Week 40 Reading Guide
Justice, Mercy, and Walking Humbly with God
Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah
Big Idea: This week’s readings call us to examine what God truly desires from His people: not empty religion or outward appearances, but justice, mercy, and a heart that walks humbly with Him. Through the bold proclamations of Amos, the brief yet intense warning in Obadiah, Jonah’s reluctant prophetic mission, and Micah’s poetic vision of hope and judgment, we see God’s heart for righteousness and compassion—not just for Israel, but for all nations.
Reading Plan
Monday: Amos 1–5 (Judgment for Injustice and God’s Call to “Seek Me and Live”)
Tuesday: Amos 6–9 (Woes to the Complacent and Promises of Restoration)
Wednesday: Obadiah; Jonah 1–2 (Edom’s Fall and Jonah’s Call and Prayer)
Thursday: Jonah 3–4; Micah 1–2 (Repentance in Nineveh and God’s Grief Over Sin)
Friday: Micah 3–5 (True Leadership, the Coming King, and God’s Peace)
Saturday: Micah 6–7 (What God Requires and His Compassionate Forgiveness)
Weekly DNA Questions
Discover
What does Amos teach us about the connection between worship and justice?
How does Jonah’s story reveal God’s heart for even those we might consider enemies?
What does Micah 6:6–8 tell us about what God truly desires from His people?
Nurture
Are there areas in your life where religious habits have replaced genuine compassion or justice?
What makes it difficult for you to walk humbly with God and trust His leadership over your own?
Act
Take a tangible step this week to pursue justice—whether in how you treat others, how you advocate, or how you give.
Show unexpected mercy to someone who has wronged or offended you.
Practice humility this week by actively listening to someone with whom you disagree and seeking to understand their perspective.
Key Verse: Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good, and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Reflection for the Week
These prophetic books are not distant or irrelevant—they pulse with urgency and compassion for our world today. Amos confronts the sin of ignoring injustice while pretending to worship. Jonah reveals how scandalous and wide God’s mercy truly is. Micah reminds us that God doesn’t want religious performance; He wants hearts shaped by His justice, love, and humility. As you read, allow these voices to stir your heart and renew your vision of what it means to live faithfully in a broken world.
Bible Project Resources
Guide to the Book of Amos: The farmer/prophet’s words are a call to embrace the true worship of God that should always include acts of justice, righteousness, and love for one’s neighbor.
Guide to the Book of Obadiah: God will deal with the evil in our world and bring all nations into his Kingdom of peace.
Guide to the Book of Jonah: God’s kindness and mercy extend to Jonah’s enemies, the Ninevites. Ultimately, God’s invitation is for Jonah to love his enemy as God does.
Guide to the Book of Micah: God’s judgment can be a source of hope because his covenant love and promises are more powerful than human evil. God’s ultimate purpose is not to destroy but to save and redeem.
