The prophet of Micah (not to be confused with Micaiah ben Imlah who lived in the reign of Ahab - 1Kg. 22 -) was a Judaean. A contemporary of Isaiah, Micah too foresaw the ruin of Israel as the punishment for a life of religious and social corruption. Like other prophetic books, this book contains some oracle which from their character, appear to be of a later time than that of the prophet named as the author. Of the life of Micah and the circumstances of his call we know nothing. He was, however, keenly aware that God had called him to the office of prophets and this makes him fearless in prophesying disaster, as the false prophets are not - 2:6-11, 3:5-8 -

Micah scourges the moneyed capitalist, the inexorable usurer, the swindling tradesman, families divided by rivalry, avaricious priests and prophets, tyrants, venal judges. These are the very antithesis of the divine ideal: 'to deal justly, to love tenderly, to walk humbly with God' - 6:8 - an admirable formula summing up the spiritual demands of the prophets and most particularly Hosea. God has decreed punishment; he will come to judge to punish his people in a world upheaval.

MICAH - (1) Israel on Trial - Threat and Condemnation - The judgment of Samaria - Lament for the lowland cities - Against the tyranny of the rich - The prophet of misfortune and promises of restoration - Against the rulers who oppress the people and venal prophets - To the guilty ones: prophecy of the ruin of Zion - Chapter 1 to 3 - (2) Promises of Zion - The future reign of Yahweh in Zion - The gathering of the scattered flock in Zion - The siege, exile and liberation of Zion - The pagans crushed on the threshing-floor in Zion - The distress and glory of the Davidic dynasty - The confidence of the people of Judah - The future role of the remnant among the nations - Yahweh will withdraw the temptation to rely on men - Chapter 4 to 5 -

(3) Israel on Trial - Denunciation and threat - Yahweh puts his people on trial - Against tricksters in the city - The example of Samaria - Universal injustice - Chapter 6 to 7 - (4) Hope for the Future - Zion insulted by her enemy - An oracle of restoration - A prayer for the confusion of the pagans - A plea for God's forgiveness - Chapter 7 - In summary : He is the bearer of God's message which is at first a message of condemnation. A prediction of judgment and a promise of Messianic restoration.

The Book of Nahum opens with a psalm on the wrath of Yahweh against the wicked and with short prophetic passages contrasting the punishment of Assyria with the salvation of Judah. The destruction of Nineveh is foretold with great poetic power in a prophecy made shortly before the capture of that city in 612. The Book of Nahum must have raised the human hopes of Israel but the joy was short-lived: the fall of Jerusalem followed close on the fall of Nineveh. After this, the scope of the message grows wider and deeper - Is. 52:7 - borrows the image of Nahum 1:11, 2:1 - to apply it to a universal and more spiritual salvation.

NAHUM - (1) Psalm. The wrath of Yahweh - Prophecies addressed alternately to Judah and Nineveh - The Fall of Nineveh - The assault - The lion of Assyria threatened - Nineveh threatened for its crimes - The lesson of Thebes - Nineveh's preparations useless - The locusts fly away - A funeral lament - Chapter 1 to 3 -

In summary : It is seen as the vindication of God's justice and a prophecy of the destruction of Nineveh.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -