Proclaim Hope Daily | Week 22

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.

Identified as a royal psalm, this prayerful collection of verses petition the Lord for a king that would reign justly over the people. It is seen as a worship-filled prayer unto the Lord, asking God to bless the people by lifting up a ruler that would break the chains of the oppressed, bring prosperity and godly righteousness to the land. While this can be seen as a legitimate prayer for the present generation of Israel, there are without a doubt undertones of the coming Messiah; a king that would reign with eternity, a pure and blessed kingdom with no end or boundary. The latter part of the psalm is rightly giving praise and credit to the only One who could ever rule and reign with such an undefiled nature and power.

(Psalm 41:13; Isaiah 9:7, 11:4; Zechariah 9:10; Luke 1:33, 4:18; Hebrews 1:8-12; Revelation 19:11)

Much of the focus in this section of wisdom literature is on the wealthy and poor, elaborating on both godly and flawed human perspectives. For instance, a poor man is hated by his brother and has no friends, for many people sinfully assign more value to the money a man has rather than the character of the man. A righteous man will value a person based upon their character and sense of morality and justice, being a friend regardless of financial gain. An unrighteous and shallow individual will degrade or reject the brotherhood or friendship if there is nothing to obtain physically or monetarily. There are many gifts of great value beyond financial appraisal, such as: a prudent, gentle wife and children who value wisdom and honesty. Even the judgement, correction and conviction of the Lord has infinite worth, as it brings wisdom and salvation to those who openly seek and receive it.

(Proverbs 14:20; Zechariah 7:10; Matthew 6:24, 25:33-46; James 1:27, 2:1-4)

Habakkuk, although considered a minor prophet, is not particularly witnessed teaching or prophesying publicly like many of the other prophets, but his namesake book is a recorded discourse between him and God. Habakkuk primarily struggles with bouts of doubt concerning his faith due to the apparent successes of the wicked and at times what appeared to Habakkuk as the lack of judgement concerning the evil behavior of Judah and God’s use of their enemies as a tool of reckoning. In the second chapter Habakkuk records God’s response, essentially confirming that His will is perfect and beyond our comprehension, reassuring the prophet that all wicked will be repaid and justly corrected. The ultimate lesson to be learned is that God knows best and his will can be trusted. We can and should live knowing that our faith is not simply based on a single act of God’s will, but encompasses all history and works through each believer’s life-long journey of dependence on him.

(Deuteronomy 32:35-39; Psalm 115:3; Romans 9:15-18, 12:19; Hebrews 10:32-39)

Just prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity of Judah, the prophet Zephaniah warned (as prophets do) of a pending judgement and called all people to repentance, with the hope that they would be saved from such tribulation. Zephaniah’s prophecy carried a double application. In one sense he spoke of a literal and immediate judgement in which God would sovereignly use their enemies to repay one another, while also bringing upon Judah a divine judgement for apostasy and disobedience. However, Zephaniah also referred to a coming day when the wickedness of all nations would be dealt with and totally eradicated. The immediate judgement was the use of the Scythians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. The latter is referred to as the day of the Lord, which is mentioned about 20 times in this three chapter book. While there is dark language of wrath and punishment, for those who are faithful beyond the borders of Israel, the righteous among all nations, there is a time of purifying restoration and transformative redemption recognized in the mighty one who will save.

(Isaiah 66:18-24; Zechariah 13:9; Luke 15:3-24; Romans 15:8-13)

Haggai, served as a minor prophet during the same generation as Zechariah, and ministered to the people in order to encourage and educate them on the importance of rebuilding the temple post exile. The people had grown weary from their time in captivity, as well as overwhelmed with the enormous task of rebuilding the great Solomon’s temple. The prophet reminds them of the Lord’s covenant promise which communicates the truth that he is still with them. This temple will stand to play a major role in the coming salvation of the people. Although this new temple will also be destroyed under Roman rule in 70 AD, it serves as a pathway to and a reminder of the ultimate fulfilment of God’s glory and presence which is in Christ Jesus, the temple not made with hands.

(Matthew 24:1-2; Luke 19:41-44; John 2:19-21; Acts 7:47-50, 17:24-25; Colossians 2:9-13)

Zechariah serves the post-exilic generation of Jews who have returned to their homeland. Although a lot is happening concerning the rebuilding of the temple and the city of David, Zechariah focuses his efforts on rebuilding the spiritual health and well-being of the people. The prophet’s message is inclusive of the gentiles due to his overarching view of the Messiah who is to come unto all the nations of the world (14:9). Zechariah spends a good deal of time warning the people about their history of idolatry, because it is with this same spirit of disobedience and spiritual blindness that they will pierce and strike their own shepherd (12:10, 13:7). The prophet urges the people to turn from the ways of their forefathers (1:2-6) and recognize the sovereign power of their God, for the day of the Lord is coming and all wickedness will be purged from the earth. While just punishment for the evil is inevitable, there is always hope in the grace of God through Christ, the Good Shepherd, as a faithful remnant will be saved.

(Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 26:31; John 10:11, 19:37; Romans 9:27-29, 11:5)

Malachi, the last of the minor prophets, rebukes Israel for their lack of upholding their end of the covenant relationship with Yahweh. Over the years God’s people had grown complacent in their spiritual relations and perhaps a sense of entitlement as God’s chosen poisoned their view on the necessity of obedience. It was not perfection that the Lord sought in His people, but the positioning of their hearts. With the words of God, the prophet both warns the wicked and prideful, as well as promises the humble and faithful that the day is coming when the former shall be condemned eternally and the latter will be purified and rewarded. The juxtaposition of mercy and condemnation is used by the prophet to move and motivate people into repentance, which will be recognized outwardly as upholding the commandments of God; ultimately by honouring the Father and loving one another.

(Deuteronomy 6:5-6; Psalm 51:10; Matthew 3:10-12, 5:17, 22:37-40; John 14:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10)