8. Habakkuk
• Name means “One Who Clings” (cf. 3:17-19).
• Contemporaries: Jeremiah, Nahum, Zephaniah.
• Prophesied in Judah c. 610-605 BC about the impending judgment of God by the hands of the Babylonians.
• How can a righteous God use a wicked nation to carry out judgment?
Message of Habakkuk
• God is just.
• Judah will be punished at the hands of the Babylonians, but the Babylonians will also be punished for their wickedness.
• Even when we don’t understand God’s ways, we can trust that his ways are right.
• Habakkuk 3:18, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
9. Zephaniah
• Name means “Yahweh Hides.”
• Prophesied in Judah c. 630-622 BC.
• Contemporaries: Jeremiah, Nahum, Habakkuk.
• Zephaniah’s purpose was to initiate change by pronouncing God’s judgment; just prior to Josiah’s reforms (621 BC).
Message of Zephaniah
• The day of the LORD’s judgment is fast approaching.
• Be humble and seek the LORD.
• Beyond judgment the LORD intends to restore his people.
• Zephaniah 3:12, “I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.”
10. Haggai
• Name means “Festive.”
• Prophesied c. 520 BC, the second year of Darius king of Persia.
• Contemporary of Zechariah.
• Some Jews have returned from exile to their homeland to rebuild the temple, but over a decade and a half later it is not finished.
• Haggai preaches a series of fiery sermons to motivate them to complete the project.
Message of Haggai
• The importance of getting priorities in order: “Consider your ways” (1:5, 7; 2:15, 18).
• The importance of the temple to glorify God among his people (1:8; 2:7-9).
• Reassurance of God’s abiding presence (1:13; 2:4, 5).
• Haggai 2:9, “‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts” (cp. Luke 2:21-49; Matt. 26:55).
11. Zechariah
• Name means “Yahweh Remembers.”
• Prophesied c. 520 BC, the second year of Darius king of Persia.
• Contemporary of Haggai.
• Like Haggai, Zechariah is commissioned to motivate the post-exilic Jews, but unlike the fiery motivational speeches of Haggai, Zechariah encourages with positive glimpses of Jerusalem’s future.
Message of Zechariah
• Learn from and do not repeat the sins of your forefathers.
• Visions of Jerusalem’s glorious future.
• Warnings to the enemies of God’s people.
• Messianic allusions (e.g. 9:9; 12:10; 13:7; 14:9).
• Zechariah 1:3, “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Return to me,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
12. Malachi
• Name means “My Messenger.”
• Prophesied to post-exilic Jews (c. 450-430 BC); contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah.
• Rebukes corrupt priests, no sabbath-keeping, failure to tithe, divorce and religiously mixed marriages, and various social problems.
Message of Malachi
• The LORD deserves to be respected, honored, and worshiped.
• The LORD expects faithfulness and permanence in marriage.
• An Elijah-like figure will prepare the way for the coming of the Lord and subsequent judgment against nationalistic Judaism (3:1; 4:5-6).
• Malachi 3:6-7, “‘For I am the LORD, I do not change …Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD of hosts …”
Conclusion:
Each of these “minor” prophets challenged the people of his day to be faithful to Yahweh. Warnings of judgment are balanced by hope for the future. Each prophet, as a voice for God, is still worth listening to.
--Kevin L. Moore
Related Posts: Minor Prophets (Part 1), Part 2
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