Thought for the month
Yet another month has slipped by with what appears to have been a very soggy winter in this area but hopefully that means we will have a glorious warm dry summer.
Our Christian Library at the Chapel now has approximately 400 books in it and is available before and after Chapel on a Sunday and also on Saturday morning from 10 am to noon. As we feel it is such an important subject I am also prepared to meet anybody that can’t make these days and times by appointment when we can enjoy a cup of coffee whilst you choose your books. You can ring me on 07860 113413 or email me on oframsden@hotmail.co.uk to arrange a day and time for you to come.
In the last month I have been reading the books of Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggi, and Zechariah
Habakkuk’s words come near the end of the 7th century BC at the time when the Babylonians were in power. He was deeply disturbed by the violence of these cruel people and asked the Lord, “Why are you silent while they destroy people who are more righteous than they are?” verses 1-13 The Lord’s answer was that He would take action in His own good time, and meanwhile “those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God” verses 2-4 The rest of the book is a prophecy of doom on the unrighteous, with a concluding psalm celebrating the greatness of God and expressing the undying faith of the poet.
Zephaniah the prophet preached in the latter part of the 7th century BC, probably in the decade before King Josiah’s religious reforms of 621 BC. The book contains the familiar prophetic themes. A day of doom and destruction is threatened, when Judah will be punished for her worship of other Gods. The Lord will punish other nations also. Although Jerusalem is doomed, in time the city will be restored with a humble and righteous people living there.
Haggai’s book is a collection of brief messages that came from the Lord in 520 BC. The people had returned from exile and had lived in Jerusalem for some years, but the Temple still lay in ruins. The messages urge the leaders of the people to rebuild the Temple, and the Lord promises prosperity and peace in the future for a renewed and purified people.
Zechariah’s book has two distinct parts: 1) Chapters 1-8 Prophecies from the prophet Zechariah, dated at various times in the years from 520 to 518 BC. These are largely in the form of visions, and deal with the restoration of Jerusalem, the rebuilding of the Temple, the purification of God’s people, and the messianic age to come. 2) Chapters 9-14 are a collection of messages from later times, about the expected Messiah and the final judgment.
I am always fascinated by the books of the Old Testament because so much of what is prophesized comes true which makes me certain that the prophecies about the end times will come to fruition just as predicted and that makes me very sad when I see so many people ignoring the warnings.
Fay