Scripture Reference: Zephaniah 3:14-20
There are good days and there are bad days. Zephaniah prophesies about a terrifying Day of the Lord where God will judge his people. And yet, he follows up these dire predictions with some of the most tender, borderline sentimental expressions of affection from God. How can both be true? Only in the resurrection!
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Scripture Reference: Habakkuk 1:12–2:4; 3:17–19
God uses unjust nations to judge injustice, and Habakkuk waits in perplexity. The so called “Problem of Evil” is famously dragged out to justify abandonment of the God of the Bible. But what Habakkuk learn is that the “righteous shall live by faith.” And there, we find a life rooted in hope beyond circumstance.
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Scripture Reference: Jonah 3:10-4:11
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Scripture Reference: Micah 5:2-5a
The persistent rebellion of God’s people leads the prophet Micah to say some sobering things about God’s judgment upon them, even to the point of saying that he will “leave them” for being such. But there’s hope even in exile as we wait for THE Good Shepherd to rescue and lead his people.
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Scripture Reference: Jeremiah 31:31-34
The prophet Jeremiah speaks of the Old Testament covenants as if they failed to produce what God intended. So he foresees Christ instituting a new covenant, sealed in His blood, writing God’s law on our hearts through the Spirit, creating people who want what God wants.
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