Lesson #97 (Week ending 04/01/12)

Obadiah

Background:

 The land of Edom was a small mountainous area east of the Dead Sea. Its people were descendants of Esau (Gen. 36).

Edom was noted in the Bible for its pride, treachery, greed, and violence (2 Chr. 20:10, 11; 25:14, 20; Jer. 49:16; Amos 1:9, 11; Obad. 3). Conflict between Israel and Edom was foreshadowed by conflict between the peoples’ progenitors, Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:21–34; 27:34–45). The incident that initiated and fed the conflict occurred on Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan (Num. 20:14–21). Thus, Edom and Israel fought through most of their history (1 Sam. 14:47; 2 Sam. 8:14; 2 Kgs. 8:20–22; 14:7). But Edom made themselves especially odious to the Jews when Babylon conquered and plundered Jerusalem. When Nebuchadnezzar’s forces closed in on Jerusalem and the king of Judah attempted to flee (2 Kgs. 25:3–7), Edom apparently helped capture him. As a reward the Edomites were allowed to participate in the sack of Jerusalem (Ps. 137:7; Ezek. 25:12; 35:15; 36:5; Joel 3:19; Obad. 10–14).^[1]

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Obadiah 1-4:  Edom’s Sin

Ø  What does Obadiah say was Edom’s sin?

Ø  Is it possible to hide from God in the clefts of the rocks or at high altitudes?  Application for us?

Ø  What does Edom teach us about the consequences to sin and God’s timetable regarding those consequences?

Obadiah 5-14: Edom Will Reap What She Has Sown

Ø  Will the consequences of Edom’s sin be merely a slap on the wrist?

Ø  What is going to happen to the treasures that Edom has stored up?

Ø  What will happen to her borders?  Application for us?

Ø  What will happen to her wisdom?  Application for us?

Ø  Other than their pride, why was God so upset with Edom?  Application for us?

Obadiah 15-21:  The Day of the Lord

Ø  To what does “the day of the Lord refer”?

Ø  Will there be any survivors of Edom after the Lord finishes His judgment?

Ø  What else besides God’s judgment will happen during the day of the Lord?

Ø  Are there aspects of this prophecy that are yet to be fulfilled?  If so, what are they and how do they apply to us?

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^[1] Dockery, D. S., Butler, T. C., Church, C. L., Scott, L. L., Ellis Smith, M. A., White, J. E., & Holman Bible Publishers (Nashville, T. (1992). Holman Bible Handbook (476). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Lesson # 96 (Week ending 03/25/12)

Habakkuk

Background:

Habakkuk is a unique book. Unlike other prophets who declared God’s message to people this prophet dialogued with God about people. Most Old Testament prophets proclaimed divine judgment. Habakkuk pleaded for divine judgment. In contrast with the typical indictment, this little book records an intriguing interchange between a perplexed prophet and his Maker.^[1]

It is generally accepted that the reference to the Babylonians (Hab. 1:6) places the book within the seventh century b.c.

Habakkuk wrote his lament over the decay, violence, greed, fighting, and perverted justice that surrounded him.

No wonder Habakkuk looked at all the corruption and asked, “Why doesn’t God do something?” Godly men and women continue to ask similar “whys” in a world of increasing international crises and internal corruption.

While the stage is set for a global holocaust, an unsuspecting home audience fiddles a happy tune. The nation’s moral fiber is being eaten away by a playboy philosophy that makes personal pleasure the supreme rule of life. Hedonism catches fire while homes crumble. Crime soars while the church sours. Drugs, divorce, and debauchery prevail and decency dies. frivolity dances in the streets. Faith is buried. “In God We Trust” has become a meaningless slogan stamped on corroding coins.

In such a world of crisis and chaos, Habakkuk speaks with clarity. This little book is as contemporary as the morning newspaper.^[2]

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Habakkuk 1:1-4:  Habakkuk’s Complaint

Ø  Notice Habakkuk’s cry to the Lord.  Have you ever felt that God was not hearing your prayers?

Ø  Have you, like Habakkuk, ever felt like God was not responding to the injustice in our world?

Ø  Could Habakkuk’s complaint be relevant for us today in the world in which we live?

Habakkuk 1:5-11: The Lord’s Answer

Ø  Why did the Lord tell Habakkuk that he would not believe the answer that was coming? 

Ø  Do we place our own expectations on how we think God should respond to the injustices we see in this world?

Ø  Can God use pagans today to accomplish His goals?

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1:  Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

Ø  Did Habakkuk understand what the Lord was doing?  Why or why not?

Ø  Do we understand what the Lord is doing in our world today?  Why can’t we trust in Him rather than try to influence Him?

Ø  To Habakkuk it appeared that the wicked always won and the good were always consumed by the wicked.  Does this description seem to fit our society and world?  Is God still in control?  Do we act like He is?

Habakkuk 2:2-20:  The Lord’s Answer

Ø  What does God’s reply to Habakkuk teach us about God’s timing?  If we don’t see His immediate answer, what should our response be?  What does it mean to “wait”?

Ø  How should the righteous live according to Habakkuk?

Ø  From God’s perspective do the wicked ever get away with their schemes?  Application for us?

Ø  What is the bottom line according to the Lord?  (vs. 2:20)

Habakkuk 3:  Habakkuk’s Prayer

Ø  What can we learn from Habakkuk’s prayer?

Ø  Habakkuk seems to have gotten a hold of “faith” and “waiting”.  (3:17-19) Are we too concerned with our situation and surroundings to be able to walk in faith and wait on the Lord?

Ø  What is the solution when we feel overwhelmed with everything going on around us?

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^[1]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1:1505). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[2]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1:1507). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Lesson #95 (Week endingm 03/18/12)

Nahum

Background:

The end of the seventh century b.c. was an exciting time for Judah, as the great reformer Josiah (640–609) ruled in Jerusalem. Over this time of blessing, however, loomed the threat of invasion by Assyria. Nineveh, Assyria’s capital, had been the site of a great revival in Jonah’s day, nearly 150 years before in about 750 (Jonah 3:4–10). But the revival had faded quickly, and Assyria destroyed Israel’s northern kingdom in 722 and nearly destroyed Judah in 701. Now Assyria had set its sights on Judah once again, so God called Nahum to proclaim his final judgment against Nineveh.

Nineveh’s doom would come soon after Nahum’s warnings, when the rising Babylonian empire defeated it in 612. Babylon would go on to win victories against Judah in 605 and 597, finally defeating it in 586.

Zephaniah and Jeremiah were Nahum’s contemporaries.^[1]

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Nahum 1: The Lord’s Anger

Ø  List the adjectives that describe the Lord in this Chapter.  What can we learn from them?

Ø  Why was the Lord so upset with Nineveh?  What does this teach us about how God views His people?

Ø  Jonah preached to Nineveh and they repented approximately 150 years earlier.  What can we learn from Nineveh’s falling back into sin?

Nahum 2: Nineveh’s Fall

Ø  What does this chapter tell us about man’s ability to fight against the Lord?  Application for us today?

Ø  What should man expect when he exalts himself above God?  Application for today?

Ø  “It is unclear to archaeologists how the attackers used Nineveh’s extensive waterways to invade. They either opened the floodgates and flooded the city, causing its foundations to crumble, as 2:6 might suggest or; they drained the waterways (see 2:8) and entered through the exposed walls.”^[2]  What does this teach us about the means God uses to accomplish His purposes?

Nahum 3: Woe to Nineveh

Ø  List the sins of Nineveh according to Nahum.  Does this sound at all familiar?

Ø  What does it mean that God “will show the nations your nakedness”?  (vs. 3:5)

Ø  When God declares war is there anyone who can come to the aid of the ones being judged and fight against Him?  Application?

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^[1] Willmington, H. L. (1997). Willmington's Bible handbook (485). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[2] Willmington, H. L. (1997). Willmington's Bible handbook (487). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

LESSON # 94 (Week ending 03/11/12)

Zephaniah

Background:

Zephaniah is a young prophet who preaches during the reign of a young king, Josiah. Josiah came to the throne of Judah in 640 bc and reigned for thirty-one years.

The voice of prophecy has been silent for some seventy years — since the days of Isaiah and Micah. Despite the terrible fate of Samaria in 722 bc, the people of Judah have steeped themselves in paganism. King Manasseh has ignored his father Hezekiah’s godly example and reverted to the Baal-worship of his grandfather Ahaz. Manasseh’s long, evil and violent reign (696–642 bc) has seen Judah following Assyrian practices of nature-worship and astrology. Nature worship has involved the gross immorality of fertility rites and bloodshed. Astrology has bred widespread superstition and fear.^[1]

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Zeph. 1:1-13: Warning of Coming Judgment Against the World, Judah and Jerusalem

Ø  Compare verses 1:2-3 with John’s account in Revelation 16.

Ø  Notice the interesting form of this prophecy:

^a Judgment on all the earth (1:2-3)

^bJudgment on Judah and Jerusalem (1:4-2:3)

^cJudgment on the surrounding nations (2:4-15)

^b‘ Judgment on Jerusalem (3:1-7)

^a’ Judgment on all the earth (3:8)^[2]

Ø  Why did God poor out His judgment on Judah and Jerusalem?  Is there any application for us?

Ø  To what does the “day of the Lord” in verse 7 refer?  Is there an early and later fulfillment of the “day of the Lord”?  Explain.

Ø  Can you name a time (and Biblical reference) that would confirm that God did poor out this judgment on Judah and Jerusalem?

Zeph. 1:14-3:8: The Great Day of the Lord and Judgment against the World

Ø  What does the Lord mean when he says that “the day of the Lord is near”?  Application for us?

Ø  According to this passage, why is the Lord’s anger and judgment imminent?

Ø  According to Zephaniah, what will happen to this world as we know it after the Lord pours out His wrath?

Ø  According to verses 2:1-3 is there any escape from God’s wrath?  What does this teach us about God?

Ø  Why will God pour out His wrath against the nations?  Is there any application for us?

Zeph. 3:9-20: God’s Grace and the Establishment of His Kingdom

Ø  What will God do after His great wrath?  Has this happened yet?

Ø  What type of people will make up the remnant of Israel?

Ø  Describe the world as Zephaniah sees it after God’s wrath has been poured out.  Have we ever seen anything like this?  What a glorious day that will be!

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^[1]Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide. Includes index. (1st Augsburg books ed.) (384). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.

^[2] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Zep 1:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.