Transcription of Lessons From The Minor Prophets - Bible Study Guide
1 Lessons From TheMinor ProphetsPrepared By Jeff SmithTableOfContentsProphetPage NumberGeneral IntroductionObadiahJoelJonahAmosHoseaMic ahZephaniahNahumHabakkukHaggaiZechariahM alachi 1 4 814192940485459647084 lesson 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910111213 Copyright 2000, Jeff SmithPermission is granted from the author for free use and distributionof the material, but only as it Servants The ProphetsLessons From The Minor ProphetsLesson 1 general IntroductionOverview God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the Prophets in many portions and in many ways, in theselast days has spoken to us in His Son, Heb.
2 1:1-2aQuite often we quote this passage to affirm the authority of Christ today, and how that it is He whom wemust heed today as God s final Spokesman. If we believe that, we must also firmly believe the first partof the verse. God did not always speak to man through His Son. There was a time when God spokethrough chosen messengers called Prophets . They were His mouthpieces through which His will wascommunicated and His expectations were laid out for His people. In times of spiritual and moral repression and decay, God raised up men ( Prophets ) in whosemouth He put His word and whom He sent to the people in an effort to turn them back to Himself.
3 [Homer Hailey A Commentary On The Minor Prophets , pg. 12]The Prophets were not all of the same personality, stamped out of a cookie cutter. Different personalitiesand abilities colored them all, but as a collective group they were able to relate to any problem Israel foundherself in. They demonstrated that the God they served knows the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10).This is especially made evident in their prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and His kingdom(cp. 1 Pet. 1:10-12). Gradually, the Bible unfolds the purpose God had in Christ (cp.)
4 Eph. 3:10-11), andthe Prophets played a major role in the revealing of that language used by the Prophets was in no way poor or impoverished. It always fit the occasion andwas directly on point. The Prophets spoke thunderously of judgment on sin, or with tender compassionshowing forth God s mercy in forgiveness. They appealed directly to the consciousness of the Hebrews,or spoke with parables, metaphors and similes. God s chosen spokesmen may have used dreams,visions, or a direct word from Jehovah. Whatever the method used, it was always with one purpose: tomake known the will of God for His people.
5 That was always Were The Minor Prophets ?What is meant by The Minor Prophets ? This expression is not an inspired one, but is one invented byBible students in order to differentiate among all the Prophets used by God. The message of the MinorProphets was not Minor at all, but generally shorter than the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel,and Daniel, commonly called The Major Prophets . 1My Servants The ProphetsLesson 1 When we speak of The Minor Prophets , we refer to Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
6 Though their messages were shorter, they wereno less powerful nor no less needed. They should not be shunned simply because they are labeled Minor and not major. Many have forsaken the truths revealed within these great books and have never taken the time to studythem. Such people have deprived themselves of great spiritual Lessons that have applicability on NewTestament disciples Was The Work Of A prophet ?Many have the idea that Prophets primarily predicted future events. That really is not true. Basically, wecan categorize the prophet s work as following: wTo speak for God to men.
7 In Ex. 7:1, God told Moses that Aaron would be his prophet . Aprophet was a spokesman, a mouth for another. wTo speak God s words. In recording the call of Jeremiah, we read what God says in Jer. 1:7 everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. Additionally, Jer. 1:9 states Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, andthe LORD said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. A prophet then is one whohas God s words in His mouth, and is ready to tell them to others. This is what we understand tobe the meaning of 2 Pet.
8 1:20-21. wTo be a forth teller more than a foreteller. While we cannot overlook the predictive abilitiesof the prophet , the principal work of a prophet was to preach to the people of his time. wTo contend with false Prophets . As one would imagine, there would be counterfeits vying for equal time with those who actually spoke for God. They would have to be silenced, as theirwork would do irreparable damage to the spiritual work of true Prophets . God gave instructionson how to deal with false Prophets in Deut. 18 Study The Minor Prophets ?
9 The message of the Prophets is absolutely up-to-date. Though they don t speak to us today, their messageis contained in Scripture that has been written for our learning (Rom. 15:4). An understanding of thepolitical, moral, and religious conditions of ancient Israel and Judah as well as the heathen nations roundabout them makes for a clearer comprehension of the Prophets message. And with the understanding oftheir message, our faith today is strengthened when we see the fulfillment of those prophecies andpredictions in history in the New we are guilty of the same sins condemned by the Prophets , what does that say about us?
10 Rightly so, itcan be stated that the same sins that destroyed Israel are in fact the same transgressions that cut off menand women from God today. Consequently, we will suffer the same punishments imposed upon Servants The ProphetsLesson 1 Chronological Order Of The Minor ProphetsIn our Bibles, The Minor Prophets do not appear in chronological order. Therefore, we will not be studyingthem in the order as found in the Scripture. While we cannot be absolute about all of them, there is enoughevidence for the vast majority to place them in somewhat of a chronological order.
