Zephaniah 1 (résumé): Warning of coming destruction

The book of Zephaniah warns of coming destruction to Israel, surrounding nations and the whole world. However it also points to restoration and salvation in the Lord.

"I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the Lord... men, animals, birds and fish - everything!... I will stretch out my hand against Judah... I will cut off Baal priests, star and Molech worshippers... the day of the Lord is near... wail you who live in the market district... at that time I will punish those in Jerusalem who are complacent... their wealth will be plundered and their houses demolished".

"The great day of the Lord is near... the cry will be bitter... it will be a day of wrath... I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men because they have sinned against the Lord... and their silver and gold won't be able to save them... and the whole world will be consumed". 

Habakkuk 3 (résumé): Habakkuk's prayer

Finally in chapter 3 Habakkuk no longer questions God but expresses his faith in worship to his great God revealed to him. "I stand in awe of your deeds... renew them today... in wrath remember mercy... God's glory covers the heavens and his praise filled the earth... his splendour was like the sunrise... he stood and shook the earth... sun and moon stood still in the heavens... you trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters... though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines... though there are no sheep in the pen... yet I will rejoice in the Lord... the sovereign Lord is my strength!"

Habakkuk 2 (résumé): God's answer

 God now answers that his justice may be apparently delayed but it will come at the right time. "God replied... the revelation awaits the appointed time... though it lingers wait for it... for it will certainly come and not delay... the righteous shall live by faith... woe to him who piles up stolen goods... how long must this go on?... you have plundered many nations and have shed man's blood... woe to him who builds his realm through unjust gain... for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord... but you will be filled with shame instead of glory... the cup from the Lord's right hand is coming round to you and disgrace will cover your glory... of what value is an idol?... wood covered with silver and gold yet it cannot speak!... but the Lord is in his holy temple so let all the earth be silent before him".

Habakkuk 1 (résumé): Habakkuk's complaints

The book of Habakkuk is a different prophetic book because it relates a conversation between the prophet and God. Habakkuk questions God about injustice and God's answers cover topics such as sovereignty and faithfulness. The book was written shortly before the Babylonian invasion of Judah in the 7th century BC.

Habakkuk's initial complaint is about all the uncontrolled injustice and violence in Judah. "How long O Lord must I cry for help... with violence... but you do not help... why do you tolerate wrong?... the law is paralyzed and justice never prevails". 

God responds saying that he is at work preparing the Babylonians to administer justice to Judah. "They are a feared and dreaded people... their horses are swifter than leopards... they fly like a vulture... they deride kings... they laugh at fortified cities". 

Habakkuk is flabbergasted by God putting justice into the hands of the Babylonians. "O Lord, you have appointed them to execute judgement! O Rock, you have ordained them to punish!... why do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?"

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".