Fri.3.27.15 The Sequel to Jonah

Great Sequels

Some movies end demanding a sequel. For example, you can't leave Han Solo frozen in carbonite. There just has to be a sequel!

Plus, you can't let the evil Emperor live on without judgment falling upon him. Deep down in our souls, we long to see such evil villains get what's coming to them. We learned that imprecatory prayers gave voice to that desire to see judgment befall the evil. But we also know we are not to take revenge, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written; "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. Rom.12:19. But "how long O Lord?" That has been the cry of saints throughout the ages that have suffered under evil people. 

Jonah felt that way. He waited outside the city of Nineveh, hoping to see God's wrath fall upon those evil people. It's as if he had picked out a seat in the theater, eager to see an explosive ending to the movie. But he was really ticked off at how it ended well for the wicked and wanted more than his money back. He wanted to die! "That's not how the movie should end! There needs to be a sequel!" Did you know there is a sequel, but Jonah never saw it? It hasn't done very well at the box office. Few have gone to see it, even though it's been out for a long time. It's the sequel to the book of Jonah and it's called Nahum. (Maybe it would have done better with a better title. Feel free to re-title it, since Bible book titles were not inspired by God. The Lord would have given so much better titles than what we're left with- Leviticus? Numbers? Deuteronomy? Really?:) 

If you have a study Bible, it probably gives you some helpful background information on Nahum. We've already discovered previously that learning the historical context of a book is a BIG Bible Interpretation Guideline. 

1. So name one thing that you learned about the book of Nahum from your study Bible or from going to Biblehub.com (To find background info using Biblehub.com, just type in a verse from the the book you want to study, such as Nahum 1:1 and hit enter. Then about an inch under the search bar in the middle, you'll see the word- Strong's. Just under Strong's, you'll see a hard to see icon that looks like a book. Click that Bible Book Summary icon and it will take you to the riches.)

Now read chapter 1 of Nahum. It well summarizes this 3 chapter long book. (If you have time, feel free to read all of it.)  

We've learned before that a good way to get a handle on a passage is to title it. Since Nahum isn't a very captivating title, let's re-name it. If it was a movie, let's give it a catchy title that would also catch the essence of the book. How about "DOOMED!"? Imagine how many more people would read Nahum if they came across it as a book in the Bible called "DOOMED!" (Even boys would want to read it. "Daddy, can I please read DOOMED?  I know it's rated R for excessive violence, but I promise I won't act it out.":)

2.-Write one verse or phrase from Nahum chapter 1 that catches your attention and write it on your MP3 card and share it with us and others. Thanks! Write Did it if you also gave yourself points on  the board. I know, it's a new habit and a few yet need a reminder. While on  the Scoreboard, click the Contacts tab at the bottom and post the names of your two prayer partners. Thanks for not making me look 'em up and fill them in.

Here's another BIG Bible Interpretation Guideline- Bible prophecies often expand in their fulfillment. Think of a cone < of greater fulfillment. The prophecy could have a small fulfillment soon after it was given, but it would have greater fulfillments often much later in history. Take Nahum 1:15 as an example- "Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news"
This immediately referred to a messenger who would bring the good news to the Israelites,who had been oppressed by Nineveh, that it had been destroyed. No more would the wicked invade them. But Paul also picks that verse up and applies it to people who preach the good news. See Rom.10:15. And since we know that Christ is the ultimate hero in Scripture, we can see Nahum 1:15 foreshadowing His coming to bring the good news message to Israel. This prophecy will expand yet further when Christ returns a second time and his feet rest on the Mt of Olives (Zech.14:4). Zechariah 14 describes a future day when Messiah will come back and destroy Israel's enemies and bring peace, not just to Israel, but to the entire world! What an expansion of good news from Nahum's day!

Announcements
It's a beautiful thing to see the way that several of you are proving to be great coaches of encouragement to our Pros. Look over this week's GREAT Scoreboard and see for yourself.  

Our Pros are doing well in becoming Unstoppable in God's word. TYF! (Thank You Father!) So that they don't feel left out from what you're reading on the blog, we will have them join us starting Monday for a mini-series on apologetics called "What Would You Say to That?"-responding to objections people bring against your Christian faith or the call to salvation. (Get your popcorn- you'll get to watch mini-movies as well as dive in to some vital Scriptures. Will the movies be better than seeing Han Solo in carbonite? You'll see:)