Jonah 4:5-11

Jonah’s initial conversation with God after He relented concerning the judgment of Nineveh is over.  God asked him if it was good that he was so angry over God’s mercy and Jonah did not reply.  He decides to leave the city and wait to see what happens. Some think that verses 5-11 describe a flashback […]

Jonah 4:1-4

Nineveh repented and God relented.  Jonah’s mission was an amazing success – far beyond what a neutral observer could ever expect.  He seemingly learned his lesson, preached in obedience to God, received an amazing response, and saved thousands of lives from judgment.  It is now time for everyone to go home happily ever after.  Or […]

Jonah 3

The author sets up Chapter 3 to roughly parallel Chapter 1 (to a lesser extent the same is true of Chapters 2 and 4): God calls Jonah                                        1:1-2                  3:1        God calls JonahJonah responds to the call                    1:3                      3:3        Jonah responds to the callJonah travels to the ship                        1:3                      3:3        Jonah travels to NinevehJonah warns of […]

Jonah 1:17-2:10

1:17Jonah has been thrown overboard and is presumed dead.  The storm is gone and the sailors are worshiping Yahweh on the ship.  God’s plan for Jonah, however, is not over. We do not know for how long Jonah sinks into the sea before the fish swallows him.  In his prayer he will make it plain […]

Habakkuk 3 – Living by Faith When the World Falls Apart

Habakkuk’s final response to God’s words of impending judgment is a prayer.  He is done arguing and done questioning.  He accepts God’s explanation that He will use the Babylonians to judge Judah and then judge the Babylonians themselves for their sin.  He knows evil times are coming but is willing to trust the ultimate Author […]

Habakkuk 1 – Trying to Understand an Infinite God

SynopsisThe book of Habakkuk is a dialogue between Habakkuk – a prophet – and God.  The book is unique in that there is no narrative about Habakkuk proclaiming God’s message to the people.  God tells him to proclaim it, but any interaction with the people of Judah takes place outside the book.  The entirety of […]

Malachi 1:1-5 God Loves Us Because He Chooses To

Overview of Malachi Malachi, along with Haggai and Zechariah, is a prophet to Israel after the people return from the Babylonian exile.  The exact dates of his prophecies are unknown, but he probably speaks to the people some time around 450 to 420 BC.  He may be a contemporary of Nehemiah. By the time Malachi […]

Amos 9:1-10

God shows Amos the final vision of His coming judgment.  Amos begins to proclaim his final words to the Israelites and assures them there is no hope of escaping what is coming for the sinners among the people. 1-4 This vision has very little introduction.  Amos does not say that God showed him something and […]

Amos 8:1-14

God shows Amos a fourth vision to illustrate the ultimate consequences of Israel’s sin.  As a result, Amos proclaims to Israel why judgment is coming and what it entails. 1-3 God shows Amos a basket of summer fruit and tells him it signifies that the end is near for Israel.  Just like in the third […]

Amos 7:7-17

Amos sees a third vision and has a verbal confrontation with the high priest of Bethel. 7-9 God shows Amos a third vision after the two visions of destruction.  Unlike the first two, this vision does not show the future but shows God’s reason for the coming judgment. Amos sees God standing by a wall […]