The Minor Prophets, Messengers for Today: Habakkuk

The Minor Prophets, Messengers for Today:  Habakkuk

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Habakkuk lived in a world much like our own.  Violence, encouraged by injustice, permeated all facets of society.  In a vision from the Lord, the prophet learned that God was going to allow the even more violent and more unjust Chaldeans to bring judgment on His people.  Habakkuk cried out, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he? (Habakkuk 1:13 NKJV) 

The Lord comforted Habakkuk by assuring him that God was allowing the Chaldeans to come against Judah for His own purposes and would, in the future, punish the Chaldeans for what they had done.  The Lord directed Habakkuk and all believers to "Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4 NKJV).

 

Today Chaldea lies in Iraq near its border with Iran.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever more.  If the current world situation in that area and spilling over globally is part of the judgment of God, it is for the purposes of bringing God’s people, both Jews and Christian, into a deeper relationship with Him through our Savior Jesus Christ.  It is also true that God will not allow any who come against His people to go unpunished.  

Without a doubt, God is using worldly circumstances for His own purposes.  In faith, we must walk closely with the Lord and wait for His timing. Faith requires that we trust God even when we feel He is not responding to our prayers. He said to Habakkuk, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV).

We must stop our murmuring and complaining. As with both Job and Habakkuk, it is not necessary for us to question God.  “The LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him" (Habakkuk 2:20 NKJV). A deeper relationship with the Lord is founded in our faith that God is Who He says He is and that He always has our best in mind.

In the end, Habakkuk submitted to the Lord and worshipped Him.  Even when he didn’t understand God’s plans and purposes, he understood the goodness of his Lord.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV)

^“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls-- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

Let us look beyond our circumstances and joy in the God of our salvation. The vision is for an appointed time. Our deliverance is assured. Because of that, we can sing with King David:

Psalm 3:1-8 (NKJV)
¹  A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.

LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
²  Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah
³  But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
⁴  I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
⁵  I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.
⁶  I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.
⁷  Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
⁸  Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

The Minor Prophets Messengers for Today: Nahum

Nahum Prophet of God’s Consolation

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

 

Nahum is the seventh of the Minor Prophets.  His name means consolation.  The focus of his prophecy is God’s judgment against wickedness and His consolation for the righteous.

Even though, during the ministry of Jonah, the powerful Assyrian city of Nineveh repented and was spared, in later years, the people returned to their wickedness and were destined to face the judgment of God.  In His mercy, God ordained Nahum to speak to the people of Nineveh and give them another opportunity to repent. 

 

The juxtaposition of judgment and mercy is seen in the first chapter of Nahum.  In dealing with wickedness, ^“The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet” Nahum 1:3 (NKJV).

 

However, God is merciful to the righteous. “The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.  But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, And darkness will pursue His enemies” Nahum 1:7-8 (NKJV).

Nahum’s prophecy was fulfilled when the Babylonian Empire captured Nineveh in 612 B.C.

As the wickedness of worldly philosophies, decisions and behaviors seemly surrounds us, we are caught in a whirlwind of fear of the judgment of God. It is true that if those who continue in their desire to annihilate Christianity and righteousness continue in their path of destruction, they will face the judgment of God.  Much of the judgment will be the natural consequences of choices they have made.  When we exchange freedom for license, immorality, addictions, confusion and desolation of the soul arise.  When we destroy the preborn, we destroy much of our future.  We also destroy much of the present because we no longer value human life.  All lives matter.

God’s judgment may also be seen in our weather patterns and climatic turmoil. Nahum 1:4-5 (NKJV): “He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, And dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, And the flower of Lebanon wilts. The mountains quake before Him, The hills melt, And the earth heaves at His presence, Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.”  Our world is plagued with droughts, tornados, volcanic eruptions in greater number than in the past. 

God’s judgment is, likewise, evident in the revealing of evil practices that have been hidden in the past. Nahum 3:4-7 (NKJV): ^“Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot, The mistress of sorceries, Who sells nations through her harlotries, And families through her sorceries. "Behold, I am against you," says the LORD of hosts; "I will lift your skirts over your face, I will show the nations your nakedness, And the kingdoms your shame. I will cast abominable filth upon you, Make you vile, And make you a spectacle. It shall come to pass that all who look upon you Will flee from you, and say, 'Nineveh is laid waste! Who will bemoan her?' Where shall I seek comforters for you?"

The corruptions that have recently been exposed are like an iceberg.  Only about 20 percent is seen above the surface. More revelations will be coming forth.  Jesus said, “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light” (Luke 8:17 (NKJV).  Our prayer must be for all the hidden corruption to be revealed.  The more truth we know, the more truth we can deal with and the more freedom we will walk in.

The wickedness of ancient Nineveh is symbolic of the wickedness in the world throughout history.  It is certainly symbolic of the wickedness in the world today.  Nineveh means handsome or agreeable.  The world system tends to follow those things and people that appeal to the eye, those things that are handsome.  Likewise, worldly people, those who have not been transformed by the renewing of their minds, seek after that which agrees with their sinful nature.  A Nineveh mindset is an "if it looks good and agrees with worldly thoughts, do it" mindset.

Remember the thoughts of the woman as recorded in Genesis 3: 6. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”

God is in the process of judging that wickedness.  Yet, lest we shrink in fear, we must remember that God is merciful to the righteous. Nahum 1:15 (NKJV) ^“Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, Perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off.”

While “Judah” in the above passage refers to the Southern Kingdom of Israel, the word “Judah” also means praise.  In that definition is a powerful strategy for overcoming in the midst of our national and world situations.  We are to praise the Lord for Who He is and for what He has done, what He is doing and what He will do. 

At the birth our Lord, the heavenly host proclaimed, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:14 (NKJV).  In Jesus Christ, we can experience peace even in the midst of turmoil.  We must open our hearts to the empowering of the Holy Spirit to stand for what we believe, to continue to practice those beliefs and to reach out to others with the love of the Lord.  The wickedness of worldly practices will not destroy us.  Jesus has established His Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against us. (Matthew 16:18).

We must be the feet on the mountains that bring good tidings.  We must be the ones to proclaim peace in Jesus Christ.  We must be the ones who stand unashamedly for truth.  In doing so, we will prevail in the times of judgment. 

"How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him
Who brings good news, good news;
Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness:
Our God reigns, our God reigns!"

—Leonard E. Smith

 

The Minor Prophets Messengers for Today: The Jonah Syndrome

The Minor Prophets Messengers for Today: The Jonah Syndrome

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

The book of Jonah demonstrates that God is a merciful and gracious God. Because of its wickedness, the city of Nineveh deserved to be destroyed. God was patient towards them and called Jonah to bring the message to that Assyrian city. When he first received the call from God, Jonah ran away.

•    In chapter 1, Jonah embarked on a ship headed for Tarshish. When the ship encountered a disastrous storm, Jonah confessed that his disobedience to the Lord was the cause of the storm.  The sailors then threw him into the sea. “And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights” (1:17).

•    Chapter 2-3, After God had the fish cough him up, three days later; Jonah obeyed God and went to Nineveh to fulfill his mission. Jonah preached a message of repentance and to his surprise and sorrow, the sinful city repented. “Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them” (3:5).

•    In chapter 4, God dealt with Jonah and taught him about His love and compassion.[i] 

While we usually focus on the great fish swallowing Jonah, chapter 4 is the rest of the story.  Jonah, a successful evangelist, who preached a message that caused a sinful, jaded urban population to fall on their knees in repentance, was angry when the Lord spared Nineveh. After expressing his anger to the Lord, Jonah went out of the city and sat down to watch what would happen.  God prepared a large plant that grew quickly and sheltered Jonah through the night.  Jonah was thankful for the plant.  However, in the morning the Lord sent a worm that withered the plant and a wind that beat down on Jonah, withering his spirit and rousing his anger once again. 

Jonah 4:9-11 (NKJV): Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?"

And he said, "It is right for me to be angry, even to death!"
But the LORD said, "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night.
And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left--and much livestock?"

To we recognize the character of Jonah in ourselves? As we see so many evil situations and behaviors around us, do we let a spirit of anger overwhelm us to the point that we don’t want to see resolutions and repentance?  Are we reluctant to share the word of God’s love and mercy because we are afraid that people who are not on our “approved” list might show up in our church and in our vision of heaven?  Do we fall into the trap of calling names rather than discussing issues?  Are we resting on our “blessed assurances” and waiting for the Lord blow everything to “smithereens”?  Then we just might be afflicted with the “Jonah syndrome”.

The Lord is calling us to stand together for what is right in the power and peace of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  He is calling us to repentance for our negativity and our angry spirit.  He is calling us to declare the word of the Lord with our lips and to demonstrate His love and mercy in our lives. 

Isaiah 60:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
²  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.

Make Me a Blessing

Ira Bishop Wilson

Out in the highways and byways of life,   Many are weary and sad; Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,   Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing, Out of my life may Jesus shine; Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,   Make me a blessing to someone today.
Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,   Tell of His power to forgive; Others will trust Him if only you prove   True, every moment you live.
Give as ’twas given to you in your need,   Love as the Master loved you; Be to the helpless a helper indeed,   Unto your mission be true.

---

[i] http://biblehub.com/summary/jonah/1.htm

The Minor Prophets Messengers for Today: Obadiah

The Minor Prophets Messengers for Today: Obadiah

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Obadiah, whose name means “servant of the Lord, was submitted to God even when he was asked to step out of the realm of “political correctness” and bring a warning to those who had become the enemies of Israel. The book of Obadiah is God’s warning against the people of Edom.  Obadiah 1:2-4 (NKJV)  "Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You shall be greatly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?' Though you ascend as high as the eagle, And though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," says the LORD. “

We cry out in agreement, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you who seek to destroy Israel and, by extension of the covenant, to destroy the Church, the Bride of Christ.”

The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob.  Esau and Jacob were the sons of Isaac and the grandsons of Abraham.  Remember the story in Genesis 25 where Esau sold his birthright to Isaac for a bowl of stew.  Genesis 25:33-34 (NKJV):  “Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

Esau lived for the moment and gave up his spiritual blessings to satisfy his physical appetites.  The Edomites represent those who despise what God has given them and resent the blessing of God.  Esau’s discontent was generational.  His uncle and father-in-law Ishmael had earlier received a blessing from the Lord. Genesis 17:20 (NKJV) “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.”  Yet, Ishmael despised his blessing and resented the covenant that the Lord made with Isaac.

God’s covenant was with Isaac and then Jacob, but he blessed Esau as well.  

 Speaking through the Spirit of God, Isaac blessed Esau.  Genesis 27:38-41 (NKJV) :  “And Esau said to his father, "Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me--me also, O my father!" And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: "Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above. By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck." So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

God promised that one day Esau would no longer be in servitude to Jacob.  Esau was unwilling to wait for the Lord’s promise to be fulfilled.  To this day, the descendents of Ishmael and Esau seek the destruction of Israel. Obadiah 1:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  "For violence against your brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you, And you shall be cut off forever.

As Christians, we are grafted into the covenant God has made with Israel.  It is important to note that we are grafted into the covenant.  We do not replace Israel in the covenant.  (Romans 11:11-18.) God’s promise is that Israel, and, therefore, the Church shall prevail.

God spoke at least two important truths through Obadiah.  The first is that His that, even though, His covenant is with Israel, His heart Is for all mankind.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus we can enter into His covenant. 

The second lesson that we must accept that God has a plan and a blessing for each of us.  We must learn to walk in our own blessing and not resent the blessing He has given to others. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Obadiah 1:21 (NKJV)
^“Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion To judge the mountains of Esau, And the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.”  Amen.

When we cling to the promises and blessings of God, not matter what Is happening in the world, we have a future and a hope.

My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less

By Edward Mote

.              My hope is built on nothing less

               than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

               I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

               but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

               On Christ the solid rock I stand,

               all other ground is sinking sand;

               all other ground is sinking sand.

               When Darkness veils his lovely face,

               I rest on his unchanging grace.

               In every high and stormy gale,

               my anchor holds within the veil.

                

               His oath, his covenant, his blood

               supports me in the whelming flood.

               When all around my soul gives way,

               he then is all my hope and stay.

                

               When he shall come with trumpet sound,

               O may I then in him be found!

               Dressed in his righteousness alone,

               faultless to stand before the throne!