Minor Prophets Introduction. The twelve “minor prophets” were so named because Augustine, about 17 centuries ago, thought that would be a suitable term for them. His thought was that since these twelve books were generally shorter in length than the “major prophets” (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel), then they should be called “minor.” The problem with …
The Gospel According to Haggai. “Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Take courage! Do not fear.” (Haggai 2:4-5). The first …
The Prophet Zephaniah’s Greatest Hits. “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land who have fulfilled His law; seek righteousness, seek humility, perhaps you will find shelter on the day of the Lord’s anger.” (Zephaniah 2:3). Have you seen those skeptical cartoons featuring a ragged old man with wild hair and a long beard wearing a …
Obadiah and Esau. “For the violence you did against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off for ever.” (Obadiah 1:10) Jacob and Esau were twin brothers to Isaac and Rebekah (Gen. 25), a beloved patriarch and matriarch of the people of Israel. These two brothers struggled against one another in the …
Nahum and Judgment. “The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and rage. He takes revenge on all who oppose Him, and continues to rage against his enemies! The Lord is slow to anger, but his power is great, and He never lets the guilty go unpunished.” (Nahum 1:2-3). There is a good reason why …
The Temptation of Jonah. WANTED: A fearless prophet needed for a ministry to the Gentiles. Must be willing to enter the capital of an evil enemy and demand repentance for their wickedness. Preaching experience required. Must be able to endure possible ridicule or assault. Burlap leisure wear recommended. Loud voice a plus. Walking shoes a must. …
The Gospel According to Hosea. If the biblical world was a classroom, God’s prophets were the visual aids. As the Lord’s mouthpieces, they were often called upon to be symbols of His messages. Since they were instructed to be dramatic illustrations of the word of the Lord, the people not only heard the word, they literally saw the word. …
The Prophet Habakkuk’s Greatest Hits. AUTHOR. Habakkuk is the presumed author of this book, and little is known of his life as a prophet. We do know he was probably working as a prophet during the reign of Jehoiakim, between 612-588 BC. His name means “embracer” or “one who clings to.” Habakkuk is often referred …
The Gospel According to Micah. The prophetic ministries of Micah and Isaiah occurred at the same time, and it appears that some of their prophecies even overlapped. Micah was a prophet to both Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Both nations had totally lost their moral compass and spiritual vision, and so …
The Prophet Amos’s Greatest Hits. Around 750 BC, a humble, isolated shepherd and farmer named Amos was taking care of business as usual in his rural region of the southern kingdom of Judah. Out of the blue, Yahweh tapped Amos to proclaim His words of coming judgment to the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos was …
The Prophet Malachi’s Greatest Hits. The book of Malachi is the bridge between the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. He was a prophet in Jerusalem almost a century after the 2nd Temple was completed in 516 BC. Unfortunately, God’s chosen people had slipped into many of the same sins that had caused God to …
The Prophet Joel’s Greatest Hits. One could easily put Joel in the category of “The Gospel According to Joel. It is full of amazing thoughts that can easily be put to good use in the Christian life. Joel doesn’t lend itself to the writing of introductory paragraphs. We know next to nothing about who Joel …