Latest Commentaries

Micah mourns the LORD’s forthcoming judgement on His people.

This first section of Micah’s first address (Micah 1:2-2:13) contains a call to all of the LORD’s creation to be witnesses to His accusations against all of Israel. This is followed by the LORD’s announcement of His judgment upon Samaria, the northern kingdom.

Micah, a prophet from Judah, receives the word of the LORD.

The LORD promises to regather His covenant people to the land of Israel and restore their blessings. At that time, He will deal with all their oppressors and replace Judah’s shame with honor and renown. The earth will be restored, and filled with love, wellness, and prosperity.

Speaking in the prophetic past, showing the certainty of what is predicted in the future, Zephaniah calls the people of Judah to shout for joy because the LORD their Suzerain God has overturned the sentence of condemnation against them and dismissed their adversaries. The people of God can thus lay fear aside and rejoice always because the LORD, the great warrior, is in their midst. They will dwell in intimate love and fellowship, in a world brimming with joy.

After the divine judgment, the LORD promises to purify the people’s lips, take them under His refuge, and fill the earth with righteousness. So much so that the lowly and humble will be protected and prosperous, like a well-tended flock. This appears to refer to a future time when the earth will be restored.

No nations are pursuing righteousness, so God announces His decision to destroy the earth and all nations. He says He will first rise up as a witness, which might refer to Jesus’s first advent, where He resurrected and defeated death.

Zephaniah pronounces judgment against Judah and her wicked rulers, prophets, and priests. God sent them ample examples of nations being disciplined for evil, but rather than learn and repent, Judah eagerly pursued wickedness.

Zephaniah pronounces judgment against Assyria for her pride and arrogance. God will make Nineveh a ruin, and the land of Assyria will be emptied of population and become a place for pasturing animals.

The LORD pronounces judgment against the Ethiopians. He will judge them with the sword of war.

The LORD pronounces judgment against Moab and Ammon for their arrogance against His covenant people. He will destroy them like Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.

Zephaniah pronounces judgment against Philistia. The LORD will destroy the Philistines and give their land as pasture to the Judahites. The destruction upon Philistia should serve as a warning to Judah, for them to repent and return to their LORD.

Zephaniah exhorts the people of Judah to repent to avoid the judgment of God upon Judah. He also exhorts the righteous within Judah to seek God, for perhaps He might hide them from suffering when Judah is judged.

Zechariah sees four horns representing the nations of the four points of the compass. He also sees four blacksmiths who will destroy the horns, meaning that successive political powers will destroy the powers before them.

Zechariah receives his first vision. He sees a patrol of heavenly horsemen mounted on horses of various colors. These horsemen report that all the earth is now at peace. The angel who talks to Zechariah reassures him that the LORD is still angry with the Gentile nations, who are at peace but have exploited His people. But He will comfort Jerusalem and restore her fortunes.

The prophet Zechariah receives the word of the LORD in the eleventh month of the second year of King Darius of Persia.

Zechariah invites the exilic remnant of Judah to return to God so that He may return to them, consistent with His covenant promise. He warns them not to behave like their fathers did, provoking God to anger and experiencing His judgment.

The prophet Zechariah receives the word of the LORD in the eighth month of the second year of King Darius of Persia.

Paul summarizes his plea to the Colossian believers and offers the incredible incentive therein.

The opportunity to steward one’s character, to live according to the things above rather than the things below, is available to everyone in every circumstance and setting.