Proclaim Hope Daily | Week 21

Below is a short summary or synopsis of the Bible reading for the day. Use it as a helpful tool to think through the Scripture. There are also some cross references to study other passages of Scripture to highlight or better understand that passage.

This psalm of lament with undertones of praise, is one that cries out to the Lord for divine rescue, a deliverance not only from the hand of the wicked, but also from the wages of sin. The plea of this hymn is not an isolated occurrence, but a desire for ongoing restoration. Times of trouble will most certainly come in numerous and various forms, but the foundation of the hope in the Lord is one of everlasting preservation. It is an eternal relationship that is solidified in the covenantal love, longsuffering, mercy and grace of God. Therefore praise is undoubtedly due to such a God, who would find us defiled and stained, yet reach down and liberate us from our own corruption.

(Isaiah 61:1; John 8:36; Romans 6:22, 8:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:1)

In these wisdom passages we will find a focus on the speech of an individual and the role it plays relationally. The choice of words and their intended use is extremely important, as they have the power to build up or break down. Speech concerning the wise typically embodies concern, counsel and thought, while that of a fool is often self-serving, inflammatory and considerably void of any process. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to evaluate a person is to listen to the way they speak and interact with others, as the lips are usually a valid indication of what is in the heart. In fact, it is our words, not just deeds, that will be judged by the Lord.

(Proverbs 16:24; Matthew 12:34,36; Luke 6:45; Ephesians 4:29; James 3:5-14)

Amos, a shepherd prior to becoming prophet, pronounces God’s judgement on Israel, particularly in this chapter for their continued idolatry and oppression of the poor and needy. Due to their outright rejection of the Lord, or at best, empty ritualistic religion, their society had grown perverse and uncivil. The prophet is in anguish (lament) over the nation of Israel and mourns for their failure, for he knows of the divine justice to be poured out upon them if they do not repent of their wicked ways and acknowledge the Lord their God.

(Isaiah 1:11-17, 5:22-23; Jeremiah 22:3-5; Micah 6:8)

Obadiah, the minor prophet and namesake of the shortest book in the Old Testament, here records the Lord’s prophesied judgement on the Edomites (people of Edom, descendants of Esau), due to their oppression of the Jewish people, primarily Judah. God’s sovereignty, as with any prophecy, is in full view here as he rules over the nations, deciding the fate of Israel’s attackers and dishing out justice. The Lord is faithful to his people and will repay with vengeance those who seek harm against his covenant recipients. No peoples or nations are exempt nor able to escape the wrath and judgement of God.

(Jeremiah 49:22; Ezekiel 35:5; Joel 3:14; Amos 1:11; Galatians 6:7)

This infamous story of Jonah being swallowed up by an enormous fish is a very distinct and clear picture regarding the sin of man and the loving grace and mercy of the Lord that leads to salvation. Jonah, who was called by God to proclaim faith and repentance to the Assyrians in Ninevah, chooses his own path and flees from God in the opposite direction. Therefore, God ordains a great storm of judgement in order to expose Jonah’s standing in the presence of the Holy God. Finding himself in great fault before the Lord, Jonah cries out from what he can only describe as Sheol, which is the ancient Hebrew understanding of the underworld, as death separates the individual from God. Foreshadowing the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, after three days of what Jonah felt was death, the fish spat him out and he was released from the pit of the sea. At some point in life we all choose our own direction, opposing the ways and direction of the Lord. Yet, by his grace, God provided for us the sacrifice of Jesus, so that through faith we can avoid separation from him and be rewarded with an eternity in his presence. Jonah and the fish is a vivid descriptive of not only God’s judgement that works towards repentance, but a beautiful representation of the Gospel message.

(Matthew 12:40-41; Romans 3:10-12,23-26; 2 Corinthians 7:10)

Micah, considered another minor prophet, preaches and prophesies to the whole nation of Israel, but primarily helps to teach and correct the rulers and people of Judah. Similar to Amos, Micah is calling the people to repentance, particularly the political and spiritual leaders who have fallen into pagan idolatry and were oppressing those under their care. While there are grave warnings of judgement addressing their blasphemous and disobedient behavior, there is also promise of hope and restoration. Micah points to Christ in this chapter as he mentions a figure that is more than a man, “coming from of old, from ancient days.” This is Old Testament language speaking to the eternal, pre-existent quality of this coming ruler as God. Micah mentions the cleansing and stripping of God’s people as necessary in the purification process in order to remove any self-sustaining delusions, bringing them to understand their need and dependence on the Lord for redemption and salvation.

(Psalm 25:6, 90:2, 93:2; Isaiah 64:4; Daniel 7:9,13,22; Hebrews 13:8, Revelation 22:13)

The minor prophet, Nahum, is called by the Lord to pronounce His coming judgement on Assyria. This prophecy comes about a century after the nation repented through hearing the word of the Lord via the prophet Jonah. The people of Assyria, just like Israel, had fallen away from their fear of the Lord and had succumbed to their pagan tendencies. Although this message of impending judgment is for and against Assyria, it is also an example of correction and a promise of preservation for Israel. Nahum is reminding the Hebrew people of the Lord’s sovereign wrath and judgement upon those who disobey and reject him, but in this is also a reminder that the Lord is a refuge and strength for his chosen and repays vengeance upon those who seek to harm his covenantal children.

(Exodus 20:5-6; Deuteronomy 32:35-36; Psalm 34:8-10; Romans 12:19)