Nahum 3 (résumé): Woe to Nineveh!

 "Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims... many casualties, piles of dead... all because of the wanton lust of a harlot... I am against you says the Lord... I will pelt you with filth... Nineveh is in ruins... all your fortresses are like fig trees... your troops are all women... your gates are wide open... the fire will devour you and the sword will cut you down... your people are scattered on the mountains with no-one to gather them... everyone who hears the news will rejoice remembering Nineveh's cruelty".

Nahum 2 (résumé): Nineveh to fall

Nahum 2 describes Nineveh's fall owing to its persistent cruelty and oppression. "An attacker advances against you Nineveh... the metal on the chariots flashes... as they storm through the streets... he summons his picked troops yet they stumble on their way... it is decreed that the city be exiled and carried away... plunder the silver and gold!... she is pillages, plundered and stripped... I am against you declares the Lord Almighty! I will burn up your chariots in smoke... the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard".

Nahum 1 (résumé): The Lord's anger against Nineveh

The book of Nahum announce God's judgment on the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. Nineveh had escaped judgement in the time of Jonah but now it had gone astray again and this time God was to punish them. "The Lord is a jealous and avenging God... even though he is slow to anger... but when he acts the mountains quake before him and the earth trembles... but the Lord is good and a refuge in time of trouble... but he will make an end of Nineveh... and they will be entangled in the thorns... and will be consumed like dry stubble... they will be cut down and pass away... the Lord commands Nineveh so that you will have no descendants... I will destroy the images and idols that are in the temple of your gods... but Judah should celebrate  your festivals and fulfill your vows because the wicked will be completely destroyed". 

Micah 7 (résumé): Israel's misery

 Micah 7 starts with lament and then goes into hope because of God's faithfulness. "What misery is mine!... there are no grapes to eat... the godly have been swept from the land... both hands are skilled in doing evil... the judge accepts bribes... the powerful dictate what they want... a son dishonours his father... but as for me I keep watch for the Lord, I wait in hope for God my saviour; my God will hear me... and though I have fallen yet I will rise... God will bring me out to the light and I will see justice... the day for building walls will come... as in the days when you came out of Egypt I will show them my wonders... nations will lick dust like a snake... and turn in fear to God... who will have compassion on us... and you will be true to Jacob and show mercy to Abraham".

Micah 6 (résumé): The Lord's case against Israel

The literary format of Micah 6 is that of a court of law in which God declares his faithfulness to his people whilst pointing at their unfaithfulness. "The Lord has a charge against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel... what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God... Am I to forget you ill-gotten treasures?... shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales?... her rich me are violent liars... therefore I have begun to destroy you... you will store up but save nothing... you will plant but not harvest... as you have followed Ahab's practices I will give you over to ruin".

Salt

We have a constant battle with salt in the water tanks at Green Pastures owing to the salty water we have from our wells. The salt accumulates in mounds in the 7 water tanks and blocks up the ball valves. Every now and then we have to do a big job shovelling out the salt and disposing of it.

Micah 5 (résumé): A promised ruler from Bethlehem

Micah 5 is a chapter of both judgement and hope pointing to the Messiah and God's final deliverance of his people. "But you Bethlehem... small among the clans of Judah... yet from you will come one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are of old, from ancient times... he will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord... and he will be their peace... he will deliver us from the Assyrian when he invades our land... the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations... your hand will be lifted up against our enemies and all our foes will be destroyed... and in that day I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells... I will destroy your images... and I will uproot your Asherah poles and I will take vengeance on the nations that have not obeyed me".