Personalities in the Bible
by Dan Seagren
| Hosea | A Story of Devotion |
| Joel | More Than a Popular Name |
| Jonah | A Missionary Prophet |
| Micah | A Prophet Unafraid of Words |
| Nahum | Prophet with a Biting Tongue |
| Obadiah | A Man of Few Words |
| Habakkuk | A Man Who Asked Big Questions |
| Zephaniah | Mercy vs. Merit |
Previous Columns
Hosea: A Story of Devotion Hosea 1:1-3:5 The prophets defy stereotyping: no two are alike although their message is often similar. Some view Hosea as purely an allegory; others believe it is an actual historical happening. Either way, the message is clear. God is showing his undying love for a wayward Israel conditioned by a distinct call to repentance followed by a promise of restoration if Israel does repent.The story goes something like this (it is not exactly clear in detail which encourages various interpretations). Hosea, the first of the minor prophets, may have tried in vain to convince Israel to repent and may have retreated to Judah where he wrote his bitter-sweet story. The Lord said, ‘Hosea, Israel has betrayed me like an unfaithful wife. Marry such a woman and have children by her.’ Hosea then married a woman called Gomer, and three children were born to them, two sons and a daughter.
Gomer was restless and apparently had more than one rendezvous with lovers who rewarded her with ‘my food and drink, my linen and wool, my olive oil and wine.’ After living a life of illicit pleasure, she was stripped of her allure, at times yearning to return to her husband where she admitted that life then had been better.
The Lord again spoke to Hosea in terms we find difficult to understand. He was told to fall in love with an unfaithful woman who has a lover. This may have been another wayward woman or it may have been Gomer. Personally, I believe it was Gomer who was obligated to a lover but had lost some of her allure. Hosea finds her, not as some suggest in a brothel where he pays the going price, but on the auction block where she is discovered by her husband. Hosea purchases her for fifteen pieces of silver and about ten bushels of grain reclaiming her as his wife.
‘Now you are mine,’ he says, ‘You will have to be faithful to me, though it will be a long time before we sleep together.’ (Hosea 3: 2,3 CEV). We are reminded of the story of the lad who built a boat that got away from him when he was sailing it. Some time later he saw his boat in the window of a pawn shop. He went to work until he earned the asking price. When he paid the pawn broker for his boat, he said, "Now you are doubly mine. First, I made you. Then I bought you." Gomer was now doubly his.
Strange story? Yes. And even stranger if the second woman wasn’t Gomer. Narratives, mingled with poetry, are at times difficult to interpret. Hosea had an unusual flair for words revealing an intimate knowledge of his era as an insider rather than an outsider. Listen to his words: Israel, listen as the Lord accuses everyone in the land! No one is faithful or loyal or truly cares about God. Cursing, dishonesty, murder, robbery, unfaithfulness—these happen all the time. Violence is everywhere. And so your land is a desert. Every living creature is dying—people and wild animals, birds and fish. Don’t accuse just anyone! Not everyone is at fault (Hosea 4:1-4).
Hosea places the blame on the priests for abandoning the faith, for encouraging temple prostitution just like their pagan neighbors. He blames the daughters and daughters-in-law who sell themselves for sex and he blames the men for offering sacrifices with temple prostitutes. He blames the people for worshipping idols at Gilgal and Bethel (formerly holy places). He blames the rulers of the people for their treachery and injustices. He also blames the people for offering sacrifices to God along with offerings to pagan gods. It is one or the other, not both.
This is tough stuff. But God is faithful and promises to forgive and restore but only if the people will turn from their evil, wicked, deceitful ways. If so, the results will be most worthwhile.
Joel: More Than A Popular Name Joel 1-4Virtually nothing is known about Joel, the Prophet. In Scripture there are a dozen Joels, more or less. Some names vary and others may be duplicates. More than this, there are few keywords in the book of Joel on which to peg a date or a locale. For instance, if a king or a city is mentioned, there may be a clue or a lead. But Joel is silent here with few clues other than his message.
Believe it or not, scholars are undecided when Joel prophesied. In fact, they are hundreds of years apart with some savants putting Joel back as far as the time of the division of the tribes to the exile, a 500-year spread. It is more commonly accepted that he came from the Southern Tribes (Judah) and because of his familiarity with the priesthood he might have been a priest.
One more thing. Because some scholars do not believe prophecy (foretelling) is possible, anything that seems to be prophetic and now is known to be prophetic, must therefore be historic. If Joel (or any prophet) lived one or a hundred years before something happened historically, certain scholars would have to do one of several things: (1) reassign a new date to the prophet. (2) attribute a particular futuristic passage to a later writer or editor, or perhaps (3) consider the so-called prophecy a shrewdly calculated guess.
Not accepting prophecy as a possibility does pose innumerable problems for scholars. And the converse is also true: accepting prophecy as a possibility is not always sanctioned or proven, particularly if it seems questionable or incompatible with other prophecies or occurrences.
Back to Joel. Joel, as with many other prophets, warned the people of approaching judgment. After a brutal, devastating invasion of locusts, Joel likens this scourge to God’s judgment upon the people. A number of years ago, our family was invited to spend some time at our friends’ lakeside cabin. As we anticipated a wonderful time for the children to swim, fish, walk the beach and picnic, we were stunned. An invasion of fish flies had overrun our idyllic interlude. Flies were everywhere. We couldn’t take a step without an ugly, crunching sound. Never before, and not since, have I witnessed such horror. And disappointment.
By morning, however, the flies were gone except for a horde of inert flies left behind. Joel used an experience such as this to forewarn his people. He also promises their redemption and the defeat of their enemies. Since Joel could have prophesied anytime between about 920-400 BC, it is not certain which defeat and victory were prophesied, or if they are yet to be fulfilled (as many believe).
If the prophecies have already been fulfilled, we have the task of applying the warnings and promises for a new generation. If they still lie in the future, we can only wait and see. Those who are waiting often refer to Joel’s depiction of the battle of Armageddon and the restoration of Israel (1948), the judgment of the nations and the Second Advent (Coming) of Christ. Without belaboring the point, establishing a timetable is not only tempting but challenging.Books have been written. Some have been revised, perhaps more than once. Cross-reference to other prophetic books has been done (e.g. Isaiah, Zechariah, Daniel) along with the book of Revelation. Armageddon refers to the valley of Megiddo, the great battlefield of Israel, where the final battle allegedly will be fought. The prospects are fascinating but also sobering. Again, God gives us clues, some subtle, hidden and mind-boggling. To know the future with certainty is not ours to know but it is most important to know Who holds the future.
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Jonah: A Missionary Prophet Jonah 1-4Everyone (almost) knows the story of Jonah. From earliest days in Sunday School on through life Jonah attests to our biblical literacy. Even so, he is a character we can relate to. We can empathize with him, curse him and at the same time bless him. Why? Because he is so much like many of us.First of all, his story is so dramatic. God asked him to do Him a favor. True, we often question anyone who says that God spoke to me. Apart from this misgiving, let’s assume that he did get a divine message to warn one of the most wicked cities in existence: punishment is inevitable unless you change. That would be the equivalent of signing one’s own death warrant. No wonder he took a ship heading in the opposite direction. Wouldn’t you?
Secondly, his story is so incredible. Imagine boarding a ship, running into a fierce storm, watching veteran seamen panic, recognizing his own guilt and offering to sacrifice his life for the sake of many. Yet that is what happened. Jonah told the captain he was responsible for the storm and that if he were thrown overboard, all would be well.
Now, would any respectable ship captain believe him? Probably not. But Jonah was persuasive (perhaps that is why God wanted him to go to Nineveh in the first place), and so Jonah was tossed overboard. Notice, he didn’t jump. He was thrown. That also tells us something about him, doesn’t it? Then, to be swallowed (not necessarily by a whale as many have been told) by a great fish, large enough to swallow a man. Maybe a cousin to the Lochness Monster? And then to survive for three days before being unceremoniously regurgitated? Incredible.
Third, after a thorough cleaning up, Jonah, glad to be alive, no doubt lived with this experience the rest of his life. Yes, he relented, and headed for Nineveh. All revved up, he told the Ninevites to repent or else. Let’s take a quick look at Nineveh. It was an ancient city strategically located on the Tigris River (modern Iraq) but was so completely devastated that it wasn’t rediscovered until rather recently (19th century).
Nineveh may actually have been a series of suburbs surrounded by a formidable wall several miles in length. Its prominence as the capitol of Assyria with splendid palaces, temples and fortifications is legendary to say nothing of its complex water system and ambitious library. But this is not all. Nahum and Zephaniah both describe the nature of the city as unbelievably wicked, and cruel. Jonah presumably preached during its pinnacle period after which Nineveh was reduced to rubble, permanently.
Amazingly, this great city, as evil, vicious and corrupt as it was, repented. Unfortunately, there was a relapse and the prophets’ warnings were fulfilled. Nineveh was annihilated. Its destruction was devastating, never again to be rebuilt.
Finally, Jonah who should have been jumping for joy over the contrition of the people, turned sullen. Because the people were so evil, he wanted them destroyed but God held back, giving them a second chance. Jonah became sulky, irritable and angry, sniveling along the wall of the city where he stewed in the sun. A plant suddenly grew, giving him shade only to be attacked by a worm. Jonah lost his shade goading him to pout even more. Only then is he rebuked for his attitude.
From this we draw our own conclusions, which are many.
return to top Micah: A Prophet Unafraid of Words Micah:1-7 The name Micah is probably taken from Micaiah which means Who is like Jehovah? Several OT characters bear this name. However, this Micah was a prophet with a critical message for both Samaria and Jerusalem, capitols of the Northern and Southern tribes.
Micah does us a favor in telling us that he hails from a town called Moresheth in Southern Judah not far from Gath. He also informs us that his prophetic ministry was during the rule of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. He is tough on false prophets of which there were not a few. Even today it is important to distinguish between true and false religious figures as well as secular leaders and rulers.
Micah has a flair for words and uses them effectively as he denounces ungodly rulers who rule ruthlessly just as he assails false religious leaders. Too often ungodly religious figures and ruthless rulers conspire together, a most dangerous combination. As with other prophets, he has a message of doom as well as hope. He uses colorful language punctuated with metaphors and a play on words. Listen:Doomed! You’re doomed! At night you lie in bed making evil plans. And when morning comes, you do what you’ve planned because you have the power. You grab any field or house you want; you cheat families out of house and land . . . You take over lovely homes that belong to women of my nation. Then you cheat their children out of their inheritance . . . Get out of here, you crooks! You’ll find no rest here. You’re not fit to belong to the Lord’s people, and you will be destroyed.
You hate justice and twist the truth. You make cruelty and murder a way of life in Jerusalem. You leaders accept bribes for dishonest decisions. You prophets and priests teach and preach, but only for money. Sons refuse to respect their own fathers, daughters rebel against their own mothers, and daughters-in-law despise their mothers-in-law. Your family is now your enemy.
Then Micah prays to the Lord. Lead your people, Lord! Come and be our shepherd. Grasslands surround us but we live in a forest. So lead us to Bashan and Gilead (territories known for their fertility) and let us find pasture as we did long ago. Then the Lord answered: I, the Lord, will work miracles just as I did when I led you out of Egypt. Nations will see this and be ashamed because of their helpless armies. They will be in shock, unable to speak or hear, because of their fear of me, your Lord and God . . .
The people answered, Our God, no one is like you. We are all that is left of your chosen people, and you freely forgive our sin and guilt. You don’t stay angry forever; you’re glad to have pity and pleased to be merciful. You will trample on our sins and throw them in the sea. You will keep your word and be faithful to Jacob and to Abraham, as you promised our ancestors many years ago. Micah 2, 3, 7 CEV.
A casual reading of this might indicate that the Lord will restore his people eventually no matter how evil or wicked they become. However, reading all the words of the prophets (which is one reason why several prophetical books are included in the OT), this restoration is conditional. It will not be automatic. It will only come after confession, repentance and restitution, a lesson worth noting. Just as God loves mercy and requires justice, He also demands it of His people.
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Nahum: Prophet with a Biting Tongue Nahum 1-3 Some of the prophets aimed their warnings at their own people while others were aimed at surrounding nations (tribes). Nahum (which means compassionate is also identified with the name Capernaum which means Town of Nahum). We know almost nothing of Nahum except that he came from a village called Elkosh but no one seems to have located Elkosh.
This prophetic book is known for its colorful language, puns, satire and suspense. These of course lose something in translation which is typical of most translation efforts. Listen: At the sight of the Lord, mountains and hill tremble and melt; the earth and its people shudder and quake. Who can stand the heat of the Lord and of his furious anger? It flashes like fire and shatters stone.
In speaking about their enemies (Assyria in particular), Nahum writes: Like a roaring flood, the Lord chases his enemies into dark places and destroys them. So don’t plot against the Lord. He wipes out his enemies and they never revive. They are like drunkards overcome by wine, or like dry thornbushes burning in a fire.
He goes on to warn Nineveh (the Assyrians) that even though they are strong, they are doomed. He tells them their name will be forgotten and they will go to the grave because they are worthless. Today we’d probably say there remained absolutely no redeeming grace. They were punished, not only because of their animosity and inhumane treatment of those they had subjugated, but because there was no hope for redemption. Earlier God had used Assyria to punish His wayward people but now God punished them by putting them out of business.
Nahum continues: Nineveh, city of murder and treachery, here is your fate . . . you were nothing more than a prostitute using your magical charms and witchcraft to attract and trap nations . . . but now I the Lord All-Powerful and now your enemy will pull up your skirts and let nations and kingdoms stare at your nakedness. I will cover you with garbage, treat you like trash, and rub you in the dirt . . .
Nahum also knew his history. Nineveh, do you feel safer than the city of Thebes? The Nile River was its wall of defense. Thebes trusted the mighty power of Ethiopia and Egypt; the nations of Put (a region South of Egypt) and Libya were her allies. But she (Egypt) was captured and taken to another country. Her children were murdered at every street corner. The members of her royal family were auctioned off and her high officials bound in chains. Nineveh, now it’s your turn.
Studies of history reveal that many nations, and yes, civilizations have come and gone. Even those seemingly indestructible. Our tendency is to say to most of them self-destructed through greed, corruption in high places, mismanagement and a host of other reasons. And rightfully so in many instances.
However, Nahum, obscure prophet that he is, reminds us that God is powerful, yet patient; He demands loyalty; He protects those who trust Him; He makes sure the guilty are punished and that Judah, in spite of its failures, will one day be restored to its earlier power and glory. It must be remembered that all this was written before Assyria was crushed and before the restoration of Judah.
Which restoration (as there was more than one) is uncertain. Nahum’s probable restoration was the return from Babylonian exile many years after the destruction of Nineveh. Less likely, perhaps, although a probability, would be the 20th century restoration. Those who would like to reduce futuristic prophecy to a convenient history continue to face an impossible task.
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Obadiah:A Man of Few Words Obadiah 1-21As you will notice, we are not placing each personality in a precise chronological order. At times this is not only difficult, it is quite impossible. We are placing Obadiah here because his prophecy is against Edom, another antagonist of Israel and Judah. In all likelihood, because Edom was often at odds with Israel, we can only guess when he lived and prophesied.
Let’s take a hard look at Edom. The Edomites (also known as Idumaea) were the descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob (later called Israel) who was at enmity with his brother although they did reconcile with each other, at least momentarily. However, the Edomites and the Israelites were quite unbrotherly and warred against each other quite often. The Edomites settled in rugged territory long before the Israelites occupied Caanan (Palestine) and had linked with Ammon and Moab among other tribes in their attempts at the subjugation of Israel.
The Ammonites descended from Ammon, the son of Lot by his youngest daughter (she and her older sister feared that her father would have no son for posterity and by inducing him to drink too much, conceived sons). The Ammonites became a nomadic people and often were linked with other nations in their hostilities toward Israel.
Moab was the other son of Lot through his eldest daughter, the founder of the Moabites. Consequently, these were all contemporaries of Abraham, Lot’s uncle. Jacob, Esau, Moab and Ammon were all related but had little love for each other. The descendants of Jacob settled in Caanan hundreds of years after Moab, Ammon and Edom had already established roots. These tribes resented the intrusion of the Israelites into their territories resulting in many major and minor skirmishes.
Back to Edom and Obadiah. Since there were numerous times over hundreds of years when Obadiah could have raised a voice against the Edomites, it is difficult to pinpoint when his prophecies were given much less fulfilled. Even during the post exile years (the 400 year period between the Old and New testaments), when there was a remnant of Jews living in Palestine, the Edomites were subdued by the fierce Jewish Maccabees and were forced to conform to Jewish laws, rites and rule.
Whether this was the ultimate realization of Obadiah’s indictment is uncertain. Since this was the end of the line of the Edomites (or Idumaeans who produced the infamous Herod the Great), it certainly was prophetic. Roman and Greek writers often refer to the Edomites as Idumaeans who along with the Moabites and Ammonites endured long and ignoble histories.
Obadiah’s prophetical utterances created the shortest of all the prophetical books. Now hear this: The Lord said to Edom: I will make you the weakest and most despised nation. You live in a mountain fortress thinking you are safe. But I will bring you down because you were cruel to your relatives, the descendants of Jacob. Now you will be disgraced for ever. I forced the people of Judah to drink the wine of my anger but soon the neighboring nations must drink their fill and vanish forever.
The people of Israel (Obadiah uses Israel and Judah interchangeably) in the Southern desert will take the land of Edom. Those who live in the hills will capture Philistia, Ephraim and Samaria. The tribe of Benjamin will take Gilead and those who return from captivity will live on Mt. Zion and rule over Edom. Then the kingdom will belong to the Lord. And so it came to pass.
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Habakkuk: A Man Who Asked Big Questions Habakkuk 1-3This prophet probably was both a Levite (possibly a priest as well) and a prophet. He may also have been a musician involved in religious worship ceremonies. At the end of the book, instructions are given to the music director to use stringed instruments. This could refer to Chapter 3 which is a prayer but also a psalm meant to be sung.
A word here about the Apocrypha might be in order. Generally, Protestants view the Apocryphal books seriously as well as with skepticism. When included in the Bible, the books are usually placed between the Old and New Testaments. Sometimes they are interspersed in the Old and New Testaments. These books vary in content with some more authentic than others. The Roman Catholics have given credence to several of the Apocryphal books including them as authentic.
One of them is known as Bel and the Dragon which describes a legend that Habakkuk was taken by an angel to Babylon to feed the prophet Daniel who had been cast into the den of lions. The superscription also refers to "Habakkuk the son of Joshua of the tribe of Levi." Even though the Apocryphal books have not been canonized by all Christians (formally included with the 66 books of the Bible), they do shed light on historical and theological issues making them useful although not invaluable.
Habakkuk raises two important questions, questions often raised today. The first is this: Why does violence prevail when justice should rule? Listen to Habakkuk: Lord, how long must I beg for your help before you listen? How long before you save us from all this violence? Why do you make me watch such terrible injustice? Why do you allow violence, lawlessness, crime and cruelty to spread everywhere? Laws cannot be enforced; justice is always the loser. He may have been referring to the wicked, impotent leadership of his own people or oppression imposed by another nation.
God’s answer caught him by surprise. In effect God told him He was sending the Babylonians, who are fierce and cruel, eager to destroy, to exercise judgment on his people. Habakkuk then posed another question: Why use someone who is more wicked than we are to punish us? When an answer was not forthcoming, the prophet took his stand in a watchtower to await an answer.
Eventually it came. At the time I have decided my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting—it will happen. I, the Lord, refuse to accept anyone who is proud. Only those who live by faith are acceptable to me. A delineation of the sins of his people followed: wine is treacherous and arrogant people are never satisfied; you stored up stolen goods and cheated others; you robbed cities and nations and murdered their people; you built a city of crime and violence; you get your friends drunk just to see them naked; you destroyed trees and animals; you trusted in idols that cannot even breathe. Let all the earth be silent—the Lord is present in his holy temple. But there was hope if they repented.
It was then that Habakkuk penned his Psalm, a prayer to his God (3:1-19). This is my prayer . . . You are the same holy God who came to help us . . . Your glory shone like the sun and light flashed from your hands . . . In your furious anger you trampled on nations to rescue your people . . . I will celebrate because the Lord God saves me.
St. Paul picks up on Habakkuk’s theme that the just shall live by faith (faithfulness) as did Martin Luther when the same theme was stressed ushering in the Reformation.
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Zephaniah: Mercy vs. Merit Zephaniah 1-3Zephaniah claimed to be a descendant of Hezekiah. Because there are several persons in the Bible named Hezekiah, we cannot be certain which one it was. It could well have been King Hezekiah which would then have made Zephaniah a continuation of the royal line.
It is quite clear when he prophesied but less certain when his prophecies were fulfilled. He too railed against the enemies of Judah such as the Philistines, Moabites and Ammonites, Ethiopians and Assyrians. He also spoke out against his own people for their transgressions. He named in particular the princes (the ruling class) who preyed on their people like lions. He indicted the prophets who committed treachery and the priests who polluted the temple. It has been suggested that he omitted the king, deferring to the princes, because he was of nobility himself, but this is simply conjecture. The princes of course were also nobility.
What Zephaniah is saying is beware when both secular and religious leaders of a society reject the teachings of God and turn away the hearts of the people. It may sound like wishful thinking to suggest that a nation needs a good check-and-balance system or it will corrupt itself. But if the prophets and priests do not reprimand the evil civil leaders, the leaders will rarely discipline themselves. History has repeatedly shown how often institutions fail to discipline themselves.
It might be folly to suggest that civic leaders ought to police its wayward religious leaders but in a sense that happens. We are going through a most difficult time sifting through the past as adults who were molested as children are coming out of the woodwork raising havoc within the Roman Catholic church. Unfortunately, a not-so-pretty cover-up of this behavior is also coming to light complicating the whole matter. Since the church did not police itself adequately, civil law is compelled to bring some kind of justice to the surface.
This can also be seen in other ways when religious institutions or individuals are inadequately policed internally that external forces are pressed into action. This can be witnessed when that which rightfully belongs to Caesar is not rendered unto Caesar (as in taking unlawful tax exemptions as an example). Zephaniah takes this all the way and shows what can happen when literally no policing is done. Everyone loses and eventually God acts.
Zephaniah stops condemning Jerusalem abruptly after the first seven verses in Chapter 3 and proclaims that God will ultimately redeem His people, punish the evil nations, remove the haughty from Mt. Zion and give the territory to the humble. He also predicts the end of oppression and the return of a remnant from exile. God Himself is named by Zephaniah the King of Israel. The message ends with a song of hope based not on their merits but on God’s mercy.
There is considerable talk about Israel being God’s chosen people granting them the right of favoritism. This is hardly the case. The Northern tribes were so wicked that they were eliminated as a nation. Judah was restored after many warnings only to go into an almost anonymous exile until the twentieth century. Yes, they were and are God’s chosen people but not His favorites as in favoritism as we understand it. They were preserved because God made a promise on which He would not renege.
At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD (3:20).
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