Haggai

Haggai is the first messenger that God sent after the exile. His name means “feast.”  While Zechariah prophesied for three years, Haggai only prophesied for four months. The king of Persia allowed 50,000 broken yet hopeful Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple.  Rebuilding Solomon’s Temple was a giant task. After laying the…

Nahum

His name and the message of Nahum means ‘comfort’.  Nahum lived during the reign of the good king Hezekiah of Judah and Isaiah. When the cruel Assyrians invaded, he escaped into Judah. In 2 Kings 19:35 it is recorded that 185,000 people perished during that takeover. These are God’s words in response to the day…

Jeremiah

Within a short 3 mile walk from the Holy City, God called a sensitive boy named Jeremiah from the village of Anathoth. This youth was given the overwhelming responsibility of speaking as God’s prophet.  Because his father was a priest, Jeremiah no doubt was familiar with Scripture. He was molded by the influence of his…

Song of Songs

Now is the time to rejoice in the enduring Love of God for His people. The lovebirds in the Song of Solomon are people from two separate worlds. The Shulamite is the beloved maidservant who represents people on earth, while her Lover is the Shepherd who represents Jesus on earth. The chorus of friends, or…

Proverbs

In the first chapter of Proverbs we read “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Pr 1:7) God’s Word encourages us to attain wisdom and discipline; and as we seek Wisdom, we are actually seeking the One of all wisdom and that is Jesus Christ. When…

Nehemiah

When the servant Nehemiah heard that the wall of Jerusalem was broken and that its gates had all been burned he wept, mourned, fasted and prayed. “Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night … I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and…

1st and 2nd Chronicles

Through both books of Chronicles we are encouraged by the revivals recorded.   The wrath of the Lord was against His people and Chronicles records how the Lord’s messengers were mocked as the people of Judah despised the words of His prophets. God handed His people over to king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The king confiscated all…

1st and 2nd Kings

The most important facts about the formation of the world are found in the history contained in the Book of Kings. The first king was Saul, followed by David, and then Solomon. Our Lord told king David that he would have a son who would be king and build a temple, and the book of Kings…

1 Samuel

Royal history begins with the book of Samuel. After 350 years the rule of the Judges ended. The next 500 years, kings ruled Israel.  Samuel was the last of the Judges while Saul was the first of the kings and he reigned for 25 years. The book begins with the story of Samuel’s barren mother…

Ruth

During the days when the judges ruled, while Israel was in a state of anarchy, there was a famine in the land.  Naomi moved to Moab with her husband Judah and their two sons. It is important to note that the pagan Moabites were the descendants of Lot, who worshipped many other gods, NOT the…