The Minor Prophets (Part 1)

The last twelve books of the Old Testament are labeled “The Minor Prophets” because of their respective lengths, not significance. These documents span a period of about four centuries, although the canonical listing is not strictly chronological: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. 

1. Hosea

•      Name means “deliverance” or “salvation” (a form of the name Yeshua or “Joshua”; in the NT equivalent to the name “Jesus”).

•      Hosea prophesied to the Northern Kingdom of Israel c. 750-725 BC.

•      Outwardly Israel was prosperous; inwardly morally corrupt.

•      Hosea’s wife’s infidelity paralleled Israel’s spiritual adultery; Hosea’s loyalty paralleled God’s continued love and faithfulness. 

Message of Hosea

•      God hates sin.

•      God’s love is steadfast.

•      Call for repentance.

•      Warning of certain judgment.

•      Hosea 14:9, “Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; The righteous walk in them. But transgressors stumble in them.”

2. Joel

•      Name means “Yahweh is God.”

•      This particular Joel is not mentioned anywhere else in the OT; named once in the NT (Acts 2:16).

•      Prophesied to the Southern Kingdom of Judah during the reign of Joash (c. 835-796 BC).

•      A locust plague has devastated the land, which serves to illustrate the coming day of the LORD’s judgment.

Message of Joel

•      As bad as the locust plague has been, the day of the LORD’s judgment will be even worse!

•      A call for heart-felt repentance. 

•      The day of the LORD’s judgment will be preceded by a great outpouring of God’s Spirit (2:28-32).

•      Fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost followed by Jerusalem’s destruction four decades later (Acts 2:16-21).

•      Joel 2:32a, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved …” (see Acts 2:21, 37-41; 22:16).

3. Amos

•      Name means “Burden-Bearer.”

•      Amos was a shepherd and a fig farmer in Judah (not a religious professional!).

•      A message of divine judgment against Israel, Judah, and surrounding nations (Syrians, Philistines, Phoenicians, Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites).

•      God holds all people accountable for their actions.

Message of Amos

•      Despite the appearance of prosperity and achievement, there is impending judgment against Israel because of religious hypocrisy, greed, and injustice.

•      Surrounding nations will not escape judgment. 

•      A call for repentance.

•      Fulfilled in 722 BC when the Assyrians conquered Israel.

•      Amos 5:14, “Seek good and not evil, that you may live; So the LORD God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken.”

--Kevin L. Moore

Related Posts: Minor Prophets Part 2, Part 3

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