Introduction

Introduction

Part of Minor Prophets

September 5, 2023

SLIDE 1 Overview

SLIDE 2 The best way to benefit from this series will be to (

) the text. Read the book at least once before we meet on Wednesdays and see if you can answer the questions that follow each lesson.

SLIDE 3 Hebrews 1:1-2: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.”

Quite often we quote this passage to affirm the authority of Christ today, and how He is God’s final Spokesman. If we believe that, we must also firmly believe the first part of the verse. God did not always speak to man through His Son. There was a time when God spoke through chosen messengers called “prophets.” They were His mouthpieces through which His will was communicated and His expectations were laid out for His people.

SLIDE 4 The prophets were (

) all of the same personality, stamped out of a cookie cutter. Different personalities and abilities colored them all, but as a collective group they were able to relate to any problem Israel found herself in. They (

) that the God they served “knows the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). This is especially made evident in their prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and His kingdom (1 Pet. 1:10-12). Gradually, the Bible unfolds the purpose God had in Christ (Eph. 3:10-11), and the prophets played a major role in the revealing of that mystery.

The language used by the prophets was in no way poor or impoverished. It always fit the occasion and was directly on point. The prophets spoke thunderously of judgment on sin, or with tender compassion showing God’s mercy in forgiveness. They appealed directly to the consciousness of the Hebrews, or spoke with parables, metaphors and similes. God’s chosen spokesmen may have used dreams, visions, or a direct word from Jehovah. Whatever the method used, it was always with one (

): to make known the (

) of God for His people. That was always constant.

Who Were The Minor Prophets?

SLIDE 5 What is meant by “The Minor Prophets?” The “Twelve Minor Prophets” is the (

) and last “book” in the second section of the Hebrew Bible, the (

’IM), or Prophets. This expression of 12 minor prophets is not an inspired one, but is one invented by Bible students in order to differentiate among all the prophets used by God. It is believed that this title originated in Augustine’s time late fourth century A.D. The message of the “Minor Prophets” was (

) minor at all, but generally shorter than the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, commonly called “The Major Prophets.”

SLIDE 6 “In times of spiritual and moral repression and decay, God raised up men (

) in whose mouth He put His word and whom He sent to the people in an effort to turn them back to Himself.”” - Homer Hailey

When we speak of “The Minor Prophets,” we refer to Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Though their messages were shorter, they were no less powerful nor no less needed. They should not be shunned simply because they are labeled “minor” and not “major.”

SLIDE 7 - VIDEO

Many have forsaken the truths revealed within these great books and have never taken the time to study them. Such people have deprived themselves of great spiritual lessons that have applicability on New Testament disciples today.

What Was The Work Of A Prophet?

SLIDE 8 Many have the idea that prophets primarily predicted future events. That really is not true. Basically, we can categorize the prophet’s work as following:

To speak for God to (

).
In Ex. 7:1, God told Moses that Aaron would be his ““prophet”.”
A prophet was a spokesman, a mouth for another.

To speak God’s (

).
In recording the call of Jeremiah, we read what God says in Jer.1:7 “…“…everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.”” Jer.1:9 states, ““Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.””
A prophet then is one who has God’s words in His mouth, and is ready to tell them to others. This is what we understand to be the meaning of 2 Pet.1:20-21.

To be a ““forth teller”” (

) than a ““foreteller”.”
While we cannot overlook the predictive abilities of the prophet, the principal work of a prophet was to preach to the people of his time.

To (

) with ““false”” prophets.
As one would imagine, there would be counterfeits vying for ““equal time”” with those who actually spoke for God. They would have to be silenced, as their work would do irreparable damage to the spiritual work of true prophets. God gave instructions on how to deal with false prophets in Deut.18:20-22.

Why Study The Minor Prophets?

SLIDE 9 The message of the prophets is (

) up-to-date. Though they do not speak to us today, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our (

)” (Rom. 15:4). An understanding of the political, moral, and religious conditions of ancient Israel and Judah as well as the heathen nations around them makes for a clearer comprehension of the prophets’ message. And with the understanding of their message, our faith today is strengthened when we see the fulfillment of those prophecies and predictions in history in the New Testament. If we are guilty of the same sins condemned by the prophets, what does that say about us? Rightly so, it can be stated that the same sins that destroyed Israel are in fact the same transgressions that cut off men and women from God today. Consequently, we will suffer the same punishments imposed upon Israel.

Chronological Order Of The Minor Prophets

SLIDE 10 In our Bibles, The Minor Prophets do not appear in chronological order. We will be studying them in the order as found in the Scripture. While we cannot be absolute about all of them, there is enough evidence for the vast majority to place them in somewhat of a chronological order.

Dates Of The Minor Prophets
9th Century (

) Assyrian Period)
Obadiah (845 B.C.)
Joel (830 B.C.)
Jonah (790-750 B.C.)

8th Century (

) Period)
Amos (755 B.C.)
Hosea (750-725 B.C.)
Isaiah (740-700 B.C.)
Micah (735-700 B.C.)

7th Century (

) Period)
Jeremiah (626-586 B.C. and after)
Zephaniah (630-625 B.C.)
Nahum (625-612 B.C.)
Habakkuk (ca. 605 B.C.)

6th Century (

) Period)
Ezekiel (593-570 B.C.)
Daniel (605-536 B.C.)

6th-5th Centuries (

) Exilic Period)
Haggai (520 B.C.)
Zechariah (520-518 B.C.)
Malachi (440 B.C.)

SLIDE 11 Group Questions:
Have you ever tried reading some of the Minor Prophets? Which are you most familiar with? Which are you least familiar with?

What do you think prevents people from reading through the more obscure portions of the Old Testament?

Why is it important to view the prophets not only as fortune tellers, but primarily as truth tellers?

Why do you think Christians often prioritize reading the New Testament over reading and studying the Old Testament?

What can we learn about God from the Old Testament and his interactions with Israel and the other nations?

What do you hope to learn about God in the coming weeks as we study the minor prophets?

What do you hope to learn about yourself in the coming weeks as we study the minor prophets?

Questions
What is a prophet?

Summarize the work of a prophet.

What does the distinction “minor prophet” mean?

What are the benefits of studying The Minor Prophets today?