Old Testament (( Prophecy: Minor Prophets)) *~*~*~*~*~* Minor Prophets *~*~*~*~*~* Hosea: The first part of this book narrates the family life of Hosea to convey the message the prophet had from the Lord for His people. The second part of this book gives the details of Israel's involvement in Canaan. Israel's alternative to destruction was to forsake her idols and return to the Lord. Hosea saw the failure to acknowledge God as Israel's basic problem. God's relation to Israel was that of love. The major purpose of this book is to proclaim God's compassion and love that cannot let
Israel go. Joel: Joel is a grand outline of the whole terrible scene of locusts, drought, and invasion then impending on Judah; exhortation to repentance, fasting and prayer; with promise of deliverance and the coming Kingdom of Messiah. Restoration and blessing will come only after judgment and repentance. Amos: Amos announces God's judgments upon the nations around Jerusalem, especially upon Israel: describes the condition of the two kingdoms, the coming of the Messiah and and restoration of the Jews. Amos was a vigorous spokesman for God's justice and righteousness. Amos declared that God was going to judge His unfaithful, disobedient, covenant-breaking people. Because He is all-sovereign, the God of Israel holds the history and destiny of all peoples and of the world in His hands.
Obadiah: The book of Obadiah is a denunciation of the Edomites and a vision of the glories of Zion when God shall have wrought her deliverance. Its theme is that Edom, proud over her own security, has gloated over Israel's devastation by foreign powers. However, Edom's participation in that disaster will bring on God's wrath. She herself will be destroyed, but Mount Zion and Israel will be
delivered, and God's kingdom will triumph. Jonah: Jonah is the story of his mission to Nineveh, his endeavor to avoid it, and God's pity for the heathen. The book depicts the larger scope of God's purpose for Israel, that she might rediscover the truth of His concern for the whole creation and that she might better understand her own role in carrying out
that concern. Micah: This book describes the impending disasters coming on Judah and Israel for their sins, also their restoration and the coming of the King to Bethlehem. Micah also stresses that God hates idolatry, injustice, rebellion and empty ritualism, but He delights in pardoning the penitent. Finally, the prophet declares that Zion will have greater glory in the future than ever before. Nahum: The subject of this prophecy is the final destruction of Nineveh, in which the prophet shows the majesty of God and the certainty of His judgments against Assyria. The focal point of the entire book is the Lord's judgment on Nineveh for her oppression, cruelty, idolatry and wickedness. The book ends with the destruction of the city. God's righteous and just kingdom will ultimately triumph, for kingdom built on wickedness and tyranny must eventually fall, as Assyria did. Nahum declares the universal sovereignty of God. God is Lord of history and of all nations; as such
He controls their destinies. Habakkuk: God makes it clear, however, that eventually the corrupt destroyer will itself be destroyed. In the end, Habakkuk learns to rest in God's appointments and await his working in a spirit of worship. Habakkuk consists of three chapters, the first of which foreshadows the invasion of the Chaldeans, and the second foretells the doom of Chaldea. The third is a magnificent Psalm in which
God's majesty is extolled. Zephaniah: Zephaniah was a prophecy of God's judgments against Judah and the surrounding nations and a promise of restoration to the remnant of the Jews. Zephaniah's main theme is the coming of the day of the Lord when God will severely punish the nations. But he also makes it clear that God will yet be merciful toward His people; like many other prophets, he ends his pronouncements of doom on the
positive note of Judah's restoration. Haggai: Haggai clearly shows the consequences of disobedience and obedience. When the people give priority to God and His house, they are blessed. Obedience brings the encouragement and strength of the spirit of God. Haggai uses a number of questions to highlight key issues: "Give careful thought", "I am with you", "I will shake the heavens and the earth". Zechariah: In a series of eight visions the prophet is told by the angel of the coming restoration of Jerusalem, with which he encourages the people to persevere in the building of the temple. Numerous references are
made to the coming of the Messiah and His Kingdom.
Malachi: Doubting God's covenant love and no longer trusting His justice, the Jews of the restored community began to lose hope. Malachi rebukes their doubt of God's love. Because the Lord does not change in His commitments and purpose, Israel has not been completely destroyed for her persistent unfaithfulness. But only through repentance and reformation will she again experience God's blessing. Those who honor the Lord will be spared. In conclusion, Malachi once more reassures and warns his readers that "the day is coming" and that "it will burn like a furnace". In that day the righteous will rejoice, and "you will trample down the wicked".
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