Books 33 To 36 The Book of Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah
Who wrote the books of Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: Each of the books was written by the man the book is named for.
When was it written: Micha was written prior to 685 B.C., Nahum was written in the last half of the 600th century B.C., Habakkuk was most likely written around 600 B.C., and Zephaniah was written around 630 B.C..
Micha
Little is known about Micah other than what we read in the book he authored. The fact that we know so little about Micah is just one more piece of evidence that popularity, power, and prestige are not necessary in order to do something great for God. All it takes is a genuine and sincere heart of faithful obedience.
The book Micah wrote reflects his simple life of genuine faith. Micah’s prophecies are a balance of hope and destruction. He stresses that God has no tolerance for idolatry, rebellion, and empty rituals. Instead, God demands his children to love and serve him with their entire being.
Micha’s prophecies take place during a time of prosperity and relative peace in Judah and near the end of the kingdom of Israel. The prosperity Judah was enjoying, however, was not very evenly distributed among the population.
The social injustices resulting from the disposition of Judah’s wealth were also a matter of great concern to Micah. He stresses that true wealth comes from a repentant heart and relationship with the LORD.
Nahum
Nahum isn’t one of the most ‘popular’ books of the Bible but it is most definitely a book that should be used to show unbelievers the powerful truth and validity of the Bible. And here’s why…
Nahum tells of the coming destruction of Nineveh (in 612 BC) due to their wickedness.
His writings speak of Nineveh’s enemies waiting for just the right time to take their city, about the waters around them bringing about their demise, and how they would cease to exist. And each of these things happened exactly as Nahum said they would.
The Babylonians along with the Medes and other smaller armies joined forces in taking the northern portion of the Assyrian Empire and reducing it to nothing. This was quickly followed by record floodwaters practically swallowing Nineveh (which was a coastal city) whole.
What was left of it and the Assyrian Empire was ravaged and burned by the Babylonians and their allies.
When it was all said and done nothing but a few piles of charred ruins remained of what had been (for a while) the most powerful government and army in the world.
Why? Because, Nahum tells us in chapter one, that God will not leave the guilty unpunished. He is the creator and master of the universe and ultimately his plan for his creation will prevail.
The destruction of Nineveh was merely a step in the direction of God’s plan to someday restore the house of Jacob and to bring each and every one of us to judgement for the pronouncement of our home for eternity.
One cannot read the three short chapters that make up the book of Nahum without gaining a greater respect for the power and truth of God’s existence and the truth of his Word.
Habakkuk
The book of Habakkuk is a book of prophecy, but it is a bit different from some of the other books of prophecy in the fact that Habakkuk not only tells us what God said to him, but also what he said to God. It is their conversation about the people of Israel.
Habakkuk’s prophecies took place at the same time Jeremiah and Nahum were prophesying. From his writings, we learn that Habakkuk was a man deeply committed to and concerned with the traditions and keeping of the Law of Moses.
He was also a man of great faith and compassion toward the oppressed. It was his compassion for those who were mistreated by those who were power-hungry and self-serving that led to the conversations between him and God that are the book of Habakkuk.
The book of Habakkuk is a beautiful book to read—full of promise, hope, and reminders that God isn’t offended by our questions. He does, however, expect us to trust him to know and do what is best in his time, and to follow him faithfully no matter what.
NOTE: Part of the book of Habakkuk is repeated in a Psalm.
Zephaniah
Zephaniah was a descendant of King Hezekiah and a man with clout and social standing in Judah. He was well-versed in political issues and the social issues of the day.
It is his knowledge of these things that gives the book of Zephaniah a heart, so to speak. He knows how far course the people have gotten from who and what God intended them to be, and his messages from God to the people are messages that:
- Warn the people of the terror of the destruction they are headed for
- Offer hope for God’s unfailing mercy for those who repent
The events of Zephaniah can be summed up by saying that there is a day of judgment coming; both on Judah for their disobedience, and on all mankind. Zephaniah does make it clear, however, that God will be merciful to those who seek to do God’s will in their lives.
Key Verses In Micha, Nahum, Habakkuk, And Zephaniah
Every book of the Bible provides us with words of wisdom, instruction, comfort, encouragement, admonishment, warning, promise, and hope. Let’s look at some of what these books have to offer.
“…Do not my words do good to him whose ways are upright?” Micah 2:7b
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17