Adult Bible Study Major Themes from the Minor Prophets An overview of the general content, insights, and lessons from The scroll of "The Twelve" Cover photo:, " omepage.mac.com/ ...IMedia/scroll.j " Prepared by Stephen J. Nunemaker D Min Tri-M Africa MOBILE MODULAR MINISTRY Mobile Modular Ministry 1 Major Themes from the Minor Prophets An overview of the genera~ content, insights, and iessons from the scroll of "The Twelve" Stephen J. Nunemaker, D Min OUTLINE OF STUDY Introduction: • The Writing Prophets of the Old Testament • General Themes of the O.T. Prophetic Message Lesson One: Obadiah - Am I my Brother's Keeper? Lesson Two: Joel- You ain't seen nothin' yet! Lesson Three: Jonah - Salvation is of God Lesson Four: Amos - What's it going to take? Lesson Five: Hosea - Unrequited Love Lesson Six: Micah - Light at the End of the Tunnel Lesson Seven: Nahum - Does God's Patience have Limits? Lesson Eight: Zephaniah - The Two Sides of Judgment Lesson Nine: Habakkuk - Theodicy: How Can God Use Evil to Accomplish His Purpose? Lesson Ten: Haggai - Nice Paneling, but... Lesson Eleven: Zechariah -If you build it, He will come ... Lesson Twelve: Malachi - He will come, but are you ready? Recommendations for Study: • Please bring your Bible and your notes to EACH session. (A good study Bible is recom mended). • Memorize the names of the 12 Minor Prophets (Canonical Order); • Read the entire Minor Prophet under study (or A significant portion), prior to advancing to the next lesson; • Complete the Q & A sections of the lesson series. 2 INTRODUCTION The Writing Prophets of the Old Testament Normally, the writing prophets ofthe Old Testament are divided into two major groups: • The 4 major prophets-Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel • The 12 minor prophets-Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. • Lamentations is considered part of the major grouping because of its association with Jeremiah. 1 • Other (non-writing) prophets of the Old Testament include: Gad, Nathan, Ahijah, lddo, Jehu, Elijah, and Elisha, among others. Since the historical period covered by the 4 Gospels is considered part of the O.T. dispensation, John the Baptist would also be included with the prophets belonging to that period. 2 • The terms "major" and "minor" do not refer to the importance of the writings but rather to the length. Compared to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, the writings of the 12 Minor Prophets are much shorter. These twelve books were designated the "Minor Prophets" late in the 4th century A.D., not because they were considered less important or less inspired, but because of their comparative brevity. 3 • "Before the time of Christ these twelve books were joined together to make one scroll known collectively as "The Twelve." Their combined length (sixty-seven chapters) is about equal to that of Isaiah. The only chronological significance of the order of the Minor Prophets in the English Bible is that the first six were written before the last six..." 4 • The Minor Prophets cover a period of history of 400 years, encompassing the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian empires, and their respective captivities (of Israel and Judah). According to general consensus, two of the prophets prophesied to the northern kingdom, Israel (Amos, Hosea), four to the southern kingdom, Judah (Joel, Micah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk), one to Edom (Obadiah), and two to the Assyrian Empire (Jonah, Nahum). The remaining three prophesied to post-exilic Jews that had returned to Palestine (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). I John MacArthur, Introduction to the Prophets, MacArthur Study Bible, NKN, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997;p.9. 2 Ibid. 3 Bruce Wilkinson, Kenneth Boa, Talk Thru the Bible, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983, p.229. 4 Ibid. 3 Prophets Organized by Date and Direction of Ministry Prophet Ministered To Dates Obadiah Edom 850-840 B.C. Joel Judah 835-796 B.C. Jonah Nineveh 784-760 B.C. Amos Israel 763-755 B.C. Hosea Israel 755-710 B.C. Isaiah Judah 739-680 B.C. Micah Judah 735-710 B.C. Nahum Nineveh 650-630 B.C. Zephaniah Judah 635-625 B.C. Jeremiah Judah 627-570 B.C. Habakkuk Judah 620-605 B.C. Daniel Babylon 605-536 B.C. Ezekiel Babylon 593-570 B.C. Haggai Judah 520-505 B.C. Zechariah Judah 520-470 B.C. Malachi Judah 437-417 B.C. The Old Testament prophets may also be categorized according to their relationship to the captivities of Israel (ca. 722 B.C.) and Judah (ca. 586 B.C.), as in the following chart: 5 Prophets Organized with Reference to the Captivity Pre-Exilic Exilic Post-Exilic Obadiah Micah Daniel Haggai Joel Nahum Ezekiel Zechariah Jonah Zephaniah Malachi Amos Jeremiah Hosea Habakkuk Isaiah MacArthur Note on the Old Testament Prophets: 6 God's dealing with Israel dominated the pages of the major and minor prophets, but several books-Daniel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Nahum-have as their subjects God's working in Gentile world history. The other prophetic books look beyond Israel from time to time to note how God's chosen nation will impact the rest of the nations (e.g., Is. 52:10, 15) or how God will judge the nations. 5 MacArthur, p. 9. 6 Ibid. p. 12 4 General Themes of the D.T. Prophetic Message The Hebrew Bible was divided up into three major sections: The Law (Pentateuch), the Prophets, and the Writings (some of the historical books and the wisdom literature). The Hebrew canon contained either 22 or 24 books, depending on how the books were listed, corresponding to the 39 books of our Old Testament Canon. In the 22-book Hebrew canon Jeremiah and Lamentations were combined, as were Judges and Ruth. The following table shows the Old Testament canon, containing these three divisions, as it would have appeared at the time of Christ. 7 The Hebrew Old Testament Law Prophets Writings 1. Genesis A. Former Prophets A. Poetical Books 2. Exodus 6. Joshua 14. Psalms 3. Leviticus 7. Judges 15. Proverbs 4. Numbers 8. Samuel (1 & 2) 16. Job 5. Deuteronomy 9. Kings (1 & 2) B. Five Rolls (Megilloth) B. Latter Prophets 17. Song of Solomon 10. Isaiah 18. Ruth 11. Jeremiah 19. Lamentations 12. Ezekiel 20. Ecclesiastes 13. The Twelve 21. Esther (minor prophets) C. Historical Books 22. Daniel 23. Ezra-Nehemiah 24. Chronicles (1 & 2) The second division of the Hebrew Scriptures was broken down into two sections: The Former Prophets and the Latter Prophets. The Former Prophets were actually comprised of the historical books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, which recounted God's dealings with Israel from the conquest of Canaan until the Babylonian captivity. The Latter Prophets include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, plus the twelve Minor Prophets. (Daniel was placed with the "Writings" division). Who were they? They were called "prophets" (Hebrew nabi, "prophet", over 300 times); also "seers"; "messengers"; and "servants of the Lord". The English word "prophet" comes from two Greek words that, together, literally mean "to speak for". Thus, they were appointed by God Himself to be his spokesmen, and to deliver warnings of judgment as well as revelation of things to come. Hence, the two important characteristics of the ministry of the prophets: foretelling (revealing future events) and forth telling (pronouncing messages of warning or consolation from God). 7 John MacArthur, How We Got the Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, NKN, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997; p. xv. 5 Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa provide a useful summary of the major themes of the prophetic message as follows (emphasis added): 8 1. The prophets exposed the sinful practices of the people. It required considerable courage to tell the people what they needed to hear instead of succumbing to the temptation of telling them what they wanted to hear. God's messengers could not compromise their harsh treatment of sin as sin, knowing that the only hope for the people was a humble turning to the Lord and acknowledgment of their guilt... 2. The prophets called the people back to the moral, civil, and ceremonial law of God. They reminded the people about the character of God and urged them to trust Him with all their hearts. God has a rich purpose for them, but they must believe and obey Him. 3. They warned the people of coming judgment. God must condemn the nation I Amos [Tissot] if its princes, priests, and people continue to arrogantly reject [God's] moral and spiritual principles. They are responsible for their disobedience to their covenant commitment with God. Yahweh is the sovereign Lord of history, and the gentile nations will also be judged if they rebel against His dominion. 4. The prophets anticipated the coming Messiah. History is linear, not cyclical. It has a definite goal, and God will sovereignly move all things to a consummation in the messianic age. 8 Wilkinson, Boa, Talk Thru the Bible, p. 186. 6 Introduction Q&A 1. Can you write the names of the 12 Minor Prophets below (in canonical order)? 2. Can you name two prominent Old Testament prophets for whom we have no record of writings? 3. What is the meaning of the word "minor" with reference to the Minor Prophets? 4. Wilkinson & Boa summarize four major themes of the prophetic message: a. The prophets exposed the _ b. The prophets called the people back to the moral, civil, and ceremonial c. They warned the people of . d. The prophets anticipated the . 5. Please read Obadiah and Joel before the next class session. 7 LESSON ONE: OBADIAH Am I My Brother's Keeper? "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" says the LORD.