1. The Minor Prophets Bible 7 An Introduction To The Minor Prophets

2. Introduction Why bother teaching from the Old Testament especially unfamiliar minor prophets? Not under the Law of Moses today The Old Testament including minor prophets is of great value to us today to encourage our faith and hope. 2

3. Old Testament Valuable To Our Faith Today Rom 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 1Co 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. 3

4. Introduction Prophets are “minor” because of length of their writings compared to the “major” prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel) Like the prophets, we need to stand for God’s Word, no matter what may come to our nation, trusting His rule and mercy Like them, we need to trust in the Lord who provides our only true hope, eternal life 4

5. An Introduction To The Minor Prophets What is a prophet? How can we distinguish between true and false prophets? Who are the minor prophets? What information can help us better understand the minor prophets? What did the minor prophets preach? What are some of the themes found in the minor prophets? 5

6. What Is A Prophet? Origin uncertain Bible description – a prophet is a spokesman for God, forthtelling His Word revealing past, present and future. 6

7. What Is A Prophet? Exo 4:16 "Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him. Exo 7:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. Exo 7:2 "You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land. 7

8. How Can We Distinguish Between True And False Prophets? Fulfillment test – does what he predicts come to pass? Consistency test – is his teaching in harmony with what God previously revealed? 8

9. Does What He Predicts Come To Pass? Deu 18:21 "You may say in your heart, 'How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' Deu 18:22 "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. 9

10. Is His Teaching In Harmony With What God Previously Revealed? Deu 13:1 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, Deu 13:2 and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' 10

11. Is His Teaching In Harmony With What God Previously Revealed? Deu 13:3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deu 13:4 "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. 11

12. Who Are The Minor Prophets? They were 12 prophets who spoke and wrote probably between 845 BC and 432 BC Nation divided in 931 BC with 10 tribes forming Israel, northern kingdom Judah and Benjamin remaining in Jerusalem forming Judah, the southern kingdom 12

13. Who Are The Minor Prophets? They prophesied to idolatrous nations, Israel (northern kingdom) and Judah (southern kingdom) Most prophets appeared during or after two major crises Crisis 1 - 722 BC – Israel (northern kingdom) taken captive by Assyria 13

14. Who Are The Minor Prophets? Crisis 2 - 586 BC – Judah (southern kingdom) taken captive by Babylon with Jerusalem and Temple destroyed From different backgrounds teaching with different styles, they all spoke forth God’s Word to the people Not in chronological order in Old Testament 14

15. 15 The Minor Prophets Obadiah Servant of Jehovah Proud Edom Falls 845 BC? Joel Jehovah is God Judgment and blessings 830 BC? Jonah Dove Warning to Nineveh 790-750 BC Amos Burden Bearer Israel’s just punishment 755 BC

16. 16 The Minor Prophets Hosea Salvation Adulterous Israel judged 750-725 BC Micah Who is like Jehovah? Judah’s sins rebuked 735-700 BC Zephaniah Jehovah Hides Judah’s coming judgment 630-625 BC Nahum Consolation Nineveh’s final destruction 625-612 BC

17. 17 The Minor Prophets Habakkuk Embrace Righteous live by faith 625-605 BC Haggai Festival Finish the temple 520 BC

18. 18 The Minor Prophets Zechariah Whom Jehovah Remembers Finish the temple 520-518 BC Malachi My Messenger Corrupt worship rebuked 445-432 BC

19. What Did The Minor Prophets Preach? Need for people to confess sins, repent and return to Law of Moses God is the ruler and controller of history Coming of the Messiah and His kingdom 19

20. What Are Some Of The Themes Found In The Minor Prophets? Main ideas are repeated throughout the minor prophets We will list some of them that we will see throughout our study 20

21. God’s Unchanging Perfect Character Nah 1:2 A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies. Nah 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet. 21

22. God Rules All Nations By His Word Jehovah is the Lord of history carrying out His purpose Stated more completely by Isaiah but found in pieces throughout the Minor Prophets He rules over all nations, not just Israel and Judah 22

23. God Rules All Nations By His Word Although people have their free choice, His will is ultimately done Today, this power is given to Jesus to rule over all nations 23

24. God Rules All Nations By His Word Isa 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone, Isa 44:25 Causing the omens of boasters to fail, Making fools out of diviners, Causing wise men to draw back And turning their knowledge into foolishness, 24

25. God Punishes Sins Of All Nations Amo 1:3 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron. Amo 1:6 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Gaza and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they deported an entire population To deliver it up to Edom. 25

26. God Demands Repentance And Righteousness Joe 2:12 "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; Joe 2:13 And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil. 26

27. God Rejects Superficial Worship Amo 5:21 "I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Amo 5:22 "Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. 27

28. Trust In God Above All Hab 3:16 I heard and my inward parts trembled, At the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us. 28

29. Some Relevant Lessons For Today God’s unchanging perfect character God rules all nations by His Word God punishes sins of all nations God demands repentance and righteousness God rejects superficial worship Trust in God above all 29