“The Minor Prophets”

By Benjamin D. Bailey

All too often, the “Minor” Prophets are thought to be minor because they are smaller in content and thus smaller in message and power also. However, the title “minor” is a misleading term for these fabulous, fascinating books of Holy Writ. The word minor should only be applied to the length of these books and not to their overall message. For, these Prophets rise to the sublime heights of splendor in their life, and message just as Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Daniel do.

The Minor Prophets are filled with vivid, image capturing thoughts and concepts that are easily applied to Christianity today. These books should not be neglected, but rather read and studied diligently by every Christian to help him reach greater spiritual heights. In these articles we hope to briefly help those desiring to learn more about the Minor Prophets become acquainted with the men who wrote these books and the main thrust and message of each book.

Hosea: God’s Love and Israel’s Unfaithfulness

The name Hosea in the Hebrew language means “salvation.” Hence, Hosea’s life and marriage to a harlot served as an illustration of Israel’s harlotry to God and should have caused them to come back to God for salvation.

The Jews in Hosea’s time had destroyed themselves because they had a lack of knowledge concerning God’s will (Hosea 13:9; 4:6). Even the great men and princes of Israel were not following God’s pattern correctly (Hos 5:10; 2 Tim 1:13). Because of Israel’s spiritual ignorance, they possessed a shallow, evaporating faith (Hosea 6:4). They failed to heed the words of 2 Kings 19:30, “take root downward and bear fruit upward.” Due to their spiritual shallowness in God’s sight, they were as useful as a half-baked cake or a silly, flitting dove (Hosea 7:8, 11).

However, God did allow Israel a way of escape, a door of hope known as purging sin out of the camp (Hosea 2:15, Joshua 7). To us, this would be better known as church discipline (I Cor 5). God has always left a remnant of those who would repent and come back to Him with their whole heart (Hosea 3:5). In Hosea 10:12, God gives Israel a 4-fold way to restore themselves to righteousness: (1), sow righteousness, (2) reap mercy (3) break up your fallow ground, (4) seek the Lord.

God has always been a God of deep sympathy and love for those who would turn back to Him (Hosea 11:4, 8; 14:4). The main application for Christians today is that we must know God, act on our knowledge of Him found in the New Testament with faithful living and never, ever forsake the Lord (James 1:22).

Joel: Real Repentance

The name Joel in Hebrew means, “Yahweh is Salvation.” This goes hand in hand with the theme of Joel, which illustrates God’s use of history to bring Israel to repentance and ultimately to preserve the lineage for the Messiah.

Beginning in chapter 1, we are introduced to 4 types of locust that are ravaging the land (chewing, swarming, crawling, and consuming). This is believed to be figurative for the 4 world empires that would rule over God’s peoples (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greeks, and Romans). The main message of restoration and repentance to God is vividly illustrated through the phrase “the day of the Lord.” The day of the Lord always represents a day of doom and destruction upon evil nations by God. Hence, God is telling Israel that unless they return to Him they can expect to receive destruction from the nations.

Although Joel does warn against God’s coming judgment, he also gives a deterrent for this catastrophe known as true repentance. In Joel 2:13 Israel is told to, “rend your hearts and not your garments; return to the Lord.” And, if they did repent, God promised to restore all that the locust had taken away (Joel 2:25).

One of the most memorable attributes of the prophet Joel is that he is often referred to as the Pentecost Prophet. In Acts 2, Peter quotes from Joel 2:28-32 saying that God was pouring out His Spirit on all flesh and whoever called on the name of the Lord would be saved. Because of Joel’s preaching to Israel, and Peter’s preaching at Pentecost, many were left standing in the Valley of Decision (Joel 3:14). Today, every time a sinner hears the plan of salvation taught he is left in the Valley of Decision. We are all creatures of choice, what will we choose?

Amos: The Unprofessional, Direct Preacher

Of all the prophets, Amos was probably the most unprofessional. Yet, in many ways the most prepared for the task at hand. As Amos would tell us, “I was not a preacher, nor the son of a preacher. I was merely a tender of difficult trees and a herder of difficult sheep” (Amos 7:14). Hence, Amos was prepared to take a direct, straightforward message to a professionally sinful people. The name Amos is defined as “to lift or carry a burden”, or “the burden bearer”, which vividly illustrates the task of carrying God’s word to a rebellious nation that he was given.

The prophet Amos approaches God’s people with a rhetorical question; “Can two walk together unless they are agreed” (Amos 3:3)? Even Israel would realize that two people who do not agree would not attempt to walk the same pathway. Likewise, Israel was not walking in a relationship with God because they did not agree with Him. Due to their “mighty sins”, Israel could not escape the inevitable coming destruction, and were told to “prepare to meet the Lord” (Amos 5:12, 19-21, 4:12). Again, as a result of idle living (Amos 6:1), the Israelites were suffering a spiritual famine of hearing the word of the Lord (Amos 8:11ff).

Although things looked very bleak for Israel, they were given hope in the close of the book of Amos. In Chapter 9:11-12, the Lord promised to rebuild the tabernacle of David for the Jews and Gentiles. We would not know that Amos was talking about the church unless James had told us in Acts 15:16-17. Truly, God is full of hope and mercy to the penitent.

Obadiah: The High Price of a Bowl of Soup

The book of Obadiah was written to the Edomites who were a direct descendant of Esau. Like Esau, they too were willing to sellout their birthright to be God’s people for the right price.

The book of Obadiah begins by portraying the Edomites as a very prideful people. They thought that by dwelling in the clefts of the high mountains they could hide from God. But their pride had deceived them, and in essence, God said, “Go as high as you want. I’ll bring you down” (Obad 3-4). In fact, God tells them that if a thief or a robber were to steal from them he would even leave a little for them to survive on, but I will utterly destroy you.

The main sin that the Edomites had committed was that they sat back, and watched their brethren being destroyed, and did nothing to help, but on the contrary they were happy about it (Obad 10-13). In fact, they even killed those who did escape and handed over those who were hiding from the enemy. The message for the church today is that we must be our brothers keeper (Gen 4:6). When we see other Christians in a sinful state, we should try to teach them and not stand back and wait for God to punish them. Often times we want to laugh at and make fun of liberals, when in reality we should be trying to help them see the truth. The book of Obadiah really illustrates man’s inhumanity to man. Today, we must not rejoice at the destruction of others lest the same thing happen to us (Prov. 17:5, 24:17-18).

Jonah and Nahum: Nineveh Delivered and Destroyed

The main message of the book of Jonah is do not be prejudice. To the Jewish mind, they were God’s chosen people and God was only their God. But the book of Jonah proves that to be a false theology.

Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria, which was solely a Gentile people. This was Jonah’s main problem as a preacher. He did not like the Gentiles and he surely did not want to see them saved. Like the Edomites, Jonah would have much rather thrown a party over the destruction of Nineveh rather than preach it to repentance. But God teaches Jonah through his adventures not to be a prejudice preacher. The book of Jonah may be properly outlined in this fashion:

Chapter 1 “Running from God”

Chapter 2 “Running to God”

Chapter 3 “Running for God”

Chapter 4 “Running ahead of God”

The message for Christians today is that all men stand on level ground at the foot of the cross. One of the most terrible atrocities that happened to the American nation and the church was slavery. To think that we are better than someone else because of our skin color puts us in the same category as Jonah. We must remember that Christ died for all (Heb 2:9) and God wants all to be saved (I Tim 2:4ff).

The book of Nahum, which is also addressed to the Ninevites, shows us the sad fact that they had fallen back into sin some 100 years after Jonah’s preaching, and were headed for destruction. The theme of Nahum is “the guilty will not be acquitted” (Nahum 1:3). Although human courts may allow evil doers to escape on a technicality, the Creator will not let sinners go free. One thing is sure for those who remain in sin—it will find you out (Num 32:23).

Micah: Who is a God like You?

When translated into English, the name Micah turns into the phrase “who is like Yahweh?” The prophet Micah has often been referred to as the “high ethic prophet.” For, in Micah 6:8 we find the punch line of the book, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” If we can all strive to be a just, merciful, and humble people, we can be pleasing in God’s eyes.

The prophet Micah was a contemporary with Isaiah. Likewise, much of their messages were very similar. For example, both Isaiah and Micah spoke to a people who hated good and loved evil (Isa 5:20, Micah 3:2). Both told of the Lord’s reign in Zion (Isa 2, Micah 4). And, both told of the birth of the Messiah (Micah 5:2, Isa 7:14).

During Micah’s time, the people of Israel had grown terribly corrupt. In fact, Micah tells us that they faithful man had perished (Micah 7:2), and the evil were at work to sin with both hands (Micah 7:3).

But, God was still willing to forgive these sinful people if they would forsake their sin and turn to Him. In Micah 7:18-19, Micah says that God was willing to pardon their sins and even cast them into the depths of the sea. The lesson to be taken from this is that if we truly repent we can be forgiven of our sins and we need not let their eternal consequence haunt us anymore.

Habakkuk: The Nations are God’s

The main concept in the book of Habakkuk is God’s use of the nations. In this book, we are shown how God would use the Chaldeans to subdue his wayward people. The concept of God using the nations to teach His people a lesson is found throughout the Bible. For example, in Jeremiah 25:9 God referred to Nebuchadnezzar as “My Servant.” Also, in Isaiah 45:1 Cyrus was called the Servant of the Lord.

Another main concept taught in the book of Habakkuk is the holiness of God. In chapter 1:13 Habakkuk tells us that God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil and can not look upon wickedness.” This is the reason that God had to look away from Christ when He bore our sins in His body (2 Cor 5:21, I Pet 2:24). In Habakkuk 2:20 we are told, “The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silent before Him.” And, like God, we are commanded to be a holy people (I Pet 1:15, 2:5,9).

Also, the book of Habakkuk is well known for the phrase “the just shall live by faith.” Paul uses this verse three times in the New Testament (Gal 3:10-11, Romans 1:17, Hebrews 10:38-39). Habakkuk and Paul are saying that to be sustained as God’s children we must possess and enduring faith even under trials and persecution.

Zephaniah: The Great Day of the Lord

The book of Zephaniah opens with very striking, graphic language which describes the utter destruction of the wicked inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. In Zephaniah 1:18, the prophet tells the people that not even their precious silver and gold will be able to save them in the day of God’s wrath. Likewise, when the Lord returns and the earth is melted with a fervent heat, money will not save the sinful (2 Pet 3:10ff). But, they can be redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (I Peter 1:18-20).

Although Zephaniah does predict the destruction of God’s people, he also predicts that the captives will come back to the land (Zeph 3:20). Again, God will always spare the remnant that is willing to repent.

The message to be learned from the book of Zephaniah is that one day we will all have to stand before the Lord in judgment (2 Cor 5:10), therefore, let us live faithful to Him so that we may rejoice in that great day.

Haggai: A Bag Full of Holes

The purpose of the book of Haggai is to encourage the Jews to rebuild the temple as they had promised to do years before. For the last sixteen years the temple had lain waste, while the Jews were building their own luxurious homes. Due to forceful preaching, Haggai was able to motivate the Jews to do more in a few weeks than they had done in a few years. Someone has rightly entitled Haggai as “the religious sparkplug.”

Due to the slothfulness of the Jews prior to rebuilding the temple, they were told in Haggai 1:6 that all their labor, toil, and wages were being put in a bag with holes in it because they were not working for the Lord first. Basically, God was saying that everything you do is vain if you do not put Me first. In contrast, Christians are told that if they do seek the kingdom first all else will be added to them (Matt. 6:33). However, when we put our jobs, money, mates or anything else before the Lord, we too are filling a bag with holes in it.

Zechariah: The Messianic Prophet

Of all the prophets in the Bible, Isaiah and Zechariah prophesy more of the coming Christ. And, proportionately Zechariah has more prophecies of the Christ than Isaiah. Zechariah was a contemporary with Haggai. Like Haggai, he encouraged the Jews to finish building the temple of the Lord. Also, we learn from Zechariah 1:1 that he was a Priestly Prophet.

Here are some of the major messianic prophecies that can be found in Zechariah:

1. The Prince of Peace (Zech 6:13, Lk 2:15, 1:79).

2. The triumphal entry (Zech 9:9)

3. Judas betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zech 11:12-13).

4. Christ’ pierced visage at Calvary (Zech 12:10).

5. The fountain for cleansing opened in Jerusalem (Zech 13:1, Jn 19:34).

Malachi: Will a Man Rob God?

The last prophet to fill the Holy pages of the Old Testament is Malachi. The name Malachi is the shortened form of a word that means, “Messenger of Yahweh.” And, Oh, what a message Malachi delivered to the Hebrews.

The book of Malachi is one of the most easily applied books in the whole Bible. The principles taught in Malachi apply directly to the principles of the New Testament. Notice some of the lessons we can learn:

1. Give God your best in everything (chpt 1)

2. God hates Divorce (2:16, Matt 19:9).

3. God does not change (3:6, Heb 6:18, 13:8).

4. Give as you have prospered (3:8-10, 2 Cor 9:6ff).

5. Prophecy of John the Immerser (4:4-6, Matt 11:14).

Someone has rightly stated that dynamite comes in small packages. The books of the Minor Prophets are truly a bundle of dynamite (Rom 1:16, Heb 4:12) that will ignite to the saving of the soul. May God bless us in our continual study of these great Prophets.