The Minor Prophets
The Minor Prophets (Hosea through Malachi) were labeled in that way because their lengths were short. The Major Prophets (Isaiah through Daniel) each were long enough to be a separate scroll, The short ones were grouped into two scrolls, six in each, but not in strictly chronological order. Each of them has relevance today in that they illustrate the result of having few faithful people in a nation. Although Israel was identified as the Chosen People, very few had faith. Nations today are much the same, exposed to God but most not taking it seriously.
Hosea prophesied in the reign of Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23 – 29) of the Northern Kingdom and several kings in Judah (Hosea 1:1), about 8 centuries before Jesus. Six passages in Hosea were identified by ancient rabbis as being about the Messiah, although only one of them was cited in the New Testament. But, Jesus, Peter, and Paul cited six other passages in Hosea as being applicable to their time. This morality sermon has application in our day not only as dire warning of the disaster of unfaithfulness, but also as reminders of God’s precious promises.
The destruction of the Northern Kingdom was the result of departing from God. Hosea lamented, “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land” (4:1), and “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (4:6). When reality (truth) becomes unimportant, or fixing root causes (mercy) or seeking to understand the nature of God is too much trouble, a society will cease to function smoothly. Alternately, devoting time to these basics results in peace and joy due to the reduction in anxiety. This is the good news.
Jesus used Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” twice to reply to legalists whose religion focused on themselves and not the needs of others. The same problem drove Israel to ruin and caused the Jewish leadership to miss Jesus. Many ardent church-goers have come to the same place, focused on their own entrance into heaven instead of fixing the root causes behind the estrangement of others from God.
Hosea told how the Northern Kingdom fell into its disastrous path, “Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment because he willingly walked by human precept.” Israel did not drift into idol worship. Rather, some suggested it and the others did nothing. Doing nothing is a conscious choice. Over the past two millennia, the church has wandered in and out of the same problem. The faithful forget to go all the way back to the Scriptures, instead espousing well-meaning summaries and thoughtful applications which are Hosea’s “human precepts.”
Hosea described the deportation of the Northern Kingdom as, “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.” This agricultural illustration rests on the obvious premise that a farmer plans to reap more grain than he sowed. The “sowing” of the Northern Kingdom represented entangling alliances for national defense rather than trusting God. They harvested a bumper crop of “wind,” which had become a destructive whirlwind. The faithful need to be careful what they sow: facilities, organizations, programs, and clergy. The harvest may be destructive.
Hosea delivered a promise for the Northern Kingdom which was soon to be utterly destroyed, “I will ransom them from the hand of Sheol, I will redeem them from death. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (13:14). Paul wrote that this promise of ransom was brought to pass through the victory of the faithful over death through Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:54 – 57) No matter how disastrous the outside world is, the faithful have been redeemed.
Hosea described the few faithful of his time as those who offered the sacrifices of lips (14:2). Hebrews 13:15 borrowed the same image for the same reason. Sacrifice is a celebration of forgiveness with family and friends in the presence of God. The faithful few sing praises, declaring His name (His essential quality) with the attitude of a faithful Israelite: the few among the many. Hosea’s call was to return from the enticements of political promises and personal profit, rather depending on the graciousness of God.
The exact period in which Joel prophesied has been variously reported. Joel’s series of locust plagues may have been real insects representing future invaders, or figures of speech describing the same invaders. But the point is not in doubt: repent and God will rescue you. Joel referred to Kingdom of Israel of his day, but his point is well taken for the Kingdom today. Slick advertising and entertaining methods invade and conquer, stripping clean the growth. The answer is the same today: turn toward God for joy and peace; victory is assured.
“The day of the Lord is at hand, and as a mighty destruction from the Almighty it shall come.” (Joel 1:15). The day of the Lord or His coming was applied by many prophets to many events. Joel wrote of devastation by locusts representing foreign armies. The cure was to “Rend your hearts and not your garments” (a symbol of grief in that culture, 2:13). Of course, they did not, but even so God added a promise of deliverance for a remnant (2:32), which Peter cited to usher in the eternal Kingdom (Acts 2:16) and Paul (Romans 10:13), a call to evangelism.
“Surely the Lord does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) In the mid-eighth century BC, Amos announced calamity and destruction on Israel, Judah, and all the countries that bordered them. Many blamed God for calamities that were no more than the natural result of their bad choices. True intervention by God is always announced in advance. Since prophets ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD (Daniel 9:24, Zechariah 13:2), God’s future actions are already in the Book.
Jesus described the period just before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD as the worst in all of history before or since (Matthew 24:21). As that time approached, many early Christians wondered if perhaps their tribulation meant they had missed something. The purpose of the book of Revelation was to assure and encourage them, reminding them that God was still in charge, and that this calamity was all part of the plan. In modern, far less horrible times, the faithful must remember that Jesus is still the ruler over all the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5).
Obadiah recorded God’s curse on the descendants of Esau (the nation of Edom) for their participation in and rejoicing over the devastation of Israel, even though they were descendants of the twin brothers, Jacob and Esau. This was accomplished in the time of the Maccabees (second century BC). An Arabic tribe, the Nabateans, then moved into the vacant land and made it their own. For the faithful today, this is an object lesson not to rejoice over the calamities of others, even enemies.
Jonah is not just a children’s Bible story. He also prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II in the 9th century BC. Although Jonah complained and did not want to do his job as a prophet, he had great faith. For example, his reason for running away, which resulting in the big fish incident, was because he hated the Assyrians and knew that God was gracious and merciful and likely to relent from His threat to destroy them (4:2). The modern church should learn from Jonah, that people of whom we disapprove may repent and be accepted. Get over it.
Jonah displayed great faith while still in the belly of the great fish (2:2 – 9). Although his situation was dire, he was confident that he would again see the Temple, offer sacrifices and be thankful. Jonah did not pray for deliverance and then wait until he was rescued before thanking God. That would have been sight, not faith. Despite his shortcomings of complaining and avoiding his responsibility, he knew that God still heard him. The faithful today need Jonah’s faith-induced confidence, not depending on our own righteousness but God’s.
Jonah’s message to Nineveh was, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” (3:4) Apparently, Jonah’s reputation preceded him, so the people believed that he represented God. The message included no promise of rescue if they would repent, but they repented anyway, hoping for the best. The faithful today need Jonah’s reputation as those who do the humanly impossible. Then, the hearers may repent because it is the right thing to do, not with a self-centered fear of destruction.
Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah in the 8th century BC. When Herod the Great wanted to know where this new king (Jesus) was to be born, his advisors remembered a promise from God through Micah about Bethlehem (5:2) In the middle of a series of predictions about the future captivity and restoration of Israel, Micah included this timeless and simple prescription, “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?” (6:8)
Nahum predicted the fall of the Assyrian empire in the early 7th century BC. Nineveh, their capital, had repented at the preaching of Jonah about a century earlier, but that attitude had not survived the passing of generations. God had chosen Assyria as His agent in punishing the Northern Kingdom for their breach of contract. But, the Assyrians went too far in their cruelty and claimed their power was from themselves. The faithful today must learn to accomplish God’s works with gentleness and patience, remembering from where the power comes.
Habakkuk wrote a series of songs as a conversation between himself and God about the impending Babylonian invasion of Judah. He acknowledged that something needed to be done about the corruption in Judah, but complained that the Babylonians were even worse. God comforted Habakkuk with the assurance that God had it all under control and that Babylon would be used then disposed. The faithful today need to remember Habakkuk’s conversation as they deal with modern governments. Jesus is King of all nations. He has it under control.
The tiny righteous minority suffered along with the vast majority unrighteous as God imposed the penalty clauses of the contract between Israel and God, the Law of Moses. As Babylon was bearing down on them, Habakkuk voiced a sentiment (2:4) echoed in the New Testament (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38), “The just shall live by faith.” At the close of the book, Habakkuk summarized the attitude of the faithful in times of duress, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (3:18)
Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of Josiah, in the mid-7th century BC which coincides with the beginning of Jeremiah’s career. Although Josiah was characterized as a good king, Zephaniah revealed that the hearts of the people were still with the idols. A few good people cannot rescue a multitude if the multitude does not want the change. God judges individuals, not groups. God knows hearts; He is not fooled by outward shows.
Haggai prophesied while the returning exiles were rebuilding the Temple that had been destroyed by the Babylonians half a century earlier. The history of that period may be found in Ezra. They started and stopped work repeatedly due to political pressure and finances, not trusting God to carry them through the adversities. Do the faithful today need to get back to rebuilding the spiritual Temple which is the church? Do they quit at the first sign of adversity? Do they build with clean hands? Habakkuk asked all these same questions.
Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai, during the rebuilding of the Temple by those returning from their exile in Babylon. While Haggai encouraged the people to get back to work, Zechariah focused more on the Messiah who would come to this rebuilt Temple and kingdom being built by the Spirit, not by earthly power. Grace would be its watchword and would shine forth on the whole world, including the predictions of riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, the 30 pieces of silver, the end of prophets and demons, and the destruction of the Temple again.
Malachi, about four centuries before Jesus, upbraided the people for their religious indifference and skepticism, and pronounced a curse on the priesthood that already had become corrupt. God reminded them that they had been able to return by His power, not their own, whereas the Edomites, their cousins to the south, also desired to return but were thwarted (1:2 – 3). Malachi (3:1, 4:5) repeated a promise from Isaiah 40:3 that a forerunner would come before the Messiah, whom Jesus confirmed was John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2).
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