PROPHETS AND PROPHECIES by SUDHA RANI (best e reader for epub .TXT) 📖

5:5”seek me and live “

6th ch – warning – The LORD Abhors the pride of Israel

7th ch -9th ch – vision

9th ch 11 -15 – Israel’s Restoration.

If we read this book God is angry with Israel people. God has chosen Abraham because of his faith God blessed him and promised him that he and his descendants will posses a land. (Acts 7th chapter) At 100th year Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac became the father of Jacob who became the father of 12 tribes he was blessed as Israel. God brought them out of Egypt after 400 years of slavery he had done many miraculous during the journey through the wilderness for 40 years and after so many generations Israelis have forgotten the works of the mighty God and lived a sinful life. In Amos 5 :5 the LORD says “seek me and live” because God only can give us a holy life and he is our refuge in the time of troubles (Psalm 9:9). Amos saw many visions and prophesised them to repent turn from their wicked ways and seek God.

 

 

 

OBADIAH (BC 845)

 

Obadiah means “GOD’S SERVENT”. It is very small scripture in Old Testament. Obadiah’s family and Birth details are not written by this we can understand that he is not from any famous family background

In old testament we can see Obadiah name 13 times but 4 Obadiah’s were famous in I kings 18:3, II chronicles 17:7 , II chronicles 34:12, Nehemiah 10 :5 . Out of these 4 any one Obadiah may be the prophet and writer of this book.

Obadiah verses 1 to 18 we can see the Gods anger against Edom the punishment and destruction.

From verses 19 to 21 shows the deliverance of Israel.

 

SPECIAL NOTE ON EDOM

 

Isaac has two children Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25:22 both of them came out of the womb quarrelling .One day Esau was very hungry and he wanted the red stew curry prepared by Jacob .So Jacob asked Esau to sell his birthright and sold his birthright to Jacob(Genesis 25:30-33).

Esau was named Edom means red .Edo mites are his descendents (Genesis 36:8, Deuteronomy 2:4-9)

Jacob means deceiver but his name was changed to “Israel” means “son of God” his descendents were called Israelites. In Genesis 27:1-29 Jacob gets all the blessings of his elder brother.

 

GOD’S ANGER TOWARDS EDOM FOR TWO REASIONS:

 

During the Israelites 40 years journey to Canaan they have to cross the country of Edom(Numbers 20:14-21) so Israelites requested Edomites for passing through their country but , Edomites did not allow them to pass through their country and told them that if they try to pass they would kill them .

The second reason is they encouraged Babylon king to go war against them.

So prophet Obadiah prophesised against Edo mites. In 10th verse LORD says “Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed for ever.” We can see many references in Bible were God was against Edom (Psalms 137:7, Psalms 60:8, Psalms 108:9 “Edom will I cast out my shoe”.).This shows that God is against Edom because their were against Israel.

In 21st verse God says “Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the LORD’S.” We can see God’s love towards Israel he is always their to protect them (Isaiah 62:6 says “I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;” God will bless those who bless Israel so we should pray for the peace of Israel (Psalm 122:6). We can see God’s love and concern towards Israel.

 

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST IN THIS BOOK

 

“The day of the LORD is near for all nations”. (Obadiah 1:15-16)

“Saviour shall come up on mount Zion……” (Obadiah 1:17-21)

“The day of the LORD is near for all nations” (Obadiah 1:15).

Jesus Christ is our saviour he should his love by his deeds, he is a role model for all the people, he had preached the good news to the mankind and sacrificed his life by shedding his blood (Hebrews 9:22 and 10:10) so we have to believe and have faith in him then only we will be saved. But if we do not accept him as our personal saviour the day of the LORD is near we will be judged according to our deeds.

 

 

JONAH (BC 783)

 

Jonah a Hebrew name means “DOVE” his father’s name is Amittai (Jonah 1:1, II Kings 14:25). BC 793 -753. During the reign of Jeroboam king of Israel. The word of the LORD came to Jonah to prophesise in the city of Nineveh their wickedness .But Jonah sailed to Tarshish in a ship. God sent a great wind on the sea. All the sailors were afraid they cast lots to find out who is responsible for the calamity and it fell on Jonah. So Jonah told them “Pick me up and throw me into the sea”. Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea and the sea grew clam. But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD and the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land (Jonah 1st chapter, Jonah 2:10). Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD

 

THIS BOOK CAN BE DIVIDED INTO 2 PARTS

 

Chapter 1 &2 – Jonah’s appointment by GOD, flee to Tarshish, prayer 7 deliverance.

Chapter 3&4 Prayer and deliverance of Nineveh and GOD’S love towards the city.

 

In 4th chapter Jonah shows his displease and anger because he knows that GOD will bless Nineveh if they pray & repent. But Jonah like us don’t want to pray for the wicked people (my be our enemies). That is why he wanted to flee for Tarshish. But GOD gave an example. By growing a vine creeper which gave shade to Jonah, but in the next day God had provided a worm which chewed the vine so that it withered because of which the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew fain. He wanted to die and said it would be better for me to die that to live. Jonah was angry about the vine. But the LORD said “you have been concerned about this vine which you have not grown. But Nineveh has more lakes of people. “Should I not be concerned about that great city?” So also we people some times does not like to preach or tell good news to others , sometimes we don’t like our enemies to be blessed but GOD is not like us for him all the mankind are equal . He will bless everyone those who come to him.

 

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST IN THIS BOOK

 

LORD JESUS CHRIST in Matthew 12:39 – 41 gave a sing of Jonah. “As Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the son of man will be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the Earth”

 

From these verses the whole meaning of this book is related to JESUS CHRIST

 

1st chapter Jonah inside the fish (Jesus death & burial)

2nd chapter – Jonah 3 days and 3 nights inside the fish (Jesus 3 days and 3 nights inside the earth)

3rd chapter Jonah out of the fish(Jesus resurrection)

Here Jonah and Jesus are compared as a figure of speech called SIMILI (A figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’)

 

 

 

MICAH (BC 735)

 

Micah means “WHO IS EQUAL TO GOD”. Micah prophesised during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah kings of Judah (Micah 1:1). Micah prophet prophesised about the God’s judgement against Samaria and Jerusalem. In (Micah 3:8) he says “I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD”. Micah rebuked the leaders and the false prophets in Judah and Samaria he says in 3rd chapter “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel…….. Then they will cry out to the LORD, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done.” Micah prophesised that because of their witchcraft, carved images, cast spells, keeping the sacred stones and Asherah poles destruction is going to come upon them(5:6-12).

Micah was filled with God’s spirit that he was not afraid in 7th chapter 7th verse he says “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my saviour; my God will hear me.” This shows his faith and love towards GOD like him we should also be filled with God’s spirit and never be ashamed to tell the truth and preach the gospel to every one.

 

THIS BOOK CAN BE DIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS

 

1st chapter to 3rd chapter: Judgment against Samaria and Jerusalem, God’s plan and rebuked the false prophets and leaders

4th chapter to 5th chapter: The LORD’S plan deliverance and destruction.

6th chapter to 7th chapter : The LORD’S case against Israel and Israel’s misery.

 

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST IN THIS BOOK

 

Micah 5:2-5 he prophesised about the of Jesus Christ. “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.” 5th verse “He will stand shepherd his flock ……….And he will be their peace.”

In these verses it is clear that Jesus Christ was their even before the creation from the ages he was in the form of Word of God during Old Testament times (Geneses 15:1, I Samuel 3:7, 15:10, Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17) now that Word of God has become flesh in New Testament (John 1:1 to 14) “In the beginning was the word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”…..”The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”.

That Word of God has become flesh as LORD JESUS CHRIST. He was born in Bethlehem. He is a good shepherd, our peace maker.

 

LAST DAYS

Micah 4:1 “In the last days the mountain of the LORD’S temple will be established”. This verse tells about the II Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ all the nations will proclaim his name and he will establish his kingdom. AMEN

 

 

NAHUM (BC 650)

 

Nahum means “COMFORTER or PEACEFUL”. He is an Elkoshite. This village belongs to Simeon tribe it shows he lived near Jerusalem.

Prophet Jonah prophesised in the city of Nineveh that God’s anger is upon this city so repent and ask for forgiveness. After their repentance for 100 years they obeyed God but later they started doing all the wicked things, idol worshipping, witch craft etc (Luke 12:48 deserving punishment) . These people of Nineveh again went back to their sinful nature. So prophet Nahum prophesised that God’s anger is coming on you the king of Babylon will soon come and destroy this city leaving nothing and it happened in BC 612 Babylon king destroyed the city.

 

ABOUT THIS BOOK

 

Nahum 1:3 – “The LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished

 

Nahum 1st chapter: The LORD’S anger against Nineveh. “

Nahum 1:14 - “The LORD …….I will destroy the carved images and cast idols “.

Nahum 2ndchapter - Nineveh to fall.

Nahum 3rdchapter - Woe to Nineveh (city was destroyed … city of blood….piles of dead bodies without number……)

 

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST IN THIS BOOK

 

Nahum 1:15 - “The feet of one who bring good news, who proclaims peace! “. Our LORD Jesus Christ brought good news to this world .He is the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6) He is our peace maker. Jesus in the New Testament time told the people how to be in peace. In Matthew 5:3-10 Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”. He thought to his disciples and to the people in parables to understand the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. He proclaimed the good news of love, forgiveness, to be righteous, to be kind, to show mercy and