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 | Uncle Tom’s Cabin
One of the cultural events that turned the tide of public opinion against slavery in the United States and Europe before the American Civil War was the best-selling novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the story followed the tragic and persecuted lives of African-American slaves and went on to become the second-best selling book of the nineteenth century—second only to the Bible. Chapter 31 begins with this verse from Habakkuk:
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
Habakkuk 1:13 KJV
Interestingly, Stowe was inspired to write her book while taking communion at a small church in Brunswick, Maine. While reflecting on the crucified body of Jesus in her pew, she visualized the brutal abuse and death of a slave, who would later become the character “Uncle Tom” in her novel. She went home after the service and started writing that afternoon.
Jesus’ crucifixion and the ritual of communion (or the Eucharist) follow the message of Habakkuk that God is with us in our suffering. In Jesus’ saving passion, God comes to participate in our suffering in a new way. In the rite of communion we are able, in our suffering, to participate in God’s life in a new way. Reading books like Habakkuk helps to prepare us for the unexpected New Testament Messiah, whose victory will look a lot like defeat. Instead of abolishing violence or explaining it away, he will become the one who absorbs it like no other—for our sake.