The Message of Joel, Micah & Habakkuk: Listening to the Voice of God

by Prior, David

• ISBN13: 9780830812417
• ISBN10: 0830812415
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-01-01
• Publisher: Ivp Academic

Summary

Where is God in times of disaster? How can God allow suffering? What are God's people to do about moral decay in society? While people throughout the ages have long pondered these questions, three of the minor prophets--Joel, Micah and Habakkuk--provide insights to these perennial problems.The people of Joel's day were devastated by a locust plague, which Joel said warned of the coming Day of the Lord. Micah rebuked a culture of corruption and moral evil. Habakkuk cried out to the Lord on account of a society bent on violence. All three point to a transcendent God who gives hope in times of uncertainty.David Prior's passage-by-passage exposition of these three books provides careful study and measured insight and application for today's church.

Table of Contents

General preface	9	(2)
Author's preface	11	(2)
Chief abbreviations	13	(1)
Bibliography	14	(3)
Joel
Introduction	17	(4)
Cry to God (1:1--20)	21	(26)
Return to God (2:1--17)	47	(16)
Rejoice in God (2:18--32)	63	(17)
Fear God (3:1--21)	80	(31)
Micah
Introduction	103	(6)
Preface (1:1)	109	(2)
The first cycle: Pervasive evil and a promised king (1:2--2:13)	111	(1)
Micah's message to the world (1:2--16)	111	(13)
The preacher for this people (2:1--13)	124	(11)
The second cycle: Ungodly leadership and God's promised leader (3:1--5:15)	135	(1)
Micah's message to the leadership of the nation (3:1--12)	135	(13)
Micah's message of a future beyond the ruin of Jerusalem (4:1--5:15)	148	(20)
The third cycle: A time of disintegration and desolation (6:1--7:20)	168	(1)
A message of gloom and doom (6:1--7:7)	168	(25)
A message of light and love (7:8--20)	193	(14)
Habakkuk
Introduction	203	(4)
Dialogue with God (1:1--17)	207	(20)
A double vision (2:1--20)	227	(35)
Habakkuk's prayer (3:1--19)	262