INTRODUCTION TO THE MINOR PROPHETS The Prophets by

INTRODUCTION TO THE MINOR PROPHETS

The Prophets by Word Count Jeremiah: 42, 000+ words (52 chapters) Ezekiel: 39, 000+ words (48 chapters) Isaiah: 37, 000+ words (66 chapters) Daniel: 11, 000+ words (12 chapters) Zechariah: Approximately 6, 500 words (14 chs. )

The “Minor Prophets” Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

Hard-Hitting Topics Hosea National and individual condemnation of sin.

Hard-Hitting Topics Joel Locust invasions, worldwide judgment at the end of the age, and the redemption of the nation Israel.

Hard-Hitting Topics Amos National and personal corruption, punishment, and redemption.

Hard-Hitting Topics Obadiah Pride, cruelty, and paying the ultimate price for both.

Hard-Hitting Topics Jonah Disobedience, intolerance, and extreme stubbornness.

Hard-Hitting Topics Micah The pursuit of evil, lying spiritual leaders, and the coming of the King.

Hard-Hitting Topics Nahum God’s righteous indignation and destruction of the wicked.

Hard-Hitting Topics Habakkuk God’s strange workings, questioning His will, and the sovereignty of God.

Hard-Hitting Topics Zephaniah The day of the Lord, a call to repentance, and God’s salvation of His people.

Hard-Hitting Topics Haggai Self-centeredness, neglecting God’s work, and promised blessings for obedience.

Hard-Hitting Topics Zechariah Fighting indifference, devastating destruction, and future glory.

Hard-Hitting Topics Malachi “Robbing” God, religious corruption, and fear of the Lord.

Current Relevance Hosea tells the Jewish pagan-worshipers: Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed (4: 1 -2).

Current Relevance Amos says this to the iniquitous ancient Israelites: Do you put off the day of calamity, and would you bring near the seat of violence? Those who recline on beds of ivory and sprawl on their couches, and … drink wine from sacrificial bowls while they anoint themselves with the finest of oils, yet they have not grieved over the ruin of Joseph [Israel’s Northern Kingdom] (6: 3 -6).

Current Relevance The prophet Micah says this: Woe to those who scheme iniquity, who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, for it is in the power of their hands. They covet fields and then seize them, and houses, and take them away. They rob a man and his house, a man and his inheritance (2: 1 -2).

Current Relevance And, again, the prophet Micah rebukes Israel with these stinging words: If a liar and deceiver comes and says, “I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer, ” that would be just the prophet for this people! (2: 11).

Right to the Point! Amos 1: 2 “The LORD roars from Zion And from Jerusalem He utters His voice; And the shepherds’ pasture grounds mourn, And the summit of Carmel dries up. ”

Right to the Point! Obadiah 1: 1 -2 Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the LORD, and an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, “Arise and let us go against her for battle”—“Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you are greatly despised. ”

Right to the Point! Micah 1: 2 -3 Hear, O peoples, all of you; Listen, O earth and all it contains, and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple. For behold, the LORD is coming forth from His place. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.

Right to the Point! Nahum 1: 2 -3 A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; the LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Right to the Point! Zephaniah 1: 2 -3 “I will completely remove all things from the face of the earth, ” declares the LORD. “I will remove man and beast; I will remove the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked; and I will cut off man from the face of the earth, ” declares the LORD.

Right to the Point! Zechariah 1: 2 -4 The LORD was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of hosts, ‘that I may return to you, ’ says the LORD of hosts. … “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds. ’”