Yes, people, I have really made it 3/4 of the way through the Bible and I have finally finished the Old Testament! These minor prophets got a little old reading over and over, but I was able to find a few takeaways in each one.
Obadiah
This one says it was a vision more than "The voice of the Lord came to ... "
In this short book he talks about Edom, the land of Esau as such. It is interesting to me that even all these years later the trouble between Jacob and Esau is still referred to.
Jonah
4:2 I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Over and over, despite all the things we have done, despite His warnings that He is going to do all this horrible stuff to His people because of their disobedience, in His heart He is GRACIOUS and COMPASSIONATE and doesn't want to do that to His people.
Micah
5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Of course, its going to be about 1200 years, but it WILL happen! And remember all that stuff in Revelation .... yeah. If God said it, it WILL happen, even if it is thousands of years later.
Nahum
Despite the fact that this book is all about Woe to Ninevah, it was written after Jonah, so guess what. They shaped up then messed up again. Sounds familiar?
Habakkuk
Ok, I can't remember now where I wrote it, but I remember thinking "How on earth can they remember all that was said word for word?" In this book the Lord actually says, "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets" (2:2)
Lots of good stuff packed in here, but my two favorites are:
2:3 Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. So, remember that bit about the ruler coming out of Bethlehem IN 1200 YEARS? Yep, though it linger, wait for it. Remember that struggle you have been praying about? Remember that wisdom you have been seeking? Remember that answer you need? Remember that dear soul you pray for about salvation? You got it .. though it linger, wait for it.
2:20 The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. We sang this awesome acapella song at Brentwood with these words. It was quite powerful.
Zephaniah
3:17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
Haggai
Short book, but noticed he was also a timekeeper.
1:1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai
2:1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai
2:10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai
2:20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month
Zechariah
Also a timekeeper, but the thing that stuck out to me about this was the references to the end times, and how so many of the references were the same as the ones in Revelation. The four horses - their colors and their assignments, 3:16 - return to Jerusalem and 14:6-7 On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.
and finally,
Malachi
3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. This was a Bible Drill verse several years ago that really made me rethink my giving. We have always been generous givers, but it is easier when we have more to give. When money is tight it can be a bit more challenging, but I just hold my breath, quote this verse, and God never fails to throw open the floodgates!
O:)
Melissa
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