Habakkuk, Day 4

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Habakkuk you might have missed.
 Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.

• If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
• Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Habakkuk on Sunday at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Habakkuk, Day 3 Readings

Prayer for God to Act  

Today's reading is the closing prayer of Habakkuk, asking that God act decisively to protect the chosen people.  There is praise for the glory of God and praise for God's actions to free the people from slavery in Egypt and give them the Promised Land.  (This required God to subdue the Egyptians and defeat the people who lived in the Promised Land.)  As Judah is threatened by the Babylonian army, Habakkuk prays that God come to their defense with overwhelming power.  (As we read elsewhere, God's purposes were otherwise and God allowed the Babylonians to defeat Judah.)

Read Habakkuk 3:1-19  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Habakkuk 3 today.

Habakkuk, Day 2 Readings

The Dangers of Conquest  

Today's reading is a rebuke from God to the actions of the Babylonians.  The list of sins is straightforward -- their wealth comes from the spoils of war; they are arrogant about their military might; they use force (or the threat of force) to gain power over other people; and they believe they owe their victories to their "gods."  God warns them to change their ways and then promises that they will get their just desserts.  Eventually the oppressed people will rise up -- with the blessings and help of God -- and overwhelm the Babylonians.

Read Habakkuk 2:1-20  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Habakkuk 2 today.

Habakkuk, Day 1 Readings

What Does God Think About Babylon?  

Today's reading is the beginning of Habakkuk, a search for God's attitude toward the militaristic culture of the Babylonian empire.  It begins with an indirect prayer, asking for God's attitude toward the unstoppable military advance of the Chaldeans (a tribal name for the Babylonians).  Then it becomes a clear prayer, asking for God's protection and hoping that God will hold the Babylonians to account for their violence.  In fact, they are such a militaristic culture that the Babylonians seem to worship the means of their military power.  (This will lead into tomorrow's reading, where God will promise punishment for idolatry.)

Read Habakkuk 1:1-17  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Habakkuk 1 today.

Habakkuk, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 35 - Habakkuk 

Habakkuk, another of the "minor prophets," prophesied as the Babylonian army approached Jerusalem, threatening to defeat the Jewish people.  The Babylonians are referred to by a tribal name -- the Chaldeans -- in the opening chapter (which can be confusing if you are not an expert on ancient near-East politics and history).

While the Babylonians did not completely decimate those they conquered (unlike the Assyrians who defeated the northern kingdom of Israel), they were still a powerful military empire who used the threat of overwhelming violence to gain easier victories.

Against this threat, Habakkuk offers two straightforward teachings.  First, the Babylonians will eventually reap what they sow -- the culture of violence and overwhelming pride in their military power will eventually unravel (and be defeated by others).  Second, God is a stronger source of protection and strength than the Babylonian army can imagine.

Nahum, Day 4

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Nahum you might have missed.
 Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.

• If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
• Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Nahum on Sunday at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Nahum, Day 3 Readings

Just Desserts for Assyria  

Today's reading promises that Assyria will receive the same treatment from God that it has given to the nations it has conquered.  While some empires moderated treatment of the nations they defeated, the Assyrians were particularly brutal (which is part of the reason why the book of Jonah is likely meant to be a commentary on the chosen people's myopia, rather than Assyria's unexpected reformation).  So no one outside of Assyria will be sad to see them utterly defeated -- which implies that God is fighting not only for Judah, but all of humanity in dealing with Assyria in this harsh manner.

Read Nahum 3:1-19  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Nahum 3 today.