SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. [1 Peter 1:8-9] Peter is writing to those…
Author: Norm
dancing and singing over me?
SCRIPTURE: Zephaniah 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. [Zephaniah 3:17] God expresses His frustration with His people. He is constantly working for justice and mercy, while…
seek the Lord and live!
SCRIPTURE: Zephaniah 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger. [Zephaniah 2:3] If you had committed a crime, or owed a huge debt to someone, would you voluntarily go to that person…
searchlight
SCRIPTURE: Zephaniah 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ [Zephaniah 1:12] This passage describes a day of justice, the day when God finally punishes sin. On that day…
yet I will rejoice
SCRIPTURE: Habakkuk 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in…
wait for it
SCRIPTURE: Habakkuk 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Has not the Lord Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. [Habakkuk 2:13-14] Habakkuk is waiting for God’s answer, and…
how can this be?
SCRIPTURE: Habakkuk 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? [Habakkuk 1:13] Habakkuk is asking the ‘why’ question. Why does God allow evil, why does God use a corrupt…
liberation celebration!
SCRIPTURE: Nahum 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Nothing can heal your wound; your injury is fatal. Everyone who hears the news about you claps his hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty? [Nahum 3:19] Can you imagine a group of people rejoicing and celebrating the violent downfall of an oppressive government… of course you can….
against God?
SCRIPTURE: Nahum 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: ‘I am against you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘I will burn up your chariots in smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will leave you no prey on the earth. The voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.’ [Nahum 2:13] To understand this angry posture of God against Nineveh,…
God of justice
SCRIPTURE: Nahum 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. [Nahum 1:2] Is this the picture you have of God? Jealous, avenging, taking vengeance, filled with wrath? Is this a God that…