INTRODUCTION TO THE MINOR PROPHETS

							             INTRODUCTION TO THE MINOR PROPHETS

                                2 Tim 3:14-17

• AIM: Introduce the Minor Prophets with the hope that you can learn more

  about the nature of God and strengthen your relationship with Him

• While Christians are not under the O.T. as a system of justification, the

  O.T. is of great value for us today

     o Rom 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written

        to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of

        the Scriptures we might have hope” – NIV

             For our learning

             For a source of Comfort

             For a source of hope

     o 1 Cor 10:11, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and

        they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the

        ages have come” – NASB

             For our Admonition / Warning

             So we learn what mistakes to avoid

     o As with all scripture inspired of God, it is “profitable for doctrine,

        for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” - 2 Tim

        3:14-17

• This is especially true with regard to The Minor Prophets

     o A collection of 12 books that make up the last part of the O.T.

     o Beginning with Hosea and ending with Malachi
 • Those willing to study these books will find their lives enriched as they

   increase

      o Their knowledge of God’s holiness, righteousness, justice and mercy

      o Their understanding of God’s dealings in the nations of men

      o Their appreciation of the Bible as a literary masterpiece

 • This lesson will begin a series of studies in which we will survey “The Minor

   Prophets”.

 • But before we examine these O.T. books, some introductory material may

   prove helpful



I) WHO WERE THE PROPHETS?

 A) The Old Covenant had different kinds of instructors

   1) John 1:17a, “For the Law was given through Moses” – NASB

      (a) Moses the Lawgiver

   2) There were also priests – the administrators of the law

      (a) Mal 2:7, “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people

         should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the

         LORD of hosts” – NKJV

   3) There were also wise men who gave counsel

      (a) 2 Sam 14:1-24; 20:16-22

   4) There were also the Psalmist – poets who were the sweet singers of

      Israel

      (a) 2 Sam 23:1, “Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of

         David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on
       high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel”

       – ASV

  5) There were also prophets – communicators of the Word of God

B) A “PROPHET” was a spokesman for another..

  1) Like Aaron was for his brother Moses

     (a) Exo 4:15-16,” You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth,

       and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you

       both what to do. 16He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall

       be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him” – ESV

  2) The word literally means “to boil up like a fountain”

     (a) Vines Expository Dictionary - one in whom the message from God

       springs forth

  3) Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, a prophet…

     (a) Was a spokesman for God. 2 Pet 1:21, “for prophecy never came by

       the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by

       the Holy Spirit” – NKJV

     (b)     Was given something to say, and had to say it! Jer 20:7-9, “O

       LORD, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than

       I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; Everyone mocks me. 8

       For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and plunder!”

       Because the word of the LORD was made to me A reproach and a

       derision daily. 9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor

       speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a
        burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And

        I could not.” – NKJV

  4) A prophet was primarily a “forth-teller”, though sometimes a “fore-

     teller”

     (a) God’s word often pertained to future events

     (b)       The fulfilled prophecies of these prophets are therefore a

        strong proof of inspiration

     (c) But much of their word did not concern the future, but current

        events

C) Other descriptions/labels may help us to define the role of a prophet…

  1) Early in Israel’s history they were called “seers”

     (a) 1 Sam 9:9, “Formerly in Israel, if a man went to inquire of God, he

        would say, "Come, let us go to the seer," because the prophet of

        today used to be called a seer.)” – NIV

  2) Another term was “man of God”

     (a) 1 Kings 17:18a, “So she said to Elijah, "What do I have to do with you,

        O man of God?” – NASB

  3) Prophets were also known as a “servant of God”

     (a) 1 Chronicles 6:49, “in accordance with all that Moses the servant of

        God had commanded” – NIV

  4) They serves as God’s messenger

     (a) Isa 42:19, “Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger

        that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the

        LORD's servant?” – KJV
      5) They were also assigned the role of “watchman”

        (a) Eze 3:17, “Son of man, I have appointed you a (A)watchman to the

           house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, (B)warn

           them from Me” – NASB

  D) The prophets were therefore servants of God, divinely appointed and

      inspired to proclaim His Word. At times they were messengers of God’s

      word as it applied to the present, swerving as watchmen of the people of

      God; other times, God’s message pertained to the future, and as such they

      were “seers” of things to come.

II)   HOW ARE THE PROPHETS CLASSIFIED?

  A) It is common to speak of “oral” and “literary” prophets…

      1) The oral prophets are those who left no writings bearing their names

        (a) Such as Elijah and Elisha –

           (1) 1 Kings17

           (2)   2 Kings 2

        (b)      Many others, including:

           (1) Nathan (2 Sam 12),

           (2)   Gad (2 Sam 24:11)

           (3)   Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29)

      2) Those who left books bearing their names are called the “literary”

        prophets

  B) The LITERARY PROPHETS are categorized as “MAJOR” and “MINOR”

      prophets

      1) Augustine is credited with being the first to classify them in this way
    2) The distinction pertains only to the length of the books

       (a) The major prophets include the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah,

          Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel

       (b)     The minor prophets are those 12 books from Hosea to Malachi

  C) As we consider the works of the LITERARY prophets, we should note that

    the order of the books in our Bibles is not chronological.

  D) Therefore it may serve useful to review…

III) THE LITERARY PROPHETS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

  A) NOTE: There is a lot of controversy surrounding the dates of some of

    these prophets. So what I am saying today are estimates that were

    obtained by many conservative scholars…

  B) 9th CENTURY (Early Assyrian Period)

    1) Obadiah (ca. 845 B.C.)

    2) Joel (ca 830 B.C.)

    3) Jonah (790 – 750 BC)

    4) This is during the period of “The Divided Kingdom” in Israel’s history;

       to the north and east the empire of Assyria was beginning to make its

       presence known in Israel.

  C) 8th CENTURY (Assyrian Period)

    1) Amos (755 B.C)

    2) Hosea (750-725 B.C)

    3) Isaiah (740-700 B.C)

    4) Micah (735 – 700 B.C)
  5) In 722 B.C. the northern kingdom of Israel was taken into Assyrian

     captivity; these prophets were proclaiming God’s message as the nation

     was being threatened from the north.

D) 7th CENTURY (Chaldean Period)

  1) Jeremiah (626 – 586 B.C.)

  2) Zephaniah (630 – 625 B.C.)

  3) Nahum (625 – 612 B.C.)

  4) Habakkuk (625 – 605 B.C)

  5) Assyria was eventually defeated by Babylon; these prophets served as

     God’s messengers when the Babylonian empire threatened the kingdom

     of Judah.

E) 6th CENTURY (The Exile Period)

  1) Ezekiel (593 – 570 B.C.)

  2) Daniel (605 – 536 B.C)

  3) Like many of their countrymen these prophets were taken into

     Babylonian captivity; from Babylon they served as God’s messengers to

     both captives and kings

F) 6th and 5th CENTURIES (Post Exile Period)

  1) Haggai (520 B.C)

  2) Zechariah (520 – 518 B.C)

  3) Malachi (ca. 440 B.C.

  4) After the Jews were allowed to return home from Babylonian captivity,

     God used Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people to rebuild the
      temple; later, Malachi was used to reform the priesthood during the

      time of Ezra and Nehemiah

   5) Finally, here are some thoughts on…

IV) UNDERSTANDING THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHETS

 A) Three things to bear in mind as you study the prophets

   1) Seek to understand the political, social, and religious conditions of the

      times

      (a) Any interpretation must consider how the message was relevant for

         the people to whom the prophet spoke

      (b)       Secondary fulfillment of prophecy is often found in the N.T.,

         but this can be understood only when applied by inspired writers of

         the N.T.

      (c) Guard against making interpretations that are purely speculative

      (d)       Any application to modern events must be carefully harmonized

         in light of the N.T.

   2) Consider God’s relation to the heather nations (i.e. other than Israel

      and Judah)

      (a) The prophets often revealed how God directed their destiny and

         judged them

      (b)       This may provide insight as to how Christ rules the nations

         today

         (1) Mat 28:18, “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in

              heaven and on earth has been given to me.” - NIV
       (2)   Rev 1:5, “Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was,

           and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his

           throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the

           firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth”

           - NIV

  3) Note any teaching regarding the Messiah and His coming kingdom

     (a) Act 26:6-7, “And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise

       made by God to our fathers; 7the promise to which our twelve tribes

       hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day And for

       this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews.- NASB

     (b)     Act 28:20, “For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you

       and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of

       the hope of Israel.” - NASB

     (c) The immediate mission of most prophets was to save God’s people

       from idolatry and wickedness

     (d)     Failing that, they were sent to announce God’s judgment and

       the coming destruction of the nation

     (e)But many prophets left a message of hope for the future, regarding

       the Messiah who would come and establish a kingdom that could

       never be destroyed!

B) Some of the great themes developed by the prophets…

  1) The holiness of God – He is absolutely pure, righteous, just, merciful,

     tender, loving, and longsuffering

  2) The sovereignty of God – he rules the universe and is above all
    3) The immutability of God’s Word –

       (a) He carries out His promises

       (b)     One can depend upon Him to act consistently with His Word

    4) The terribleness of sin

       (a) God abhors iniquity, and will not tolerate, overlook, nor excuse it

       (b)     But He is willing to forgive those who humbly repent and obey

    5) Repentance and righteousness

       (a) This is the brilliantly clear call of the prophets

       (b)     Though severe is God’s punishment of the wicked, yet God’s

         mercy is great in loving kindness upon the righteous who are of

         broken spirit and contrite heart

    6) The worship due God – The proper reverence, awe, and respect for God

       will cause one to praise Him and give thanks for His wonderful grace

       and mercy!!

V) CONCLUSION

  A) Why study the “Minor Prophets”

    1) This question may come up a lot from today’s Christians

    2) We may not see the value of Christians in 2009 to study this portion of

       the Old Testament

    3) Yet, I believe there is a lot we can learn from these prophets who

       spoke to God’s people so many years ago

  B) Why study the “Minor Prophets”

    1) Because in them we learn about…

       (a) The nature of God, His holiness, justice, righteousness and mercy
     (b)      The workings of God, as He dealt with nations, bringing

        judgment upon the guilty

     (c) Which can help us in our relationship with God today, giving us

        comfort and hope to face the future, knowing that God is in ultimate

        control !!

C) I hope this brief introduction has whetted your appetite to study “The

  Minor Prophets”.

  1) And I hope that you will renew your joy and dedication to reading more

     of God’s Word and learning more about our Awesome God, Creator, and

     Savior! – throughout the ENTIRE Bible

D) Our next lesson will begin the study in earnest with a look at the book of

  OBADIAH….




Modified with Permission from:

Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/