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    Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah
    Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah
    Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah
    Ebook150 pages2 hours

    Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah

    By F. Wayne Mac Leod

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    Micah prophesied at a time when God's people were living in relative prosperity. In fact, they struggled with the materialism of the day and as a result their faith was deteriorating. He spoke to them about days of great blessing ahead, not through their political leaders but through One who would be born in Bethlehem whose origins were from eternity past.

    Nahum is a prophecy to the nation of Assyria, who at this time was at the height of its power. He prophesied of its downfall and goes into great poetic detail describing the battle that would cost them their nation.

    Habakkuk watched the Babylonians rise in power and struggled with what they were doing to his nation. In a very human way he questions God about why his people should suffer at the hands of such cruel warriors. God reminds Habakkuk, that despite what he was seeing around him, He had never once relinquished control. In time, God's people would see His purpose. At present it was for them to live by faith in their sovereign God.

    Often forgotten books of the Bible, these prophecies are as relevant today as they always were. Each chapter is concluded with some points for prayer and some questions to consider to help the reader apply the truth of each section to their present day life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherF. Wayne Mac Leod
    Release dateJan 27, 2015
    ISBN9781311985934
    Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah
    Author

    F. Wayne Mac Leod

    F. Wayne Mac Leod was born in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada and received his education at Ontario Bible College, University of Waterloo and Ontario Theological Seminary. He was ordained at Hespeler Baptist Church, Cambridge, Ontario in 1991. He and his wife, Diane served as missionaries with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship (now merged with SIM) on the islands of Mauritius and Reunion in the Indian Ocean from 1985-1993 where he was involved in church development and leadership training. He is presently involved in a writing ministry and is a member of Action International Ministries.

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      Book preview

      Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah - F. Wayne Mac Leod

      MICAH, NAHUM, HABAKKUK AND ZEPHANIAH

      A Devotional Look at the Ministry and Messages of the Prophets Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah

      F. Wayne Mac Leod

      Light To My Path Book Distribution

      Sydney Mines, N.S. CANADA B1V 1Y5

      http://www.ltmp.ca

      Copyright © 2013 by F. Wayne Mac Leod

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licences for personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thanks for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Second edition: November 2013

      Previously published by Authentic Media, 129 Mobilization Drive, Waynesboro, GA 30830 USA and 9 Holdom Avenue, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK1 1QR, UK

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.

      All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise specified, are taken from the New International Version of the Bible (Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used with permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers, All rights reserved.)

      Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Scriptures marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

      Special thanks to the proof readers and reviewers without whom this book would be much harder to read.

      Table of Contents

      Preface

      Introduction to Micah

      Chapter 1 - Introducing the Prophet

      Chapter 2 - Proclamation of Judgment

      Chapter 3 - The Sin of Materialism and Greed

      Chapter 4 - False Prophets

      Chapter 5 - A Word to the Leaders

      Chapter 6 - Hope for Mount Zion

      Chapter 7 - Bethlehem's Blessing

      Chapter 8 - God's People on Trial

      Chapter 9 - Who Is Like Our God?

      Introduction to Nahum

      Chapter 10 - Nineveh's Fall

      Chapter 11 - God's Clash with Nineveh

      Chapter 12 - The End of Nineveh

      Introduction to Habakkuk

      Chapter 13 - Why?

      Chapter 14 - God Will Judge

      Chapter 15 - A Song of Praise to God

      Introduction to Zephaniah

      Chapter 16 - Complacency

      Chapter 17 - The Remnant

      Chapter 18 Renewal in the City

      Light To My Path Book Distribution

      PREFACE

      In this commentary, we will meet four prophets. We will hear how Micah exhorted a people whose materialism and greed had stripped them of a sense of their need for God. We will meet the prophet Nahum who encouraged God’s people by proclaiming victory over the enemies that had conquered them. We will see how Habakkuk struggled with questions of evil and justice. We will observe how Zephaniah spoke to his people about a great renewal and cleansing in the land. Though God’s people had turned from Him, Zephaniah reassured them of God’s delight in them.

      My prayer is that this commentary will bring the words of these inspired prophets to our present day and culture. As with the other commentaries in this series, this book is not designed to be intellectual and scholarly but devotional in nature. It is my belief that the message of these prophets is for us today. My hope and prayer is that, as you read this commentary, the message of these prophets will be clear and simple. I trust that the Lord will use this commentary to draw each reader closer to Himself.

      I encourage you to take your time reading this commentary. Do not read it in a single sitting. Read the Biblical passage and use this commentary to guide you in your reflections on it. Pray over each chapter and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the truth He would have you to see. Take the time to see how these truths apply specifically to your life.

      I have been so thankful to God for the way He has opened doors for this commentary series to grow. I trust that all readers will be blessed as they take the time to read. My desire is for the Bible to come alive again to this age. I would ask you to pray for me as I continue to distribute this commentary series around the world. Please pray that it would touch many lives by bringing them back to the inspired Word of God. God bless you as you read.

      F. Wayne Mac Leod

      INTRODUCTION TO MICAH

      Author:

      Little is known about Micah the author of this prophecy. His name is mentioned in verse 1 with the few details we have about his life. He was from the region of Moresheth. We are uncertain as to the exact location of the city but it is believed that it was located in the north of Judah close to the Philistine city of Gath. He prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah kings of Judah. He would have ministered during the time of Isaiah.

      His prophecies were quiet influential in his day but they are also referred to by generations that followed. Reference is made to a prophecy of Micah in the days of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:18). His words were also mentioned in the gospels (see Luke 1:72-73; Matthew 2:6; John 7:42).

      Background:

      We have a glimpse of the days in which Micah lived through the lives of the kings of his day. Under King Jotham Judah enjoyed prosperity and military success. They experienced the favor of God on their lives. King Ahaz, however, turned his back on God resulting in God sending foreign nations against his people. Under the leadership of Ahaz, Judah saw rapid spiritual decline. Ahaz would close the doors of the temple and give its furnishings to his enemies to gain their favor (see 2 Chronicles 28:24). When King Hezekiah became king, he restored the worship God but would become very proud in the process. God judged him for that pride.

      Micah prophesied to a people who struggled with materialism. They loved the things of this world. Micah spoke out against religious leaders who would tell people what they wanted to hear for money. He challenged political leaders who were willing to take bribes and use the people of the nation for their own selfish goals. He spoke out against a people who would listen to anyone who prophesied plenty of wine and beer (Micah 2:11).

      These were days of spiritual compromise and moral decline. God’s people were lovers of pleasure and riches. They had turned from the truth to satisfy their fleshly lusts and desires.

      Importance of the Book for Today:

      Micah speaks to the temptation to find satisfaction and meaning in the things of this world rather than in God. He addressed a people who loved the world more than their God. He challenged spiritual and political leaders to walk in truth and not according to the sinful desires of the flesh. His words still speak to this temptation in our day.

      Micah’s prophesied great blessing for the people of God but that blessing came not so much through their political and religious leaders as it did through one great leader who would be born in the town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). This important leader was One whose origin was from the days of eternity. He was none other than the Lord Jesus who would come to set His people free from their sin and restore them to the Father. In the midst of materialism and sin, Micah points his people to the coming Messiah who would alone be their hope and salvation. This message is as important today as it was in the days of Micah.

      Chapter 1 - INTRODUCING THE PROPHET

      Read Micah 1:1

      This is the prophecy of Micah from the village of Moresheth, located in the nation of Judah. While he was from Judah, Micah prophesied to both Israel and Judah. The passage tells us that his words were for Samaria and Jerusalem, the capitals of both nations.

      Notice that this prophecy is not of human origin. Verse 1 reminds us that while Micah is the author of the prophecy, the words are the words of the Lord. The prophecy came to Micah by means of a vision. He wrote what he saw and heard in that vision from the Lord. These words are not the reflections of the human author. They are the thoughts and words of God to the nations of Israel and Judah. As we will also see, they are God’s words to us as well.

      The name Micah means Who is like the Lord? This name reflects the uniqueness of God. There is none like Him in justice, in love, in holiness, or in power. He is unique in His nature and being.

      Verse 1 tells us that Micah prophesied during the reigns of three of Judah’s kings: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah This not only tells us when Micah prophesied but also gives us a better idea of the times in which he lived.

      Under the reign of King Jotham, Judah was militarily quite successful. Jotham walked with the LORD and grew quite powerful and influential. 2 Chronicles 27:5 tells us that Jotham made war with the Ammonites and conquered them. During Joham’s reign, Judah enjoyed the favor of God and was prosperous.

      Jotham‘s son Ahaz did not follow in the ways of his father. He proved to be a very corrupt king, encouraging the worship of Baal. Ahaz even offered his sons on the altar, as a sacrifice to his foreign gods. Because of Ahaz’s rebellion, God sent foreign nations against

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