Prophets ofProphets of
the Neo-Babylonian Periodthe Neo-Babylonian Period
© John Stevenson, 2010
Session ObjectivesSession Objectives
•Distinguish the significant items ofbackground information about the bookof Nahum that bear on the meaning ofthe book.•Distinguish the significant items ofbackground information about the bookof Nahum that bear on the meaning ofthe book.
•Examine God’s surprising and troublingmethod for dealing with Habakkuk's(and Israel’s) problem with the evil inIsrael’s society and how that relates tothe world in which we live.•Examine God’s surprising and troublingmethod for dealing with Habakkuk's(and Israel’s) problem with the evil inIsrael’s society and how that relates tothe world in which we live.
Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives
•Explore some of the key themes inJeremiah and Ezekiel.•Explore some of the key themes inJeremiah and Ezekiel.
How didpeople feelwhen theBerlin Wallcamedown?How didpeople feelwhen theBerlin Wallcamedown?
The Prophet of Nineveh’sDestructionThe Prophet of Nineveh’sDestruction
Nahum and Jonah
•Both Nahum and Jonah focus uponAssyria and their capital city of Nineveh.
•Both Nahum and Jonah containprophecies of Nineveh's destruction.
•Both Nahum and Jonah close their bookswith a question.
Nahum 1:1Nahum 1:1
The oracle of Nineveh.
The book of the vision of Nahum theElkoshite.
Nahum 1:2Nahum 1:2
A jealous and avenging God is theLORD;
The LORD is avenging and wrathful.
The LORD takes vengeance on Hisadversaries,
And He reserves wrath for Hisenemies.
Nahum 1:3Nahum 1:3
The LORD is slow to anger and greatin power,
And the LORD will by no means leavethe guilty unpunished.
In whirlwind and storm is His way,
And clouds are the dust beneath Hisfeet.
Nahum means “comfort”Nahum means “comfort”
And it will come about that all who seeyou
Will shrink from you and say,
“Nineveh is devastated!
Who will grieve for her?
Where will I seek comforters for you?”(Nahum 3:7).
~x;n"~x;n"
Nacham Nacham
Lessons from NahumLessons from Nahum
•God is concerned with politicsand political happenings
•God takes it seriously whenanyone hurts His people
•When God shows compassion,He demands that compassion isshown to others.
ThePrayer &Praise ofGod’sProphetThePrayer &Praise ofGod’sProphet
640 630 620 610 600 590 580
Kings of Judah
Josiah
Jehoahaz
Jehoiakim
Jehoiachin
Zedekiah
Jerusalem& TempleDestroyed
Fall of
Nineveh
Zephaniah
Jeremiah
Daniel
Ezekiel
Nahum
Habakkuk
Habakkuk’s PraiseHabakkuk’s Praise
Habakkuk’sProblemHabakkuk’sProblem
1:1
1:12
3:1
Problem #1:Why doesGod allow thewicked?
Answer #1:God will bringjudgment
Problem #2:How can Goduse wicked topunish?
Answer #2:God will alsojudge them
Habakkuk’s PraiseHabakkuk’s Praise
Praise for the…
•Person of God
•Power of God
•Purpose of God
•Because of faithin God
Habakkuk’sProblemHabakkuk’sProblem
1:1
1:12
3:1
Problem #1:Why doesGod allow thewicked?
Answer #1:God will bringjudgment
Problem #2:How can Goduse wicked topunish?
Answer #2:God will alsojudge them
Lessons from Habakkuk’sQuestionsLessons from Habakkuk’sQuestions
•God Balances His Books in His ownTime
Lessons from Habakkuk’sQuestionsLessons from Habakkuk’sQuestions
•God Balances His Books in His ownTime
The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
2 How long, O LORD, will I call for help,2 How long, O LORD, will I call for help,
And You will not hear?And You will not hear?
I cry out to You, "Violence!"I cry out to You, "Violence!"
Yet You do not save. (Habakkuk 1:1-2).Yet You do not save. (Habakkuk 1:1-2).
Lessons from Habakkuk’sQuestionsLessons from Habakkuk’sQuestions
•God Balances His Books in His ownTime
Why do You make me see iniquity,Why do You make me see iniquity,
And cause me to look on wickedness?And cause me to look on wickedness?
Yes, destruction and violence are before me;Strife exists and contention arises.(Habakkuk 1:3).Yes, destruction and violence are before me;Strife exists and contention arises.(Habakkuk 1:3).
Lessons from Habakkuk’sQuestionsLessons from Habakkuk’sQuestions
•God Balances His Books in His ownTime
Therefore the law is ignoredTherefore the law is ignored
And justice is never upheld.And justice is never upheld.
For the wicked surround the righteous;Therefore justice comes out perverted.(Habakkuk 1:4).For the wicked surround the righteous;Therefore justice comes out perverted.(Habakkuk 1:4).
Lessons from Habakkuk’sQuestionsLessons from Habakkuk’sQuestions
•God Balances His Books in His ownTime
Look among the nations!Look among the nations!
Observe! Be astonished! Wonder!Observe! Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in yourdays–Because I am doing something in yourdays–
You would not believe if you were told.(Habakkuk 1:5).You would not believe if you were told.(Habakkuk 1:5).
Lessons from Habakkuk’sQuestionsLessons from Habakkuk’sQuestions
•God Balances His Books in His ownTime
•When God Balances His Books, Hedoes it His own way
Why does God use evil people?
Lessons from Habakkuk’sQuestionsLessons from Habakkuk’sQuestions
•God Balances His Books in His ownTime
•When God Balances His Books, Hedoes it His own way
•God Balances His Books withoutPartiality
Five Woes Proclaimed
Lessons from Habakkuk’sQuestionsLessons from Habakkuk’sQuestions
•God Balances His Books in His ownTime
•When God Balances His Books, Hedoes it His own way
•God Balances His Books withoutPartiality
•God Ultimately Balanced His Booksupon the Cross
What are some unusual and/ortroubling ways God has workedHis will in your own life?What are some unusual and/ortroubling ways God has workedHis will in your own life?
Habakkuk 3:3-5Habakkuk 3:3-5
God comes from Teman,God comes from Teman,
And the Holy One from Mount Paran.Selah.And the Holy One from Mount Paran.Selah.
His splendor covers the heavens,His splendor covers the heavens,
And the earth is full of His praise.And the earth is full of His praise.
4 His radiance is like the sunlight;4 His radiance is like the sunlight;
He has rays flashing from His hand,He has rays flashing from His hand,
And there is the hiding of His power.And there is the hiding of His power.
5 Before Him goes pestilence,5 Before Him goes pestilence,
And plague comes after Him.And plague comes after Him.
Habakkuk 3:13Habakkuk 3:13
Thou didst go forth for the salvation ofThy people,Thou didst go forth for the salvation ofThy people,
For the salvation of Thine anointed.For the salvation of Thine anointed.
Thou didst strike the head of thehouse of the evilThou didst strike the head of thehouse of the evil
To lay him open from thigh to neck.Selah.To lay him open from thigh to neck.Selah.
Habakkuk 3:19
The Lord God is my strength,The Lord God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’feet,And He has made my feet like hinds’feet,
And makes me walk on my highplaces.And makes me walk on my highplaces.
For the choir director, on mystringed instruments.For the choir director, on mystringed instruments.
•Author
•Recipients & their circumstances
•Major messages or themes
•A creative presentation of themessage of this book
Jeremiah/EzekielJeremiah/Ezekiel