Survey Minor Prophets Old Testament
There are 12 books of the Minor Prophets. Most were written before the Jewish Exile. Five written after the Exile.
BOOK OF HOSEA
Hosea means God is salvation.
Date of writing- 785 B.C. during reign of King Jeroboam of Israel.
Hosea was the only prophet of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the Kingdom that turned away from the God of Israel when 10 tribes of Israel separated from the Southern Kingdom of Judah after King Solomon died.
Ch. 1. Israel is like an unfaithful wife. Hosea told to take a wife of whoredom. Israel has committed great whoredom.
Ch. 2-3. Idolatry of the people. God brings judgement but promises reconciliation.
Ch. 4-5. Sins of the priests. Idolatry of the people of Israel. God’s judgement on the Priests, the people and the Princes of Israel.
Ch. 6:1. “Come let us return unto the Lord for He hath torn, and He will heal us.”
Ch.7:3. “They make the King glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.”
Ch. 9:17. “My God will cast them away because they did not hearken to Him: they shall be wanderers among the nations. Prediction of the Assyrian conquest and captivity of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Ch. 11:1-2. “When Israel was a child I loved him and called my son out of Egypt. As they called…they went and sacrificed unto Baalam and burned incense to graven images.”
Ch. 14:1-4. “Israel, return unto the Lord yhy God…I will heal their backsliding.”
Ch. 14:9. “Who is wise shall understand…for the ways of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall fall therein.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel never returned to the Lord. All of it’s kings worshiped Idols. The Assyriam Empire conquered them and took them captive to Ninevah and they were not returned to the land of Israel.
THE BOOK OF JOEL - The Day of the Lord is at hand.
Joel means The Lord is God.
Joel the son of Penthuel wrote this book of Minor Prophets about 800 B.C. before the Captivity of Israel and Judah.
Main theme of the book is: Return to the Lord your God.
Ch. 1: Lamenting over a great plague of locusts and severe drought.
“Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.” vs. 8.
“The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the Lord; the priests, the Lord’s ministers, mourn.” vs. 9.
“Alas for the day of thr Lord is at hand and as a destruction from the Almighty it shall come.” vs. 15.
“Oh Lord, to thee will I cry for the fire has devoured the pastures…the beasts of the field cry…” vs15-18.
Ch. 2: Return to the Lord.
'“Blow the trumpet in Zion and sound the alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” vs.1.
“Yet even now declares the Lord, turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rent your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and he repenteth him of evil. vs.12-13.
“ And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh… and I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth…” vs.28-30.
“And it will come about that whosoever calls on the name of thr Lord shall be saved.” vs. 32.
Ch. 3: Return of the captivity.
“…I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem.” vs.1.
“Let the heathen be awakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat…multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” vs. 12-14.
Summary of the Book of Joel:
Oh Israel return to the Lord your God. God will restore you and end your captivity.
All you heathen awaken and come to the valley of decision for the day of the Lord is nea
Below is the message audio. Main theme of the book of Joel: The Day of the Lord is at hand..
BOOK OF AMOS.
Amos was a shepherd called by God to address the nation of Israel, the Northern Kingdom, addressing their sins and the forthcoming judgement. Amos 2:6.
Date about 760 B.C. during the reign of King Uziah of Judah & Jeroboam II of Israel. Amos called for social justice and righteousness. Amos 5:24.
He warns Israel of the coming captivity because of their worship of the false gods Moloch and Chiun. Amos 5:26.
He was opposed by the idalotrous priesthood of Israel. Amos 7:12.
Amos was unique as a prophet saying he was “neither a prophet nor son of a prophet... but a herdsman.” Amos 7:14.
BOOK OF OBADIAH
Name Obediah means servant of Jehovah.
This is the shortest book in the Old Testament written after the conquest of Judah, the southern Kingdom by the Babylonian Empire and the Babylonian captivity.
The Prophesy is directed to Edom-the descendants of Esau Jacob’s brother who gave up his birthright for a bowl of soup.
Key verses:
The pride of your heart has deceived you. You will live in the clefts of the rock…you say in your heart who will bring me down to earth. … though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down declares the Lord. vs. 3-4.
Oh how Esau will be ransacked, and his hidden treasures searched out. vs.6.
Because of violence to your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame and you will be cut off forever. vs, 10.
On the day foreigners entered Jerusalem’s gates and cast lots for Jerusalem-you too were one of them. vs. 11.
Do not gloat over the day of your brother’s misfortune, and do not rejoice over the sons of Judah on the day of their destruction. vs. 12.
And do not stand at the fork of the road to cut down their fugitives. vs. 14.
For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done unto you. Your dealings will return on your head. vs. 15.
So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau. vs. 18.
And the exiles of this host of the sons of Israel will possess the cities of Negev(of Edom). vs. 20.
The deliverers will ascent mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom will be the Lord’s. vs 21.
Summary of Obadiah:
The Edomites, descendents of Esau always showed resentment of the Israelites descendants of his brother Jacob and celebrated their defeat by the Babylonians.
God will judge the Edomites and will deliver the Israelites from captivity and restore them to Mount Zion.
BOOK OF JONAH
Jonah is from Galilee near Nazareth. He lived before the fall of the northern Kingdom of Isreal in 721 B.C.
He is the only Old Testament prophet with whom Jesus compares himself.
After healing the blind and dumb, the people declare Jesus is the son of David.
The Pharisees went out and held a council against Him how they might destroy Him. Mt.12:14.
Then certain of the Scribes & Pharisees answered saying, Master we would see a sign from thee. Mt.12:38.
Jesus’ response: An evil & adulterous generation seeking a sign; there shall be no sign given to it but the sign of the Prophet Jonah.
As was Jonah in the belly of the whale three days & nights so shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth. The men of Ninevah shall rise in judgement with this generation and condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. Behold a greater than Jonah is here. Mt.12:39-41.
Below is a voice recording the posted message Jesus and Jonah.
BOOK OF MICAH
Micah the Moserthite wrote this at the time of Jotham, Ahaz & Hezekiah kings of Judah which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerrusalem.
The Audio message below:
BOOK OF NAHUM
Nahum means comforter.
Theme-prophecy against Ninevah about 713 B.C.
Form-a poem made up of three odes.
Message-The severity of God’s judgement against the heathens of Ninevah.
Audio recording below.
BOOK O THE PROPHET HABAKKUK
Habakkuk means embraser, wrestler. He wrestles with God and asks: God how can you use a wicked nation to punish your people?
Habakkuk is a book of soliloquy between Habakkuk and the Almighty.
Date of writing-late 7th century B.C. shortly before the Babylonian captivity of the southern kingdom of Judah.
Below is the Audio message.
THE PROPHET ZEPHANIAH
Zephaniah probably a young man, 25 y.o. when he began to prophesy.
He lived in Jerusalem at the time of King Josiah and was instrumental in that revival.
Outline of the book.
General prophesy of God’s Judgements Ch. 1:1-2:3.
Judgement declared. Ch. 1:1-6. “I will stretch out mine hand upon Judah & the inhabitants of Jerusalem…”
Judgement defined. Ch. 1:7-13. “… I will punish the princes and the Kings’s children…”
Judgement described. Ch. 1:14-18. “…a day of trouble & distress…of wasteness & desolation…”
Judgement may be avoided. Ch.2:1-3. …”Seek ye the Lord…seek righteousness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.
Detailed prophesy of God’s judgement. Ch. 2:4-3:8.
The Philistines. Ch. 2:4-7.
Moab and Ammon. Ch. 2:8-11.
Ethiopia-Egypt. Ch. 2:12.
Assyria. Ch 2:13-15.
Jerusalem. Ch.3:1-8.
Blessings promised to the daughter of Zion-the remnant of Israel. Ch. 3:9-20.
“Sing O daughter of Zion…O daughter of Jerusalem…The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty: He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee in singing. vs. 14-17.
“Behold at that time I will undo all that afflicted thee…” vs. 19.
“At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all the people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord. vs. 20.
THE PROPHET HAGGAI
Haggai was the first of the restoration prophets-after the captivity of Judah ended. He was born during and possibly in the land of captivity. Date is 520 B.C.
His main message to the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the House of the Lord.
Audio message below.
The Prophet Haggai instructing Zerubabel Governor of Juda and Joshua the High Priest to rebuild the Temple of God.
THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH
The second post-exilic Prophet during the reign of Darius of the Persian Empire.
Written 520-518 B.C.
Name means God remembered. He was probably also a priest.
Audio below.
THE PROPHET MALACHI
Malachai means my messenger in Hebrews.
This is the last of the 12 Minor Prophets.
It is a post exilic book - after rebuilding the temple which was dedicated 516 B.C.
The people have become unfaithful to God’s covenant. He will deal with them but not abandon them.
Below is the Audio.
The Prophet Malachi asks “why have you departed from God?”
Below is the underlined link to click on to see the hand written notes.