Tag: overview

Malachi

By Leslie M. Grant

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.” —Malachi 3:16 NKJV

Malachi, meaning “my messenger,” shows us the miserably self-complacent, or self-satisfied, condition of the Jews who had returned from the captivity in Babylon. Their energy had soon deteriorated into a state of callous indifference to the claims of God – a state of self-pleasing. In a deeply pleading word, God reproved their gross contempt for Him, expressed in various ways. Yet with brazen defiance they replied as though they were entirely without blame! Hence, this was God’s last word to Israel until 400 years later when He sent John the Baptist. Israel, refusing to listen to God, would be left to reap the bitter results of their scornfully arrogant choice.

Yet how precious it is that there were still those who in heart “feared the LORD,” though evidently only a small portion of the remnant that had returned to Judah. They are given no distinctive name, for it is the LORD’s name that was precious to them. These individuals spoke often one to another of the things of God, and this was a delight to His heart. He assures us it was not forgotten, but written in a “book of remembrance.”

How fitting that this last book of the Old Testament shows Jehovah concerned with not only actions, but the thoughts and motives of hearts as well. These faithful ones were promised the rising of the “Sun of Righteousness” (4:2), which speaks of Christ yet to come in power and great glory.

Zechariah

By Leslie M. Grant

“And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” —Zechariah 12:3 NKJV

Zechariah, meaning “Jehovah remembers,” served the Lord at the same time as Haggai and focused his writing on Jerusalem. He reminded the people of God’s displeasure with their fathers as the reason for the punishment and bondage they had already experienced, an evident warning of what the city would yet suffer if they were like their fathers (1:4).

The prophecy then goes on to show how the eyes of God take account of the guilt of Jerusalem and of those nations who “would heave it away” (12:3). Jerusalem is God’s earthly center, and He will not tolerate the proud interference of men, whether in antagonism or patronizing protection of the city. It is God who will deal with and purge Jerusalem. The great Messiah whom the people had pierced will appear to them in the city and produce a profound repentance that nothing else could create (12:9-14). Then He will go forth and fight, and Judah will fight with Him against their oppressing enemies. Jerusalem will be the great center of all the earth, with every nation yielding allegiance to her – the city of the great King (14:1-21).

Let this speak to our hearts today, understanding that God’s center for His Church is not on earth but in heaven. That center is the blessed person of the risen Lord. God will tolerate neither rivals nor substitutes for this glorious Center.

Haggai

By Leslie M. Grant

“For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.” —Haggai 2:6-7 NKJV

Haggai, meaning “my feasts,” was written after the Jews’ returned to Jerusalem from the captivity in Babylon. The book’s subject is the temple. Having been destroyed, its foundations were built again on a smaller scale. The prophet pressed on the people the shame of their laxity in reference to the house of God and building it. He urged them to consider their ways. A true prophet, he sought to “shake” them from their selfishness – running to their own houses while God’s house was neglected (1:9) – for soon the Lord would shake everything in heaven and earth. “The Desire of All Nations” – Christ, the great Messiah – would come, and through Him God’s house would be filled with glory.

Four distinct messages are given in Haggai. The first comprises chapter 1 and gives solemn reproofs. Thankfully those produced good effects in both leaders and people, in their being stirred to build. The second message (2:1-9) gives refreshing encouragement in its prophetic vision of Christ. The third (vv.10-19) insists on the purity and separation appropriate to God’s house and urges godly consideration. The fourth (vv.20-23) is prophetic of the overthrowing of all oppressing kingdoms. It continues by speaking of the blessing to be established in the person of Jehovah’s Servant, the Messiah, who was typified by Zerubbabel, ruler of Israel.

This book should surely exercise us regarding God’s present-day interests in His “spiritual house,” the Church of the Living God.

Zephaniah

By Leslie M. Grant

“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” ——Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

The name Zephaniah means “treasured of Jehovah.” He prophesied in the days of Josiah, a godly king whose faith and energy had produced a marked revival in Israel. But this book takes no notice of this revival. Instead, it launches immediately into a declaration of the sweeping judgment of God, when He utterly consumes everything in the land. The apparent revival was outward only, that is, the actual condition of the nation at heart remained the same as before. This became evident immediately after Josiah died. Whatever seeming improvement developed, God had already ruled that His judgment would go out in every direction, with Judah and Jerusalem being the center of it.

However, the book also dwells on the effects of these judgments in producing great blessing in a coming day. The people will be turned to a pure language, and the Lord God will save that afflicted nation. He will be in the midst of the once guilty city, quieting it in His love and rejoicing over her. His long labor with her will be finished. The mourning of His heart over her will be turned to exultant, or triumphant, singing.

Attention to this prophecy will surely preserve us from the prevalent error that present-day, occasional revivals may forestall the judgment of God on professed Christianity. No! The coming of the Lord for His Church is imminent, and His judgments on the earth will quickly follow.

Habakkuk

By Leslie M. Grant

“He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting.” —Habakkuk 3:6 NKJV

Habakkuk, meaning “ardently embraced,” is a prophecy that particularly deals with the deep exercises and sorrows of a godly Israelite as he considered the shame and degradation of his nation, taken captive by “the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation” (1:6). This contemptuous enemy, the Babylonian Empire, is a picture of the world in its religious corruption and confusion – in its gross misuse of the blessings of God. Therefore it is little wonder that a godly person would be deeply distressed by Israel’s captivity to such a type of evil. Has not the same dreadful enemy today enslaved the professing Church?

Yet these sorrows caused the prophet to more “ardently embrace” the promises of God. They led him to a thorough confidence in God’s sovereign power and grace. He recognized that God takes the measure of earth itself, and therefore everything in it. He will painfully humble the nations. God will scatter the mountains, representing higher authorities, even though men think they are eternal. The hills, picturing lesser authorities, will bow before Him. With this being true, despite the great extent of the destitution and desolation to which Israel was reduced, the prophet could truly say, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord” (3:18).

Habakkuk is a book of precious help to those who, when faced with evil and trying conditions, sorrow before God.

Nahum

By Leslie M. Grant

“The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.”—Nahum 1:3 NKJV

Nahum, meaning “comfort,” is a vigorous prophecy of the judgment of Nineveh. Being the capital of Assyria, the city stands for that empire, the “King of the North,” in a coming day. Note that Assyria is not the same as present-day Syria. Rather, it takes its land from Iran, Iraq and Syria. While Egypt denotes for us the world in its complacent, or self-satisfied, independence of God, Assyria indicates the world’s vicious opposition to God. The prophecy was occasioned by the cruelty of Assyria when Sennacherib (meaning “He who destroys”) invaded Israel, and it was partially fulfilled when Nineveh was destroyed. Yet this prophecy looks on to God’s judgment of the King of the North in a future day. Notice that the determined ferociousness of this enemy is fully matched by the unbending rigor of the judgment of God.

Yet, while the first few verses of the book describe the indignation and fierceness of God’s anger, this is followed by the marvelous comfort of Nahum 1:7: “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.” He is slow to anger and perfect in calm deliberation, for He does not desire to condemn. But He will judge evil, whether by whirlwind or storm; and in such judgments the wisdom of “His way” will be seen.

Let us learn well from this prophet both the awful strength of God’s wrath and the blessed strength of His protection.

Isaiah

By Leslie M. Grant

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” —Isaiah 52:7 NKJV

Isaiah, meaning “save Thou, Jehovah,” stands fittingly at the head of the prophetic books of the Old Testament, being most remarkable for its stirring gospel themes. Like the epistle to the Romans, it begins with the stern and faithful uncovering of man’s guilt (Israel’s guilt in the case of Isaiah) and uses conditions then present to typify its prophecies of future conditions and judgments.

The first 35 chapters show God’s dealings in a general way with Judah, Israel and the nations in allowing no cover-up or excuse for sin. In pure truth, they expose sin.

Then chapters 36-39 are occupied with history, illustrating both the faithfulness of God in the preservation of His people and the failure of the people to rightly value the marvels of His grace.

The ministry of sovereign grace begins with chapter 40. From here on the remedy for Israel’s condition is presented in its various aspects. The following note from F. W. Grant is most helpful here: “From chapter 40 to 48 Israel is seen as the servant, and unfaithful; then from chapter 49 to 60 Christ is the Perfect Servant, and standing under the load of the sins of others; and finally, from chapter 61 to 66, the remnant (of Israel) is now seen and accepted as the servants” (Numerical Bible).

This book, though expressed in Old Testament language, will help us to gain a right perspective of the blessed gospel of God’s grace.

Esther

“For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent.” —Esther 9:4 NKJV

By Leslie M. Grant

Esther means “I will be hidden.” The book deals with the Jews during the time of their captivity, outside their own land, hidden among the nations, yet cared for providentially by the God whom they had disobeyed. God’s name is not found in the book – He is also hidden. He could not link His name publicly with them for their dispersion was due to chastening [correction] because of disobedience. Moreover, these people had chosen to remain in Persia despite God’s having opened the way for them to return to Israel. They had no real concern for returning to God’s place for them when others had done so.

Still, God’s overruling hand in mercy and protection is beautifully seen here. It is typical of the blessing that is to come to the now-scattered children of Israel after much cruel affliction and persecution.

Esther herself reminds us of the beauty that God sees in His people in spite of their failure and departure. Mordecai is a type of Christ, first in protecting the Gentile king from those who plotted his death and then in becoming greater and greater among the Gentiles after having first been marked out for death.

How well this account illustrates the dealings of God with any true believer who becomes careless and disobedient in his ways! He has no real communion with God and no joy in the Lord’s presence. Yet God cares for him by means of trials that have in view his restoration in submission to the Lord.

Nehemiah

“Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” —Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV

By Leslie M. Grant

Nehemiah, meaning “comfort of Jehovah,” writes the history of his connection with the remnant of the returned captivity. He followed Ezra by about 13 years in going to Jerusalem, stirred through news he had received of the decayed condition of the city. God gave him favor with Artaxerxes, king of Persia, for whom he was cupbearer, and he obtained authority from the king to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

A man of faith and energy and a capable administrator, Nehemiah was able to organize the Jews for the labor of rebuilding the wall and imbue [instill] them with willingness both to work and to fight for God’s interests in the city. His firm decision, wise avoidance of the enemy’s cunning snares, and short, earnest prayers cannot fail to attract every interested reader. Yet the authoritative influence of the Persian government is felt throughout and cannot be ignored.

Nehemiah is a book especially helpful in our day. It illustrates the fact that true devotedness to God on the part of His saints and their purpose of heart to build a wall of separation from the world and its evils will meet with bitter opposition from the enemy. Yet, however small and despised such a testimony may appear in men’s eyes, the firm, lowly faith of His own in a day of confusion is precious to God.

Ezra

“For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.” ——Ezra  9:9 NKJV

By Leslie M. Grant

Ezra, meaning “help,” is written by a scribe of this name and is an account of a restoring work of God in bringing back some of the Jews to Jerusalem. The first group came with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:2) with the object [intention] of rebuilding the temple. This was at the commandment of Cyrus, king of Persia, for the Medes and Persians had by this time conquered the Babylonian Empire. Cyrus decreed that the vessels of the temple (previously carried away by Nebuchadnezzar) should be restored to the about-to-be rebuilt temple. There were hindrances in the building, but God, using the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, eventually enabled the completion of this as Ezra 6:15 shows.

Another group of Jews returned later with Ezra during the reign of Artaxerxes. Ezra was a priest of the line of Aaron. He was sent to give help in the service of the rebuilt temple and to establish magistrates and judges who knew the law of God and were therefore able to rule in the land.

This is a necessary book for our own days when those who desire a return to the true worship of God according to Scripture can expect opposition. Their faith, however, will be rewarded if they are steadfast and stand firmly for the true principles of God.