Minor Prophets

Hosea's life and prophecies
Hosea 12:6, “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.”

We find Hosea in the New Testament in Romans 9:25 and it relates to us what the Lord will do for the backslider – “As he saith also in “Osee” I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.” The prominent lesson we learn is that God will do the same for every sinner, backslider, Jew, or Gentile, who will repent and return, as He has said He would do for Israel.

Hosea is called the Suffering Love Prophet. (The text says he’s the Prophet of Suffering Love.) The Kings that were on the scene during Hosea’s writing were Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Jeroboam. Hosea the Broken-Hearted Prophet, the adulterous Gomer – his wife, the bastard children, and Apostate Israel. All of his writing reflects unfaithful Israel, and he is called upon by God to “live his prophecy.” Hosea was a young man and received a special endowment of soul that caused him to have a keen sensation of God. His sensitive soul gave him a decided advantage of experiencing the deeper mysteries of Grace over other messengers. He was a quiet, affectionate, sensitive, young, obedient, and ardently in love with his God! He was a lonely and perhaps sad, but he believed that God, with all His resources of loving, would prevail for salvation of His chosen people. He was profoundly influenced by Amos, and loved the land, his neighbors, and his beloved Yahweh! He commonly wrote from experience, as well as inspiration. Gomer, his unfaithful wife, which bore him bastard children, became a parable to the nation of its Spiritual Adultery in forsaking Jehovah and falling down before false gods. She was the daughter of Diblaim, had no way of knowing or understanding the mighty love of Hosea, and many have said this must be an Allegory, however, it’s the truth. Hosea was willing to give his life to be a Message for God to God’s People. He was called the Prophet of Suffering Love, because he was a broken-hearted man. He was a sufferer, because his wife was unfaithful, but he was faithful. He did his best in the relationship, but his wife decided in her unfaithfulness to have bastard children – which forgone his ability to create heirs.

He lived out the Message as he received Gomer, his wife, back repeatedly, until finally he found her on the slave block in the market, and once more, as Jesus would do, forgave her. He bought her back so she could return to home. Hosea grieves over his love for Gomer; in this we see that God is desperately in love also and keeps sobbing from His heart, as does Hosea, while they continue to repeat their love story and call from their heart, “Come back!” Hosea was of the tribe of Issachar, which would give him the gift of knowing the times and seasons before the normal man; therefore, people were slow to hear, as was the case with the prophecies of Amos. This is a book of repentance, as backsliders are invited to return to God or suffer the consequences of being cut off. The Lord speaks to Israel through the domestic troubles of the Prophet. Hosea was commanded to take a wife of whoredoms to picture the condition of Israel when God called and married her, bringing her into a covenant relationship with His People.

After having children by him, Hosea’s wife, Gomer, left him to go after old lovers. He was then commanded to buy her back as his wife again, and then to make a contract that she would never do it again. The experience was used to teach Israel that she must now return to God, after forsaking His covenant and going after other gods; He would marry her again and enter into an eternal covenant relationship with her!

The theme could be summed up by two words: “Lo-ammi,” meaning “not my people.” 1:9, “Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God;” and “Ammi,” meaning “My People.” 2:1, “Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ru-ha-mah.” Therefore, she bore one daughter and two sons. The Prophetical Message would concern the restoration of Israel to God, 2:14-23, after the many days of 3:4-5, at which time they will be His eternal people. The Message in 6:1-3 concerns the return of Israel to God by repentance and that in 13:14 He will ransom them. In 14:3-9 God is redeeming them eternally. The underlying purpose overall is to record and predict Israel’s backslidings from God for many days, during which time they were to be scattered among the nations, and be without a King, a prince, sacrifice, image, Ephod, and Teraphim (1:9; 3:4-5); to reveal the final and eternal restoration of Israel; and to assure them of God’s forgiveness and eternal blessing as seen in the above Scriptures 6:1-3 and 14:3-9.

The Central Theme of this book was, “The Ultimate Unity of Nations under Jehovah” and “The Apostasy of Israel.”

We are faithless when we sin, because sin is contagious and a trouble for our soul. Sin can destroy one’s spirit and hurt one’s soul, so it is upon genuine repentance that would ensure ourselves of His full forgiveness. However, God loves us nonetheless, whether we sin or not, for there is nothing greater than God’s love. Repentance is necessary for some, as it heals and delivers them. People should aim, however, to lead sinless lives, because it will always bring more peace and joy.

Joel's life and prophecies
Joel 2:28, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old me shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

Joel said he was the son of Pethuel. Otherwise, he was a native to Jerusalem. He was a pious, godly, courageous preacher who came in the hour of opportunity to deliver a powerful Message from Yahweh to His People. He may have been a priest. His preaching centered generally on repentance of God’s People!

1. He wrote the Book of Joel. 2. The Book has been called “The Book of Judgment” or “The Book of Pentecost” of the Old Testament. It has three chapters with 73 verses. 3. It was written about 875-865 BC from Jerusalem (Judah) to All Israel. 4. It covers a period: “Near the Ministries of Elijah and Elisha.” 5. The Books Central Theme is “Judah’s Ultimate Salvation” and “The Prediction of the Church Age.” 6. The Key Word in the book is “Judgment.” 7. Joel is called “The Prophet of Pentecost.” 8. We see Christ in Joel as “The hope of His People.” 9. Man is pictured in this book as “Repentant.”

Joel 2:28-32, because a prophecy is given that God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh…to which, we see come in Acts 2 – and I’m glad for this, because it is because of this whole deal that we have His Spirit within us, and are able to also minister His Spirit unto others.

The burden of Joel’s Message is a certain fearful time of judgment which he mentions five times in three chapters – and refers to “the Day of the Lord.” The Key Verse helps explain it, “Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand…” This day is yet to come and will begin with the removal of the Church, as the Lord will judge and interfere in the course of world politics. Joel points out God’s dealing with people as the outcome of their own spiritual condition. Genuine repentance is at the foundation of real revivals, and this was Joel’s burden as he labored to produce revival. He cries out in 2:13, “Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.” A rent heart is followed by a rent veil, and access to God and Pentecostal Blessing follow true repentance.

Joel’s message contains the greatest description in literature of a locust devastation, but it also points out the invasion of locusts was only a type of another horrible invasion which was in swarms of heathen invasion in that day and will be further fulfilled in the last days or the days to come. He is scared for what may happen. His heart holds dear the people and his mind is in fear.

The Apostle Peter uses the passage Joel 2:28-32 as a powerful productive sermon on “The Day of Pentecost,” which was fulfilled gloriously in the outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon those exercising true repentance and faith unto Salvation. We see Peter’s Message in Acts 2:16-21, “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Practical lessons
1. Joel 1:14 would be good, as it says, “Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God and cry unto the Lord.” It is good to fast, pray, and gather with the People of God! 2. 3:14 is important, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” We need to know that the Lord is near! 3. We need to know that the Lord has been faithful as to pour out His Spirit on all flesh, as we see in 2:28, 32, “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh…and whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” 4. 1:19, “O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.” Although trouble has come, the Lord will be with us, especially if we cry unto Him! 5. 2:12, “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.” This is important, as it explains a lot of Joel’s message, and is relevant for all generations that we shall come unto the Lord and turn our hearts toward Him!

1. Trials and other issues help to turn us back to God and prepare our minds to hear Him. 2. Judgment day can mean either fear or glory depending on the attitude of our hearts. 3. National calamities call for a nationwide prayer and repentance. 4. God has blessings for those that yield their heart unto Him! 5. You can either abide in Him or abide in the world – and either one will have to be the choice and not both. We are called to abide in Him only, for this will bring true repentance of heart. 6. God knows us very well and understands the things that we do. He hopes that we will realize it and repent of our wrong.

General scope
There is a plague, to begin with, that many older people don’t remember. The whole countryside is bare, and Joel tells the people to tell the story of this to their children and grandchildren. Those that have lived greedily are punished, and they will no longer be drunk with wine, because the vineyards have been destroyed. The people are mourning in misery, especially because of the destruction and that the crops have fallen into ruin. Joel reveals the plague was no accident, but that it is a disaster/judgment from God, to which, the priests must now lead the nation in repentance.

Joel now sees a picture of the swarms coming and compares them to an enemy army. The locusts quickly consume farmlands and the people are helpless. The locusts turn toward Jerusalem in attack, and they swarm the cities and through houses. The clouds of insects brought darkness and made it clear that God’s judgment has come. God sent the judgment so that people would come to a genuine repentance. In repenting, God would restore their vineyards, and they will be able to worship Him again with their offerings. A trumpet is blown calling the people to the Temple to fast and mourn. God then accepts the people’s repentance and promises removal of locusts. Good harvests are to follow and will compensate for all losses. This should bring people into the knowledge of God better, and give people hope for a better future.

People naturally come to God in calamity and then turn away when things are great. Joel hopes that one day God will give His Spirit to each person, not just a few that do His tasks or other purposes and special occasions. This locust plague is only a picture of the last great judgment awaiting the people, to which, believers will be saved but sinners perish. Joel then pictures enemy nations gathering for a final attack to Jerusalem, but these nations don’t know that God brought them together, and He is going to execute judgment upon them for their crimes against Judah. The nations are guilty, wickedness is great, and therefore, they must die. The time of its occurrence is also the time of deliverance of Jerusalem, to which God protects His People.

The Lord's return
Joel 3:16-17, “The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.”

Joel also pictures the swarms of locusts as a person sees them in Jerusalem, and compares them to an enemy army. The swarms are so thick that they look like black clouds as they sweep over the mountains and farmlands. It appears that the swarm comes quickly like an uncontrollable bushfire and devours farmlands to barrenness. The locusts turn their sights to Jerusalem, attacking them in a cloud so thick that it blots out the sun and demonstrates to people that God’s judgment is upon them. This day was a day of darkness upon the people due to so much swarm of locusts.

Definitions for confusing words
a. Palmerworm: (a) Any hairy caterpillar which appears in great numbers, devouring herbage, and wandering about like a palmer. (b) In America, the larva of any one of several moths, which destroys the foliage of fruit and forest trees, esp. the larva of Ypsolophus pometellus, which sometimes appears in vast numbers. b. Locust: Any one of numerous species of long-winged, migratory, orthopterous insects, of the family Acrididæ, allied to the grasshoppers. c. Cankerworm: The larva of two species of geometrid moths which are very injurious to fruit and shade trees by eating, and often entirely destroying, the foliage. d. Sackcloth: Linen or cotton cloth such a sacks are made of; coarse cloth; anciently, a cloth or garment worn in mourning, distress, mortification, or penitence. e. Rend: 1. To separate into parts with force or sudden violence; to tear asunder; to split; to burst; as, powder rends a rock in blasting; lightning rends an oak. 2. To part or tear off forcibly; to take away by force.

Amos' life and prophecies
Amos 8:11, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.”

Amos was a native of Tekoa, a town in Judah located just twelve miles from Jerusalem and about six miles from Bethlehem. Amos was a common, ordinary, everyday, working man – a herdsman and a “dresser of sycamore tree.” Dresser means, “nipper” or “pincher” – which was for the sycamore fruit, which can be ripened by puncturing it. Amos was drafted by God to Preach National accountability to Israel in the North.

1. He pictures Christ as “The Restorer of the House of David.” (Amos 9:11-12; Acts 15:15-16) 2. The Key Word of the Book was Punishment. 3. Its Central Theme was “The Ultimate Reign of David” and “National Accountability for National Sins.” 4. Amos was known as “The Prophet of Justice.” 5. The main characters of the Book are the Prophet Amos, King Jeroboam II, and The Israelites.

Overall, society and religion were bankrupt. Amos was a strange personality that came from the Judean wilderness with a burning message from God. He was influenced by Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah. We see the Land of Israel enjoy a season of peace. Then, King Jeroboam II came to throne and began a vigorous rebuilding program, to which, he recaptured lost territory and expanded the limits of his kingdom.

We then see King Uzziah built in much of the same in the south. Judah was a strong and vigorous Kingdom with armies, fortifications, trade routes, and other powerful political alliances – to which, these two aggressive Kings carried their small kingdoms along from victory to victory. Expansion came, as well as freedom, prosperity, and peace. There was also, though, sins such as drunkenness, extravagant meals, carousals, slumber, among other things – and retribution was coming. The rich gained their wealth through injustice and oppressions, as always, and the poor workers in the fields suffered cruelty on them from the landowners and heartless creditors. Dishonest merchants and unfair judges made attempts to keep the lives of the poor miserable beyond endurance.

The spiritual conditions involved that the people were outwardly religious, but had gross moral behavior – and it was openly aided and abetted by the religious leaders. The rich nobles took the lead in religious matters and were selfish, among indifferent, to the cries and groans of the suffering multitude. This suffering multitude suffered because of injustice, oppression, and violence. Lastly, they lacked knowledge overall.

Since Amos had a good grasp on world problems and solutions, and was able to point his finger at the sin of the nation in question. He had solitude in the wilderness that allowed his communication to be well with God, and encouraged his inspiration. He knew God in an intimate way, and therefore, it was no wonder to have been called to this hour in Israel.

The Lord told him to, “…Go, prophesy unto my people Israel” (Amos 7:15). He was not a member of any prophetical group or had any formal training (as we know). He was simply pulled from his animals in the wilderness by this overpowering conviction from God that He wanted him to take a message to Bethel. He must have felt God’s presence upon him. In addition to that, he’s also been called the prophet of “woe,” because the message of his call was a stern one for a people living in luxury and self-indulgence. However, he received the call and moved in humility. He was industrious and productive before God, and was in harmony with nature. He sought wisdom and preached simply so that the hearer would understand. He was successful, as he had great influence over the Land of Israel.

He began in Damascus, and quickly caught their sympathetic attention. He turned the emotion of the people quickly toward Philistia, claiming to be a prophet from God with a genuine word against these bitter enemies of Israel. In rapid succession, his sharp tongue and quick wit lashed out the enemies of Israel and he hit broadside at Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab – closing in on the worst and wicked enemies; revealing justice was on its way to the rebellious nations. The crowd hung on to his every word and likely praised him with agreement. Next, he pointed his finger at Judah/Israel telling them they have despised the Law of the Lord and failed to keep His Commandments.

In chapter 7, he foretold an earthquake was coming, and in two years, it came. It must have been great in severity, for Zechariah even speaks of it around 300 years later. In chapter 8, we see the Basket of Summer Fruit, which taught that Israel would soon perish. In chapter 9, we see the vision of the Lord standing upon the altar that Amos had.

3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” We see the prophet threatening the people that God would begin His punishments to them, and told them this for the fact that if they will not walk with Him and have His presence, then they would walk contrary instead. Walking contrary would not bring any hope for a communion with Him again.

We see Amos quoted in Acts 15:15-16, “And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up.” This is known so that “men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things” (17).

Prophecy against six Gentile nations
• Syria is condemned to destruction and captivity, because of its continual cruelty. They tortured and butchered its victims using brutal methods. • Philistia captured cities and sold entire populations as slaves – whether men, women, or children. In punishment, Philistia’s own main cities would be destroyed. • Tyre would be conquered and burnt to the ground for deceiving its treaty partners, and also they had bought and sold slaves like merchandise. • Edom is condemned for their savage attacks against Israel without question of the blood relation between the two nations. • Ammon also would suffer a devastating judgment, because of its merciless killings of whole populations, just so they could expand their territory. • Foreign armies would invade Moab, and in a large judgment from God, its cities would be burnt and leaders killed, because it acted with uncontrollable hatred toward its enemy.

Practical lessons
1. Hollow and insincere worship displeases God. 2. When one possesses power over others, there is danger. 3. God is not pleased when people turn away from Him, because He only wants what’s best for His People – and that is to be loved by Him and walk with Him. 4. God helps us through trials by guiding us and giving us wisdom to understand what’s going on.

Obadiah's life and prophecies
Obadiah 1:15, “For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine head.”

Obadiah is The Shortest Book in the Old Testament and the shortest Prophetical writing. The Message of Obadiah is directed against the people of Edom who looked on while Jerusalem was being destroyed and it seemed that they took some kind of fiendish delight in the misfortune. It has been called an “indignant oration.”

• The Book is called “The Book of Justice.” • It has one chapter and 21 verses in total. It is the shortest book in the Old Testament. • The writer is Obadiah, the Censurer of Ridicule, which was written around 742-726 BC – which was soon after the fall of Jerusalem. • The Central Theme of this book is, “The Destruction of Edom.” • The Key Word for this book is, “Retribution.” • The main characters are Obadiah, the Prophet of Doom, the Edomites, and the Israelites. • Christ, in this book, is seen as, “The King and Judge of Nations.” • Man, in this book, is pictured as imperiled – which means that Man is in danger or jeopardized.

Esau and Jacob were in a ridiculous family feud, where earlier Jacob robbed Esau of his birthright. This feud, though, is between brothers. Esau’s descendants are settled in Edom, South of the Dead Sea. The Edomites could do shrewd trades, make raids on neighboring people, and retreat to their secure stronghold for safety. They had other places of security as well. Esau, the father of the Edomites, and Jacob, the father of the Israelites, were brothers, but became feuding families from the beginning, more fuel to the feud was added by this incident. Now, the Edomites refused to allow the Israelites (their blood brother) to pass through this territory at the time of the Exodus. In the battle for the conquest of Palestine, they fought against Israel. David subdued the land, and Solomon continued to hold it in subjection, but in the days of Ahaz, the Edomites rebelled and continued to make trouble for Judah. The Edomites were proud, bitter, and self-contained – however, they thought they didn’t need God. Obadiah prophesied and warned against Edom’s vindictive hatred – to which, it seems that Edom rejoiced over the calamities of Israel more than once. When Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem they not only rejoiced over Israel’s downfall, but cruelty took part in the plunder and massacre.

“Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.” –Psalm 137:7 -- This verse says to the Lord to remember the children of Edom (the enemies) in the day of Jerusalem, because of the attackers of the Babylonians who attempted to overthrow His People, and take captive the Israelites.

The burden of Obadiah’s Message was that he sees the doom and destruction of the fierce Idumeans or Edomites. One of the truths that drive home is, “what you sow you will reap.” Obadiah reminds Edom that God commanded the Israelites to treat the Edomites charitably – which is what message is conveyed in Deuteronomy 23:7.

In biting words Obadiah denounces the pride of sinners and remarks that they deserve the punishment that God, was about to heap upon them. What caused the sharp message of doom was that Obadiah saw the inhuman spirit of the Edomites toward Judah. In addition, the kinsmen displayed an unbrotherly spirit and delighted in the destruction of their own blood family. The Edomites helped catch fleeing Israelites, treated them cruelly, sold them as slaves, and shared in the loot obtained after the capture. This would be a strong message against enmity, hatred, envy, and unbrotherly conduct. It streamed with the idea of malicious gazing on human calamity.

Obadiah’s Message is strong against enmity, hatred, envy, and unbrotherly conduct.

1:4, “Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.” 1:10, “For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.” 1:17, “But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” 1:15, “For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.” 1:21, “And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.”

Practical lessons
• Our defenses are useless toward the power of God. • Ridicule will not go unnoticed by God. • What you do to others will be returned to you. • Godly eternal justice will prevail. • A profane person cannot find favor with a God he does not love. • The victory belongs to God. • Hate silences compassion, but love captures God’s attention. • God will make those victorious whom trust in Him. • Submitting our own desires to God will lead to great success, but if we turn away, we may fail.