Those following the two-year Bible reading plan with me will begin reading the book of Malachi tomorrow, December 28. (Link to the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan Bookmarks)
Malachi is believed to be the last prophet to speak to the Jewish people following their return from exile and before the coming of Christ, which explains the probable reason for its placement at the end of the Old Testament. Continue reading →
Those following the two-year Bible reading plan with me will begin reading the book of Zechariah tomorrow, December 14. (Link to the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan Bookmarks)
Zechariah was a contemporary with Haggai. They both prophesied to the Israelites following their return from exile. God gave Zechariah visions of the restoration of Jerusalem and of good times ahead for the people of Israel. Continue reading →
Those following the two-year Bible reading plan with me will begin reading the book of Haggai tomorrow, December 12. (Link to the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan Bookmarks)
Haggai returned from exile in Babylon along with the remnant of the Jews and was instrumental in motivating the people to rebuild the temple.
Haggai rebuked the people for saying it wasn’t yet time to rebuild the temple while they had time to build their paneled houses. Because of this, God called for drought on the land and on everything it produced, on the people, and on the labor of their hands. Zerubbabel was a descendant of King David and the appointed as governor by the king of Babylon. Zerubbabel and the people obeyed the Lord and began to work on the house of the Lord.
The older people including Haggai were saddened because this temple was going to be much smaller than Solomon’s temple which they remembered from before their exile. But God encouraged them promising a new glory for this house. Haggai cautioned the priests to give careful thought to their actions from this day forward remembering the penalty they previously paid for neglecting God’s temple and putting Him first.
The Lord told Haggai to give a message to Zerubbabel that God would overthrow the foreign kingdoms and that God had chosen Zerubbabel to be as a signet ring for Him.
Image credit: https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/jtjm-minor-prophets/
Those following the two-year Bible reading plan with me will begin reading the book of Zephaniah tomorrow, December 9. (Link to the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan Bookmarks)
Zephaniah the prophet was a descendant of King Hezekiah of Judah. The beginning of this book takes place when the very young Josiah became king. The previous king allowed much corruption and evil, so this book begins with a prophecy of serious judgement. Other nations would also be included in the judgement of God. The good news was that there would be a remnant who will trust in the name of the Lord. God would rejoice over these people gathering them from the lands where they lived in exile and bring them home. God would give them honor among the nations.
Image credit: https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/jtjm-minor-prophets/
Those following the two-year Bible reading plan with me will begin reading the book of Habakkuk tomorrow, December 6. (Link to the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan Bookmarks)
The book of Habakkuk is the record of a discussion between Habakkuk and God concerning the sinfulness Israel. It includes several often quoted Scripture passages. Habakkuk opened the discussion demanding to know how long the violence and sins of the people would continue before God intervened. Much to Habakkuk’s horror, God revealed to him that He was going to bring the wicked nation of Babylon to destroy Israel. When Habakkuk protested that Babylon was more wicked than Israel, God assured him that Babylon would eventually be destroyed and God’s people would fill the earth. The final chapter expresses Habakkuk’s expanded faith in trusting God with the outcomes of the nations.
Image credit: https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/jtjm-minor-prophets/
