very quick Summary of the Minor Prophets and what we learn from them

This blog post started when a guy I went to secondary school and JC with posted this question on Facebook, "Why should we study the Minor Prophets?"

This is an extended version of a shortened reply that became long.

The Minor Prophets indeed are short, can manage one Book per weekly bible study (except for Zechariah). However, they contain a lot of historical backstory that can make discussions go as long as you have time for.

The Minor Prophets contain gritty day to day issues, some of which are drawn directly from the Minor Prophets own pain such as Hosea's broken marriage. It shows how normal the Minor Prophets were and makes them relatable.

The common themes we study the Minor Prophets to learn are Sin, Judgement, Repentance, Faith, Mercy and some mention of Social Justice.

for example;

 
Hosea: Prostitution/Unfaithfulness in Marriage, Compassion that is rejected and ended in divorce.

Joel: A sharp wake-up call to repentance during the period of prosperity that Joel lived in. Like this period of prosperity we have.

Amos: A stern reminder that God is sovereign, also take care of the poor and needy, or else!

Obadiah: Warning against pride. Judgement on Edom for sin against Israel (Obadiah was Edomite by birth).

Jonah: Funny prophet who got angry at God for showing mercy. It looks like Jonah got trolled, but reminds us that God is ultimately in control though we try to struggle against Him.

Micah: Book is a 3 part structure each containing alternating judgement and restoration.

It has my favorite verse showing what God expects of us in Micah 6:8

Nahum: Complete and utter destruction of Nineveh. (Nineveh was the capital of Assyria). Hard book to read, but it mean Jonah's and Zephania's prophecy of Nineveh's came to pass, giving a sense of completion.

Habakkuk: A typical Singaporean question, "why is life not fair?"

Zephania: Judgement on all the nations. No one is left out. Talks about a remnant, we tend to relate to the remnant.

Haggai: Encouragement to be strong and finish the building Lord's house.

Zechariah: I don't know what to make of Zechariah. It's as if chapter 1-6 is talking about Christians in the modern day throughout all the earth as God's people. Then chapter 7-14 switches back to the "here and now" 6th century B.C. of Israel in exile.

Malachi: Giving God our very best. The book of Malachi reads as a warning to people if God's love is rejected, a warning to priests who do not honor God, a warning against divorce, a warning against injustice and a warning against those who do not tithe.
The Lord's Day is coming and there is a faithful remnant who will renew their covenant.
Malachi is also last book of the Old Testament after which there is 400 years of silence between God speaking through Malachi and a voice called John the Baptist in the wilderness.

 

 

Source(s):

http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/t/minor-prophets-god-still-speaks-12-session-study.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Hosea (and all the other Minor Prophet book Wik's)

http://tyndalearchive.com/scriptures/www.innvista.com/scriptures/compare/minor.htm

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+2&version=NIV