Equipping Men for Impact

Historical Perspective

Nahum prophesied circa 650 BC, more than 100 years after Jonah visited Nineveh. Since then, in 722 BC, Assyria attacked and conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel taking the Hebrews captive to Nineveh. A few decades after Nahum’s prophesy the events forecast were fulfilled in 612 BC. At the time of Nahum’s writing the Assyrians were regarded in the Southern Kingdom as brutal and oppressive heathens and a dangerous threat lying at the doorstep of Judah. Nahum prophesied the destruction of Nineveh and the resulting collapse of Assyrian power. They hoped for the return of the Jews exiled from the Northern Kingdom.

Historical Setting of Jonah

It was interesting to me that both Jonah and Nahum were prophets to Nineveh. Nineveh was the capitol of Assyria until it was destroyed in 612 BC. Nahum specifically prophesied the destruction of Nineveh. Jonah is mentioned in 2 Ki 14:25 as living during the reign of Jeroboam II. The events recorded in the book of Jonah likely took place during this period (ca. 793-753 BC) which was at least 3 decades before Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom.

About Lamentations

This short book is generally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah and it is assumed this book was written during the early stages of the Babylonian captivity sometime not long after 586 BC. It laments the destruction of Jerusalem and the wretched conditions experienced by the Jews left behind in the rubble.

In the 2004 movie the Phantom of the Opera a young girl with a beautiful voice (Christine) finds herself being cared for by an acquaintance of her father's after her father's and mother's death. In addition, she had a childhood sweetheart (Raoul) and they both had enjoyed hearing stories told by her father prior to his death. One story was of an "Angel of Music" that her father promised to send to her upon his death to watch over her, protect her and train her voice.

Introduction

Isaiah is one of the longer books of the OT and chapter 66 is its last chapter. Isaiah lived and prophesied during the last years of the Northern Kingdom (~740-722 BC) and on to about the end of that century. His name means Lord is Salvation. This is poignant since Isaiah’s overall message combines a warning against unbelief with some of the most beautiful word-pictures in scripture of Jesus (Yeshua) in his first coming as well as his glory. Isaiah 66 touches on all of these and more.

THE HOLY OF HOLIES

The Outer Court of the Tabernacle, as viewed by someone approaching it, would appear as a privacy fence fifty cubits(2) (72.9 ft/22.3m) wide by one hundred cubits (145.8 ft/44.5m) long by five cubits (7.3 ft/2.3m) high made of fine (i.e., with a high thread count per inch) white linen supported by bronze posts (twenty on the long sides and ten on the short sides) with bronze bases and silver caps on top (Exodus 27:9-15). In addition, there were silver hooks on the posts for attaching the linen and bronze stakes for cord that would support the posts on both sides (Exodus 27:17-19).

Most of us who believe in God believe the following three things:

1. God is all good.
2. God is all powerful.
3. Evil exists.

Some critics and skeptics, however, argue against the above by saying it creates a contradiction of sorts. They respond with an argument that, more or less, is as follows:

Premise 1: If God is all good and God is all powerful, evil should not exist.
Premise 2: Evil exists.
Conclusion: Therefore God is either not all good or not all powerful.

For today’s run, I wanted to take my favorite trail.  I have not been on it for a while, 

but this beautiful fall weather promised a wonderful run.  The trail was very secluded with several small streams to either jump over or use the wooden bridges provided.  However, several months ago, we had some unusual hurricane weather followed by some flooding which left some of the bridges broken and in disarray. I came across one such bridge on my way out (e.g. this run was an out-and-back run).  The bridge was intact, but the steps leading up to the bridge were washed away.  That was ok, because runners can just jump up or stop and climb up to go across the bridge without the steps.  Having the steps washed out was a little inconvenient, but runners were still able to go in the right direction and not need to turn back. 

On the return trip, I crossed the bridge again.  This time I noticed the missing steps were down the stream a wee bit. With a little effort, I thought they could be put back in place.  So, I stopped my run, got a little dirty, and managed to move the heavy wooden step block back to its rightful place.  I also tried to secure it a little better using an even heavier log.  I placed the log in such a way to divert any floodwaters that may happen to come that way again.  In the process I noticed I cut and bruised my hand a bit. 

THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE

Located directly in front of the veil that leads to the Holy of Holies, at the West end of the Holy Place, stands the Golden Altar of Incense.  It is also made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. It is smaller than the Brazen Altar in the Outer Court, measuring about one and one-half feet square and three feet high. It is transported by two poles inserted into two gold rings attached to two corners of the altar (Exodus 30:1-10).