BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS

The Hellenistic Period

366 thru 165 BC

 

            When the Persian Empire fell to Alexander the Great, it effectively ended the great Eastern empires.  The Greek Empire of the West came to completely dominate the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. The Greek Empire became the largest the world had ever seen up to that point in history. It even extended into western India. 

            Although Alexander the Great died young under suspicious circumstances, his empire continued, ruled by his generals, who were part of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. * Four generals, Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy, split the empire into 4 sections; Syria, Egypt, Babylonian, and Macedonia. 

Politically, not much changed for Israel under Greek and Ptolemaic rule.  They continued to live and worship under the authority of a distant and foreign ruler, much as they had for generations. Culturally, they became more influenced by the Greek (Hellenistic) culture. 

            The Ptolemaic dynasty carried out Alexander’s strategy of uniting diverse peoples around one common culture. The generals promoted the Greek language and thought by any means necessary. In addition, they forced the Jews to resettle in Alexandria. Jews, both home and abroad, did their best to resist the Greek religion, but they found it impossible to avoid every aspect of the Hellenistic influence. They soon began to speak Greek, which was the trade language of the empire. It was at this time in history that Jewish scholars translated the Old Testament into Greek, which was called the Septuagint. This Greek translation became widely used by the Jews pretty much everywhere. Jesus himself quoted from the Septuagint, as did many New Testament authors.

            In 198 BC, the Syrian section of the empire overthrew the Egyptian section. For the first time Israel faced a tyrannical leader in Antiochus Epiphanes, who tried to eliminate Judaism altogether. The ruler desecrated the Temple, disallowed sacrifices to Yahweh, outlawed circumcision, forced Jews to eat pork, and cancelled all Sabbaths and feast days.

There were some Jews who attempted to cooperate with Antiochus’ demands; others resisted.  These two groups were known as the Hellenists and the Hasidim (‘pious ones’), who were the forerunners of the Pharisees. There was also a group loyal to the Jewish High Priest; they were the precursors of the Sadducees.

            These events resulted in a conflict in Israel which reached a boiling point when an elderly priest named Mattathias refused to offer a required pagan sacrifice. Mattathias killed a Syrian officer and reprobate Jew, fled to the hills, and called faithful Jews everywhere to join him in a rebellion. During the ensuing guerrilla war, Mattathias’ son, Judas Maccabeus, eventually overcame the Syrians and achieved independence for Israel. This happened to be the final time Israel lived under self-rule until the emergence of the modern state of Israel in 1948.

            Next we will look at the Maccabean Period. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name and for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

RESOURCE: The MacArthur Bible Commentary, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005; The Life Application Study Bible; pp.1980-1981.

* The Ptolemaic Dynasty was a Macedonian royal family that ruled Ptolemaic Egypt from 323 to 30 BCE. It was founded by Ptolemy I, a general and successor of Alexander the Great. They built Alexandria, including the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Great Library of Alexandria. The dynasty ended when Rome conquered Egypt in the reign of Cleopatra VII.

BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS

THE PERSIAN PERIOD

539 thru 336 BC

 

            The first year of his reign, Cyrus, the king of Persia, after they had defeated Babylon, freed the Israelites from their captivity, and encouraged them to return to their homeland (Ezra 1). King Darius, Cyrus’ successor, continued his country’s pro-Israel policy. He even threatened to have killed anyone who in any way hindered the Jews from rebuilding their Temple and resettling in their land (Ezra 6). It was at that time that Israel lived in relative peace.

            During this time they developed new religious practices. While in Persia, synagogues sprang up throughout the empire. It was there that the Jews worshipped. Once back in their own country they continued this practice, even after the Temple was completely rebuilt. Priests still performed the required sacrifices in the Temple, while the time spent in the synagogues was dedicated to the study of the Law. When people had questions, instead of going to the priests for answers as had been their custom, they now went to the Scribes, who were the keepers, and teachers of the Law.

            It was also at this time that a religious conflict arose between the Samaritans and the Israelites. Descendants of Israelites who were left behind during the Babylonian exile, Samaritans intermarried with the Babylonians, Syrians, and others. This resulted in a corrupted religion that incorporated elements of pagan worship in their worship of the God of Israel. At the time the Jews were rebuilding their Temple in the Southern Kingdom, the Samaritans built a rival temple in the Northern Kingdom. This caused both religious and ethnic tension between the two groups, which lasted quite a long time. This made it all the more amazing when Jesus took the time to actually speak to the adulterous Samaritan woman (John 4). The Jews considered the Samaritans not to be true Jews, but instead, half-breeds, with which they wished no fellowship. A Jew would actually walk around Samaria instead of walking thru it, so much was their hate for these former countrymen.

            Tomorrow we look at the Hellenistic Period. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The MacArthur Bible Commentary.

                  

BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS

            The world in which Jesus travelled bore little resemblance to the one we saw depicted in Malachi (the last book of the OT). The enemy nations of Israel, namely Babylon, Assyria, and Persia, were no longer the dominant powers in that region. It was at this time that the Roman Empire rose into a powerful juggernaut*. Its boundaries extended from the Mediterranean Sea to North Africa and even spread into parts of Europe. The ruler of Rome was a cruel, self-serving king by the name of Herod. It was he who was placed in charge of the Jews to keep things orderly and quiet.

            As the OT reveals to us, the split kingdom of Israel had been taken over by enemy nations. The Northern Kingdom was controlled by Assyria and the Southern Kingdom by Babylon. Jehovah God allowed all this to take place as the consequence of Israel’s sin and refusal to remain faithful to God. The prophets had warned Israel repeatedly, but they declined to be moved by these warnings. 

            In Malachi we see that the Israelites had just recently returned to Judah, the capital city of the Southern Kingdom, from Babylonian captivity. The first thing they intended to do was rebuilt the Temple, which was their center of worship. The priests and prophets, who had been the community leaders since ancient times, sought to repopulate the land, drive out their enemies, and learn all over again how to worship God in the way He desired to be worshipped; with a sincere heart and dogged determination.

            In Matthew, the Jews were settled in and felt secure under the “Pax Romana”, the peace of Rome. They no longer worshipped only in the Temple, but in one of the dozens of synagogues that had sprung up throughout the country’s towns and villages. The priests were no longer the only ones people sought leadership from. There were now a new array of religious authorities as well, such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the scribes (who were the teachers of the law). All of these authorities sat on a governing body called the “high council” or Sanhedrin, which functioned somewhat like a religious Supreme Court.

            During the period between the testaments, the most noticeable thing was the lack of prophets. That is why some refer to this period of time as “The Silent Years”. For more than 400 years the heavens seemed closed to Israel, as they heard absolutely nothing from God during those years. Nothing but silence.

            Everything changed on an ordinary night in the tiny village of Bethlehem.  During those 400 years between the testaments, years of war, upheaval, flawed heroes and unfulfilled hopes, God was setting the stage for the final era of what would be known as ‘salvation’ history, the Age of Grace; an era of Good News for both Jews and Gentiles.

            Over the next few days I will cover the 4 periods that existed during those 400 years of silence. The Persian Period ^{(539 thru 336 B.C.)}, the Hellenistic Period ^{(336 thru 165 B.C.)}, the Maccabean Period ^{(165 thru 63 B.C.)}, and the Roman Period ^{(63 B.C thru 135 A.D.)}. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name and for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; pp. 1979-1982
* An unstoppable force; something enormous in size and/or power. [American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011).]

The Prophet Malachi

             Malachi was the last written prophet and the final prophet before the 400-year gap till the coming of the Messiah. His name means “my messenger”. Jewish tradition identifies Malachi as a member of the Great Synagogue that collected & preserved the Scriptures.  This book was written in roughly 430 BC, nearly a century after Haggai & Zechariah. Since Malachi’s words were the last prophecy that would be uttered for those 400 years, the condemnation of the sins of Israel would ring in their ears for all that time. The next prophetic voice would be that of John the Baptist, whose word from God was revealed in Matthew 3:2; “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” It was at that time in Israel’s history that both Abrahamic & Davidic promises from God would be fulfilled. The Messiah had come.

            Getting back to the content in Malachi, repairing a relationship with God is infinitely easier than dealing with men because of the Lord’s mercy, grace, and unconditional love for His creation. As you have seen throughout this series of devotionals on the Minor Prophets, the Jewish people have had a rollercoaster existence with their God. Warnings regarding their disobedience seemed to be continual. Sometimes they repented, other times they didn’t listen and suffered the loving judgment from a Heavenly Father that sought their undying devotion. This book is yet another warning to the people of Jerusalem, capital of Judah, regarding their sins and broken relationship with God.

            Malachi’s words reminded the Jews of their willful disobedience. In other words, they knew what to do, yet did the opposite anyway. Their broken relationship with their God was due to the following sins: 1- Showing contempt for God’s name (Mal 1:6); offering defiled sacrifices (Mal 1:7-14); leading others into sin (Mal 2:7-9); breaking God’s laws (Mal 2:11-16); calling evil ‘good’ (Mal 2:17); keeping God’s tithes and offerings for themselves (Mal 3:8-9); and being arrogant. With God nothing is beyond repair. Grace is undeserved favor. God chooses to administer grace and mercy because he knows his creature came from dust and to dust will return.

            The Prophet shares a promise from God that tells of the coming of the prophet Elijah, who will offer God’s forgiveness to all people thru repentance and faith (Mal 4:5-6). The prophet Elijah was the greatest prophet who ever lived, yet it was not Elijah raised from the dead, but rather Elijah in the form of John the Baptist who would announce the Messiah’s coming. 

            In the final (4^th) chapter, Malachi gives us all some practical guidelines regarding our commitment to God. The Lord deserves our absolute best each day; we must be willing to change our wrong ways of living; we need to make our family a lifelong priority; we should be sensitive to God’s refining process in our life; we should tithe our income and leave no room in our hearts for pride. 

            This ends our study of the 12 minor prophets of the OT. Next we shall do a short study on the period BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS.  Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; The MacArthur Bible Commentary, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005, p.1077.

The Prophet Zechariah

            Zechariah was a priest (Nehemiah12:12-16), like Jeremiah & Ezekiel. According to tradition, he was a member of the Great Synagogue, which was a council of 120 godly men. This council was started by Nehemiah and was supervised by Ezra. This council was the beginnings of the ruling elders called the Sanhedrin. Zechariah was born in Babylon during Israel’s exile and along with his grandfather was one of the first to return to Jerusalem under Persian King Cyrus. Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai & began prophesying 2 months after him. Although the length of his ministry is uncertain, his final dated prophecy came roughly 2 years after the first. This would make them identical in time with Haggai’s prophecy (520-518 BC). According to Matthew 23:35, Zechariah was murdered between the Temple & the altar.

            The purpose of the Prophet Zechariah’s message was to encourage the people of Judah as they completed the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and give them hope by revealing God’s future plans regarding the coming of their Messiah.  The prophet encouraged them to put away all sinfulness and remain pure until their Messiah comes. They were cautioned to avoid hypocrisy, shallowness and sin in general.

            Zechariah made sure the people understood that the Messiah was not coming upon the completion of the Temple. As it turned out Messiah wouldn’t come for another 520 years. This is exactly why followers of Christ must have patience. God’s timetable often does not line up with ours, yet he is never late. Knowing the beginning from the end and everything in between is the reason why. While it can be difficult for man to accept that the Lord knows what is best for them at all times, it is a learned trait that must be cultivated. It’s simple really…God knows and we do not.

            God was not at all pleased when his people ignored his prophets. Disobedience has always been the Jewish peoples problem back then.  It was the root cause of all their misery thru the years.  In spite of that, God was merciful and forgave when forgiveness was sought. Just as Jesus told his disciples to forgive others 7 x 70 times (which was symbolic for always forgiving others), God will forgive us an infinite amount of times as long as our heart is sorrowful and we have every intention of turning from our bad behavior. This was encouraging news for those inhabitants of Judah then and it should be encouraging news for us now. Imitate Christ and be free from sin. Recognize your place in his world and follow the Lord daily with a servant’s heart. 

Our 12^th & final minor prophet is Malachi, whom we shall look at next. That will complete our study of the 12 Minor Prophets of the OT. Until then, walk with the king and be a blessing! 

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; The MacArthur Bible Commentary, Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2005; p.1049.

The Prophet Haggai

                 The name Haggai means “festal one”, suggesting that he was born on a feast day. It is the 2^nd shortest book in the OT and is quoted only once in the NT in Hebrews 12:26. All the Minor Prophets up to this point had been sent by God to issue a warning of impending judgment due to sinful behavior. Haggai was commissioned to give a message to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah and Jeshua, the son of the High Priest to finish what they had started. The backstory is that in 586 BC the people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon and the Babylonian armies completely destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.  

The Jews were under the rule of Babylon until they were overtaken, and their empire destroyed by Persia. Persia king, Cyrus, a pagan, was moved upon by God and decided to allow the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem. This took place in 538 BC.  King Cyrus told the Jews to return to their own land and rebuild Jerusalem. The people, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, began the rebuilding process of the Temple in the year 536 BC. 

Israel’s enemies came to Zerubbabel asking to partake in the reconstruction of the Temple but were turned down. This refusal didn’t sit well with their enemies which resulted in much opposition.  Their opposition was so great that it made continuation of the work impossible. The rebuilding was resumed in 521 BC. Despite continued harassment by their neighbors, the Judeans persevered in the work.

            In the process of the rebuild, the people had begun to sin against God again so Haggai reminded them that God must always be their first priority.  This stands true for us today as well. If the Lord is first in your life he will be with you to lead and guide, to strengthen and encourage by His Holy Spirit within you. But if you do as you please placing yourself and your own needs as your first priority the Lord will not be with you.  To illustrate, having the Lord as your first priority is like walking into a pitch black room with a flashlight. Placing yourself and your own concerns first is like walking into a pitch black room with no light at all to show the way.

            The Jews finished the Temple but those who remembered the majesty of Solomon’s Temple, destroyed just 66 years earlier were disappointed with the new Temples inferior appearance. Haggai encouraged the people that the glory of this temple would far surpass that of the one which preceded it. The most important element of the new Temple was the presence of the Lord. Is the presence of the Lord real to you? Is he the top priority of your life? He needs to be, for if he is he will be with you and guide you thru this tangled web of a life. 

            Next we will take a look at the prophet Zechariah. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/second-temple/; https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/who-was-cyrus-in-the-bible.html

The Prophet Zephaniah

           There is little known about Zephaniah. His genealogy goes back four (4) generations to King Hezekiah; therefore, he is the lone prophet that descended from royal blood.  He prophesied during the reign of King Josiah (640-609 BC). His prophecies regarding the moral and spiritual conditions in Israel seem to place the time prior to King Josiah’s reforms, when the people were still practicing idolatry and wickedness. 

Zephaniah most likely prophesied from the years 635-625 BC. It is also known that he was a contemporary of Jeremiah and a predecessor of Habakkuk.  Like Habakkuk before him, Zephaniah was sent to Judah to warn them of their sins. In their prosperity they had forsaken the Lord.  Even today it is a great temptation to shrug off ones need for God once one is financially set. That is unfortunate, because we need the Lord everyday, all the time to endure this life into eternity. Complacency is a terrible enemy of faith and Zephaniah was warning the people of Judah that if they refused to repent of their sins the entire nation, including the great city of Jerusalem, would be destroyed. Sin, if unchecked, will grow in depth and breadth like a wind blown fire, raging out of control. But know this, those who sin will pay the price for their continued insolent behavior.

            Chapter 1, verse 1 thru chapter 3, verse 8 speaks of God’s day of judgment. The final 12 verses of the book (3:9-20) speak of a day of hope. Read the language used to describe the judgment coming against Judah. “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” says the Lord. “I will sweep away people and animals alike. I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish in the sea. I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble, and I will wipe humanity from the face of the earth,” says the Lord. It is very clear that God’s anger burns against sin. It is something we must avoid. Our goal isn’t perfection; it’s our attempt at perfection in spite of continued failures.

            “A day will come when God, as judge, will severely punish all nations. But after judgment, he will show mercy to all who have been faithful to him. We will all be judged for our disobedience to God; but if we remain faithful to him, he will show us mercy.” * 

Next we shall take a look at Haggai. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

* Note from p.1933 in the book of Zephaniah.               

The Prophet Habakkuk

            This is a book of questions and answers. Habakkuk, who was commissioned to serve as a prophet for the Lord from 612-589 BC, asked God questions to try to understand why the evil and gross injustice continued to thrive in the world around him. The righteous seem outnumbered as those who do evil thrive. When will it all end, asks Habakkuk.  His questions reveal great sensitivity and show that he has profound religious conviction and social awareness.

            The Lord’s first reply to the prophet involved his causing Babylon to rise up to great power. They were a cruel and evil lot that completely destroyed anything that was in their way. Judah’s last four kings at that time were wicked men who did not fear God. The Lord used Babylon to punish Judah for their wicked ways by having Babylon invade them twice before destroying them completely in 586 BC.

            God replies to Habakkuk’s queries by saying to be patient for the evil in the world shall not go unpunished. The prophet couldn’t understand why the Lord did nothing about the wickedness in society right then. The thing Habakkuk came to understand from God’s replies was simply this: Instead of questioning what the Lord is doing, we must come to the realization that God is totally just and have the faith to trust and believe he is in complete control. Understanding that it isn’t a large leap to accept that one-day evil itself and those who do evil will be utterly destroyed. It will happen at God’s appointed time. 

            Delays in receiving answers to our prayers aren’t always God saying NO, but perhaps not yet instead. We must never take matters into our own hands, but instead rely on the fact that God is never wrong and never late. Question God all you want, but be sure to stay spiritually tuned in to hear his answers. 

            Next we will take a look at Zephaniah. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

The Prophet Nahum

            A prophet of Judah, Nahum’s name means “comforter” or “consoler”. Nahum was the “unknown” prophet that prophesied a warning for the 2^nd time to Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. After repentance following Jonah’s reluctant missionary journey to warn the Ninevites of impending doom for their many sins (between 785-760 BC), they had fallen back into immoral behavior once again. 

            The city was now called a “city of murder” (3:1). They were a cruel people, judged for their pride, idolatry, lies, treachery and social injustice. Nahum predicted this great and powerful nation of Assyria would be utterly destroyed because of its sins. The end came within 50 years of Nahum’s proclamation. The statement that illustrates the Lord’s infinite power and might is found in verse 9 where the prophet says: “(The Lord) will destroy you with one blow; he won’t need to strike twice!”

            With Jonah, some 100 years before, they heard God’s message of judgment and repented in sackcloth and ashes. This time around the Ninevites ignored the warning and continued on as if no judgment would be coming. They relied on alliances with other nations and military power, not realizing that no power on this earth can protect them from God’s fiery judgment. It comes with such force that it cannot be stopped.

            This book presents a clear message to all mankind … “Anyone who remains arrogant and resists God’s authority will face his anger.” We must remember that God alone can truly rescue us from fear and oppression. It is the Lord in whom we must place our confidence because he alone rules all of history, all the earth and all of our lives. *

            Up next is the book of Habakkuk. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible. 

* Notes on P.1915 of the Life Application Study Bible.

The Prophet Micah

           Micah was a native of a town called Moresheth, which was 25 miles SW of Jerusalem, on the border of Judah and Philistia, near Gath. Micah is the shortened form of Micaiah which means “Who is like the Lord?”. He was commissioned by God to prophesy to both the Northern & Southern during the years 750 thru 686 BC.      

The book of Micah speaks of God’s wrath and his love. God was angry at both the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. His anger burned against Israel, for their rebellious spirit and Judah, for their multitude of sins. Micah lists the sins: fraud, theft, greed, extreme indulgences, oppression, hypocrisy, heresy, injustice, extortion, lying, murder and other offenses. God’s patience was being tested. His judgment will more specifically include the false prophets, dishonest leaders and selfish priests in both Israel and Judah. When the people mixed their own selfish motives into their religion the result was an empty display of religiosity thus perverting true faith.   

            The thing that we today seem to lose sight of, just as the Jews back then, is that God hates all sin. Sin in its simplest form is disobedience to the standard of God. His hatred burns against it with an all-consuming fire that destroys. If you doubt the reality of his hatred for sin look at what happened to Nineveh in 612 BC. The Babylonians and the Medes completely leveled the city so that it exists no more. God arranged that as judgment for their falling back into sin. 

            Micah speaks in chapter 4 of the Lord’s future reign. At this time according to Micah 4:4, “Everyone will live in peace and prosperity …”.  This is speaking of the Millennial Reign of Jesus on the earth. The Lord promises 1000 years of peace and prosperity. He also promises judgment and punishment for those who will not follow him. Both are certainties that shall transpire at their appointed times. 

            Some simply cannot believe in a God who would wipe out all who do not obey him. They see him as tyrannical … a dictator of sorts; a ‘do what I say or die’ type of ruler. There’s a little more that goes into it then that. God set up standards that were universally fair and just. Man, in their ignorance and arrogance, felt he knew better than the God who created them and he still does today. Man wants to be autonomous, relying on no one but him or herself. It’s a faith issue. Facts and associated proof are not forthcoming for that negates the need for faith. We may consider all the warnings of the Minor Prophets to Israel and Judah to apply to us today as well. “God wants us to change our present behavior because of what we know about the future. Forever begins now; and a glimpse of God’s plan for his followers should motivate us to serve him, no matter what the rest of the world may do.”  ^[1]

                  Next we will take a look at the prophet Nahum. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; The MacArthur Bible Commentary.

^[1] Taken from the note for Micah 4:12 from p.1905 of The Life Application Study Bible.

The Prophet Jonah (Part Two)

            Have you ever been angry with the Lord? Well Jonah was very angry when he saw the immoral, evil people of Nineveh led by their King repenting before the Lord God in sackcloth and ashes. This redemptive event upset Jonah greatly. In chapter 4 Jonah complains to God that he knew he was filled with unfailing love, mercy and compassion. Jonah knew God wishes for all to become saved from his wrath. Since he saw with his own eyes the miracle of redemption from all 120,000 of the inhabitants of this evil city in Assyria, Jonah told his God he would rather be dead. 

            This is a wonderful example not only of God’s compassion and mercy on display to a non-Jewish people in the Ninevites, but also the patience and mercy he shows his Prophet Jonah. Jonah messed up, relented, fulfilled God’s mission but was angry at having to do it. God asks Jonah if he has the right to be angry. Jonah didn’t reply. Jonah then made himself a shelter by the edge of the city and waited to see what would happen. The Lord caused a leafy plant to grow there with the purpose of providing shade from the hot sun. Jonah was grateful for the shade. Then God sent a worm to eat thru the stem of the plant, thus causing it to whither. The sun grew hot and God arranged a strong east wind to blow. It must have seemed to Jonah as if he were in an oven.  He grew faint and wanted to die. God asked Jonah if he was right to be angry because the plant died. Jonah said ‘yes’, then the Lord wanted to know what the difference was between the people of Nineveh and the plant. Jonah did nothing to put the plant there, God did. It came quickly and then died just as quickly. The book ends with God asking the question that Nineveh had 120,000 spiritually dead people. Shouldn’t Jonah feel sorrow for such a great city?

            The message we should take from this is that we are to show mercy toward the unsaved and pray for their salvation, regardless of who they are or what they’ve done to you or to society in general. All have a right to taste God’s mercy, no matter what we may think.  The Jews didn’t want to share their God with anyone outside of their own country, even though that was the mission God had placed upon them from the beginning. The one thing they had forgotten and we also may have lost sight of, is that no one deserves to be forgiven. I don’t, you don’t and the Israelites back in Bible times didn’t either. It is by God’s incredible grace and mercy, with a strong dose of patience, that we are allowed to live and not be destroyed. God judges, we are his conduits of mercy.

Next we will take a look at the Prophet Micah. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

The Prophet Jonah (Part One)

           Jonah, was the son of Amittai (əˈmɪt.aɪ). The events depicted in the book of Jonah took place in approximately 785-760 BC. “According to 2 Kings 14:25, Jonah came from Gath-hepher near Nazareth. The context places him during the long and prosperous reign of Jeroboam II (793-753 BC), making him a prophet to the northern tribes just prior to Amos during the first half of the 8^th century (760 BC). The Pharisees were incorrect when they said, “No prophet has arisen out of Galilee (John 7:52), because Jonah was a Galilean.” ^[1]

The city of Nineveh, where God asked Jonah to go, was located at a northern most point of what is called “The Fertile Crescent” within the borders of the Assyrian Empire. In existence for approximately 3000 years, Nineveh had been known for its decadent behavior, thus earning the name ‘The Evil City’. God commissioned Jonah, a Jew, to “get up and go to the great city of Nineveh.” He was to preach the message of repentance to them. Jonah found this mission to be distasteful. He knew of their evil ways and frankly didn’t want to see them repent. He wanted them to be punished for their behavior. So Jonah went in the opposite direction from Nineveh securing passage on a ship leaving for Tarshish. 

This book is a lesson in the mercy and patience the Lord has with his children. Knowing full well what Jonah’s thoughts were and where he was going God caused a violent storm to rise up and toss the ship he was on. The fearful crew on the ship prayed to their gods to no avail. Knowing his running from God was the cause of this fearsome storm he told the captain of the ship to toss him overboard and the sea would become calm again. They tried to avoid doing this until it became apparent that was the only way the crew would be saved.

            Now God arranged for a great fish* to swallow Jonah; he was inside the fish for 3 days and 3 nights.” ** On the Lord’s orders the fish to spit Jonah onto a beach. A 2^nd time God spoke to Jonah saying, “go to Nineveh and deliver the message I have given you.” This time Jonah obeyed and the king of Nineveh repented along with the entire city.  There is a sad end to the story in that the revival lasted until shortly after 600 BC, when the Ninevites returned to their sinful ways. God sent another (unnamed) prophet with a warning of destruction. This time they didn’t listen and in 612 BC Nineveh was completely destroyed.         

More on Jonah tomorrow. Until that time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

[1] The MacArthur Bible Commentary; Thomas Nelson Publishers; p.1006.

* The species of fish is uncertain; the Hebrew word for whale is not used here. The type of fish it was is not important here. Suffice it to say it was a fish big enough to swallow a man whole and have him reside within its belly for 3 days and 3 nights. While the notion of a great fish swallowing Jonah sounds unbelievable, it points out the fact that with God absolutely ANYTHING is possible.

** This event makes Jonah an OT type of Christ. Jonah was 3 days in the belly of a great fish; Jesus was 3 days in the grave. 

 

The Prophet Obadiah

        Obadiah’s name means “servant of the Lord”. The book of Obadiah happens to be the shortest book in the Old Testament ^{[1 Chapter with 21 verses]} and is not quoted in the NT. Very little is known about Obadiah. He was more than likely a contemporary of both Elijah and Elisha. The majority of the book pronounces judgment on the foreign nation of Edom*, making Obadiah one of only three prophets who pronounced judgment primarily on other nations (Nahum and Habakkuk are the others). 

What was Edom’s specific sin against God? They had been found guilty of pride before the Lord (Obadiah 1:3). They had thought themselves greater than they actually were; great enough to mock, steal from, and even harm God’s chosen people. But the Lord will not stand idly by and let His people suffer forever (1:1). Through Obadiah, God reminded Edom of their poor treatment of His people (1:12–14) and promised redemption, not to the Edomites but to the people of Judah (1:17–18). 

Obadiah shows us that when people place themselves in opposition to God’s people, they can expect judgment, rather than restoration, at the end of life. In fact the final 5 verses of the book speak of JUDAH’S restoration, not Edom’s. God, in fact, wiped Edom off the face of the earth never to rise again. They simply disappeared into history, thus remaining one of the prime examples of the truth found in Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” 

Obadiah’s prophecy focuses on the destructive power of pride. It reminds us of the consequences of living in a self-serving manner, of following through on our own feelings and desires without considering their impact on those around us. DO NOT allow yourself to become prideful. This is the opposite of what is required of us. We are to be humble as we serve the Lord. 

            Up next is a two part look at the Prophet Jonah. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-minor-prophets/obadiah; The MacArthur Bible Commentary.

* The Edomites trace their origin to Esau, the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah. His twin was Jacob with whom Esau had been at odds with even in the womb. Esau is the one who tricked his brother Jacob out of his birthright. Esau settled in a region of mostly rugged mountains south of the Dead Sea called Edom, a 40 mile wide area which stretches approximately 100 miles south of the Gulf of Aqabah.

The Prophet Amos

             Amos was from Tekoa, a small town in Judah about 6 miles south of Bethlehem and 11 miles from Jerusalem. His name means “burden-bearer”. The date of this writing is roughly 755 BC. Amos was not a man of the court like Isaiah or a member of a priestly family like Jeremiah and Ezekiel. He earned his living as originally as a simple “sheep breeder”. Whether he owned the flocks and fig groves or only worked as a hired hand is not known. His skill with words and the extensive range of his general knowledge of history and the world reveal that he was more than just an ignorant peasant. His home was in Judah, so he was sent to announce God's judgment on the northern kingdom (Israel). He likely mainly ministered at Bethel, Israel's main religious sanctuary, where the upper echelons of the northern kingdom worship            

Amos was a godly man who was active during the period 760-755 BC. During that time period three other prophets were active in delivering God’s message; they were Joel, Isaiah, and Hosea.  He unexpectedly became a prophet during the 8th century BC, specifically around 760 BC. His prophetic calling unfolded during the reigns of Jeroboam II in the northern kingdom of Israel and Uzziah in the southern kingdom of Judah (Amos 1:1).

The purpose for God’s using Amos as His mouthpiece at this time was to pronounce judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The economic blessing that the Lord had bestowed upon them had caused the people to become selfish and materialistic. They had begun to ignore the needs of the poor and less fortunate. Their self-centeredness caused them to become indifferent toward God. The Lord could have turned away from Israel due to their sinful disobedience, but his love for them ran so deep that he instead chose to punish them as a parent would punish a child. This was done as a means to bring the people to repentance. 

            Understanding that sin cannot intermingle with a holy God, Amos spoke out boldly against those who both exploited and ignored those in need. What Amos’ message from God was saying to the people of Israel and for that matter, the believers of today is that believing in God is much more than just ones individual faith. According to this writing all believers are to work against societal injustice and aid those who are less fortunate. Israel’s punishment would be being conquered by Assyria where the rich would be sold into slavery. You see, it matters little to God that you acquire wealth. The real issue is how you got it and what you do with it. Was it ill-gotten gain or accumulated wisely thru honest means. Also, what did you do with your wealth? Did you horde it or disperse it among those in need. Which would be the Godly approach? 

The next prophet we will take a look at is Obadiah. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; https://www.christianity.com/wiki/people/who-is-amos-in-the-bible-prophet-and-shepherd.html; The MacArthur Bible Commentary, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

The Prophet Joel

            We don’t know very much about Joel, just that he was a prophet of God & the son of Pethuel (pēthyo͞oˈəl) ^{(Joel 1:1; Acts 2:16)}.  Since his audience was Judah (Israel’s southern kingdom) there’s a good chance he lived in Jerusalem. Joel delivered a very somber warning to the people of Judah, but finishes by giving them hope. He states that God is the omnipotent judge who is also merciful. God’s desire is to bless everyone who places their trust in him.

            The time period of Joel’s service as God’s prophet was roughly 835-796 BC. During this time period Judah had become prosperous, which led to complacency. They began to take God for granted, turning to self-centeredness, idolatry and sin. Joel’s warning to them was that their lifestyle would inevitably bring about God’s judgment. Joel speaks of a terrible locust plague that will strip the land of all its crops. Desolation will be the end result. This was just another call to repentance for the children of Israel. 

            The message Joel has is for us today too, for many of us call ourselves followers of Christ, yet are spiritually lazy and have lessened the importance of imitating the Lord in our own minds. Joel 2:12-13 says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” That is God’s message to you today. Repent of all that is contrary to God’s word and draw close to him once again.  

            Next time we’ll take a look at the Prophet Amos. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

NOTE: I have begun to post on my official ministry blog site once again. 

Check it out @http://pandevidamin.blogspot.com

The Prophet Hosea

Today begins a look at the 12 Minor Prophets of the Old Testament. We begin with Hosea. I trust you will learn something you didn't already know and enjoy these postings as much as I did writing them. God bless ... 

 

            Here’s what we know about Hosea (hō–zāˈə). He was the son of Beeri (bē-ēˈrī). The name Hosea means “salvation”. The people he spoke his prophesies to were the people of Israel, which was the Northern Kingdom. This book was written in roughly 715 BC and recorded events from the period 753-715 BC. His ministry began during the end of a prosperous time in Israel. The reign of Jeroboam II brought moral decline, in that while the upper class were doing rather well, they were oppressing the poor people of that area, which angered God. Hosea was used by the Lord until a little after the fall of Samaria in 722 BC.

            Little did Hosea realize that God would choose to use his life as a living example of how Israel disregards and disrespects their Lord. Hosea was commanded by God to marry a woman (Gomer) who would be unfaithful to him, causing him much heartache. Hosea’s real life was meant to be an illustration of how easily someone can lose their appreciation for the special relationship they have with God. Christians back then and also today allow compromise to enter into their faith life and that is tantamount to adultery or being unfaithful to the Lord. 

            God was looking for the people from the Northern Kingdom to return to a life of worship as they honored him with their lives. However, they continued on with their evil ways, therefore the Lord makes it clear to them that disaster comes after disobedience mixed with a attitude of ingratitude. 

            Don’t allow yourself to forget God and become disloyal as a result of prosperity that you’ve been blessed with. Don’t let success cause you to dismiss your need for God’s love. 

Next time we will take a look at the Prophet Joel. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

Fruit of the Spirit – Self-Control

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against these things!”

            The last attribute listed as a fruit of the Spirit is “self-control”.  Self-control involves moderation, constraint, and the ability to say ‘no’ to our baser desires and fleshly lusts. All the fruits mentioned over the last few days usher in a change in our character. That is the Holy Spirit’s work in us. We certainly don’t become a believer in Christ on our own and we can’t grow spiritually on our own either. It is in his letter to the Philippians that Paul says, “It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13)  The work of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives is, simply put, every good thing that we do.

            If God were working in our lives one of the proofs would be the ability to control our own thoughts, words and actions. You see, our fallen nature is under the influence of sin.  Romans 6:6 calls this being a “slave to sin”.“Filling a legitimate need through illegitimate means” is one way to define sin.  We are grossly incapable of knowing and choosing what will best meet our needs.

            Self-control leads us to perseverance (2 Peter 1:3-6) as we value the eternal instead of instant gratification. “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.”

This concludes our look at the Fruit of the Spirit.  Starting tomorrow I will begin taking a look at the 12 Minor Prophets from the OT. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: https://www.gotquestions.org/fruit-Holy-Spirit-self-control.html

Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

            The verses above say that the Holy Spirit is at work in believers to be more like Christ, and part of the results of that work is gentleness. Gentleness, also translated “meekness,” doesn’t mean weakness. Rather, it involves humility and thankfulness toward God and polite, restrained behavior toward others. The opposites of gentleness are anger, revenge, and self-elevation. It takes a strong person to be truly gentle; not physically strong, but one who restrains his might, is gracious and humble.

            God wants us to give the Holy Spirit control of our lives, though having a free will we are never forced to do so. If we are relying on our own logic, we have no impulse to submit to God’s leadership. With the wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit, however, we begin to see why we should completely submit to God as Lord of our lives. Human power under human control is a half-broken weapon in the hands of a child. But gentleness places our strength under God’s guidance; therefore, it becomes a powerful tool for God’s kingdom.

            Every person has the power and ability to choose what influences will inform his or her words and actions. Gentleness constrains and channels that power within us. To be gentle is to recognize that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isaiah 55:9).  It is advantageous for us to have a gentle attitude toward God because He is omniscient and we are not. We think God simply doesn’t understand our situation, but God does understand, more than we could possibly know (Psalm 44:21).

            Filled with the Spirit, we will correct others with gentleness instead of arguing in resentment and anger, knowing that their salvation is far more important than our pride. We will forgive readily, because any offense toward us is nothing compared to our offenses against God—offenses He’s already forgiven. John the Baptist was a fiery preacher, yet he exhibited true gentleness when he said in John 3:30, “[Jesus] must become greater; I must become less”. If we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we will be filled with fruit of gentleness. 

            We will conclude our look at the Fruit of the Spirit by taking a look at self-control.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Got Questions.org; https://www.gotquestions.org/fruit-Holy-Spirit-gentleness.html

Fruit of the Spirit - Faithfulness

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

            In the Old Testament, God's faithfulness and covenant love are closely related (Deut. 7:9; Psalm 25:10; 85:10). The most profound example of his faithfulness is the bond between God and the people of the northern kingdom of Israel. In spite of their unfaithfulness, God reminds them that he is betrothed to them in faithfulness (Hosea 2:20).

            The Israelites were expected to respond in faithfulness to God because he had acted faithfully to them through the covenant. David and other godly people chose to walk the faithful way — the way of truth (Psalm 119:30). Just as God is both faithful and loving, those who believe in God need to exhibit faithfulness and steadfast love in their lives (Prov. 3:3).

            In the New Testament, God also acts in faithfulness: He provides for both good and evil people        (Matthew 5:45); he rewards those who do his good will (Matthew 6:4 Matthew 6:6 Matthew 6:18); he provides a way out for believers in the midst of temptation (1 Cor. 10:13); he remains faithful as he fulfills his promises (2 Cor. 1:18-19). Paul reminds us that even when we are faithless God remains faithful because he cannot deny himself (2 Tim. 2:13). John declares that Jesus is the faithful and true witness (Rev. 3:14). God remains faithful to New Testament believers, by fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament.

            Christians, like the Israelites, are to respond to God in faithfulness. Trustworthy servants must prove themselves to be faithful (1 Cor. 4:2). Epaphras and Tychicus are identified as faithful ministers of Christ (Col. 1:7; 4:7). Paul remains faithful to God in spite of tremendous pressures (1 Tim. 1:12). Timothy is to select teachers who will exhibit faithfulness, one of the outstanding characteristics of Christians. The Spirit of God enables Christians to remain faithful to both God and other believers (Gal. 5:22). Faithfulness - it’s what God requires.

            Next we’ll take a look at gentleness. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology – Faithfulness; www.biblestudytools.com

Fruit of the Spirit - Goodness

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

            Good things come from the Spirit’s indwelling in our lives. As the Holy Spirit does his work our character changes. Where we were once selfish, cruel, rebellious, and spiteful, we now begin to exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  All the fruit of the Spirit reflect the character of God.   Goodness is one that relates directly to morality.

            Goodness is virtue and holiness in action. It is a life characterized by the motivation to be righteous and desire to be a blessing. It’s the moral characteristic of a Spirit-filled person. In Greek the word translated “goodness,” is defined as "uprightness of heart and life." It is goodness for the benefit of others, not goodness simply for the sake of being virtuous.

            Someone with goodness will selflessly act on behalf of others. Confronting someone about a sin demonstrates goodness. So do giving to the poor, providing for one’s children, visiting the sick, volunteering to clean up after a storm, and praying for an enemy. Expressions of goodness are as varied as the Spirit is creative.

            Goodness is not a quality we can manufacture on our own. James 1:17 says, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." This certainly includes a life characterized by goodness. In letting the Holy Spirit control us, we are blessed with the fruit of goodness. As others see our good works, they will praise our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). 

            Next we’ll take a look at faithfulness.  Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: https://www.gotquestions.org/fruit-Holy-Spirit-goodness.html