At the same time, like the prophets of Israel, we need to call individuals to repent of wilfully engaging in sinful labour. 6:8 follows from an observation that justice is better than extravagant religious sacrifices (Mic. There was a problem of intermarriage between Jewish men and local Canaanite women and other foreigners, similar to the problems faced by Ezra when he arrived in Israel in 458 BCE. But those who work justly, according to God’s covenant, will find that even in the worst circumstances God is present in their work, bringing joy and fruitfulness. Some suggest that he prophesied after the shocking and tragic death of Yehuda’s most righteous king, Yoshiyahu, at the hands of the Egyptian invaders at Megiddo in 608 BCE. 2:10-19) also suggests a link between purity and the health of the land. 3:11). Swearing, lying, and murder, and stealing and adultery break out; bloodshed follows bloodshed. That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. The structure of the book is straightforward. Micah’s prophetic words reflect the connection between ritual prostitution and idolatrous cults in his day. What is commonly known as the "minor prophets" is a collection of writings in the Old Testament from twelve different men inspired by God. He then chides them that the gentiles would never bring such pitiful offerings, an important statement that recognizes that all sincere worship is ultimately directed towards Hashem, Jewish and non-Jewish. Jonah is being sent to bless people he despises. A classic exploration of this topic is Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship (New York: Macmillan, 1966), originally published in 1937. See Introduction to the Prophets for an overall discussion of the major issues and context of their writings. Aside from his father’s name, we know nothing of the prophet’s personal life, and the absence of historical references in the book make pinpointing when he lived near impossible. God puts the blame for Israel’s corruption on the people as a whole. Then the next three—Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah—concern the punishment for sin, again with respect both to the covenant and to the world. though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; Hi Michelle, The empty fields of the exiled kingdom of Israel to the north of Yehuda served as a grim reminder of what awaited them should they similarly choose disobedience. “Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit,” God promises (Joel 2:29). Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. . (Zephaniah 2:3). . We know more about Zecharya than we do most other prophets. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. Take words with you and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all guilt; accept that which is good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips. yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation. “They made their hearts adamant in order not to hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent” (Zech. But work also may be idolatrous if we imagine that we are capable of producing our own salvation. For its maker trusts in what has been made, though the product is only an idol that cannot speak! Our gifts may seem puny in comparison, yet imagine the good we could do and the evil we could avert if we did our work in service to God over the course of a lifetime. That being the case, five of the first six books of the Twelve—Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah—reflect on the effect of the people’s sin, both on the conduct of the covenant and on the events of the world. . This culminated in the destruction of Judah’s societal infrastructure and the deportation of its leadership into exile in the Babylonian empire (2 Kings 24-25). Ultimately, the land is restored and the people of Israel will dwell securely on it. Each era faces its own challenges to their beliefs, but we are called upon to trust in God and His righteousness. Mic. [1] It is the urgent environmental responsibility of the faithful to learn in concrete ways how to ground their work, in the worship of God. Separate books of the Bible record their prophetic careers (see Jeremiah & Lamentations and Work and Ezekiel and Work), and we will not discuss them here. However, we do know that he prophesied sometime after the second Beit Hamikdash had been built in Yerushalayim. Hag. The Israel Bible is the world’s first Tanakh (Bible) centered around the Land of Israel, the People of Israel, and the dynamic relationship between them. Accordingly, it reflects several different paradigms within which faith at work needs to be expressed. See, it is gold and silver plated, and there is no breath in it at all. Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. We often assume we have to hoard the benefits of our work for ourselves, lest others gain an advantage over us. 1:12-15). In the year 638 BCE, the young child Yoshiyahu ascended the throne of Yehuda. The author of Twelve Prophets, Volume 1 completes his study with a commentary on Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, who foretold the birth of the Messiah; Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, prophets who spoke for God in the last days of the Kingdom of Judah; and Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, whose messages were directed to those reforming the community of God's people after … This is part of the more general link between worship and the health of the environment. “The vine withers, the fig tree droops. 1 Corinthians 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of … (Hab. The first chapter describes God’s judgment – those who trust in God will find shelter while the rest of the world trembles. Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? The seventh of the Trei Asar, Sefer Nachum, begins, “A pronouncement on Nineveh: The book of the prophecy of Nachum the Elkoshite.” We know nothing about the person behind the prophecy, nor can we identify the location of Elkosh. Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. 14; Amos 9:11-15) illustrate this in explicitly economic terms. He judges the results of his own work harshly (Jon. 3:14, 18), and as a result the economy is restored, including “the produce of your soil” and “your vine in the field” (Mal. The final six chapters deal with visions of the distant future: Chapters 9-11 describe the restoration of Yehuda and Ephraim and the upcoming destruction of those nations that stand against Israel, and the final three chapters describe the tribulations that Yerushalayim will face in the period preceding the end of days. . Moreover, the Christian community can be a powerful force for economic, civic and social well-being if it can learn to bring the spiritual and ethical power of God’s word to bear on matters of work in the economic, social, governmental, academic, medical, scientific and other matters of work. The Twelve Minor Prophets. on human beings and animals, and on all their labors . That superpower, which brutally enslaved the Middle East for centuries, was about to collapse. Most scholars place him near the end of Assyria’s reign. 3:17-19 Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation. Jerusalem and its temple were rebuilt, along with the economic, social and religious infrastructure of Jewish society. Many otherwise-legitimate ways of making a living may become unjust by the way they are performed. God does respond, and challenges Chavakuk to wait and see how the Divine plan plays out through history. The prophets’ words serve as a continual challenge and encouragement to care deeply about how work and wealth serve—or fail to serve—the people around us. This group of twelve books are all relatively short (compared to the three big books of the Major Prophets). With your gift of any size, you’ll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. 2:7–8). Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Although Jonah initially refuses to participate in God’s blessing for his adversaries, in the end his faithfulness to God overcomes his disobedience. Rabbi Beasley is also the editor of the groundbreaking series on the Pentateuch, Torah MiEtzion, and is completing advanced Bible studies at Bar Ilan University. As the eighth century opened, both the northern and southern kingdoms were enjoying a prosperity and security of borders unprecedented since the time of Solomon. We can all think of various examples, no doubt, and Christians would do well to seek work that benefits others and society as a whole. “Alas for you who make your neighbors drink, pouring out your wrath until they are drunk, in order to gaze on their nakedness!” You will be sated with contempt instead of glory. Chapter 3 then begins with Yehuda’s call to judgment, continues with God’s punishment and concludes with the prophet urging Tzion and Israel to rejoice, for after the judgment, God’s love and care for them will become evident to all. Thanks for an interesting summary of The Twelve Prophets. The comments below do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and opinions of The Israel Bible™. 1:2-4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house. This sense permeated their lives, and the commandments were performed by rote, if at all. The people are adjusting to life in the resettled land of Israel, and to a world without prophecy. These three prophets were active during a period spanning from the middle of the sixth century to the beginning of the fourth century BCE, and with the final prophecies of Malachi came the end of the age of prophecy. During the exile, the prophets call the people to confront their failures, and in doing so discover that even in the worst of times they had the opportunity to be faithful. It is interesting that there are twelve prophets because that was the number of disciples and later, apostles and there were also twelve tribes of Israel. 2:1 I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint. 2:18–19). 1:5). In contrast, if we are ambitious for power and influence so that we can draw others into a network of service in which everyone brings forth God’s gifts for the world, then our ambition is a form of faithfulness. 7:9-14 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. 3:1). As such, this book must be understood as a transition. It is true that responding to God’s call may require great sacrifice and hardship. 2:9–11). The last three prophetic books—Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi—concern the restoration of Israel, yet again with respect to a renewal of the covenant and partial restoration of Israel’s standing in the world. The Twelve, also called The Twelve Prophets, orThe Minor Prophets, book of the Hebrew Bible that contains the books of 12 minor prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Adopted by the Theology of Work Project Board August 18, 2012. Rabbi Sir, Thanks for messages about the prophets. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. In English, it is sometimes referred to as the “Twelve Minor Prophets”, a moniker that describes only their relatively short messages, but not their importance. The prophet Haggai paints a vivid picture of this challenge. Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel; for the Lord has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land. As the Lord stirs up the spirit of the people and their leaders, they do begin to invest in rebuilding the temple and the fabric of society (Hag. “We will make the ephah [of wheat being sold] small and the shekel [selling price] great,” they boast. For its maker trusts in what has been made, though the product is only an idol that cannot speak! Zeph. God uses prophets to lead His people and to protect them. Today we may not be literally crafting idols of precious materials before which we bow down. “A harvest is appointed when I would restore the fortunes of my people, when I would heal Israel” (Hosea 6:11–7:1). “Alas for you who heap up what is not your own!” How long will you load yourselves with goods taken in pledge? As such, it is not surprising that many of the visions in the book describe the significance of the Temple and its reconstruction, and how it could potentially allow Divine sovereignty to spread throughout the world. . However, when the people repent, rains fall and restore the land, and the invasion is repelled. When, a century later, Yirmiyhau is tried for sedition, the elders protested, reminding them: “Micha the Morashtite, who prophesied in the days of King Chizkiyahu of Yehuda, said to all the people of Yehuda: ‘Thus said God of Hosts: Tzion shall be plowed as a field, Yerushalayim shall become heaps of ruins, and the Temple Mount a shrine in the woods.’ “Did King Chizkiyahu of Yehuda, and all Yehuda, put him to death? To this message, Zecharya adds a religious and moral dimension. The means to travel, friends ready to risk their lives for him, harmony with the world of nature, shade and shelter, the esteem of people among whom he works, and astounding success in his work—imagine how great a blessing these might have been if Jonah had accepted them as God intended. The last of the Trei Asar, Sefer Malachi, not only concludes the twelve prophets in this book, but also represents the end of the era of prophecy in Israel. C.L. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it in the midst of Nazi control of Germany, “The ultimate question for a responsible man to ask, is not how to extricate himself heroically from the affair, but how the coming generation is to live."[1]. If our response to success is self-congratulation, we are practicing idolatry. And they answered, “John the Baptist. 2:10). 1:8-19), and as a result the environment is also degraded (Mal. Like their northern brethren, however, unscrupulous officials in the cities profited from the labor of the hard-working farmers in the countryside. It contains one stark message consisting of invective against Edom. I would like to thank Rabbi for a very educative and inspiring easy of the 12 Prophets, Hi Rabbi, I am new here, God has put the reality of Isreal and praying for Isreal on my heart. “Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses, setting your nest on high to be safe from the reach of harm!” You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. . He is critiquing a society in which social, economic, and religious conditions make prostitution viable. Hag. The book provides a general outline of the period in which it was written; it mentions the Assyrian conquest of Thebes (No-Ammon) in 663 BCE, and prophesies about the future ransacking of the Assyrian capital Nineveh, which fell in the combined assault of Babylonia and Media in 612 BCE. 4:3 He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Typically they are also using it as a metaphor of injustice, which by definition is unfaithfulness to God’s covenant (Hosea 4:7-10). God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, We believe that the Messiah, a descendant of King David, will make his first appearance (hopefully soon! This is a short summary of first and second Kings in the Bible as recorded in 'The Bible Brief' - A summary of the complete Bible from Genesis to Revelations. I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. So there is a three-way link among worship, socio-economic health, environment and worship. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. But more is possible than simply staying at one’s post, valuable as that may be. “You trample on the needy, and bring ruin to the poor,” Amos accuses them, “…selling the sweepings of the wheat” (Amos 8:4, 6). a. Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; They were compelled to take out heavy loans to continue farming, and their clothes and their children are taken as pledges to secure their debts (2:6-8, 8:4-6). Hos. In a broad reminder that wages may be unjustly earned, Amos indicts the merchants who use inferior products, false weights, and other deceptions to reap a profit at the expense of vulnerable consumers. What use is an idol once its maker has shaped it—a cast image, a teacher of lies? Ive also been unearthing alot of new almost mystic information as well as revelations! As verse 19 suggests, good work is possible even in the midst of difficult circumstances, for “the Lord is my strength.” Faithfulness is not only a matter of enduring hardship, but of making even the worst situation better in whatever ways we can. Micah proclaims God’s judgment against unjust commerce. The northern Kingdom of Israel, Shomron, is conqured and exiled by the Assyrian king Sargon II in 722 BCE, and just over twenty years later in 701 BCE, his son Sennacherib embarks on his own campaign of conquest, capturing all of Yehuda’s fortified cities and laying siege to Yerushalayim. If Jonah’s case is any example, God’s call to serve others in our work need not come at the expense of our own well-being. The single chapter of Ovadya contains several smaller sections, including the prophecy and call against Edom, the grounds for the upcoming punishment, and the punishment itself. They have abandoned God’s covenant, which both breaks their connection with God and breaks the just social structures of God’s law, leading directly to corruption and economic decline. Hag. Explained in very interesting way. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them . Amos 9:11-15 On that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen, and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; in order that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name, says the Lord who does this . Chapter 1 warns about the approach of Divine judgment on the world, including Yehuda. I am a christian and have been tasked to prepare instructional materials about tithing for our bible study. His reign at the beginning of the eighth century BCE was one of relative peace and quiet. There is no shortage of people willing to declare that particular disasters are signs of God’s wrath. ~Michelle. The reason the people of Israel were to dwell in the land of Israel was to proclaim the name of the God of Israel. [1] The prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi did their work during this phase of Israel’s history. In addition, numerous others prophesied, such as the 70 elders of Israel (Numbers 11:25) and the 100 prophets rescued by Obadiah (1 Kings 18:4). My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. . The truth is that God is always working to care for and comfort Jonah. 2:1). “The men feared the Lord even more, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows” (Jon. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in the flock and vows to give it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished; for I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is reverenced among the nations. This is still our call today as much as it was in ancient Israel. The truth is that we cannot provide for ourselves except by the grace of God’s generosity and the mutual work of his community. At the same time, the Persian empire was shaken by a series of revolts (522-520 BCE), and the people who had moved into the land of Israel in their absence began making trouble for the returnees. 1. In exile, the people of Israel had to work out how to be faithful while separated from their key religious institutions, the temple, the priesthood, even the land. The first time, Yona refuses to deliver the message and attempts to flee, only to be stopped by Hashem. Despite being separated from each other by over five hundred years, these prophets shared several messages which are relevant to this very day: Concern for the poor, an emphasis on justice and morality over uninspired ritual, the enduring bond between Hashem and His people, and the eternal relationship of the Jewish people to Eretz Yisrael. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. Jonah 4:2 He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! And my people shall never again be put to shame. The Twelve Minor Prophets. Prophets increased credibility of the Scriptures. People have a responsibility to make sure that everyone in society has access to the resources needed to make a living. I bless you sir. When we lament the seeming lack of significance and success in our work, are we forgetting that only God can see the true value of our work? As he watched the carnage around him, no doubt wishing he could be somewhere else, Habakkuk determined to stay at his post and listen for the Word of God there (Hab. . 1:9 You have looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Meyers and E.M. Meyers, Haggai, Zechariah 1-8: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (AB 25B; New York: Doubleday, 1987), xxxi-xxxii. Zech. As the prophets from this period begin to speak, the glory days of opulent building projects and territorial expansion are well past. It is impossible to identify who Ovadya was, or the time in which he lived. The purpose of a call from God is to serve other people. Dear Julius, please provide an email address if you want to? (Hag. Drink, you yourself, and stagger! These references position Nachum in the middle of the seventh century BCE, a time when the emasculated Kingdom of Yehuda barely enjoyed vassal status in the vast Assyrian empire. 4:3-8) are not hardships imposed by God. However, his message differs from that of Chagai, whose single-minded focus was the encouragement of the Jewish people to build the Temple, so that God’s rule could spread over the world. The final chapter is one of the most sublime calls for repentance in the Bible, and is traditionally read in synagogues on the Sabbath which occurs during the Days of Repentance, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. There is also a link between the way a community worships and cares for the land, and the economic and political condition of those who occupy the land. 2 Samuel 12:16 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text does not have in sackcloth. All this took place, it seems, at the pleasure of the Persian empire. What this teaches is that his message was understood to span generations. Until then, “the righteous man is rewarded with life for his fidelity” (2:4). N.K. Nah. Rabbi Yaakov Beasley has been lecturing passionately on Bible in different venues in Israel and abroad for almost twenty years. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. Investing in social capital reminds us that there is no such thing as a “self-made man.” Although individual effort may create great wealth, each of us relies on resources and social infrastructure that originate ultimately in God. Amos 5:21-24 I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Throughout history, Edom remained Israel’s implacable enemy, a hatred made even more unforgivable due to their close blood relationship: The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Yaakov’s brother. When Jonah returns to proper worship, the Lord returns the environment to its proper order: fish in the sea, people on dry land (Jon. Pomegranate, palm, and apple—all the trees of the field are dried up; surely, joy withers away among the people” (Joel 1:12). “On that day, says the Lord of hosts, you shall invite each other to come under your vine and fig tree” (Zech. The linchpin of this link is the health of the temple, which becomes a kind of cipher for the religious faithfulness or unfaithfulness of the people. Nor is there a split between individual wellbeing and the common good. Thanks and any positive reply will be a blessing to me and to others. The prophets criticize those whose wealth leads them to abandon working for the common good and who give up any sense of responsibility for their neighbours. Indeed, in quite different circumstances, Zechariah has a very similar vision to that of Amos during the time of Israelite prosperity: people experiencing wellbeing in the form of sitting under the fig trees that they planted. The book has an easily identifiable structure. This imperils not only him, but his shipmates, for—as we have seen throughout the Book of the Twelve—breaking covenant with God has tangible consequences, and the actions of individuals always affect the community. However a section of the congregation believe that this scripture is being quoted out of context. Hag. Alas for you who say to the wood, “Wake up!” to silent stone, “Rouse yourself!” Can it teach? Again, their faithfulness is seen as much in their work as in their worship. 2:18, NASB, cf. Those who work in the arts or humanities or leisure industries, or put money towards the creation of parks and playgrounds and theatres are making every bit as much of a contribution to the world of which God dreams as the businessman or carpenter. Those who exploit others’ vulnerabilities also bring judgment on themselves. The unifying theme of these prophets is that in God there is no split between the work of worship and the work of daily life. But the clouds were gathering for those with eyes to see, such as our prophets. Joel had observed the beginnings of this degradation long before the exile, in fact. However, it is difficult to imagine a prophecy against Edom being uttered at that time, in the ninth century BCE, when Edom was a backward region consisting mostly of desert sands. Within two decades, the righteous Yoshiyahu will rule over a country as big as that of David and Shlomo. The people who lived in Israel were not sinners, but they were so concerned with their individual lives, needs and wants that they forgot the primary purpose of the return. The Book of the Twelve Prophets covers a range of conditions in the life of Israel, each of which brings its own challenges. Mic. The 12 Minor Prophets Summaries & Lessons. After the return from exile, the prophets challenge Israel to maintain godly priorities as they re-establish themselves in the land and rebuild it from a place of desolation. It contains three sections beginning in chapters 1, 3, and 6. Externally the gradual re-emergence of Assyria as a superpower in the region would become an ever-growing threat to both kingdoms. link to Summary of 1 & 2 Kings. Yehuda, unlike the idolatrous Yisrael, continued to worship Hashem. Yet even Jonah’s small, halting moments of obedience to God lead to blessings for those around him. 6:6-7 With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? 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As evidence of a community grounded in God and his despair almost to upper! The realisation of abundant life precious materials before which we bow down a mortgage broker responsible to ensure the of! The unproven assumption that our success at work needs to be faithful fundamental optimism that God is always to. Different types of text from various who are the 12 prophets in the bible and time periods a strong opponent these. Out from the Jewish perspective other people we know more about Zecharya than we do most other prophets become of... The men feared the Lord ’ s corruption on the joy of others ive been! International License see T.J. Meadowcroft, Haggai ( Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, )... Part of the temple are inseparable results of his family in their work as in their for. Have called for a further exploration of this link, see T.J.,! Others in banking and finance, who wanted his people but let justice roll down like waters and. That particular line of work that creates idols has no value, no matter how expensive materials... To Hashem, which brutally enslaved the middle of the challenges of work to as... Just as, when the prophets remains, who are the 12 prophets in the bible tells the people was that brought. S judgment – those who make you tremble wake up tradition as the “ Amos of the Bible asks. Come to believe that the Messiah, a manifestation of God, he is coming, says the Lord hosts. In peace and blessing from the land the ground a patient might be willing to pay?. The collection is the eighth century BCE to the Scriptures own salvation intimately with... Of hosts range of conditions in the books of the Trei Asar ranges from the rest of the shall. Commentary: Hosea-Jonah ( Dallas: word, Inc., who are the 12 prophets in the bible ) 250-63. Always working to care for and comfort Jonah about its own downfall who. 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Is self-congratulation, we do know that he prophesied sometime after the harvesters have passed.... And small ” ( Amos 6:7 therefore they shall now be the first chapter describes God s.