The Minor Prophets

Speaking of the Minor Prophets, if you are looking for a resource to help you get into the last twelve books of the Old Testament then "The Minor Prophets" by Jack P. Lewis is the book for you. This book has been around for a while but wait...wait...WAIT!  Don't switch off.  Because I have just read some reviews of this book and lots of them said words to the effect of, "Still one of the best guidebooks to the Minor Prophets."

Not that I had to read the reviews to find out about this book.  I have just used it in preparation for Monday evenings and have studied it two or three times in the past during similar tilts through this section of the Bible.  And I often refer to it during my personal reading of the Minor Prophets when it gets to that point in the plan.

Why?  Because it's short, concise and supremely useful.  There is a chapter, each one no more than ten pages, for each prophet.  Every chapter includes some general information about the prophet, where he fits into biblical history and dating as can best be determined (and where there is some debate Lewis outlines the possibilities.)  There is a general overview of the book, a structure and some commentary on significant sections, key concepts and on some of the trickier bits than cannot be left unexplained.  It's detailed but not technical.  You can read it and reasonably speedily.  Towards the end of each chapter Lewis mentions where each prophet is quoted or alluded to in the New Testament and brings the reader back to Jesus.  And every chapter finishes with a short set of astute study questions. 

I don't think this book is in print anymore which is a huge shame but a quick search shows that there are still plenty of copies to found here and there.  And if you are serious about learning not just to understand but to love this part of the Bible then this is THE book for you.

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The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:7-11

Bookends and the minor prophets

On most Monday evenings I will be found in the front room of our house with two really gorgeous women, cups of tea at the ready, reading the Bible à la One to One Bible Reading.  We've been doing this for a few years, on and off.  This year we set ourselves what in hindsight has been an absolutely marvelous plan.  We decided to read the bookends of the Bible - Genesis and Revelation - and then work our way through the minor prophets. 

Given some basic understanding of what happens in between these books, reading the bookends really does provide the grand sweep of the big picture of God's loving plan for His creation. We have been amazed time and time again at God's amazing mercy, grace and love for His people and at the rate of about three chapters per week, we will read the final three chapters of Revelation in a week's time.

Tacking the minor prophets on the end was a bit random.  We just decided it would be good to do a closer reading of these neglected little books.  That was it.  But it turns out that having looked closely at what happened right at the beginning in Genesis and then understanding what is happening now (and what we need to do about it) and what will happen when Jesus comes again in Revelation provides the perfect backdrop for reading the minor prophets - books that are full of warnings to repent before the coming judgment and words about the glory and the horror of the Last Day.  We couldn't be better prepared for the old minor prophets.

Are you looking for an interesting reading project?  This is it.  And as much as I LOVE my Bible reading plan it is good to read the first chapter of Genesis at a time other than 1st January.  Sometimes fresh eyes are helpful.

I've started doing a bit of pre-reading for the minors and found these great words from They Echoed the Voice of God: Reflections on the Minor Prophets by Roger Ellsworth on dear old Habakkuk.

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17,18

Here is a vital question for each of us to consider:  Do we draw our happiness from our circumstances or from the Lord? 

We can surely see the importance of this question.  If we insist on finding our happiness in our circumstances, our lives will be like rollercoasters.  We will be happy one moment and sad the next.  Why?  Because our circumstances are constantly changing.

But if we find our happiness in the Lord, we will always be happy.  The Lord never changes.

I would probably change the word "happy" for "joy" in at least a couple of places - a minor detail.  And later in the same chapter...

We seem often to forget that salvation from sin and eternal destruction is a blessing of such magnitude that we should rejoice even if God never blessed us in any other way.

Now that is something to ponder.

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Speaking of Revelation, did I mention two weeks ago that I would do a prize draw for a copy of A Gospel Pageant and that I would announce a winner a week ago?  Oops!  The number of those in the draw was small.  Two.  And as it happens I have three left over copies of the book.  So Sarah and Wendy, a copy each coming your way at some stage soon.