The Books of the Minor Prophets

‘A Minute with the Minister’ By Jeremy Thornton “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6) The final twelve books of the Old Testament are commonly referred to as “The Minor Prophets.” The books are not “minor” in the power, content, or application to us but only in the length of each book in comparison to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. The Minor Prophets were men that that delivered the Word of God to mankind.

These prophets lived and delivered the message of God during the same time as the Major Prophets (800-400 B.C), seven of the seventeen prophets are connected to the destruction of the city of Jerusalem (Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah). The Minor Prophets also contain direct messages from God to nations pleading for their repentance but also warning of the coming destruction if heed was not given to the message they received. Within these books we have the foretelling of the coming Messiah, His kingdom, and the might of His coming kingdom. These books are a powerful reminder of the mercy and patience of God, but are also a reminder that God will pour out His wrath on those that refuse to obey Him. The world needs to hear and obey God’s Word, which is evident in the lives of those we read of in the Minor Prophets, but it is also evident in our lives, and the lives of any nation at any period of time. Sin has damnable consequences, but thanks be to God that He has done all that He can to save us from the destruction that awaits the unrighteous. Do not turn a deaf ear to the knowledge God has given us in His Word, but apply the teachings in Scripture and be saved eternally by obeying His Will.

• Hosea: Hosea is a book that shows that Israel’s idolatry and unfaithfulness to God are spiritual adultery.

All sin demands punishment and because of the lack of repentance and continual idolatry, Israel must be disciplined. One of the key words in the book of Hosea is the word “return” (mentioned fifteen times), which should impress on the mind of those that heard this message, and those that have read it since, that God is pleading for people to leave their spiritual whoredoms and repent from the sins they have committed.

• Joel: Like Hosea, Joel is a call to repentance. Joel begins in gloom but ends in brightness. Joel is sometimes called “the locust plague” because of the use of the plague of locust Judah was experiencing to illustrate their need to repent or face greater judgment from God . There are three major divisions in the book of Joel: 1) the locust plague and drought used to bring people to repentance (1:1-2:27); 2) the day of the Lord will be seen by the outpouring of the Spirit (2:28-3:16); 3) the glorious future of Judah and Jerusalem (3:1721). Though the book deals with the destruction that is taking place in the locust plague and drought, in the middle of the book there is a vision of restoration of the abundance the land once had after the repentance of the people.

• Amos: Amos was sent to denounce the sins of Israel and neighboring nations.

Amos preached a message that we must all hear, “Prepare to meet thy God” (4:12). Amos appealed not only to the nation of Jerusalem and Judah but to all nations, proclaiming that all men are to know that Jehovah is God, that He governs all on the same principles of righteousness, and there is no possible way to escape the consequences of persistent sin.

• Obadiah: Obadiah warned Edom of the folly of pride and selftrust, while warning of the certainty of God’s judgment. Obadiah points out God’s displeasure with Edom for her cruel treatment of Judah, and His visiting the judgment upon those who are without compassion and who cause distress to others. Obadiah is an illustration of how one will truly reap as they have sown.

• Jonah: Jonah is perhaps one of the most famous of all the prophets. Every children’s Bible class at one point or another has taught the children of Jonah and the great fish, but as we understand the implications of what took place we truly understand that this is far from a children’s tale. Jonah is often called the “Running Prophet,” as he is seen running from God, and then running to God.Jonah was to carry a message of repentance to one of the most wicked nations of his time, which should emphasize the fact to us today that God wants all to be saved regardless of how wicked we may see them, God sees them as souls in need of repentance.

• Micah: Micah was a contemporary with Isaiah and denounced the wickedness of both Judah and Jerusalem. Israel would be destroyed by Assyria and the people would perish in captivity (1:67) but Judah would be spared by Assyria only to be taken captive by Babylon (3:12; 7:13).

Micah also tells of the remnant that will be restored, the Messiah that will come, and the everlasting kingdom that will be established (4:1-8, 13; 5:2; 7:1117). Although Micah denounced the doom of the nations, he never ceased to plea for their repentance.

• Nahum: Nahum is a book that points out, in three chapters, God’s goodness and His severity while pronouncing the doom of Nineveh.

Nahum’s appeal to Judah and people is to know the majesty and power of God, the certainty of His judgment, and His love for all of mankind.

• Habakkuk: Habakkuk foretold of the fall of the Babylonians whom God had raised up to punish Judah. In the book of Habakkuk we see the principle of righteousness: “the just shall live by faith but the unjust shall die.”

Habakkuk was the messenger of God that was to console the Jews while in exile as God calls them to forsake all idolatry and trust in Him.

• Zephaniah: Zephaniah declares the certainty of both God’s wrath and His love. The great Day of the Lord’s anger against all evil doers is at hand and this book emphasizes that clearly. God wi;; punish those that “have done violence to the law of God” (3:4). Because there is such a day that awaits us, let us prepare now to meet the Lord.

• Haggai: Haggai deals with the period of time after the exile to Babylon when Cyrus would allow the Israelites to return to their homeland. Haggai encouraged the people to resume work on the temple, which they did and completed the work in only four years.

• Zechariah: Zechariah’s theme is God’s remembering love and providential care for His people. Zechariah constantly reminds the people that God is a jealous God and that they wer to turn to Him and in return He will turn to them (1:3).

• Malachi: Malachi shows God’s rebuke of the people for spiritual indifference, and His continual love for His people,. In this book, God’s emphasizes that mere lip service is not accepted and that He demands undivided devotion. God called on the people to worship and serve Him with genuine devotion, from the heart. This message is one that is still relevant today. God cannot be obeyed by simply going through the motions but must be obeyed whole-heartedly.

Jeremy Thornton is Minister of Highway 77 Church of Christ in Marion.