First, congratulations for taking on this challenge! You’ll find it to be challenging, rich and rewarding. Reading the Bible isn’t like reading a text book or a novel. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out and some days you’ll probably find it kind of boring. You’ll have “ah, ha!” moments as you realize that some phrase or story you’ve heard all your life is in the Bible. There will also be moments where you are shocked – “I had no idea the Bible had stuff like that in there!” You’ll also discover that God’s Word is alive and active because many days it will speak directly to you. You’ll be amazed that words that were written two or three thousands years ago are so contemporary and relevant. It is our prayer that you’ll come to a deeper love of God and His Word as you spend the year reading the Bible.

 

Each month we’ll publish these notes that you can use as a companion to help you understand what you are reading. If you are following the reading schedule or have the NIV one year Bible, these notes will match with what you are reading for the month. If you are on another schedule, they’ll still be helpful when you come to these passages of Scripture.

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December 2010

Congratulations! You are on the home stretch. I hope that you have discovered a new depth and breadth in God's Word as you have read through. I hope too, that you've been surprised by what is really in there!

Don't be discouraged by the number of books that are covered this month. They're all short. In the Old Testament, we've reached the Minor Prophets. They are called the Minor Prophets not because they aren't important, but because they are shorter than the Major Prophets – Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah. There are some themes that they all have in common, a call to return to the Lord, the threat of judgment if people don't, and God's desire to restore his people. As with the Major Prophets, a lot of the material is poetry and in the Hebrew style is wildly repetitive. Keep on keeping on, because the riches of the Minor Prophets are substantial. They divide into two groups, the pre-exilic prophets and the post-exilic prophets. The turning point is the destruction of Jerusalem and the carrying away of people to Babylon. The post-exilic prophets: Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi are much more concerned about keeping the distinctive characteristics of God's people while in exile and with the rebuilding of the temple. They also leave an impression that even if Jerusalem is restored, this is not the latter days that have been foretold. Which, of course, we know is the preparation for the story of redemption that comes in the New Testament.

Hosea

is a heartbreakingly poignant story of a jilted lover. The lover, of course, is God and his people, his beloved, have rejected him. If you think God has asked you to do difficult things, wait until you read what he asks of Hosea. Hosea puts a big emphasis on the difference between knowing about God and knowing God.

Joel

The Day of the Lord figures large in Joel. There are calls to repentance the threat of judgment and promises of God's grace. You'll find many familiar passages in this relatively short book.

Amos

Amos rails against the division between rich and poor. The famous, "Let justice roll down like a river…" is from Amos. As is the wonderful pictures of the "Cows of Bashan." You can't read Amos and not get a glimpse of God's heart when it comes to how the poor are treated.

Obadiah

is the shortest book in the Old Testament, just 21 verses long. It is about the judgment of Edom. One of the interesting points about the book is a short reference in v. 3 to the people who dwell in the cleft of the rock. This is generally thought to refer to the stunning city of Petra in Jordan. Google it!

Jonah

a familiar story sometimes gets glossed over. Carefully read this book and ask yourself questions about who God loves and what our responsibility is toward them. You might also ponder whether you spend anytime sitting under a shade plant, irritated at how God is dealing with people you don't agree with.
Micah – a commentary outlines Micah in this way: Long doom, short hope. Long doom, short hope… God's judgment is real. But so is the hope of messianic deliverance. Look for the promise to Bethlehem.

Nahum

is a prophecy against the city of Nineveh. God is gracious, but he hates wickedness. The famous quote, "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord," comes from Nahum. There are two sins in particular that Nahum speaks out against, ruthless military power, and cheating at business.

Habakkuk - is primarily a dialogue – complaint? – between Habbakuk and God. Habbakuk doesn't understand why God doesn't act according to Habbakuk's prayers or time tables. Look for one of the more famous calls to worship: "The Lord is in his holy temple, le all the earth be silent before him."

Zephaniah

Chronologically Zephaniah fits between Isaiah and Jeremiah, so his book will sound a little different from the others right around him. Zephaniah speaks, like Amos, about the Day of the Lord. He ends speaking of the ultimate restoration of God's people.

Haggai

another very short book, is written toward the end of the exile, much later than Zephaniah. The Israelites have been allowed to start returning home. They are concerned for their own comfort, but the don't seem to concerned about returning to God.

Zechariah

is a contemporary of Haggai. Much of his book is apocalyptic in nature – similar to the book of Revelation. There are many passages that are quoted in the New Testament, primarily in the gospels and Revelation. You'll find many familiar phrases.

Malachi

The last book of the Old Testament. Malachi is the last word from God to his people for 400 years until the birth narratives in the New Testament.

2 John

a short letter to a local encouraging them to stay away from false teachers.

3 John

another short letter having to do with hospitality, or the lack thereof, and reminding people to do good and not evil.

Jude – is closely associated with 2 Peter and warns against the dangers of false teachers. Jude wanted to write about faith, but felt compelled to write about false teachers because of what they were doing in the church. It ends with a glorious doxology.

Revelation

one of the most misunderstood books of the bible. The book of Revelation is an apocalypse, which means "unveiling." It is as if the curtain is pulled back on the heavenly realms and we get a glimpse inside. Revelation, like all apocalyptic literature, uses highly symbolic language to describe visions. There are so many competing views of what Revelation means that there isn't room to go into them. Look for familiar passages about worship around the throne of God – this is where the hymn 'Holy, holy, holy," comes from – and the fulfillment of God's purpose when he establishes a new heaven and a new earth.