Month: February 2020

Micah

A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem

1 Marshal your troops now, city of troops,

for a siege is laid against us.

They will strike Israel’s ruler

on the cheek with a rod.

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clansof Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times.”

3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned

until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,

and the rest of his brothers return

to join the Israelites.

4 He will stand and shepherd his flock

in the strength of theLord,

in the majesty of the name of theLordhis God.

And they will live securely, for then his greatness

will reach to the ends of the earth.

5 And he will be our peace

when the Assyrians invade our land

and march through our fortresses.

We will raise against them seven shepherds,

even eight commanders,

6 who will rulethe land of Assyria with the sword,

the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.

He will deliver us from the Assyrians

when they invade our land

and march across our borders.

7 The remnant of Jacob will be

in the midst of many peoples

like dew from theLord,

like showers on the grass,

which do not wait for anyone

or depend on man.

8 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,

in the midst of many peoples,

like a lion among the beasts of the forest,

like a young lion among flocks of sheep,

which mauls and mangles as it goes,

and no one can rescue.

9 Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies,

and all your foes will be destroyed.

10 “In that day,” declares theLord,

“I will destroy your horses from among you

and demolish your chariots.

11 I will destroy the cities of your land

and tear down all your strongholds.

12 I will destroy your witchcraft

and you will no longer cast spells.

13 I will destroy your idols

and your sacred stones from among you;

you will no longer bow down

to the work of your hands.

14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles

when I demolish your cities.

15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath

on the nations that have not obeyed me.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/MIC/5-07c0bed6233bc33ba1a38f8559db8629.mp3?version_id=111—

Micah

The Lord’s Case Against Israel

1 Listen to what theLordsays:

“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;

let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 “Hear, you mountains, theLord’s accusation;

listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.

For theLordhas a case against his people;

he is lodging a charge against Israel.

3 “My people, what have I done to you?

How have I burdened you? Answer me.

4 I brought you up out of Egypt

and redeemed you from the land of slavery.

I sent Moses to lead you,

also Aaron and Miriam.

5 My people, remember

what Balak king of Moab plotted

and what Balaam son of Beor answered.

Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,

that you may know the righteous acts of theLord.”

6 With what shall I come before theLord

and bow down before the exalted God?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?

7 Will theLordbe pleased with thousands of rams,

with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does theLordrequire of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humblywith your God.

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

9 Listen! TheLordis calling to the city—

and to fear your name is wisdom—

“Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.

10 Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,

and the short ephah,which is accursed?

11 Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,

with a bag of false weights?

12 Your rich people are violent;

your inhabitants are liars

and their tongues speak deceitfully.

13 Therefore, I have begun to destroy you,

to ruinyou because of your sins.

14 You will eat but not be satisfied;

your stomach will still be empty.

You will store up but save nothing,

because what you saveI will give to the sword.

15 You will plant but not harvest;

you will press olives but not use the oil,

you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.

16 You have observed the statutes of Omri

and all the practices of Ahab’s house;

you have followed their traditions.

Therefore I will give you over to ruin

and your people to derision;

you will bear the scorn of the nations.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/MIC/6-3db37bbc25a3a360e39f94765836ca22.mp3?version_id=111—

Micah

Israel’s Misery

1 What misery is mine!

I am like one who gathers summer fruit

at the gleaning of the vineyard;

there is no cluster of grapes to eat,

none of the early figs that I crave.

2 The faithful have been swept from the land;

not one upright person remains.

Everyone lies in wait to shed blood;

they hunt each other with nets.

3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil;

the ruler demands gifts,

the judge accepts bribes,

the powerful dictate what they desire—

they all conspire together.

4 The best of them is like a brier,

the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.

The day God visits you has come,

the day your watchmen sound the alarm.

Now is the time of your confusion.

5 Do not trust a neighbor;

put no confidence in a friend.

Even with the woman who lies in your embrace

guard the words of your lips.

6 For a son dishonors his father,

a daughter rises up against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

7 But as for me, I watch in hope for theLord,

I wait for God my Savior;

my God will hear me.

Israel Will Rise

8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy!

Though I have fallen, I will rise.

Though I sit in darkness,

theLordwill be my light.

9 Because I have sinned against him,

I will bear theLord’s wrath,

until he pleads my case

and upholds my cause.

He will bring me out into the light;

I will see his righteousness.

10 Then my enemy will see it

and will be covered with shame,

she who said to me,

“Where is theLordyour God?”

My eyes will see her downfall;

even now she will be trampled underfoot

like mire in the streets.

11 The day for building your walls will come,

the day for extending your boundaries.

12 In that day people will come to you

from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,

even from Egypt to the Euphrates

and from sea to sea

and from mountain to mountain.

13 The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants,

as the result of their deeds.

Prayer and Praise

14 Shepherd your people with your staff,

the flock of your inheritance,

which lives by itself in a forest,

in fertile pasturelands.

Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead

as in days long ago.

15 “As in the days when you came out of Egypt,

I will show them my wonders.”

16 Nations will see and be ashamed,

deprived of all their power.

They will put their hands over their mouths

and their ears will become deaf.

17 They will lick dust like a snake,

like creatures that crawl on the ground.

They will come trembling out of their dens;

they will turn in fear to theLordour God

and will be afraid of you.

18 Who is a God like you,

who pardons sin and forgives the transgression

of the remnant of his inheritance?

You do not stay angry forever

but delight to show mercy.

19 You will again have compassion on us;

you will tread our sins underfoot

and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

20 You will be faithful to Jacob,

and show love to Abraham,

as you pledged on oath to our ancestors

in days long ago.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/MIC/7-94a6c798a230fbb9ebcf049df9368b0b.mp3?version_id=111—

Nahum

In 612 BC the Assyrian Empire was nearing collapse. Its capital Nineveh was about to fall before a combined invasion of Babylonian, Medean and Scythian forces. But those living in the nations that Assyria had cruelly oppressed felt little pity. In their view, the Assyrians were simply getting a long-overdue taste of their own medicine. The prophet Nahum echoes these thoughts on behalf of the people of Judah. He situates this event within the context of God’s rule over all kingdoms on earth. God will judge the Assyrians, even though he had used them as his own instrument, because they were excessively destructive and proud.

Nahum’s oracle describes God’s character and power, announcing God’s purpose to judge Assyria. Words of comfort to Judah alternate with words of doom to Nineveh. The defense of the Assyrian capital will prove futile and the city will be plundered, confirming God’s judgment.

Nahum

Nahum 1

1 A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh

2 TheLordis a jealous and avenging God;

theLordtakes vengeance and is filled with wrath.

TheLordtakes vengeance on his foes

and vents his wrath against his enemies.

3 TheLordis slow to anger but great in power;

theLordwill not leave the guilty unpunished.

His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,

and clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up;

he makes all the rivers run dry.

Bashan and Carmel wither

and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.

5 The mountains quake before him

and the hills melt away.

The earth trembles at his presence,

the world and all who live in it.

6 Who can withstand his indignation?

Who can endure his fierce anger?

His wrath is poured out like fire;

the rocks are shattered before him.

7 TheLordis good,

a refuge in times of trouble.

He cares for those who trust in him,

8 but with an overwhelming flood

he will make an end of Nineveh;

he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

9 Whatever they plot against theLord

he will bringto an end;

trouble will not come a second time.

10 They will be entangled among thorns

and drunk from their wine;

they will be consumed like dry stubble.

11 From you, Nineveh, has one come forth

who plots evil against theLord

and devises wicked plans.

12 This is what theLordsays:

“Although they have allies and are numerous,

they will be destroyed and pass away.

Although I have afflicted you, Judah,

I will afflict you no more.

13 Now I will break their yoke from your neck

and tear your shackles away.”

14 TheLordhas given a command concerning you, Nineveh:

“You will have no descendants to bear your name.

I will destroy the images and idols

that are in the temple of your gods.

I will prepare your grave,

for you are vile.”

15 Look, there on the mountains,

the feet of one who brings good news,

who proclaims peace!

Celebrate your festivals, Judah,

and fulfill your vows.

No more will the wicked invade you;

they will be completely destroyed.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/NAM/1-bb5502ee1c3b9bc9e39ac2d67e19a627.mp3?version_id=111—

Nahum

Nahum 2

Nineveh to Fall

1 An attacker advances against you, Nineveh.

Guard the fortress,

watch the road,

brace yourselves,

marshal all your strength!

2 TheLordwill restore the splendor of Jacob

like the splendor of Israel,

though destroyers have laid them waste

and have ruined their vines.

3 The shields of the soldiers are red;

the warriors are clad in scarlet.

The metal on the chariots flashes

on the day they are made ready;

the spears of juniper are brandished.

4 The chariots storm through the streets,

rushing back and forth through the squares.

They look like flaming torches;

they dart about like lightning.

5 Nineveh summons her picked troops,

yet they stumble on their way.

They dash to the city wall;

the protective shield is put in place.

6 The river gates are thrown open

and the palace collapses.

7 It is decreedthat Nineveh

be exiled and carried away.

Her female slaves moan like doves

and beat on their breasts.

8 Nineveh is like a pool

whose water is draining away.

“Stop! Stop!” they cry,

but no one turns back.

9 Plunder the silver!

Plunder the gold!

The supply is endless,

the wealth from all its treasures!

10 She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!

Hearts melt, knees give way,

bodies tremble, every face grows pale.

11 Where now is the lions’ den,

the place where they fed their young,

where the lion and lioness went,

and the cubs, with nothing to fear?

12 The lion killed enough for his cubs

and strangled the prey for his mate,

filling his lairs with the kill

and his dens with the prey.

13 “I am against you,”

declares theLordAlmighty.

“I will burn up your chariots in smoke,

and the sword will devour your young lions.

I will leave you no prey on the earth.

The voices of your messengers

will no longer be heard.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/NAM/2-0378a0b8a7fb82bd911388f0e65cef15.mp3?version_id=111—

Nahum

Nahum 3

Woe to Nineveh

1 Woe to the city of blood,

full of lies,

full of plunder,

never without victims!

2 The crack of whips,

the clatter of wheels,

galloping horses

and jolting chariots!

3 Charging cavalry,

flashing swords

and glittering spears!

Many casualties,

piles of dead,

bodies without number,

people stumbling over the corpses—

4 all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute,

alluring, the mistress of sorceries,

who enslaved nations by her prostitution

and peoples by her witchcraft.

5 “I am against you,” declares theLordAlmighty.

“I will lift your skirts over your face.

I will show the nations your nakedness

and the kingdoms your shame.

6 I will pelt you with filth,

I will treat you with contempt

and make you a spectacle.

7 All who see you will flee from you and say,

‘Nineveh is in ruins—who will mourn for her?’

Where can I find anyone to comfort you?”

8 Are you better than Thebes,

situated on the Nile,

with water around her?

The river was her defense,

the waters her wall.

9 Cushand Egypt were her boundless strength;

Put and Libya were among her allies.

10 Yet she was taken captive

and went into exile.

Her infants were dashed to pieces

at every street corner.

Lots were cast for her nobles,

and all her great men were put in chains.

11 You too will become drunk;

you will go into hiding

and seek refuge from the enemy.

12 All your fortresses are like fig trees

with their first ripe fruit;

when they are shaken,

the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.

13 Look at your troops—

they are all weaklings.

The gates of your land

are wide open to your enemies;

fire has consumed the bars of your gates.

14 Draw water for the siege,

strengthen your defenses!

Work the clay,

tread the mortar,

repair the brickwork!

15 There the fire will consume you;

the sword will cut you down—

they will devour you like a swarm of locusts.

Multiply like grasshoppers,

multiply like locusts!

16 You have increased the number of your merchants

till they are more numerous than the stars in the sky,

but like locusts they strip the land

and then fly away.

17 Your guards are like locusts,

your officials like swarms of locusts

that settle in the walls on a cold day—

but when the sun appears they fly away,

and no one knows where.

18 King of Assyria, your shepherdsslumber;

your nobles lie down to rest.

Your people are scattered on the mountains

with no one to gather them.

19 Nothing can heal you;

your wound is fatal.

All who hear the news about you

clap their hands at your fall,

for who has not felt

your endless cruelty?

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/NAM/3-88a6e5cc63339a43e1dd676c11f121e8.mp3?version_id=111—

Habakkuk

Habakkuk Intro

Near the time of the transition from the Assyrian to the Babylonian empires (late 7

century BC), the prophet Habakkuk engaged in a profound dialogue with Israel’s God. The form of his book is a short series of complaints, or laments, followed by the divine responses. When Habakkuk’s cries are answered, he closes with a hymn of confidence in God’s expected victory.

The prophet begins by asking how long God will allow evil to triumph. The divine reply is that God is raising up the Babylonians as his tool of correction. This leads to Habakkuk’s second question: Why do you allow the wicked to

swallow up those more righteous than themselves

? God replies again, explaining that the Babylonians will be judged just like the Assyrians, and that the righteous must await this in faith and patience. The inevitability of Babylon’s doom is emphasized when God pronounces a series of five woes against it.

When Habakkuk’s dialogue with God concludes, the book moves to what is called

A prayer of Habakkuk

. But its musical notations reveal that it is clearly meant to be sung. Habakkuk celebrates God’s dramatic intervention for Israel in the past and prays that God will do it again. The prophet resolves in the meantime to wait patiently for God’s coming.

Habakkuk

Habakkuk 1

1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.

Habakkuk’s Complaint

2 How long,Lord, must I call for help,

but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, “Violence!”

but you do not save?

3 Why do you make me look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?

Destruction and violence are before me;

there is strife, and conflict abounds.

4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,

and justice never prevails.

The wicked hem in the righteous,

so that justice is perverted.

The Lord’s Answer

5 “Look at the nations and watch—

and be utterly amazed.

For I am going to do something in your days

that you would not believe,

even if you were told.

6 I am raising up the Babylonians,

that ruthless and impetuous people,

who sweep across the whole earth

to seize dwellings not their own.

7 They are a feared and dreaded people;

they are a law to themselves

and promote their own honor.

8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,

fiercer than wolves at dusk.

Their cavalry gallops headlong;

their horsemen come from afar.

They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;

9 they all come intent on violence.

Their hordesadvance like a desert wind

and gather prisoners like sand.

10 They mock kings

and scoff at rulers.

They laugh at all fortified cities;

by building earthen ramps they capture them.

11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—

guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

12 Lord, are you not from everlasting?

My God, my Holy One, youwill never die.

You,Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;

you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.

13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;

you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?

Why are you silent while the wicked

swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

14 You have made people like the fish in the sea,

like the sea creatures that have no ruler.

15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,

he catches them in his net,

he gathers them up in his dragnet;

and so he rejoices and is glad.

16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net

and burns incense to his dragnet,

for by his net he lives in luxury

and enjoys the choicest food.

17 Is he to keep on emptying his net,

destroying nations without mercy?

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/HAB/1-d9e2d2859157bb8eccfa8b1c14324963.mp3?version_id=111—

Habakkuk

Habakkuk 2

1 I will stand at my watch

and station myself on the ramparts;

I will look to see what he will say to me,

and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

The Lord’s Answer

2 Then theLordreplied:

“Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets

so that a heraldmay run with it.

3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

it speaks of the end

and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it;

itwill certainly come

and will not delay.

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;

his desires are not upright—

but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—

5 indeed, wine betrays him;

he is arrogant and never at rest.

Because he is as greedy as the grave

and like death is never satisfied,

he gathers to himself all the nations

and takes captive all the peoples.

6 “Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying,

“ ‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods

and makes himself wealthy by extortion!

How long must this go on?’

7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise?

Will they not wake up and make you tremble?

Then you will become their prey.

8 Because you have plundered many nations,

the peoples who are left will plunder you.

For you have shed human blood;

you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

9 “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain,

setting his nest on high

to escape the clutches of ruin!

10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples,

shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

11 The stones of the wall will cry out,

and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed

and establishes a town by injustice!

13 Has not theLordAlmighty determined

that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire,

that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?

14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of theLord

as the waters cover the sea.

15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,

pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk,

so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!

16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory.

Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed!

The cup from theLord’s right hand is coming around to you,

and disgrace will cover your glory.

17 The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,

and your destruction of animals will terrify you.

For you have shed human blood;

you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?

Or an image that teaches lies?

For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;

he makes idols that cannot speak.

19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’

Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’

Can it give guidance?

It is covered with gold and silver;

there is no breath in it.”

20 TheLordis in his holy temple;

let all the earth be silent before him.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/HAB/2-bbd529460b39ba50b179291dac4cb696.mp3?version_id=111—