Minor Prophets, Part 2: Babylonian Crisis
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Lesson OneNahum23 Activities|3 Assessments
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Nahum
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In | A Symbol for Nahum
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In | Workbook: Nahum
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In | Nahum's Name
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In | Vengeance
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In | Preparing for the Siege, Part 2
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In | YHWH and the Sea
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In | Nahum and the Exodus, Part 2
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Behind | Siege Tactics
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Behind | Cities and Their Gods
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Behind | Assyrian Empire
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Behind | The Brutality of the Assyrians
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Behind | Honor, Shame, War and Gender
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Behind | Honor, Shame, Nakedness and Weakness
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Behind | Nineveh and Thebes
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Behind | YHWH as the True King
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Behind | King of Kings
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In Front | The Fall of Nineveh
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In Front | Workbook: Honor, Shame, and YHWH
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In Front | Jonah and Nahum
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In Front | Workbook: Reflection
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson TwoZephaniah22 Activities|3 Assessments
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Zephaniah
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In | A Symbol for Zephaniah
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In | Workbook: Day of the LORD
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In | The Day of the LORD
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In | Zephaniah and Idolatry, Part 2
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In | A Day of Judgment
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In | The Sounds of Zephaniah, Part 2
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In | God as Judge and King
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In | The "Plot" of Prophetic Books
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In | Restoration of God's People and the Nations
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In | Shame Transformed, Part 2
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In | Workbook: Zephaniah and Human Sacrifice
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In | Zephaniah and Human Sacrifice
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Behind | The Decline of Assyria and Rise of Babylon
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Behind | Cats and Mice
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Behind | iMap: Cats and Mice
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In Front | Singing Martyrs
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In Front | Workbook: Singing Martyrs
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In Front | Zephaniah and the Suffering Church
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In Front | Workbook: Zephaniah and the Suffering Church
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson ThreeHabakkuk19 Activities|4 Assessments
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Habakkuk
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In | A Symbol for Habakkuk
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In | Workbook: Habakkuk
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In | Topic Study
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In | How Long?
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In | Why? Part 2
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In | The Just Shall Live by Faith
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In | Workbook: Waiting on the LORD
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In | Workbook: Habakkuk, the Second Exodus, and the Great Deeds of God
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In | A Steadfast Companion in Judgment, Part 2
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In | "You Are the Unrighteous" Part 2
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Behind | Locating Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Joel
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Behind | Theophany
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In Front | Workbook: Questioning God
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In Front | Habakkuk and the Abused
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In Front | Uncle Tom's Cabin
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In Front | Workbook: Waiting on the LORD, Today
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FourJoel and Josiah24 Activities|2 Assessments
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Joel
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In | A Symbol for Joel
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In | Workbook: Joel
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In | Locusts and the Day of the LORD
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In | The Plight of the People, Part 2
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In | Security and Success
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In | The Holy Spirit
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In | The Valley of Jehoshaphat
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In | Joel and the Prophets
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In | Workbook: Joel and the Prophets, Part 1
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In | Workbook: Joel and the Prophets, Part 2
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In | Workbook: Joel and the Prophets, Part 3
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In | Plentiful Future, Part 2
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Behind | Dating Joel
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Behind | Workbook: Locusts and Armies, Part 1
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Behind | Workbook: Locusts and Armies, Part 2
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Behind | The Reign of Josiah
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Behind | Josiah's Reforms and Revolt
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Behind | Josiah and the Superpowers
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In Front | Workbook: Your Greatest Fear
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In Front | Workbook: The Role and Responsibility of Elders
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In Front | Workbook: Guiding Questions - Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk and Joel
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FiveInterpreting Prophecy34 Activities|7 Assessments
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Getting Started
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In | Workbook: Prophecy, Part 1
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In | Workbook: Prophecy, Part 2
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In | Workbook: Prophecy, Part 3
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In | Predictions, Prophecies, Promises, and Foreshadow
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In | Workbook: Different Kinds of Prophecy, Part 1
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In | Workbook: Different Kinds of Prophecy, Part 2
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In Front | The Variability of Prophecy
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In Front | Prophecy as an Arrow
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In Front | A Voice Calling Out: Arrow
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In Front | Son of Man: Telescope
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In Front | Prophecy as a Telescope
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In Front | Workbook: Psalm 22
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In Front | Psalm 22: Plant
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In Front | Prophecy as a Plant
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In Front | Workbook: The Reversal of Zebulun and Naphtali
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In Front | The Reversal of Zebulun and Naphtali: Plant
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In Front | Beasts of the Sea: Code
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In Front | Prophecy as a Code
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In Front | Prophecy as a River
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In Front | Workbook: The Fate of Nineveh: River
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In Front | The Fate of Nineveh
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In Front | Prophecy as a Bird
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In Front | Prophecy as Music
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In Front | The Prophecy Metaphors
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In Front | Interpreting Prophecy
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In Front | The 4 P's of Prophecy, Part 1
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In Front | Prophecy is Relational and Predictive
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In Front | Near, Future ... and Still Future Fulfillment
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In Front | Literal, Figurative and Symbolic
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In Front | Prophecy and Apocalyptic
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In Front | Workbook: Prophecy or Apocalyptic?
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In Front | Workbook: Reflection on Prophetic Literature
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Course Wrap-upCourse Completion1 Activity|1 Assessment
Participants 11
In Front | Singing Martyrs
Christian and Jewish histories are full of people who have suffered with God and for God. Many became martyrs for their faith. There are many accounts of people singing songs of praise to God even while being killed.
One of the most notable examples of this is the medieval Czech priest, Jan Hus (also known as John Hus). Sadly, he was killed by other Christians over doctrinal issues. As he burned at the stake, he sung in the presence of his oppressors. The word “martyr” comes from the Greek for “witness.” In his dying moments, Hus remained a witness and a praise to the glory of God. An account of this scene is given below.
When the executioners at once lit (the fire), (Hus) immediately began to sing in a loud voice, at first “Christ, Thou son of the God, have mercy upon us,” and secondly, “Christ, Thou son of the God, have mercy upon me,” and in the third place, “Thou Who art born of Mary the Virgin.” And when he began to sing the third time, the wind blew the flame into his face. And thus praying within himself and moving his lips and the head, he expired in the Lord.
Source: http://www.columbia.edu/~js322/misc/hus-eng.html
A more recent and equally compelling story of a “singing martyr” comes from Assam, India in the nineteenth century. Nokseng was a Christian convert who became a missionary. When he was challenged by a tribal chief to renounce his faith, he responded, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” His two children were summarily killed and his wife’s life threatened, to which he responded, “Though none go with me, still I will follow.” Nokseng and his wife were then killed while he sang, “The cross before me, the world behind me.” According to reports, this unflinching testimony led to the conversion of the chief and many in that village. You now know what is behind the story of the famous song, “I have decided to follow Jesus.”
Reference: https://renewaljournal.com/2017/11/29/the-true-story-behind-the-song-i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus/
Jan Hus and Nokseng are breathtaking examples of praising God at the point of death, but Zephaniah’s message isn’t just for the exiled or martyred. They are easy to admire but may be difficult to relate to. Praising God before “the nations” or unbelievers isn’t only called for when suffering and it doesn’t always have to involve singing. We can witness in praise like the people in Zephaniah—in simple acts in daily life.