The short Book of Habakkuk is very carefully constructed. It opens with a dialogue between the prophet and his God; twice the prophet complains, twice the divine oracle answers. Habakkuk sounds a note new to the teaching of the prophets; he has the temerity to demand an account from God of his ordering of the world. Judah indeed has sinned but why should a God of holiness with eyes too pure to look at evil, choose the savage Chaldaeans to wreak his vengeance?

Why must the bad be punished by the worse? Why should he appear to strengthen the arm of injustice? This is the problem of evil posed at international level and Habakkuk's dismay is felt by many people today. To them as to him comes the divine answer: by paradoxical ways almighty God prepares the final triumph of justice; trusting in God, the virtuous man's life will be secure, cf. 2:4, a precious maxim of Habakkuk's which Saint Paul will later incorporate into his teaching on faith - Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38 - The book should be dated between 605 and 597.

HABAKKUK - (1) Dialogue between the Prophet and his God - First complaint of the prophet: lawlessness prevails - First oracle. The Chaldaeans the instrument of God's justice - Second complaint of the prophet: the tyranny of the conqueror - Second oracle: the upright man will live by faithfulness - Chapter 1 to 2 - (2) Curses on Oppressors - Prelude - Five imprecations - Chapter 2 - (3) Plea to Yahweh for Deliverance - Chapter 3 - In summary : A prophet who questioned God and praised His approaching judgment against Judah.

Zephaniah prophesied in the reign of Josiah before the religious reform of 622 B.C. In his understanding of a 'day of retribution' Zephaniah echoes Amos; in his deep appreciation of sin as an offence against God, he anticipates Jeremiah. The punishing of the nations should serve as a warning to reduce God's people to obedience and humility, salvation is promised to only a humble and submissive 'remnant'. This as far as the messianism of Zephaniah goes but it is enough to reveal the spiritual nature of the promises he makes.

ZEPHANIAH - (1) The day of Yahweh for Judah - Judgment of all creation - Against the worship of alien gods, the merchants of Jerusalem and unbelievers - The day of Yahweh and a call to conversion - Chapter 1 to 2 - (2) Against the Pagans - The enemy to the west: the Philistines - The enemy to the south: Ethiopia - The enemy to the north: Assyria - Chapter 2 - (3) Against Jerusalem - Against the leaders of the people - The pagans punished - Chapter 3 - (4) Promises - Conversion of the pagans - The humble remnant of Israel - Psalms of joy in Zion - Return of the exiles - Chapter 3 -

In summary : A prediction of destructive judgment followed by tremendous blessing.

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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 -