Zephaniah 1- False Hope

 ”And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: The Lord will do nothing — good or bad. Their wealth will become plunder and their houses a ruin. They will build houses but never live in them, plant vineyards but never drink their wine. Their silver and their gold will be unable to rescue them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of his jealousy, for he will make a complete, yes, a horrifying end of all the inhabitants of the earth.“

‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭13‬, ‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Zephaniah was a prophet in the time of King Josiah who became king as a boy.  The priests found the scriptures while cleaning out the Temple and Josiah turned the whole country back to following God.  This must have been written prior to them returning to God because Zephaniah is going on and on about how God will punish them for rejecting Gods path.

Gods people have slowly turned away from following Him, to the point they don’t think that He will ever do anything, good or bad.  They are acting like He doesn’t exist.  They feel safe because they have a home and food and even some good times.  But God is not stopped by these things, in fact it just makes their destruction more devastating.

Lord, help me not trust in my paycheck, or good health.  Let me not find comfort in my possessions or even my service to you.  Help me to rest only in you, in who you are and how you have transformed me.  All of those physical things are fleeting…but my identity in you is forever.  You are amazing to love me, help me to love you and serve you with every thought, action and conversation!

Habakkuk 3- Eternal Confidence

 ”Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!“

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Habakkuk finishes his book in a surprising place, confident in the Lord in the midst of trial. He spent 3 chapters warning Gods people that punishment was coming but ends on this note of dependence.  Even if there is no comfort of food or even prospect of sustenance, he will rejoice in God.  He knows that God has the ability to care for him even in the worst circumstances.

I love this idea, because it is so easy for me to find confidence in the things around me.  Or gain strength knowing that I have a good job, or some money in the bank or an amazing wife or…whatever things bring comfort.  All of these however are NOTHING in comparison to having Jesus as Savior!  In fact, without Jesus all of these things can be ripped from me in a flash and I would be left in despair.

Thank you Lord for saving me!  Thank you God for sending Jesus to pay the debt I could never even begin to pay.  Thank you Father God for sending the Holy Spirit to literally live inside me.  None of these things can change regardless of my circumstances.  You are always there, even if I loose everything…let me rest in that confidence!

Habakkuk 2- Motives Matter

 ”Is it not from the Lord of Armies that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire and countries exhaust themselves for nothing? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the water covers the sea.“

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This prophecy is reminding people that no matter what we are doing if we have the wrong motives, it will lead to nothing.  All of our time and energy will be wasted and the work we were intending to be good actually caused harm.

In the New Testament God tells us that His Word is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, and I believe this is the same message: our motives matter!

God purify my motives, help me to lay down before you all of my thinking and motivations!  May I stand before You in integrity and honesty as I make decisions and live my life for You!  When I don’t see my underlying motives, remove my blinders so that I can see clearly to honor You! 

Habakkuk 1- Fingerprints in the Silence

 ”How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save? Why do you force me to look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.“

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This book opens with the prophet in desperation…he is crying out to God frustrated that He has not already acted.  He feels like God is ignoring his prayers.  Honestly, the scene he is describing is accurate to describe the world we live in today!  And frankly, sometimes God does feel far away and like He will never fix the problems we are facing…

The chapter goes on to tell us that God is already at work to resolve the problem, but He is working behind the scenes.  God cares for His people deeply but also knows the perfect timing to heal and restore.  If He acts too early they will not learn the lesson… If He waits too long, His people will be destroyed.  But He never does either of the extremes, He always intervenes at just the right time!

His work behind the scenes is even more spectacular than we can imagine…weaving all the right people and circumstances together to heal and restore.  That is the part that blows me away!  The intricacies of how God works out His plan to perfectly accomplish His rescue of each of us is nothing short of miraculous.

God, next time I feel as if you are far away, help remind me of all the times you felt distant, but you were at work meticulously orchestrating my rescue.  Lord, help me to trust that you are doing that in the lives of those around me as well.  Don’t allow me to despair, but help me to see your fingerprints in all that you are doing!

Nahum 3- Redeeming Love

 ”Then all who see you will recoil from you, saying, “Nineveh is devastated; who will show sympathy to her?” Where can I find anyone to comfort you? There is no remedy for your injury; your wound is severe. All who hear the news about you will clap their hands because of you, for who has not experienced your constant cruelty?“

‭‭Nahum‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬, ‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Gods punishment of the enemy of Israel is complete and total…yet even in the midst of God delivering this punishment, He is thinking about restoration.  He is looking for someone who can comfort them.

God is the same today, even when we find ourselves in devastating circumstances, God always has a path to restoration…the only time that is gone is because of death.  His intention behind every punishment is to help us see our own sin clearly and our need of Him to help us!

That is the gospel after all: we try real hard to do what is right, and fail…yet He is there to remove the failure and energize us to follow Him.  It just takes real surrender…which is super hard by the way!

God, help me to remain humble and see my sin clearly.  Help me to wake up each day remembering how much I need you to strengthen me.  Help me to draw near to you every morning, every day and every night…without You I will end up needing to be devastated like you did to Nineveh.

Nahum 2- Gods Protection

 ”For the Lord will restore the majesty of Jacob, yes, the majesty of Israel, though ravagers have ravaged them and ruined their vine branches.“

‭‭Nahum‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

After reading this chapter, you definitely don’t want to be on the wrong side of God!  He is defending His people from their enemies and is going for their jugular…no mercy, they will be destroyed.

The devastation however is Gods response to this evil nation abusing and damaging His chosen people.  Gods protection of and care for those He has selected is amazing!  He loves them and promises to lift them back up to their rightful place.  (Reminder: they were overtaken by their enemy because they had rejected God, now He is coming to their rescue before they are completely destroyed.)

How gracious is God who gives us another chance, over and over again!  I don’t deserve another chance because I definitely screwed up the last 100 chances I’ve been given!  Yet God loves me because of who He is, not because of my “amazing” performance…actually He loves me in spite of my performance…what an incredible God we serve!!!

Lord, when I am faced with a decision to choose to please myself or please You, help me to remember all that You have done for me! Drill it into my head so that I cannot forget…I want to honor you with every little decision, from the time I give to you in prayer and reading, to how I respond when things don’t go my way, or when I don’t feel like going to church or want to sleep a bit more. Help me to choose You, because You deserve better than I can give!

Nahum 1- God Fights for Us

 ”The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; he cares for those who take refuge in him. But he will completely destroy your enemy with an overwhelming flood, and he will chase his enemies into darkness. 

Look to the mountains — the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace. Celebrate your festivals, Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked one will never again march through you; he will be entirely wiped out.“

‭‭Nahum‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭8‬, ‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Nahum has a slightly easier message to Gods people:  God will destroy your enemy and you will never have to worry about them again.  Turn to God when things are tough and He will permanently crush our enemy!

Thankfully, we don’t have physical enemies anymore, our neighbors are pretty safe.  Ephesians reminds us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces and even our own sinful desires.  Thankfully God is the same God who promised to completely destroy our enemy…that is what I long for!  Complete destruction of the temptation I face!

Not every temptation or battle has been eliminated, but many have!  It is so much easier to walk with Jesus today than it was even a year ago.  He is faithful to remove my sin, and help me hate the things that used to be such a draw.  He is a faithful God, worthy of my praise and worship!

Lord, help me to cast my weakness in front of You so that you can fight for me.  Remind me of Your ability to completely heal my desires and destroy my sin.  Let me trust in Your ability, not my own!