Takeaways from the Minor Prophets: The Bible in Lent Day 31

Today, we wrap up the minor prophets and the Old Testament! Since we’re going through so many books again today, I decided to share a little about one passage from each book.

Habakkuk

Though the fig tree do not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like hinds’ feet, he makes me tread upon my high places. – Habakkuk 3:17-19

Like Lamentations, the pain and suffering in Habakkuk are evident. Reminders of hope that don’t ignore or minimize pain always prick my heart. They remind me that circumstances do not dictate my joy, they are not the source of my optimism. True strength in trials is found only in God Himself.

Zephaniah

The Lord your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing – Zephaniah 3:17

I love passages that talk about God singing. Especially singing over us in love, as a parent sings over their child.

Haggai

I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts. – Haggai 2:7

This verse gave me such a clear mental picture of the world being shaken like an apple tree in autumn and the wealth pouring out upon the Temple.

Zechariah

There were two verses that stood out to me in Zechariah

In that day, says the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor under his vine and under his fig tree. – Zechariah 3:10

This verse reminded me that peace is not something solitary, but rather something to actively invite others to participate in. How can we invite others to join us in the peace that God provides?

Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass.- Zechariah 9:9

I’ve written several times during The Bible in Lent about how humility is the posture we should have before God. He wants humble hearts that rely on Him. This passage was a beautiful reminder of the humility He showed us through Jesus, our triumphant and victorious king who entered Jerusalem riding on a lowly donkey.

Malachi

“For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord.” – Malachi 3:2-3

The image of the refiner’s fire, not burning to destroy but burning to purify, is one of my favorite images in scripture. It shows again the juxtaposition of the Gospel – fire, something normally associated with destruction and punishment, used to bring about instead deeper beauty and restoration.

These last few weeks in the Old Testament have been very busy! I didn’t realize until I sat down and read the Old Testament straight through how much I’ve glossed over or skipped altogether in my readings before now. It’s given me a fuller understanding of the world and worldview Jesus entered into and I’m eager to get into the Gospels and the New Testament tomorrow!