Reading Through The Bible - MICAH

Some Books of the bible are very short and some are very long and this one is another quite small book and it only takes 18 mins to read it according to Crossway and their lovely barchart

MICAH  -  OLD TESTAMENT  -  PROPHECY

33rd book of the OT 

33rd book of the Bible

How Does it Start?

It starts right away in the first verse with the declaration that this is the Word of the Lord.  

It then sets the time frame by naming the ruling kings of the period and specifies Micah as the prophet this Word is given through.

 

"The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem."

What is it?

The Book of MICAH is one of the MINOR PROPHETS in the Old Testament which means it is a book of Prophecy.

How Long is it?

It has 7 chapters.

No other single book of the bible has 7 chapters but if you combine the 3 letters of John you would have a section with 7 chapters.

When was it Written?

It was written between 735 & 710 BC

Who Wrote it?

The prophet Micah who came from Moresheth also known as Moresheth-Gath which was a town of the tribe of Judah in ancient Israel.

 

Who was it Written to?

It was written to the people of Samaria & Israel as stated in verse 1

 

"The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem."

 

Why was it Written? 

It was written to express to the Israelites how they were not living righteously and to remind them that God had told them the right way to live with respect to God and others.

But it was also to tell them of the great blessing Bethlehem would be in the future as the birthplace of the Messiah in chapter 5 v 2

"“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”"

The Overview Bible  tells us the following

"Micah confronts the leaders of Israel and Judah regarding their injustice, and prophecies that one day the Lord himself will rule in perfect justice."  

Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

"Micah prophesied during the tragic and historic years surrounding the Assyrian invasion of the Northern Kingdom.  Micah predicted the event in Micah 1 v 6 and it came to pass between 10 and 15 years later in 722 BC"  

"Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the field,
Places for planting a vineyard;
I will pour down her stones into the valley,
And I will uncover her foundations."

What is it normally well-known for?

This book is about justice and injustice and personally I feel that wonderful verse in chapter 6 sums it all up as to how a Christian should live.

• Act Justly to others
• Be Merciful to others
• Walk Humbly with God

However God also states throughout this book that He will

• Rule Justly 
• Show Mercy
• Lead the people in His ways

How does it end?

With Israel's confession of sin 

and 

the forgiveness of God

in chapter 7 v 18-19.

"Who is a God like You,
Pardoning iniquity
And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities."

which finishes with those reassuring words 

"You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea."

 

The Overview Bible  gives us this

Quick outline of Micah

1. Israel’s injustice (Mic 1–3)
2. The Lord’s promise to rule Israel with justice (Mic 4–5)
3. The Lord’s expectations and judgment (Mic 6)
4. The Lord’s compassion and everlasting love (Mic 7)

Other Minor Prophets are 

Habakkuk

Haggai

Joel 

Jonah

Malachi

Nahum

Obadiah

Zephaniah

OTHER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE ADDED REGULARLY AND AN UPDATED LIST CAN BE FOUND AT OUR READING THE BIBLE PAGE 

Reading Through the Bible - LAMENTATIONS

Some Books of the bible are very short and some are very long but this one is one of the shortest.

It is also one of the most "not read" books which may be attributed to its title.

LAMENTATIONS  -  OLD TESTAMENT  -   PROPHECY

25th book of the OT 

25th book of the Bible

What is it?

The Book of LAMENTATIONS is counted as one of the books of  Prophecy in the Old Testament.

Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

"Lamentations is not so much prophecy as it is a lament over what had become of Jerusalem after the invasion and how it all could have been avoided"

The Overview Bible  tells us the following

"A collection of dirges lamenting the fall of Jerusalem after the Babylonian attacks."

How Long is it?

It has 5 chapters but some of them are quite long by Word Count.

When was it Written?

It is thought to have been written in 585 BC. due to the fact that the invasion and exile was in 586 BC.

Who Wrote it?

The Prophet Jeremiah

How does it start?

It starts with despair and sadness in Chapter 1 v 1

"How lonely sits the city

That was full of people!

How like a widow is she,

Who was great among the nations!

The princess among the provinces

Has become a slave!"

but it does not dwell here and chapter 3 shines through with some of the great qualities of God 

with God's love and mercy in verses 22-23

  

and God's goodness in verses 25-26

and God's comfort in verses 25-26

but also with good advice from Jeremiah in verses 40 - 41

Who was it Written to?

This is a hard question to answer as it is Jeremiah lamenting as he walked through the streets after the invasion and exile so we cannot say it was spoken or written directly to specific people but more as a warning in general for everyone about disobeying God. 

Why was it Written? 

It was written because Jeremiah was so disappointed  that the people had not walked as God wanted and this had led to the invasion and exile to Babylon.

The Overview Bible  tells us the following

"The people had rejected their God and His prophets. Before they ever entered the promised land, Israel was given a choice: remain loyal to God and enjoy His blessings and prosperity, or worship other gods and be exiled from their land (that’s from Deuteronomy). Israel followed other gods, showed injustice to the poor, and ignored God’s laws."

Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

"While not considered a story the book is a very visual and spiritual look at the horror that had become of Judah just after the Babylonian invasion and exile."

What is unusual about Lamentations compared to other books of Prophecy?

Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

"It is the only book of prophecy that looks more backwards than forwards."

How does it end?

It ends with a prayer to God in chapter 5 which ends with some hope in verses 19 - 22

"Why do You forget us forever,

And forsake us for so long a time?

Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be [b]restored;
Renew our days as of old,

Unless You have utterly rejected us,
And are very angry with us!"

Quick outline of Lamentations

The Overview Bible  tells us the following

1. Jerusalem: punished and in pain (1)
2. The Lord’s anger on Jerusalem (2)
3. The individual’s distress turns to hope (3)
4. The siege of Jerusalem (4)
5. A plea for God’s mercy (5)

OTHER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE ADDED REGULARLY AND AN UPDATED LIST CAN BE FOUND AT OUR READING THE BIBLE PAGE 

Reading Through the Bible - JAMES

Some Books of the bible are very short and some are very long but this one is one of the shortest.

JAMES  -  NEW TESTAMENT  -  EPISTLE

20th book of the NT 

59th book of the Bible

What is it?

The Book of JAMES is one of the Epistles in the New Testament which means it is a letter.

Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

"Known as the Proverbs of the New Testament"

 

Who Wrote it?

James the brother of Jesus

Notice that James is not prideful of being the brother of Jesus but speaks humbly as a servant of Jesus in chapter 1 verse 1

 "James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,"

Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

"James was not a follower of Jesus during the Saviour's time on earth.  He finally became a believer upon seeing Jesus alive and well after the crucifixion.  He became one of the leaders of the Church at Jerusalem."

Who was it Written to?

It was written to the Christians who were now living in various countries as we see in chapter 1 verse 1

 "James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings." 

How does it start?

It starts with instruction about attitude to trials which these Christians were going through in 

chapter 1 verse 2

and then on to advice about asking God for wisdom in

chapter 1 verses 5-6

Immediately James is instructing the Christians everywhere to be joyful & seek wisdom from God in all situations and believe God will answer so obviously this must be important for all of us now too.

How Long is it?

It has 5 chapters.

When was it Written?

It is generally thought to have been written between 67 & 69 AD

Why was it Written? 

It was written to instruct and encourage believers as to what true faith is. 

Obedience, truth & action are important.

The Overview Bible  tells us the following

"A letter telling Christians to live in ways that demonstrate their faith in action."

This can be clearly seen in 

chapter 1 v 19

and

chapter 1 v 22

What link is noted here with the Old Testament?

The Book of James is very supportive of the Biblical law.

How does it end?

by imploring them to be

 patient 

in 

chapter 5 v 8

and how to react in certain situations

in

Chapter 5 v 13

and a final message of how to help others who are 

drifting from the truth

Quick outline of James

The Overview Bible  tells us the following

1. Trials and temptation (1:1–20)
2. True religion (1:21–27)
3. Favouritism and judgment (2:1–13)
4. Faith and works (2:14–26)
5. Teachers and the tongue (3)
6. Submission to God (4:1–5:6)
7. Strength and anticipation (5:7–20)

OTHER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE ADDED REGULARLY AND AN UPDATED LIST CAN BE FOUND AT OUR READING THE BIBLE PAGE