More than A Collection of Books 5

Obadiah like Jude consists of a single chapter

That prophesies against the descendants of Esau,

They had rejoiced over the destruction of Jerusalem

And this disrespect for Israel seemed to be the last straw.

Jonah called of God to be a witness to the Gentiles

Was jealous that to Nineveh grace should be extended.

While fleeing to Tarshish he was swallowed by a fish

But God ordered it so that that was not where he ended.

Micah is quoted in the book of Saint Matthew

The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah

But against a dark and worldly background

He prophesied wrath against Israel and Judah.

Nahum prophesied against the great city of Nineveh

That the God of the nations the Assyrians disclaimed

Was the sovereign controller of all human destiny

And even the greatest world power must submit in shame.

Habakkuk, known for ”the just shall live by faith”

Is perplexed that Judah is not punished for her iniquity

The Lord uses the Babylonians to punish Judah

Whereupon Habakkuk questions God’s use of the enemy.

Zephaniah tells of God’s determination to execute judgment

On Judah and Jerusalem because of idolatry,

His message to Judah is a call to repentance

But woe is pronounced on Jerusalem for its treachery.

Haggai’s call was for the people to rebuild the temple

Instead they were taken up with their own affairs

Again he encouraged them giving assurance of God’s presence

The glory of the future temple will be greater he declared.

Zechariah using highly symbolic language in his visions

Predicted the overthrow of the Gentile world powers,

He speaks of Messiah’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem

And his return when he makes Mount Olive his tower.

Malachi like Nehemiah highlighted similar problems

Like withholding the Lord’s tithe and intermarrying,

He records Jehovah’s last pleading with His people

Then the prophetic is silent until the Baptist’s coming.

Stewart Russell © March 2017

The Gospel

The Gospel according to

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Was conceptualized in heaven

Long before they were born.

The Gospel is the Good News

About our Saviour, Jesus Christ, 

It was he who died on the cross

To pay our sin’s price.

But from the dead he arose

Praises to God we shout and sing

That Jesus, our Lord and Saviour

Is our soon coming King.

Back in the Old Testament

Long before Jesus had come

Prophets character sketched him

With accurate information.

One of these was Isaiah

From whose writings we often quote,

The other prophet was Zechariah,

Of him too we should take note.

Isaiah was more extensive

In his fore telling of the Christ

But Zechariah’s nonetheless

Will also adequately suffice.

God gave to Zechariah

Precise insight into His plan

And in chapter 6 verse 12

We have “Behold the man!”

An on the “nail-head” caption

Regarding the humanity of Christ,

The title to the Gospel of Luke

So apt and so precise.

Or check Isaiah 42 verse 1

Where there is yet another instant

When God reveals his purpose

Embodied in “Behold my servant.”

Isaiah must have been unaware

And pretty much in the dark

That he was writing the caption

Of the Gospel according to Mark.

In Zechariah chapter 9 verse 9

To our attention the prophet brings

Jesus as he comes riding on a colt

Entitled, “Behold thy King!”

Zechariah surely did not know

Though he captioned this preview

Of the Gospel that was ascribed

To the tax collector, Matthew.

Last but not least we explore

The most debated of them all

As we turn to Isaiah 40 verse 9

And there see, “Behold your God!”

Could Isaiah have known, I doubt

That in his mind it had dawned

That several centuries before the time

He had cited the Gospel of John.

As one studies these four Gospels

Apparent differences will appear

Hence the need to have right focus

With the Spirit to guide you there

The one who came was fully God

And yet, he was fully man

To bridge the gap betwixt us and God

This was the Divine plan.

He was the King of all kings

But his splendor was laid aside

As he became the servant of all

Then was finally crucified.

He was the God-man who came to us

His servant-king’s name was Jesus

He came to minister, not to be minister to

The Gospel shows this as his purpose.

For the four Gospels is really one

Depicting the Lord as the risen Christ

Who died to save us from our sin

In offering himself as our sacrifice.

It is the Trinity at work

To ensure God’s salvation plan,

It’s the chronicles of His Son’s life

And his redemption of man.

Stewart Russell © January 2018