job on a tour of His universe pointing out Job’s limited perspective.

We live in an amazing world that is NOT designed to prevent suffering. We are to trust God’s wisdom.

🙏🏽PSALMS🎶

Designed to be a prayer book of God’s people, striving to be faithful to the commands of the Torah and hoping for the messiah. Psalm 1 – Blessed is the one who meditates on the law. Psalm 2 – Reflection on the promise of a messianic king made to David.

Book 1 (Psalms 3-41), Book 2 (Psalms 42-72), Book 3 (Psalms 73-89), Book 4 (Psalms 90-106), Book 5 (Psalms 107-145) Last psalm of each ‘book’ praises God, like the last 5 psalms, 146-150.

There are Psalms of Lament,(prayers of pain, confusion, and anger) as well as Psalms of Praise (prayers of joy and celebration.) Lament decreases and praise increases as the book progresses… turning sorrow into joy.

💥PROVERBS🔊

A guide, not a guarantee, for living well in God’s world. The accumulated insight of God’s people through the generations.

Introduction – Chapters 1-9: Ten speeches from a father to a son and 4 poems of Lady Wisdom, claiming we live in a moral universe.

Wisdom and Fear of the Lord –> virtue, integrity, generosity –> success and peace. (The Fear of the Lord is (1) a moral mindset, (2) reverence and awe, (3) to humble oneself before God.)
Folly and Evil –> selfishness and pride –> Ruin and shame

Chapters 10-29 are the application of wisdom, in the Fear of the Lord, to all areas of life.

The book concludes with:

Chapter 30 – Agur is a model reader of proverbs, “I am a brute and have no wisdom”
Chapter 31 – Guidance for wise leadership and a portrait of the wise woman and her relationships with her husband, her children, the poor, and the merchants.

🌫ECCLESIASTES💨

The Author, in the introduction and the Conclusion, wants us to hear what The Teacher has to say and to help us process it.

“Hevel, Hevel, everything is utterly Hevel” – don’t think ‘meaningless’ think vapor or smoke. These ‘things’ seem to be in our reach, but dissipate as we approach and try to grasp.

Time marches on as we intently focus our attention elsewhere, but still, death erases us all. We focus on career, pleasure, wealth, status – some are rich, some are poor, some are wise, some are fools – they all die.

Instead, we should fear God and accept the gifts of friendship, family, good meals, and sunny days.

Conclusion: Fear Good and keep his commands – this is the whole duty of Humans. For God will bring every deed into judgment – every hidden thing whether good or evil.

🎶💕SONG OF SONGS💕🎶

Eight chapters of ancient Israelite Love poetry. What is this doing in the bible?

1. Jewish tradition – this is an allegory of Israel and God.
2. Christian tradition – this is an allegory of the Church and Christ.
3. Archaeologists have found ancient love poetry among Israel’s neighbors in Egypt and Babylon, so it is to be expected to be found in the Bible to reflect on God’s divine gift of the physical love between a man and a woman.

The book concludes (Songs 8:6-14) reviewing the power and intensity of love – the human longing to know and to be known – and that love is transcendent, mysterious, and a gift from God.

Which view is right? I think they all are! Like the ‘Holy of Holies’ or the ‘King of Kings’ this phrase is meant to indicate the MOST or the superlative of all others with a similar name. SONG of SONGS is surely the greatest love song to inspire our understanding of God’s love as well as His design for love between a man and a woman.

💥ISAIAH⚠

This prophet’s message is one of judgment against Israel’s rebellion, idolatry, & injustice. But, there is also a message of Hope in that after God’s purifying fire, a new Jerusalem would bring justice and peace for all nations. His temple vision causes him to realize his and Israel’s sinful nature, but a Holy coal, cleanses his lips to speak to the nations – even though they won’t listen!

He has disciples that protect his writings so that even after his death and the exiles return, Isaiah is shown to be a true prophet. Each section involves judgment/hope… addressing Jerusalem, the leaders, the nations, and Babylon.

In his message of Hope, Isaiah introduces us to a Holy seed… Immanuel… and God’s doing a new thing.. promising God’s Servant. People from all nations will choose how to respond: ‘The Servants’ are humble and repent; ‘The Wicked’ resist and reject God’s Servant.

📜JEREMIAH📢

Jeremiah is a priest in Jerusalem when he is called to collect his essays, sermons, etc. and commit them to writing, which he does through a scribe.

He too, announces God’s judgment and hope on Israel and the surrounding nations. Judgment for breaking the covenant through idolatry, overlooking social injustice by the leaders, even child sacrifice. He tells them that God will destroy His own temple by sending an enemy from the North (Babylon) and they will be exiled for 70 years. But then God will renew the covenant, he tells them, by transforming their hearts. God will use Babylon to judge the nations but will be judged themselves for their own pride.

🙏🏽😭LAMENTATIONS😩🙏🏽

The author reflects on Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem and the destruction and the exile that followed. There are 5 poems:

1. Lady Zion’s Grief and Shame (Jerusalem personified as daughter of Zion)
2. The Fall of Jerusalem and God’s Wrath (Divine wrath is not volatile anger but God’s justice. God is Slow to Anger, but He Will judge human evil.)
3. The Suffering One (Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.)
4. The Siege of Jerusalem (A comparison of before and after the siege in: the children, the wealthy, and the leaders.)
5. Communal Prayer for God’s Mercy (Lament on behalf of others and the paradox of faith. You, God, reign forever… or, Why do You forget us?)

Lament poems are a form of protest and prayer – a way to process emotions and voice confusion.

🌟EZEKIEL ✨

Taken to Babylon during the first exile, Ezekiel turns 30 when he has a vision of God’s glory in Babylon – he is called to be a prophet to explain why God is in Babylon instead of Israel. He accuses Israel of breaking God’s covenant through worshiping other gods and allowing social injustice. But he is told, no one will listen, because of their hardened hearts. He announces God’s judgment on Israel and the surrounding nations, then hears that Jerusalem has fallen. He also delivers a promise of hope. God will give Israel a new heart and breathe life into dry bones – allowing the reformed humans to love God and others. God will destroy evil among the nations and a new temple vision is given with the name, ‘The LORD is There.’

🔥 DANIEL 🦁✍🏽

Tells the story of Daniel and his three friends who are part of the first Babylonian exile from Jerusalem. Their faithfulness to God exalts them to serve in the royal court. There follows 6 stories condemning pride and showing exaltation as a result of faithful humility before God. There is a pattern showing how humans become beasts when they don’t acknowledge the rule and kingdom of God.

Daniel’s final visions and prayer show the promise that one day God will confront the Beast and rescue His world with The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God, the Ancient of Days.

👰🏽HOSEA🤵🏽

God asks Hosea to marry the unfaithful woman Gomer, symbolic of Israel’s inconsistent faithfulness to God. He is in the Northern kingdom where there is Baal worship, social injustice, and trust in political alliances – all because they have no knowledge of God in their land – no relationship with God.

Hosea delivers warning to Israel but also also messages of hope – I will heal their waywardness and love them freely. Hosea gives a history of Israel’s rebellion and calls them to repent. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

🦗JOEL 🐜

No king is referenced, so the date of the writing is unclear. But other books are referenced as he uses a swarm of locusts to announce disaster on Israel because of their sin and calls them to repentance.

- Why? Because God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, full of love.
- How? Rend your hearts and not your garments.

God’s mercy is the reason for their hope – Joel announces that God will confront evil among the nations, renew creation and His Spirit will fill all His people.

⚖ AMOS ⚖

A shepherd in the southern territory is called to accuse the northern territory of Israel and the surrounding nations of their disobedience – they’re wealthy but ignore the poor. They sell them into slavery and deny them justice.

Israel was supposed to be a blessing to all nations – with this great calling there is great responsibility. But they are idolatrous and there will be great consequences.

This book explores God’s justice and mercy: He must confront evil (Day of the Lord), but His long-term purposes are for restoration and a new family. There is hope with a vision of a future messianic king from the House of David.

🗻OBADIAH🔥

A prophet left in Judah after Babylon invades Jerusalem delivers accusations against Edom, descendants of Esau, for abusing the refugees of Judah, from the line of Jacob.

As you have done to Israel, it will be done to you.

Edom’s pride is an example of the Human Condition and an image of the pride and fall of all nations. Obadiah pronounces The Day of Lord is Near against All Nations – not just Edom.

He also promises that God will restore Jerusalem for people of all nations who will humble themselves.

🤐JONAH🐋

The prophet who said NO!

God asks Jonah to deliver a warning to Nineveh and Jonah runs in the other direction and boards a ship to Tarshish. God sends a storm and the pagan crew throw him overboard, repent, and ask God’s forgiveness for doing so. God sends a great fish to save Jonah – Jonah thanks God for not abandoning him and promises to obey. The fish throws up and Jonah lands on the beach in Nineveh and announces, “40 days and Nineveh shall be overturned.”

Then he waits – he wants them destroyed, instead they repent and are transformed. Jonah is angry that God is compassionate.

This book asks us… Are we OK with God loving our enemies???

⚖MICAH💖

A prophet from the Judah who has a vision to pronounce judgment against both Samaria and Jerusalem because of their rebellion against God.

He accuses them of injustice – favoring the rich and exploiting the poor. False prophets condemn Micah for his words and deny God’s words of judgment. Micah also delivers a message of hope – because of God’s faithfulness, He will restore and shepherd His people, a remnant, to a New Jerusalem and Peace on Earth. God will confront evil and bless the nations.

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

💔NAHUM💖

While primarily applied to the Nineveh in Assyria, Nahum’s message is applicable to all Human groups throughout history that exalt themselves and through violence take what they want. This always results in the loss of innocent lives. He quotes Exo 34:6-7 in chapter 1:3 – The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and He won’t leave the guilty unpunished.

He also reminds the faithful in 1:7 – The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.

And in 1:15 – Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace.

Month: March 2021

Lent 2021 – Week 6.5 Reflections – The Throne Room

Lent 2021 – Week 6 Reflections – The 24 Elders

Lent 2021 – Week 5 Reflections – The Seven Churches

Lent 2021 – Week 4 Reflections – What are you Waiting For?

Lent 2021 – Week 3 Reflections – Who Do You Say I Am?