Original STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS use for class full syl

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Introduction To The Minor Prophets

INTRODUCTION

1. While Christians are not under the Old Testament as a system of

justification, the OT is of great value for us today…

a. Written for our learning, it is a source of comfort and hope

- Ro 15:4

b. Written for our admonition, we learn what mistakes to avoid

- 1 Co 10:11

c. As with all scripture inspired of God, it is profitable “for

doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in

righteousness” - cf. 2 Ti 3:14-17

2. What are “The Minor Prophets?”

a. A collection of twelve books that make up the last part of the

Old Testament

b. Beginning with Hosea, and ending with Malachi

3. Those willing to study these books will find their lives enriched as

they increase…

a. Their knowledge of God’s holiness, righteousness, justice and

mercy

b. Their understanding of God’s dealings in the nations of men

c. Their appreciation of the Bible as a literary masterpiece

I. WHO WERE THE PROPHETS?

A. THE OLD COVENANT HAD DIFFERENT KINDS OF INSTRUCTORS…

1. There was Moses, the lawgiver - Neh 8:1,14; 9:13-14; Jn 1:17;

7:19

2. There were the priests, administrators of the law - Lev 10:

8-11; Hos 4:6; Eze 22:26; Mal 2:7

3. There were the wise men, who gave counsel - 2 Sam 14:1-24;

20:16-22

4. There were the psalmists, poets who were the “sweet singers”

of Israel - cf. 2 Sam 23:1; 1 Chr 6:33

5. There were the prophets, communicators of the Word of God

B. A “PROPHET” WAS A SPOKESMAN FOR ANOTHER…

1. Like Aaron was for his brother Moses - Exo 4:16; 7:1

2. The word literally means “to boil up like a fountain”

3. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, a prophet…

a. Was a spokesman for God - 2 Pe 1:21

b. Was given something to say, and had to say it! - Jer 20:7-9

4. A prophet was primarily a “forth-teller”, though sometimes a

“fore-teller”

God’s word often pertained to future events

b. The fulfilled prophecies of these prophets are therefore a

strong proof of inspiration

– But much of their word concerned not the future, but

current events

C. OTHER DESIGNATIONS HELP TO DEFINE THE ROLE OF A PROPHET…

1. Early in Israel’s history they were called “seers” - 1 Sam 9:9

2. Another appellation was “man of God” - 1 Sam 9:6; 1 Kin 17:18

3. Also known as a “servant of God” - 1 Kin 18:36; 1 Chr 6:49

4. They served as God’s “messenger” - Isa 42:19

5. They were also assigned the role of “watchman” - Eze 3:17;

33:7

[The prophets were therefore servants of God, divinely appointed and

inspired to proclaim His Word. At times, they were messengers of God’s

word as it applied to the present, serving as watchmen of the people of

God; other times, God’s message pertained to the future, and as such

they were “seers” of things to come.]

II. HOW ARE THE PROPHETS CLASSIFIED?

A. IT IS COMMON TO SPEAK OF “ORAL” AND “LITERARY” PROPHETS…

1. The “oral” prophets are those who left no writings bearing

their names

a. Such as Elijah and Elisha - cf. 1 Kin 17; 2 Kin 2

b. Many others, including Nathan (2 Sam 12), Gad (2 Sam

24:11), Ahijah (1 Kin 11:29)

2. Those who left books bearing their names are called the

“literary” prophets

B. THE LITERARY PROPHETS ARE CATEGORIZED AS “MAJOR” AND “MINOR”

PROPHETS…

1. Augustine is credited with being the first to classify them in

this way

2. The distinction pertains only to the length of the books

a. The “major prophets” include the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah,

Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel

b. The “minor prophets” are those twelve books from Hosea to

Malachi

[As we consider the works of the “literary” prophets, we should note

that the order of the books in our Bibles is not chronological.

Therefore it may serve useful to review…]

III. THE LITERARY PROPHETS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Please note: Dating the prophets is not without controversy, and with

some it can be very difficult. What I provide below are the estimates

among many conservative scholars…

A. NINTH CENTURY (EARLY ASSYRIAN PERIOD)

1. Obadiah (ca. 845 B.C)

2. Joel (ca 830 B.C.)

3. Jonah (790-750 B.C.)

– This is during the period of “The Divided Kingdom” in Israel’s

history; to the north and east the empire of Assyria was

beginning to make its presence known in Israel

B. EIGHTH CENTURY (ASSYRIAN PERIOD)

1. Amos (755 B.C.)

2. Hosea (750-725 B.C.)

3. Isaiah (740-700 B.C.)

4. Micah (735-700 B.C.)

– In 722 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel was taken into

Assyrian captivity; these prophets were proclaiming God’s

message as the nation was being threatened from the north

C. SEVENTH CENTURY (CHALDEAN PERIOD)

1. Jeremiah (626-586 B.C.)

2. Zephaniah (630-625 B.C.)

3. Nahum (625-612 B.C.)

4. Habakkuk (625-605 B.C.)

– Assyria was eventually defeated by Babylon; these prophets

served as God’s messengers when the Babylonian empire

threatened the kingdom of Judah

D. SIXTH CENTURY (THE EXILE)

1. Ezekiel (593-570 B.C.)

2. Daniel (605-536 B.C.)

– Like many of their countrymen, these prophets were taken into

Babylonian captivity; from Babylon they served as God’s

messengers to both captives and kings

E. SIXTH AND FIFTH CENTURIES (POST-EXILIC PERIOD)

1. Haggai (520 B.C.)

2. Zechariah (520-518 B.C.)

3. Malachi (ca. 440 B.C.)

– After the Jews were allowed to return home from Babylonian

captivity, God used Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the

people to rebuild the temple; later, Malachi was used to

reform the priesthood during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah

[Finally, here are some thoughts on…]

IV. UNDERSTANDING THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHETS

A. THREE THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND AS YOU STUDY THE PROPHETS…

1. Seek to understand the political, social and religious

conditions of the times

a. Any interpretation must consider how the message was

relevant for the people to whom the prophet spoke

b. Secondary fulfillment of prophecy is often found in the NT,

but this can be understood only when applied by inspired

writers of the NT

c. Guard against making interpretations that are purely

speculative

d. Any application to modern events must be carefully

harmonized in light of the NT

2. Consider God’s relation to the heathen nations (i.e., other

than Israel and Judah)

a. The prophets often revealed how God directed their destiny

and judged them

b. This may provide insight as to how Christ rules the nations

today! - cf. Mt 28:18; Re 1:5; 2:26;27

3. Note any teaching regarding the Messiah and His coming kingdom

- Ac 26:6-7; 28:20

a. The immediate mission of most prophets was to save God’s

people from idolatry and wickedness

b. Failing that, they were sent to announce God’s judgment and

the coming destruction of the nation

c. But many prophets left a message of hope for the future,

regarding the Messiah who would come and establish a

kingdom that could never be destroyed!

B. SOME OF THE GREAT THEMES DEVELOPED BY THE PROPHETS…

1. The holiness of God - He is absolutely pure, righteous, just,

merciful, tender, loving, and longsuffering

2. The sovereignty of God - He rules the universe and is above

all

3. The immutability of God’s word

a. He carries out His promises

b. One can depend upon Him to act consistently with His Word

4. The terribleness of sin

a. God abhors iniquity, and will not tolerate, overlook, nor

excuse it

b. But He is willing to forgive those who humbly repent

5. Repentance and righteousness

a. This is the clarion call of the prophets

b. Though severe is God’s punishment of the wicked, yet God’s

mercy is great in loving kindness upon the righteous who

are of broken spirit and contrite heart

6. The worship due God - The proper reverence, awe, and respect

for God will cause one to praise Him and give thanks for His

wonderful grace and mercy!

CONCLUSION

1. Why study “The Minor Prophets”?

a. This question was asked by a dear sister in Christ, when I

preached this series before

b. She did not see the value of Christians studying this portion of

the Old Testament

c. Yet, she later remarked how much she got out of our study

2. Why study “The Minor Prophets”? Because in them we learn about…

a. The nature of God, His holiness, justice, righteousness and mercy

b. The workings of God, as He dealt with nations, bringing judgment

upon the guilty

…which can help us in our relationship with God today, giving us

comfort and hope to face the future, knowing that God is in

ultimate control!

I hope this brief introduction has whetted your appetite to study “The

Minor Prophets”. Our next lesson will begin the study in earnest with

a look at the book of Obadiah…

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Obadiah - The Judgment Of Edom (1:1-21)

INTRODUCTION

1. The first of the “The Minor Prophets” we shall consider is Obadiah,

whose book is the shortest of all books in the Old Testament

2. His name means “Servant of Yahweh (Jehovah)”, and was quite

common…

a. Thirteen different people are called by this name in the Old

Testament

b. One Jewish tradition identifies him as the one who was Ahab’s

steward

1. Who hid 100 prophets from Jezebel, Ahab’s wife - 1 Kin 18:3-4

2. Who feared the Lord from his youth - 1 Kin 18:12

c. He may have also been…

1. The Obadiah sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the law in Judah

- 2 Chr 17:7

2. The Obadiah who was one of the overseers in repairing the

temple under Josiah - 2 Chr 34:12

– Whoever this Obadiah was, his message contains valuable lessons

for us today

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A. THE DATE…

1. Two dates are often proposed: 845 B.C. and 586 B.C.

2. The prophet refers to an attack on Jerusalem; commentators

offer these two possibilities:

a. The days of Jehoram (848-844 B.C.), when Philistines and

Arabians attacked the city - 2 Chr 21:8-10,16-17

b. The destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (586 B.C.)

3. The internal evidence appears to support the early date of

845 B.C. (Keil, Hailey)

a. The language of Obadiah is much different from Jeremiah

b. There is no mention of the destruction of the temple, the

deportation to Babylon, the remnant who went to Egypt

– I accept the early date, that it was around 845 B.C.

B. THE MESSAGE…

1. The fall of Edom

a. Because of its pride

b. And its cruelty against Israel, their cousins

2. The exaltation of Zion

a. When Seir, the Edomite counterpart of Zion, will be cast

down

b. The rescued of Israel will be in Zion, for in it the

redeemed shall be foun

– For this reason I have subtitled this lesson as “The Judgment

Of Edom”

C. THE HISTORY OF EDOM…

1. The people of Edom descended from Esau, Jacob’s twin brother

2. There was sibling rivalry between Edom and Israel, found first

in Esau and Jacob

a. The twins struggled in their mother’s womb - Gen 25:22-26

b. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob - Gen 25:27-34

c. Jacob stole Esau’s blessing as the firstborn - Gen 27

3. While Jacob and Esau eventually reconciled (Gen 32-33), their

descendants were often at odds with one another

a. In the Exodus, Edom refused Israel passage through their

land - Num 20:14-21

b. Edom was finally subjected by David - 2 Sam 8:13-14

c. During the reign of Jehoram, Edom revolted - 2 Kin 8:20-22

4. Located south of the Dead Sea, they built their cities in the

cliffs and thought themselves impregnable

5. After the prophecy of Obadiah…

a. The Edomites were overcome by the Nabataeans, forced to

settle south of Judah

b. Around 100 B.C., they were conquered by John Hyrcanus of

the Maccabees

1. Who forced many of them to be circumcised and accept the

Law

2. As such, many became nominal Jewish proselytes (Herod

the Great was one)

c. By 100 A.D., Edom as a race and nation had become lost to

history

[With this background, let’s now read through the prophecy of Obadiah,

with the aid of the following…]

II. OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

A. THE COMING JUDGMENT ON EDOM (1-9)

1. The decree has gone forth to the nations (1)

2. Deceived by pride in her location, Edom will be brought down

(2-4)

3. Destruction will be complete (5-6)

4. Edom will be betrayed by allies (7)

5. Not even wisdom and might can save them (8-9)

B. THE REASON FOR JUDGMENT ON EDOM (10-16)

1. For violence and unbrotherly conduct toward Jacob (10-11)

2. A rebuke against such conduct (12-14)

3. Therefore the “Day of the Lord” for them will mean receiving

the same sort of treatment! (15-16)

C. THE EXALTATION OF ISRAEL OVER EDOM (17-21)

1. Deliverance and holiness will be found on Mt. Zion, not Mt.

Seir (the prominent mountain in Edom)! (17a)

2. The house of Jacob shall consume the house of Esau (17b-18)

3. The children of Israel will possess Edom and surrounding

nations (19-20)

4. The ultimate rule will be that of the Lord’s (21)

[With this brief perusal of Obadiah’s “vision” concerning Edom (1),

here are some thoughts regarding…]

III. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY

A. ITS IMMEDIATE FULFILLMENT…

1. Edom’s destruction began with the Babylonian invasion under

Nebuchadnezzar (ca. 600 B.C.)

2. It continued into the fourth century B.C. with the invasion of

the Arabs known as the Nabataeans, forcing them to a region

south of Judah

3. In the second century B.C., the Maccabees brought them under

subjection when Judas Maccabeus slew twenty thousand of them

4. John Hyrcanus (134-104 B.C.) forced the remnant to accept

circumcision and the Law

B. ITS ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT…

1. May likely have been with the coming of the Messiah (Jesus

Christ)!

2. For with His coming, and the establishment of the spiritual

kingdom beginning in Jerusalem…

a. Deliverance and holiness did come from Mt. Zion (i.e.

Jerusalem)! - Lk 24:47

b. The kingdom (rule) is the Lord’s! - cf. Lk 1:31-34; Mt 28:

18; 1 Pe 3:22; Re 1:5

c. The house of Jacob (i.e., the true spiritual Israel) did

possess Edom as the Gentiles among them became Christians!

- cf. Ro 11:13-18 (where faithful Gentiles are spoken as

being grafted into the stock of Israel)

3. As support for this interpretation, consider:

a. The prophecy of Balaam - Num 24:15-19

1. Which foretells how “A Star shall come out of Jacob, A

Scepter shall rise out of Israel” (the Messiah?)

2. And how Edom will be come a possession

b. The prophecy of Amos - Amo 9:11-12

c. The application by James at the council in Jerusalem - Ac

15:13-17

1. Who understood the conversion of the Gentiles to be a

fulfillment of Amos

2. Therefore the fulfillment is figurative, not literal, as

Gentiles become Christians

IV. LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF OBADIAH

A. “PRIDE GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION…” - Pro 16:18

1. Pride leads to vanity and a sense of independence from God

2. Just as Edom took pride in their geographical location,

allies, wisdom and might

3. Such arrogance God will punish - cf. Isa 13:9-11

– Are we on guard against such pride?

B. DO NOT MISTREAT YOUR BRETHREN…

1. This was Edom’s guilt also (10)

2. How we treat our brethren affects our relationship with the

Lord - cf. 1 Co 8:12

– Are we careful about our dealings with our brethren?

C. “DO NOT REJOICE WHEN YOUR ENEMY FALLS…” - Pro 24:17-18

1. This Edom did when Judah was plundered (12)

2. This sort of gloating is displeasing to God!

– Do we rejoice when our enemy falls?

D. IN TIME OF DIVINE JUDGMENT, GOD PROVIDES A MEANS AND PLACE OF

ESCAPE FOR THOSE WHO TURN TO HIM…

1. Note again verse 17, where Mount Zion would become a place of

deliverance

2. Today, spiritual Mount Zion is a place to which we can turn

- cf. He 12:22-24

3. It is a place where we can find:

a. “the city of the living God”

b. “the heavenly Jerusalem”

c. “an innumerable company of angels”

d. “the firstborn registered in heaven”

e. “God the Judge of all”

f. “the spirits of just men made perfect”

g. “Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant”

h. “the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than

that of Abel”

– Of course, this is what we come to as we obey the gospel of

Christ!

CONCLUSION

1. With this brief look at “The Book Of Obadiah”, we have seen that…

a. The prophets were not limited in their prophecies to just the

nation of Israel

b. God held the heathen nations accountable for their actions

c. While it was written primarily to comfort the Israelites in

Obadiah’s day, there are lessons to be gleaned for us as well

d. The message of hope may have had its ultimate fulfillment in what

we can enjoy ourselves today, in the person and work of Jesus!

2. In verse 15, we find the expression “the day of the Lord”…

a. An expression often used by the prophets referring to God’s

judgment upon the nations

b. The particular “day of the Lord” of which Obadiah wrote was

“near”, and was fulfilled with the destruction of Edom

c. But there is another “day of the Lord” yet to come…!

1. Of which God’s judgments upon the nations were only a shadow,

a type

2. Peter writes of that day, in which the whole world will be

judged - 2 Pe 3:7-13

Are we ready for that “day of the Lord”? Or do we in our arrogance

take pride in our wisdom, might, or position in life? If so, “the

pride of your heart has deceived you” (3). How much better to humbly

recognize that…

“…on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be

holiness;” (Oba 1:17)

Have you come to Mount Zion, and to Jesus the Mediator of the New

Covenant?

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Joel - The Day Of The Lord (1:1-2:27)

INTRODUCTION

1. We now turn to the book of Joel, and this will be the first of two

lessons

2. The name “Joel” means “Jehovah is God”, and we know very little

about the author…

a. The name appears frequently, with at least a dozen men sharing

the name in the O.T.

b. Described as “the son of Pethuel” (1:1), there is no reason to

associate him with any other Joel mentioned in the Bible

[As we begin our study, let’s do so with some…]

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A. THE DATE…

1. The date of the book is uncertain

a. Some place it as one of the earliest of the “literary

prophets” (ca. 900 B.C.)

b. Some believe it was written after the Exile (ca. 400 B.C.)

2. Hailey, Young, and other scholars defend the early date

a. Suggesting a date of 830 B.C.

b. Which is the date I am presuming for our study

B. THE OCCASION…

1. Joel’s prophecy was occasioned by a calamity that had struck

the land

a. Literally, it is described as a locust plague

b. Some suggest that the locusts were symbolical of an army

that had invaded

2. I take the description of the plague as literal

C. THE MESSAGE…

1. Joel sees the locust plague as a warning from God

a. That the calamity was heralding “the day of the Lord” which

was coming

b. That if the people did not repent, this “day” would bring

even more destruction

2. So Joel’s message is “Seek the Lord through repentance!”

(1:1-2:27)

3. Joel also has some things to say about what shall come to pass

“afterward” (2:28-3:21)

[With this brief background as an introduction, let’s now begin reading

the book with the aid of the following outline…]

II. OUTLINE OF THE BOOK (1:1-2:27)

A. THE LAND IS LAID WASTE (1:1-12)

1. Joel provides a graphic description of the locust plague (1-4)

2. He calls for people to weep over the devastation (5-12)

B. A PLEA TO CRY OUT TO THE LORD (1:13-20)

1. To be led by the priests, consecrating a fast and calling the

people together (13-14)

2. For the present destruction is heralding the coming “day of

the Lord” (15-18)

3. Joel and the beasts take the lead, with their own cry to the

Lord (19-20)

C. THE COMING “DAY OF THE LORD” (2:1-11)

1. A cry to warn the people, for the day is coming! (1)

2. This particular “day of the Lord” is vividly described (2-11)

a. It will be a recurrence of the locust plague

b. Described as an invading army, an army led by God!

D. A CALL TO REPENTANCE (2:12-17)

1. Voiced first by God Himself (12)

2. Then elaborated upon by Joel (13-17)

a. Repent, for God Who is gracious may relent and provide a

blessing

b. Make it a national repentance, led by the priests

E. THE LORD’S PROMISE IF THERE IS REPENTANCE (2:18-20)

1. He will be zealous for His land, and show pity to the people

(18)

2. He will bless them with grain, wine, and oil (19)

3. He will remove the “army” (locusts) from the north (20)

F. A CALL TO COURAGE AND GLADNESS (2:21-24)

1. A call directed by Joel towards:

a. The land, for the Lord has done marvelous things (21)

b. The beasts of the field, for the pastures and trees are

fruitful once again (22)

c. The children of Zion, for the Lord is blessing the land

with rain and a full harvest (23-24)

2. This passage implies the people repented, and the Lord was

keeping His promise!

G. THE LORD’S REASSURANCE (2:25-27)

1. God will restore what His “army” (the locusts) had destroyed

(25)

2. They will be blessed with plenty, and praise God for His grace

(26)

3. Then they shall truly know that God is over them (27)

[This ends the first part of Joel’s prophecy. It clearly pertained to

the people of his day. The rest of the book looks forward to a period

described as “afterward” (2:28), “in those days and at that time”

(3:1), and “in that day” (3:18). This section we will examine in

our next lesson.

But from what we have read thus far, what lessons can we learn from

Joel?]

III. LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF JOEL

A. THE VALUE OF NATURAL CALAMITIES…

1. They can serve to turn men back to God

2. God certainly used them to reach out to His people in the O.T.

- cf. Amo 4:6-12

3. But not all calamities come from God; some came from Satan

- cf. Job 1:6-19

4. Whether calamities come from God, Satan, or are purely

coincidental, they should be times of reflection concerning

life and our relationship to God - e.g., Job 1:20-22

B. THE NATURE OF TRUE REPENTANCE (2:12-13a)

1. It must be with all our heart (12a)

2. It must be inward, not just outward (12b-13a)

C. THE NATURE OF GOD (2:13b)

1. He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great

kindness - cf. Psa 103:8-14

2. He relents from doing harm when we repent - cf. Jer 18:7-8

D. “THE DAY OF THE LORD” CAN BE AVERTED…

1. “The day of the Lord” often refers to God’s judgment upon a

nation

a. Such judgments were many, and often described in terms

indicative of the final judgment at the end of time - cf.

the judgment of Babylon, Isa 13:1-13

b. In the first part of Joel’s prophecy, it referred to a

plague of locusts that would be greater than what they had

already experienced - Joel 2:1-11

2. But such judgments could be averted - cf. Jer 18:7-8

a. Such happened with the city of Nineveh - cf. Jonah 3:1-10

b. And when we compare Joel 1:11; 2:1,11 with 2:13-14,18-23,

it appears to have been averted in Joel’s day!

3. Of course, this does not pertain to the “ultimate” day of the

Lord at the end of time, but to the “preliminary” judgments

that God often brings upon a nation

CONCLUSION

1. Our next lesson will complete our survey of the book of Joel, in

which we will find…

a. Joel writing of events that heralded the beginning of the

Christian dispensation

b. More lessons that are of value to the Christian

2. But in closing, may I remind you of that “day of the Lord” which is

yet to come?

a. A day vividly described in 2 Pe 3:7-10

b. A day which cannot be averted, but for which we can prepare

- 2 Pe 3:11-14

For those who prepare themselves for this coming “day of the Lord”,

they will find that indeed the Lord is “gracious and merciful, slow to

anger, and of great kindness” (Joel 2:13). But for those who continue

in their sins, we can only say along with Joel…

“Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; It shall

come as destruction from the Almighty.” (Joel 1:15)

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Joel - The Day Of The Lord (2:28-3:21)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson on Joel, we saw that…

a. Joel’s prophecy was occasioned by a plague of locusts - 1:2-4

b. He proclaimed the plague as a warning from God - 1:15-16

1. If the people would not repent, “the day of the Lord” would

come and bring greater destruction - 2:1-5

2. If they did repent, then material blessings would follow

- 2:12-14

c. Joel therefore called for a national repentance - 2:15-17a

d. Evidently his work was effective, for he describes the blessings

that had come - 2:21-27

2. We also noticed some lessons to be learned from the book…

a. The value of natural calamities (can serve to turn men to God)

b. The nature of true repentance - 2:12-13

c. The character of the Lord - 2:13b

d. “The day of the Lord”, when referring to God’s judgment on a city

or nation, can be averted - cf. also Jer 18:7-8; Jonah 3:1-10

3. In this lesson, we shall complete our survey of Joel by reading

2:28-3:21…

a. With attention to the prophetic element of this passage

b. Offering comments concerning its interpretation

[Let’s begin with a careful reading of this passage…]

I. JOEL’S PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE

A. WHAT SHALL COME TO PASS “AFTERWARD” (2:26-32)

1. God’s Spirit will be poured out on all flesh - 2:28-29

2. Wonders in heaven and earth to appear before the coming of

“the day of the Lord” - 2:30-31

3. There shall be deliverance in Mount Zion and Jerusalem - 2:32

B. WHAT SHALL OCCUR “IN THOSE DAYS” (3:1-17)

1. God will judge all nations on account of His people - 3:1-3

2. Specifically mentioned are Tyre, Sidon and Philistia - 3:4-8

a. Who had mistreated God’s people

b. Who shall be treated as they treated others

3. The nations are called to do battle - 3:9-12

a. “Prepare for war!”

b. Come to the “Valley of Jehoshaphat”, where the Lord will

judge the nations

1. Jehoshaphat means “God shall judge”

2. The valley referred to may be the Kidron near Jerusalem

4. The outcome - 3:13-17

a. There will be a great harvest

b. “The day of the Lord” is described…

1. As near in this “valley of decision”

2. In which the heavenly bodies are diminished and shaken

c. While God’s people find shelter and strength in Him

d. The Lord will be known and dwell in Zion, Jerusalem forever

remaining holy

C. WHAT SHALL COME TO PASS “IN THAT DAY” (3:18-21)

1. Judah shall be blessed by a “fountain…from the house of the

Lord” - 3:18

2. Egypt and Edom will be desolate because of their violence

- 3:19

3. Judah and Jerusalem shall abide forever, acquitted of their

guilt - 3:20-21

[Such is the prophetic message of Joel. What he SAYS is clear enough.

What he MEANS is something else! Here are a few thoughts on…]

II. INTERPRETING JOEL’S PROPHECY

A. THERE ARE THREE KEY PHRASES…

1. “it shall come to pass afterward” - 2:28

a. This period of time is clearly defined by Peter in Ac 2:

14-21

b. In which he applies it to the events on the Day of

Pentecost

2. “in those days and at that time” - 3:1

a. The same period of time as described in 2:28-32

b. I.e., at some point during the Messianic age

3. “in that day” - 3:18

a. The context places this AFTER “the day of the Lord”

b. I.e., at some point during the Messianic age, but not until

AFTER the judgment of the nations in the “Valley of

Jehoshaphat”

B. DETERMINING THE TIME AND EVENTS…

1. Certainly 2:28-29 refers to a period beginning with the

events described in Acts 2

a. Peter said “this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel”

- Ac 2:16

b. An inspired statement pinpointing when this prophecy began

to be fulfilled

2. However, there are different opinions regarding Joel 2:30-3:21

a. “The day of the Lord” in 2:30-31 is variously interpreted

as:

1. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD

2. The final coming of the Lord

b. The judgment in the “valley of Jehoshaphat” in 3:1-17 is

variously interpreted as:

1. Figurative, by some; literal, by others

2. Referring to no specific judgment, by some

3. Referring to a specific judgment at some time, by

others…

1. E.g., after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD

2. E.g., The “Battle of Armageddon” prior to the

“millennium” - Re 16:14-16

3. E.g., the battle after the “millennium” described in

Re 20:7-10

c. Various views are also offered for the blessing of Judah

and Jerusalem in 3:18-21

– With such differences in interpretation, one should not be

dogmatic

C. HERE IS MY OWN UNDERSTANDING OF 2:30-3:21…

1. The passage is not to be taken literally

a. It would be physically impossible for ALL the nations to

gather in the “Valley of Jehoshaphat” - 3:2,12

b. The “Valley of Acacias” is located on the other side of

the Jordan River, making it geographically impossible to be

watered by a stream from Jerusalem - 3:18

2. This passage speaks in terms meaningful and comforting to

Israelites in Joel’s day

a. The prophecy was initially given to comfort them, give them

hope for the future

b. Therefore prophetic elements are described in terms to

which they could relate

1. E.g., deliverance in their capital, Jerusalem - 2:32

2. E.g., judgment upon those enemies who oppressed them

- 3:1-8

3. E.g., desolation of such enemies as Edom and Egypt

- 3:19

4. E.g., blessings to befall the nation and the land

- 3:18,20-21

3. But it refers to spiritual realities fulfilled with the coming

of the Messiah!

a. Salvation and deliverance will indeed come out of Zion and

Jerusalem - cf. 2:32 with Lk 24:44-47; He 12:22-24

b. God will judge the enemies of His people - cf. 3:1-17 with

Re 4-20 (esp. Re 20:7-10)

c. In the end, God’s people will prosper and the wicked will

be desolate - cf. 3:18-21 with Re 21-22 (esp. Re 22:1-2)

4. This is true whether or not any particular event is referred

to in this passage

a. I lean toward the view that “the day of the Lord” in this

passage is the FINAL JUDGMENT when the Lord comes again

b. Others think that it refers to the DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM

in 70 A.D.

c. Whatever one’s interpretation, the application is the

same…

1. The means and source of salvation: The Lord Himself

- 2:32

2. The day of the Lord is coming!

a) A terrible day for the wicked - cf. 3:14-16a

b) But for God’s people there is shelter and strength

- cf. 3:16b

c) And in the end, blessings for the people of God,

while their enemies lie desolate - cf. 3:18-21

CONCLUSION

1. In studying “The Minor Prophets”…

a. Determining the proper INTERPRETATION is certainly a worthy goal

b. But determining the proper APPLICATION is our essential task!

2. If this be true, then the crucial question is this: Have we found

that salvation, deliverance, shelter and strength which only the Lord can provide when the final “day of the Lord” comes?

To know where to look, one should carefully read Peter’s sermon on the

Day of Pentecost, after he had quoted Joel - cf. Ac 2:22-39

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS’

Jonah - The Reluctant Servant, God’s messenger to the Assyrian city of Ninevah

Introduction

1. Jonah is one of the most ridiculed books by liberal scholars. The story of a fish swallowing a man and the man living sounds impossible, and since most liberal scholars deny the possibility of the supernatural, they reject the book of Jonah as anything but a fairy tale.

2. Jonah is different than the other prophets because it is not full of prophecies by the prophet, it is instead, about the life of the prophet. Little attention is given to what he actually said. But it does start off the same way the other prophetic books do because we see the phrase, “And the word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of Amittai, saying.”

3. While most of the other prophets prophesied to Israel and Judah, Jonah’s task was to go to Ninevah and prophesy to them.

Date: 790-750 B.C. During period of the divided kingdom. Assyria was beginning to make it’s presence known in Israel.

It is difficult to pinpoint when the author of the book actually put the story on paper. It could have been written soon after the events or long after the events.

What is clear is that the events of the book took place while Ninevah was capitol of Assyria. The Assyrians repent in the story, and so I would place the events at the beginning of the era when prophets prophesied of the coming destruction by Assyria (eighth century). This would give the Assyrians time to respond to Jonah’s message, for a new generation or two to come along, who would decline spiritually, and become bad guys again and a threat to Israel.

Jonah Disobeying

1. God’s Command (1:1-2)

God commanded Jonah to go to Ninevah and preach to them about their sinfulness and call them to repentance. This is the only time in the OT where Israel is commanded to actively pursue the Gentiles. God’s Covenant with Abraham mentioned that through Abraham’s descendants God would bless the nations, but no Israelite is ever commanded to go to the nations and tell them about God. They were to have a passive witness. The Gentiles were supposed to see the difference between their society and Israel’s and be attracted to it. The OT is full of examples of Gentiles who became Jewish proselytes and worshipped Yahweh - Ruth, Jael, Shamgar, the woman at Jericho, etc.

2. Jonah’s Disobedience (1:3)

What is Jonah’s reaction to God’s command? He refused. He didn’t say anything. He just left town.

3. God’s Disipline (1:4-9)

This section emphasizes God’s sovereignty over nature. He sent the wind and caused the sea to heave.

It is the heathen sailors who feared and are praying while the man of God is complacently sleeping below. The sailors were praying to the wrong gods, but they were convicted by the events at sea.

Jonah’s lack of reaction is significant. Sin hardens the heart and makes us insensitive. Here we see that Jonah is insensitive to what God is doing. And we see the first of many contrasts between the heathens and Jonah. Jonah is insensitive, but the heathens are aware that something out of the ordinary is going on and they are praying to their gods.

Jonah’s statement in 1:9 is the exact opposite of what his actions show. He does not fear God. If he did, he would have obeyed the first time, and at the least, been praying because of the storm.

4. Sailor’s Prayer (1:10-14)

1:10 shows that the men were amazed that Jonah would do something to displease his God. They spent their life in fear of their gods, trying to please and pacify them. It is ironic and sad that those who worship the true God - the only God worth fearing - and experience His grace, take advantage of His grace and do not live their life in an effort to please Him.

1:13 shows that the heathen sailors had more compassion than Jonah. They did not want to throw him overboard and tried desperately to get to land without doing that. They begged Jonah’s God’s pardon for what they had to do. This is also a contrast with the man of God who had no compassion on the people of Ninevah.

5. God’s Answer (1:15-16)

God responded by calming the sea.

The sailors recognize that the true God is Jonah’s God, so they pray to Yahweh. And after the sea calms, we see that they feared Yahweh and offered sacrifices to Him and made vows. They were probably vows that they would follow and obey Him. This is in contrast to Jonah who disobeyed God.

6. More Discipline (1:17)

God is not through with Jonah. A great fish comes along and swallows him. There is more irony here. If you remember, Jonah went down, down, down in the first few verses. Now God is sending Jonah down to the depths of Sheol (2:2). At least that is what it felt like to Jonah.

Jonah Praying

(chapter 2)

1. Jonah’s Prayer (2:1-9)

Jonah finally prays and thanks God for his deliverance even before he is delivered. This shows that he is convinced God answers prayer.

Some think that at this point Jonah is repenting, especially since he now goes and preaches to Ninevah. But let’s look at his prayer:

Nowhere in his prayer did he mention his own rebellion and sin, so there is no real confession going on here.

He piously considered himself better than the pagans (cf. verses 8-9). What is ironic and sad is that we have already seen that the sailor’s came out looking better than Jonah.

I think Jonah is making a big assumption here that God would deliver him. He certainly didn’t deserve it.

We will see by Jonah’s actions in chapter 4: that he didn’t really repent here.

Feinberg points out that the life of Jonah parallels the history of the nation of Israel, and the phrase, “Salvation is from the Lord” is a key ingredient in that parallel. Like Jonah, Israel was chosen. Like Jonah, Israel rebelled. Like Jonah, Israel received discipline (dispersion and abuse by other nations up to the present day). Israel looks to military alliances and national defense as the solution but until Israel recognizes that Salvation is from the Lord, there can be no ultimate deliverance. (Charles L. Feinberg, The Minor Prophets, p. 141-43).

I think the life of every individual is also parallel to Jonah’s experience. God calls us, but we rebel. We search for life in everything else but God until we come to a point in our life where we are so low that we finally recognize our inability and come to the conclusion that Salvation is from the Lord.

2. God’s Answer (2:10)

God is gracious and He does answer Jonah’s prayer and the fish delivers Jonah to the beach outside of Ninevah.

Jonah Obeying

(chapter 3)

1. God’s Command (3:1-2)

God repeated his command to Jonah to go to Ninevah. I think it shows the grace of God that He gave Jonah a second chance.

2. Jonah’s Obedience (3:3-4)

This time Jonah obeys. It seems that there was no complaint this time. God had gotten Jonah’s attention.

Jonah’s message is a simple one - “In forty days Ninevah will be destroyed!” There wasn’t a lot of persuasion. I don’t think Jonah tried very hard to persuade them. He would have gone into town, said his piece and left saying something like, “Well, I told them. It’s their own fault now when God destroys them.” I think this also shows that Jonah hasn’t really changed his attitude. It seems to me he is obeying, but grudgingly.

3. Ninevah’s Prayer (3:5-9)

But the people of Ninevah heard him and believed him and repented. And this was a thorough repentance. Everyone from the king down to the cows were crying out. I’m sure the animals were just hungry, but it probably seemed like they were repenting too.

4. God’s Answer (3:10)

God is gracious and does not destroy the city.

Jonah Learning

(chapter 4)

1. Jonah’s Anger (4:1-4)

Jonah is furious when he sees the people’s repentance. He knows now that God is not going to destroy them. Here we also see his true heart and further proof that he did not repent in chapter 2. The truth comes out about Jonah’s fleeing from God in the beginning. He knew God would forgive them if they repented, but Jonah hated the Assyrians so much he didn’t want to even give them the chance to repent.

Why did he hate them? The Assyrians were a dominant world power during this time and had even defeated Israel in a few battles and exacted tribute from Israel. Assyria wasn’t just a non-hostile Gentile nation. It was an active enemy of Israel.

2. Jonah’s Lesson (4:5-8)

So Jonah goes out of the city to pout and see if maybe God will destroy them. It is hot so God causes a plant to grow and give Jonah shade. The text says Jonah was “extremely happy about the plant.” Then, when the plant withers, Jonah wants to die. Doesn’t it seem a little odd that Jonah would be so happy about the plant and so distraught over a plant’s death? I think the author is trying to make a point to us about how Jonah is all mixed up in his priorities.

3. God’s Question (4:9-11)

God’s question brings the point home. If Jonah is so upset about the death of a plant, which he didn’t even plant, How much more should God be concerned about the death of human beings.

Lessons From Johah

(1) We learn about the character of God.

(2) We see his omnipotence as he controls the wind, the sea, the fish and the plant. And all of his power is directed toward a single goal - the reclamation of sinful humans - both Jonah and the Ninevites. (Chisholm, Interpreting The Minor Prophets, p. 129)

(3) We see his love and compassion as he gives Jonah a second chance and as he forgives the Ninevites.

(4) We see that God answers prayer. He answered the sailors’ prayers, Jonah’s prayer and the Ninevites’ prayers.

(5) I think it ironic that God would spare the Assyrians so that they could destroy the Northern kingdom of Israel only a few decades later.

(6) I think this book shows that Jonah knew a lot about God. He presumed on God’s grace and assumed his deliverance while still in the fish. He knew God was compassionate and gracious and would not destroy the Assyrians if they repented. So, although Jonah knew about God, he did not want to obey him. It could even be said that Jonah disobeyed in the name of justice.

(Chisholm, Interpreting The Minor Prophets, p. 130) The Assyrians certainly had committed enough atrocities that they deserved judgment, and Jonah wanted them to get their due. But he was ignoring the sovereignty of God and disobeying God. He also was displaying a double standard. He was forgetting that Israel had been forgiven many times for her sins and that he himself had just been forgiven for his disobedience. He was a walking contradiction. I think we need to be careful that we do not fall into the same trap.

Jonah and the law of love:

I think Jonah gives us a negative illustration of love. I see Jonah as a good example of how we tend to judge others and consider ourselves to be better than others. I mentioned at the beginning of the series that the prophets were more concerned about the present failings of the people to follow the law than with future predictions. Jonah’s life illustrates this failure. Jesus summed up the whole law in one phrase, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jonah definitely illustrates not loving one’s neighbor. Loving involves forgiveness. Jonah would not forgive the Assyrians for their evil. Instead, he clung with pride to his heritage as a Jew, the chosen people of God, and he condemned the Assyrians. I think Jonah mistakenly thought that he deserved the favor of God. I think his prayer in chapter 2 demonstrates that. He called on God for deliverance without repenting of his evil. Why did God choose Israel? Because they were the biggest nation? Because they were more spiritual than the rest? No. He chose them out of grace. If you read Eze 16, you will see a good description of what Israel was like and what God did for them. It also describes how they became proud and forsook God. They certainly did not deserve the special relationship with God.

Jonah forgot that. If he had recognized his evil, he would have seen that he was just as bad as the Ninevites. This reminds me of the parable of the unforgiving servant, who was forgiven an enormous debt by the king. He in turn refused to forgive a fellow slave a small debt. When the king found out, the unforgiving servant was handed over to the torturers until he could repay the debt. I think God was torturing Jonah to try to make him see his evil, so he would repent and so he would recognize that he was no better than the Assyrians. He should have forgiven them and gone to help them. The message of the unforgiving servant is that we should forgive, because we have been forgiven. Jonah was forgiven and delivered from the fish, but he did not see it that way.

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Amos - The Country Prophet (1:1-2:16)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our survey of “The Minor Prophets”, we have already considered…

a. Obadiah, who prophesied of the judgment to befall Edom

b. Joel, who proclaimed a locust plague as a harbinger of “the day

of the Lord”

c. Jonah, God’s messenger to the Assyrian city of Nineveh

2. Our next prophet is Amos…

a. A shepherd and gatherer of sycamore fruit called by God to

prophesy - Am 7:14-15

b. Who proclaimed God’s message concerning eight nations, with an

emphasis on the northern kingdom of Israel

3. His book is divided into three sections…

a. A series of “oracles” concerning sin and judgment of eight

nations (ch. 1-2)

b. A series of “sermons” concerning the sin and judgment of Israel

(ch. 3-6)

c. A series of “visions” regarding the sin and judgment of Israel

(ch. 7-9)

[This lesson will examine the first section, with a look at the

“oracles” Amos proclaimed against eight nations. We begin with a

reading of Am 1:1-2, which serves as an…]

I. INTRODUCTION (1:1-2)

A. THE MAN…

1. NAME - Amos means “burden-bearer”

2. HOME - The village of Tekoa

a. 12 miles south of Jerusalem, 18 miles west of the Dead Sea

b. Near the wilderness of Judea, a very rugged area

– So while he was Judah, he primarily prophesied against

Israel in the north

3. OCCUPATION - “a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit.”

(Am 7:14)

a. An outdoorsman, accustomed to the wilds of nature, and of

hard, honest toil

b. It would be easy for him to have little sympathy for the

lazy and materialistic conduct of his northern kinsman

4. CHARACTER

a. Not known for his sympathy or warmth, but for his sense of

justice and right

b. “Not a sob is to be found in his book for the nation of

wicked apostates, and there is only a sigh for the poor”

(Hailey)

c. He is reminiscent of John the Baptist

B. THE DATE…

1. He prophesied in the days of:

a. Uzziah, king of Judah

b. Jeroboam II of Israel

2. Two years before an earthquake

3. While the actual date is unknown, 755 B.C. is often suggested

C. THE PEOPLE…

1. His audience is primarily the northern kingdom of Israel

2. Conditions which characterized them at this time:

a. Wealthy, enjoying great luxury

b. Morally, religiously, and politically corrupt

D. HIS MESSAGE…

1. In Am 1:2, we see a vivid picture of the Lord as a lion

whose roar to the north reaches all the way to Mt. Carmel

2. This describes what God is doing through Amos, proclaiming a

fiery message of condemnation and judgment against Israel and

the surrounding nations

3. “The people of Israel were now at the summit of worldly

prosperity, but were rapidly filling up the measure of their

sins. The mission of Amos was, therefore, rather to threaten

than to console. He rebukes, among other things, the

corruption of their manners, which kept pace with their

prosperity; he charges the great men with partiality as

judges, and violence towards the poor; and he foretells, as a

punishment from God, the captivity of the ten tribes in a

foreign country…” - The Bible Handbook, Angus and Green

[With verse 2 as a good preview of the nature of Amos’ prophecy, let’s

now survey the first main section of the book of Amos…]

II. THE “ORACLES” OF SIN AND JUDGMENT UPON THE NATIONS (1:3-2:16)

A. DAMASCUS - Am 1:3-5

1. SIN - cruelty toward the inhabitants of Gilead (the tribes of

Gad and Reuben)

2. JUDGMENT - destruction and captivity

a. Hazael was the murderer of Ben-Hadad I, and usurper of his

throne - 2 Ki 8:7-15

b. Ben-Hadad II was the son of Hazel - cf. 2 Ki 13:3,22-25

3. FULFILLMENT - by the Assyrians - cf. 2 Ki 16:1-9

B. GAZA (PHILISTIA) - Am 1:6-8

1. SIN - engaging in slave traffic

2. JUDGMENT - total devastation

3. FULFILLMENT - by the Assyrians

C. TYRE - Am 1:9-10

1. SIN - slave traffic; did not remember the covenant of

“brotherhood” (between Solomon and Hiram? - cf. 1 Ki 5:12)

2. JUDGMENT - destruction

3. FULFILLMENT - started by Nebuchadnezzar; finished by Alexander

the Great

D. EDOM - Am 1:11-12

1. SIN - cruelty to brethren - cf. Oba 1:10-12

2. JUDGMENT - destruction upon Teman (capital) and Bozrah

(another chief city)

3. FULFILLMENT - by the Nabateans, ca 400 B.C.

E. AMMON - Am 1:13-15

1. SIN - murder of pregnant women in Gilead (the tribes of Gad

and Reuben)

2. JUDGMENT - destruction of Rabbah (capital) and captivity

3. FULFILLMENT - by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon

F. MOAB - Am 2:1-3

1. SIN - burned the king of Edom’s bones to lime

2. JUDGMENT - destruction of the chief city of Kerioth

3. FULFILLMENT - by the Babylonians

G. JUDAH - Am 2:4-5

1. SIN - apostasy from the Law

2. JUDGMENT - Jerusalem (the capital) to be destroyed

3. FULFILLMENT - by Nebuchadnezzar, 586 B.C.

H. ISRAEL - Am 2:6-16

1. SIN - several sins are listed…

a. Social injustice (slave trade and abuse of the poor)

b. Immorality (prostitution)

c. Idolatry (worshipping other gods)

d. Rebellion against God, who…

a. Cast out the Amorites before them

b. Delivered them from the land of Egypt

c. Gave them prophets and Nazarites, whom they corrupted

– The effect of which weighed God down like a cart full of

sheaves - Am 2:13

2. JUDGMENT - their inability to flee when destruction comes upon

them

3. FULFILLMENT - by the Assyrians in 722-721 B.C. - 2 Ki 17:5-23

[It is apparent that the focus in this section is primarily upon the

northern kingdom of Israel, even though Judah did not escape

condemnation. What lessons might we glean from these first two

chapters…?]

III. LESSONS FROM THE “ORACLES” OF AMOS

A. GOD HOLDS THE NATIONS OF MEN ACCOUNTABLE…

1. He was not just concerned with His covenant people of Israel

2. As we saw with Obadiah and Jonah, God judged the surrounding

nations as well

3 As Farrar says of Amos: “His whole message centers in the

common prophetic conviction that God is the sole and righteous

Governor of the world, judging the people righteously, and

when they rebel, dashing them to pieces like a potter’s

vessel.”

2. The same authority is given to Christ today! - cf. Mt 28:18;

Re 1:5; 2:26-27

B. APOSTASY AND CRUELTY TREATED ALIKE…

1. God condemned:

a. The heathens for their cruelty

b. Judah and Israel for their apostasy from the Law

2. But their judgments were basically the same!

C. THE STANDARDS TO WHICH NATIONS WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE…

1. The heathen were judged for their violation of basic

principles of righteousness

2. The people of God were judged by their faithfulness to God’s

revealed Word!

– Akin to what we find Paul writing in Ro 2:12-15

CONCLUSION

1. In our next lesson we will continue our study of Amos…

a. Looking at chapters 3-6, which concentrate on the sins and

judgment of Israel

b. Where more lessons can be gleaned for us to apply today

2. Having read the judgments God pronounced upon the eight nations…

a. We are reminded that God is a righteous GOD

b. One who holds men and nations accountable for their actions

Are we ready for that great Day of Judgment, in which we will one day

be held accountable for our actions? As Paul wrote:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that

each one may receive the things done in the body, according to

what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the

terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” (2 Co 5:10-11a)

Are you willing to let the Word of God persuade you to do what is

right?

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Amos - The Country Prophet (3:1-6:14)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous study we began our survey of the book of Amos

a. A prophet of God, who was…

1. A country shepherd and gatherer of sycamore fruit - Am 7:14-15

2. Called to proclaim God’s judgments on the nations, especially

Israel

b. Whose book is divided into three sections, in which we find…

1. “Oracles” concerning sin and judgment of eight nations (ch.

1-2)

2. “Sermons” concerning the sin and judgment of Israel (ch. 3-6)

3. “Visions” regarding the sin and judgment of Israel (ch. 7-9)

c. In his “oracles”, we saw that God pronounced judgment upon…

1. Heathen nations, such as Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon,

and Moab

2. The people of God, both Judah and Israel

– With emphasis placed upon the sins and judgment of the

northern kingdom of Israel

2. In this lesson, we shall direct our attention to the “sermons” in

chapters 3-6

a. There are three sermons, each beginning with “Hear this word…”

- 3:1; 4:1; 5:1

b. The focus of these sermons is Israel, the kingdom in the north

[From an outline by Ryrie, the first “sermon” could be entitled…]

I. THE DOOM OF ISRAEL (3:1-15)

A. AMOS DEFENDS HIS RIGHT TO PROPHESY…

1. The Lord has spoken against Israel - Am 3:1-2

a. With whom He has had a special relationship

b. Whom He now will punish for their sins

2. Seven questions with obvious answers - Am 3:3-6

a. The purpose and meaning of these questions have been

variously interpreted

b. But their intent appears to enforce the logic of what

follows in the next two verses

3. Can a prophet remain silent when God speaks? - Am 3:7-8

a. The Lord does nothing unless He reveals it by one of His

prophets

b. Like a lion that has roared (cf. Am 1:2), God has spoken

and Amos must prophesy!

B. ISRAEL’S DOOM…

1. Ashdod and Egypt are called to witness Israel’s wickedness

- Am 3:9-10

2. Israel will be plundered by an adversary - Am 3:11-15

a. Though never identified by Amos, Isaiah declared that it

would be Assyria

b. Concerning Israel’s coming punishment:

1. Only a remnant will survive of those who dwell in

luxury, like a piece of lamb left over after being

ravaged by a lion

2. Destruction will come upon the altars of Bethel (cf.

Jeroboam’s idolatry)

3. Destruction will befall their luxurious homes

[With this first “sermon”, destruction is pronounced upon Israel. The

sin of some of the men was mentioned earlier (Am 2:6-8), with the next

“sermon” we see the wickedness of the women…]

II. THE DEPRAVITY OF THE WOMEN OF ISRAEL (4:1-13)

A. THE “COWS OF BASHAN”, THEY ARE INSATIABLE…

1. Living in Samaria (Israel) they were:

a. Oppressing the poor and needy - Am 4:1

b. Crying out for wine - Am 4:2

2. For which they will suffer painful deportation to a foreign

land - Am 4:3

B. A SARCASTIC CALL TO WORSHIP…

1. To worship their false gods at Bethel and Gilgal - Am 4:4-5

2. Designed to show how far they have departed from God

C. THEY HAD REJECTED GOD’S CHATISEMENTS…

1. They had failed to respond to God’s efforts to get them to

repent

a. Famine - Am 4:6

b. Drought - Am 4:7-8

c. Pestilence - Am 4:9

d. Plague and war - Am 4:10

e. Earthquake, or perhaps volcanic eruptions - Am 4:11

2. Therefore they must prepare to meet their God!

a. Who is bringing such judgments upon them - Am 4:12

b. Whose name is “The LORD God of hosts” - Am 4:13

[In light of such a judgment to befall Israel, it is not surprising to

see that the third “sermon” is in the form of a lamentation…]

III. A DIRGE OVER ISRAEL (5:1-6:14)

A. A LAMENTATION FOR THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL…

1. In view of her coming fall - Am 5:1-2

2. In which only a remnant will be left - Am 5:3

B. A CALL TO REPENTANCE, FOR THERE IS STILL HOPE…

1. Seek the Lord and live, lest He come with fiery judgment!

- Am 5:4-7

2. Seek Him who is all powerful! - Am 5:8-9

3. For He knows your manifold sins! - Am 5:10-13

4. Seek that which is good, not evil; perhaps God will gracious!

- Am 5:14-15

C. THE COMING DAY OF THE LORD…

1. The Lord is coming, and there shall be wailing in the streets

and fields - Am 5:16-17

2. The day of the Lord is not to be desired by sinful men

a. For it will be a day of darkness - Am 5:18-20

b. For God is repelled by their show of religion, when there

should be righteousness and justice - Am 5:21-24

c. For they have never really served God, even in the

wilderness - Am 5:25-26

3. Therefore they will be taken “beyond Damascus” (Assyria!)

- Am 5:25-27

D. A WARNING EVEN TO THOSE IN ZION…

1. Woe to those who are at ease, trusting in Samaria (i.e., the

northern kingdom of Israel) - Am 6:1-2

a. Perhaps to defend them?

b. Consider what happened to kingdoms far greater!

2. Woe to those who say the day of the Lord is far off - Am 6:3-6

a. Who bask in their luxury

b. While their brethren are afflicted

3. They shall be among the first to go into captivity - Am 6:7

E. THE EXTENT OF THE COMING DESTRUCTION…

1. Coming because God hates their pride - Am 6:8

2. A destruction where men will be scarce, and their houses

destroyed - Am 6:9-11

3. Why? Because they perverted justice and righteousness,

priding themselves in their own strength - Am 6:12-13

4. But God will raise up a nation (Assyria) against them, who

will afflict them from the north (“the entrance of Hamath”)

to the south (“the Valley of the Arabah”) - Am 6:14

[So ends the third of these three “sermons” of Amos. Before we conclude

our study, let me share some…]

IV. OBSERVATIONS FROM THE “SERMONS” OF AMOS

A. THE RECURRING THEMES OF JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS…

1. Several times we find references to justice and righteousness

- Am 5:7,15,24; 6:12

2. Their opposites are also mentioned: oppression and evil

- Am 3:10; 4:1; 5:10-12

3. Lacking justice and righteousness, all their religion, wealth,

and power were in vain!

– Is there not a lesson for us to learn here? - cf. Mt 5:23-24

B. ISRAEL’S FAILURE TO HEED GOD’S CHASTISEMENTS…

1. That God used natural calamity to get their attention is

evident - Am 4:6-11

2. Why did they not heed God’s efforts?

a. Perhaps they did not make the connection

b. Perhaps they assumed is was just a coincidence

3. One would be amiss to always attribute natural calamities to

God’s working; yet…

a. Should we not be open to the possibility that God may be

saying something?

b. Should we not at least use such occasions to reflect on our

relationship with God?

C. REGARDING THE DAY OF THE LORD…

1. The “day of the Lord” is a day of judgment, and a day of

darkness - Am 5:18

a. In Amos it has reference to God’s judgment upon Israel,

which came when Assyria took them into captivity

b. But such judgment prefigures the Final Judgment, the “day

of the Lord”

1. In which Christ will come to judge the world - Ac 17:

30-31

2. It too will be a day of “darkness” - cf. 2 Pe 3:7,10-12

2. While we might not desire that “day” per se, we do look

forward to what is to follow - cf. 2 Pe 3:13-14

D. GOD’S GRACIOUS OFFER OF REPENTANCE…

1. Even with the pronouncement of judgment, there is an offer to

have life if one repents - Am 5:4-6,14-15

2. As we saw with Joel and Jonah, God was willing to relent for

those who repented

3. Even today, while the gospel proclaims judgment to come, it

also offers salvation! - cf. 2 Co 6:1-2

CONCLUSION

1. Unfortunately, not many heeded the warnings of Amos - cf. 2 Ki 17:

13-23

a. Within thirty years (722 B.C.), Israel was taken into captivity

b. Under the cruel hand of the Assyrians, they experienced the

righteous judgment of God

2. What about us, will we heed the warnings of Christ and His apostles?

a. Their message is really not that different (“seek the Lord and

live”, “seek good and not evil”)

b. They too call upon us to repent and seek the Lord through faith

and obedience, though it is obedience to the gospel of Christ and

not the Law of Moses

Remember that the book of Amos, along with the rest of the Old

Testament, was:

“…written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages

have come.” (1 Co 10:11)

Are we willing to learn from its admonition, such as those found in

the prophecies of Amos?

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Amos - The Country Prophet (7:1-9:15)

INTRODUCTION

1. In the first two studies on the book of Amos, we briefly surveyed…

a. The “Oracles” of Amos, concerning sin and judgment of eight

nations (ch. 1-2)

b. The “Sermons” of Amos, concerning the sin and judgment of Israel

(ch. 3-6)

2. In this third and final lesson on Amos, we will…

a. Focus our attention on the last three chapters which contain…

1. Five “Visions” of Amos

2. An “interlude” in which Amos defends his prophetic role

3. A closing glimpse of a brighter future

b. Offer a summary of lessons gleaned from the book of Amos

[Let’s begin, then by noting…]

I. THE “VISIONS” OF AMOS (7:1-9:15)

A. THE VISION OF THE LOCUSTS (7:1-3)

1. The vision and the Lord’s response to Amos’ prayer…

a. The Lord shows Amos a swarm of locusts devastating the

crops

b. Amos cries out in behalf of Jacob (Israel)

c. The Lord hears, and relents so that the locust plague will

not happen

2. The meaning of the vision…

a. Some take the locust plague to be a figurative symbol of an

invading army

b. Whether literal or figurative, the judgment it represented

is averted by the pleading of the prophet

c. It is reminiscent of what we saw in Joel, how the nation’s

repentance averted the reoccurrence of the “locust

invasion” - cf. Joel 2:1-24

B. THE VISION OF THE FIRE (7:4-6)

1. The vision and the Lord’s response to Amos’ prayer…

a. The Lord shows Amos a fire consuming the “great deep” and

the territory

b. Once again Amos cries out in behalf of Jacob (Israel)

c. The Lord again hears, and relents from bringing the

conflagration upon Israel

2. The meaning of the vision…

a. Clearly figurative, for the “great deep” is likely the

Mediterranean Sea

b. Whatever judgment it represents is also averted by the

prayer of Amos

c. These first two visions appear to illustrate God’s

longsuffering due to the prayers of the righteous

C. THE VISION OF THE PLUMB LINE (7:7-9)

1. The vision and the Lord’s explanation…

a. The Lord is standing on a wall with a plumb line in hand

b. The Lord explains He is setting a plumb line in the midst

of Israel, and will now bring destruction upon:

1. The places of idolatrous worship (“high places” and

“sanctuaries”)

2. The house of Jeroboam (the ruling king of Israel, cf.

Am 1:1)

2. The meaning of the vision…

a. A plumb line is used to measure the correctness of any

construction

b. God has so measured Israel, and found her so defective that

He cannot overlook her anymore

c. The judgment will involve destruction of her religious and

political leaders

D. AN INTERLUDE: AMAZIAH’S COMPLAINT AGAINST AMOS (7:10-17)

1. Amaziah, priest of Bethel (center of idolatrous worship),

accuses Amos of conspiracy against Jeroboam king of Israel

- Am 7:10-11

2. Amaziah tells Amos to leave Bethel and go back to his own

country of Judah - Am 7:12-13

3. Amos defends his prophetic mission - Am 7:14-15

4. Amos then prophesies against Amaziah and Israel - Am 7:16-17

E. THE VISION OF THE SUMMER FRUIT (8:1-14)

1. The vision and the Lord’s explanation - Am 8:1-3

a. Amos is shown a basket of summer fruit (evidently quite

ripened)

b. The Lord reveals that Israel’s end is near, and is ripe for

judgment

2. Once again, the nature of Israel’s sin is described - Am 8:4-6

a. Oppression of the poor and needy - cf. Am 2:6-7

b. Disdain for religious observances, because they hinder

economic enterprise

c. Dishonest economic practices, to further abuse the poor and

needy

3. The nature of Israel’s judgment is described - Am 8:7-14

a. A day of mourning is coming - Am 8:7-10

b. A day of famine for the word of God is coming - Am 8:11-12

c. Those who trust in idolatry will fall and never rise again

- Am 8:13-14

F. THE VISION OF THE LORD BY THE ALTAR (9:1-10)

1. Is this the altar of Jerusalem, or Bethel? (I suspect the

latter)

2. The altar shall be destroyed, and none shall escape - Am 9:1-4

3. The One who shall accomplish this is described - Am 9:5-6

4. Israel has become little different than the heathen nations

- Am 9:7

5. The careful, discriminate, nature of the Lord’s judgment

- Am 9:8-10

a. The “kingdom” will be utterly destroyed

b. But the “house of Jacob” will not

c. What little is good will be spared, as grain sifted in a

sieve

d. But the sinners shall not escape, despite their claims to

the contrary

G. A GLIMPSE OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE - Am 9:11-15

1. The restoration of the tabernacle of David is foretold, in

which even the remnant of Edom and Gentiles who are called by

His name are possessed - Am 9:11-12

2. The restoration described in terms of agricultural abundance

- Am 9:13-15

3. James applied the fulfillment of this prophecy to the church

and the inclusion of the Gentiles by the gospel - cf. Ac 15:

13-17

4. So the prophecy is figurative…

a. Given in terms especially comforting to those of Amos’ day

b. Yet actually referring to spiritual blessings found in

Christ today!

[Visions in the Bible often are designed to impact more the heart of

man rather than his mind. So it is with these visions of Amos:

depicting God’s longsuffering, His judgment upon the nation of Israel,

and His promise of future blessings for Israel and the nations (the

last fulfilled with the coming of Christ).

Before we close, let’s review…]

II. A SUMMARY OF LESSONS GLEANED FROM AMOS

A. CONCERNING GOD…

1. He rules over the nations, and holds them accountable - Am 1,2

2. His omnipotence may be seen in:

a. His acts of creation - Am 4:3; 5:8

b. His control over the forces of nature - Am 4:6-11

c. His supremacy over the nations - Am 1,2

3. His omnipresence is plainly taught (Am 9:2-4), also His

omniscience (Am 4:13)

4. The righteousness of God is constantly emphasized by Amos

- e.g., Am 5:24

B. CONCERNING ISRAEL…

1. They were the people of God, having a special relationship

with God - Am 3:1-2

2. They should have reflected the glory of God - cf. Am 5:14-15,

24

3. They failed, and so judgment would follow; but a remnant would

be spared that would later bless the Gentiles - Am 9:11-12

C. MISCELLANEOUS LESSONS…

1. Justice between man and man is one of the divine foundations

of society

2. Privilege implies responsibility

a. Israel had enjoyed special privileges

b. Therefore she had been give special responsibilities

3. Failure to recognize and accept responsibility is sure to

bring God’s judgment

4. The most elaborate worship is but an insult to God when

offered by those who have no mind to conform to His commands

– These lessons were offered by Homer Hailey in his book, “A

Commentary On The Minor Prophets” (Baker Book House)

CONCLUSION

1. Many other lessons can likely be gleaned from a book like Amos; the

“Disciples’ Study Bible” offers these:

a. Merely observing proper forms of worship is not sufficient for a

right relation with God (pure religion takes into consideration

one’s treatment of the poor and needy - cf. Ja 1:27)

b. Being a part of God’s people does not guarantee exemption from

judgment (Israel and Judah certainly weren’t exempt)

c. Not all judgment seeks to penalize and hurt (many were designed

to restore man back to God, Am 4:6-11)

2. Can we not see the value of studying the Old Testament prophets?

a. They are truly “written for our admonition” - 1 Co 10:11

b. They are truly “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for

correction, for instruction in righteousness,” - 2 Ti 3:16

In Am 8:11-12, we read of a famine for the Word of the Lord that

would befall Israel, which occurred when they were taken into Assyrian

captivity. Let’s be sure that we do not experience a self-imposed

famine of the Word by neglecting to study and glean from such prophets

like Amos!

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Hosea - God’s Redeeming Love (1:1-3:5)

INTRODUCTION

1. About the time that Amos (the “country prophet”) was prophesying to

the northern kingdom of Israel, another prophet came on to the scene

a. His name was Hosea

b. Whose name means “salvation” (Joshua and Jesus are derived from

the same word)

2. While the audience was the same, there were some differences…

a. Amos was from Judah (Tekoa); Hosea appears to have been from

Israel

b. While Amos showed little patience with his northern relatives,

Hosea displayed a large degree of sympathetic understanding

toward his own people

c. Just as Amos is reminiscent of John the Baptist in his approach,

so Hosea is reminiscent of how Jesus approached people

[In this lesson, the first of several on Hosea, we will see why Hosea

was so sympathetic, even as he condemned his own people for their sins.

Let’s start with some…]

I. BACKGROUND MATERIAL

A. THE MAN…

1. His father was named Beeri (Hos 1:1), but nothing more is

known of his ancestors

2. Some think he may have been a priest, in view of his high

regard for the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood

3. We read of his wife (Gomer, Hos 1:3) and his children…

a. Jezreel, a son - Hos 1:4

b. Lo-Ruhamah, a daughter - Hos 1:6

c. Lo-Ammi, another son - Hos 1:8-9

– Through his family, the basic message of Hosea will be

illustrated (see below)

B. THE DATE…

1. Hosea prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz,

and Hezekiah, kings of Judah; Jeroboam II also reigned during

this time in Israel - Hos 1:1

2. Most place the time of his work at 750-725 B.C.

3. Hosea was possibly a young man when Amos was almost through

with his ministry

4. His work in relation to other prophets during this period of

time:

a. Amos and Hosea prophesied to Israel

b. Isaiah and Micah were prophesying in Judah

C. BACKGROUND OF THE TIMES…

1. For a good background of this period of Bible history, cf.

2 Kin 14-17; 2 Chr 26-29

2. The northern kingdom of Israel was on its last legs…

a. Sin was even more rampant than seen in the book of Amos

b. Religious, moral, and political corruption was rampant

3. One word sums the condition of the nation of Israel: harlotry

(whoredom, KJV), used thirteen times throughout the book

D. KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE BOOK…

1. An analogy is made between Hosea’s experience with Gomer, and

the Lord’s experience with Israel

2. This analogy is described in chs. 1-3, and serves as the

backdrop to chs. 4-14

[With this brief introduction to the book of Hosea, let’s now survey

the first three chapters…]

II. HOSEA’S FAMILY, AND THE ANALOGY WITH ISRAEL (1:1-3:5)

A. ISRAEL’S REJECTION SYMBOLIZED… (1:2-9)

1. Hosea commanded to marry “a wife of harlotry” - Hos 1:2-3

a. Her name was Gomer

b. If the parallel between Gomer and Israel is exact, then she

was not a harlot at the time of the marriage; but her

background would prompt her to become one

c. She certainly would come to symbolize what Israel had

become

2. Gomer bears three children - Hos 1:4-9

a. The first son is named “Jezreel”

1. Which means “God scatters”, or “God sows”

2. His name prefigured God’s judgment on the ruling house

of Israel - Hos 1:4-5

b. The daughter is named “Lo-Ruhamah”

1. Which means “no mercy”

2. Her name describes God’s attitude toward Israel, though

Judah still found grace in God’s sight - Hos 1:6-7

3. Some suggest that the daughter (and the son to follow)

were not Hosea’s

a) Note it does not say she bore “him” (Hosea) a

daughter, as before

b) I.e., Gomer had become a harlot - cf. Hos 2:4

c. The second son is named “Lo-Ammi”

1. His name means “not my people”

2. Thus God declares his rejection of Israel - Hos 1:8-9

B. ISRAEL’S RESTORATION FORETOLD… (1:10-2:1)

1. Though cast off, God promises a restoration

2. There might be a reference to the restoration from Assyrian

and Babylonian captivity

3. However, both Paul and Peter apply this promise to believing

Jews and Gentile in the church - Ro 9:25-26; 1 Pe 2:10

C. ISRAEL’S UNFAITHFULNESS… (2:2-13)

1. Condemnation for her sinful conduct - Hos 2:2-5

a. Charges of harlotry and adultery

b. No mercy on her children, as the children of harlotry

– God’s rage for Israel’s unfaithfulness described in terms

of an enraged husband who learns not only of his wife’s

adultery, but that the children are not his

2. Punishment for her sinful conduct - Hos 2:6-13

a. God will prevent Israel from finding her lovers

b. God will take away the blessings and the feasts that Israel

enjoyed

c. God will destroy what Israel has used to commit spiritual

harlotry

– Israel’s sin was foremost her idolatry (cf. references to

“Baal”); God viewed such idolatry as a form of “harlotry”!

D. ISRAEL’S RESTORATION DESCRIBED… (2:14-23)

1. Using a “wilderness”, God will win her back, just as He did in

the days of Moses and Joshua - Hos 2:14-15

2. God will cure her of using the language of Baal worship

- Hos 2:16-17

3. God will establish a covenant of peace and safety, and betroth

Israel to Him once again - Hos 2:18-20

4. God will once again bless them, and be merciful to them as His

people - Hos 2:21-23

– While there may be references to the restoration from

captivity, it also foreshadows the age of the Messiah and His

spiritual blessings - cf. Ro 9:25-26; 1 Pe 2:10

E. ISRAEL’S RESTORATION SYMBOLIZED… (3:1-5)

1. Hosea is charged to love an adulterous woman - Hos 3:1-3

a. Most take this to be Gomer, who had gone into harlotry

b. Hosea takes her back, though with a period of probation

2. Symbolizing God’s willingness to take Israel back - Hos 3:4-5

a. Also with a probationary period, in which there be no king,

sacrifices, etc.

b. But Israel would return, and seek the Lord and David their

king (the Messiah?)

CONCLUSION

1. In these first three chapters, it appears God used Hosea to teach

Israel an object lesson…

a. Through Hosea’s experience with Gomer, God provided Israel a

concrete illustration of what His relationship with Israel had

been like

b. Israel had played the harlot; but God would take her back,

following a period of punishment and probation

– Keeping this analogy in mind will assist our understanding of the

remaining chapters

2. A lesson to be learned from this analogy is how God views apostasy:

spiritual harlotry!

a. Christians, we are “betrothed to Christ - cf. 2 Co 11:2

b. But we too can become spiritual harlots” if we are not careful!

- 2 Co 11:3

Are we being true to our betrothal? May the words of the Lord in Hosea

encourage us to remain ever faithful:

“I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me

in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will

betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD.”

(Hosea 2:19-20)

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Hosea - God’s Redeeming Love (4:1-7:16)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson we began our survey of the book of Hosea…

a. Noting that Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel

b. Whose work began as Amos’ was ending, and prophesied from 750-725

B.C.

2. The key to understanding the book is the analogy illustrated in the

first three chapters…

a. In which Hosea and his wife Gomer illustrates God’s experience

with Israel

b. Which served as an object lesson to express “God’s Redeeming

Love” for His people

3. We therefore saw in the first three chapters…

a. Israel’s rejection symbolized, in the names of Hosea and Gomer’s

children - Hos 1:2-9

b. Israel’s restoration foretold - Hos 1:10-2:1

c. Israel’s unfaithfulness described, depicted as a wife guilty of

harlotry - Hos 2:2-13

d. Israel’s restoration described, cured of her idolatry - Hos 2:

14-23

e. Israel’s restoration symbolized, depicted as a harlot taken back

to be a wife - Hos 3:1-5

4. The rest of the book contains the messages of Hosea, proclaimed with

this analogy in the background; there is…

a. God’s indictment of Israel and her sins - Hos 4:1-7:16

b. God’s warning of punishment that is to befall her - Hos 8:1-10:15

c. God’s promise of a future restoration - Hos 11:1-14:9

[In this lesson, we shall continue our survey of Hosea by noticing

God’s indictment of Israel for her sins, chapters 4-7…]

I. GOD’S INDICTMENT OF ISRAEL (4:1-7:16)

A. THE CHARGE AGAINST ISRAEL (4:1-5:15)

1. Against the nation as a whole - Hos 4:1-3

a. For no truth, mercy, or knowledge of God is in the land

b. All forms of wickedness are rampant

2. Against the priests in particular - Hos 4:4-14

a. It does no good to contend with the people, for people do

not respect their priests

b. The priests themselves have rejected knowledge, which is to

their destruction

c. The priests feed off the sins of the people, increasing

their own spiritual adultery

3. A word of warning to Judah in the south - Hos 4:15-19

a. Judah, don’t be like Israel!

b. Judah, leave Ephraim (Israel) to her idols!

4. Against the priests, rulers, and people - Hos 5:1-7

a. They have been a snare, not a help

b. Their idolatry has led Israel to stumble, even Judah as

well

d. God has withdrawn Himself from them

5. The impending sentence - Hos 5:8-15

a. Ephraim (Israel) shall be laid waste, and Judah shall not

escape either

b. Like a lion, God will come upon them and tear them away

c. This God will do until they confess their sin and

diligently seek Him

B. THEIR APPEAL REJECTED (6:1-7:16)

1. The call to repentance - Hos 6:1-3

a. Some believe these three verses are Hosea’s desperate plea

to Israel to repent

b. Others think that these are the words of Israel, but was

not sincere

– In either case, verse four reveals the shallowness of

Israel’s faithfulness

2. Rejected because of Israel’s true condition - Hos 6:4-7:16

a. Faithfulness was only temporary, like the morning cloud or

early dew

b. They offered sacrifices, but did not show mercy or truly

know God

c. They transgressed the covenant, and became defiled, even

influencing Judah

d. When God would have healed them, their iniquity was even

worse

e. Idolatry, alliances with pagan nations, rejection of God’s

efforts to discipline them…all these things were the

charges brought against Israel!

[Like a Judge in court God has brought His charges against unfaithful

Israel. Like an unfaithful spouse who committed adultery, so Israel

has done to God! Our next study will consider God’s warning of the

punishment to befall Israel, but before we finish this lesson let’s

review..]

II. SOME KEY PASSAGES IN THIS SECTION

A. “MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE”

1. Notice Hos 4:1,6

2. This verse, like many others in the Bible, emphasizes the

importance of knowing the Word of God - cf. Ja 1:21

– How is your knowledge of God’s Word?

B. “EPHRAIM IS JOINED TO IDOLS, LET HIM ALONE”

1. Consider Hos 4:17

2. The context is that of warning Judah to stay away from Israel

3. There often comes a time when efforts to restore the erring

are futile; rather than risk being influenced adversely,

withdrawal of association is necessary - cf. 1 Co 5:11-13

C. “YOUR FAITHFULNESS IS LIKE A MORNING CLOUD…”

1. Read Hos 6:4

2. Many people are quick to profess repentance, but do remain

true to the Lord; how faithful to the Lord are we?

D. “FOR I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE…”

1. This passage (Hos 6:6) was often quoted by Jesus - Mt 9:13;

12:7

2. It reflects what was said in the Proverbs - Pro 21:3

3. Micah taught the same principle - Mic 6:6-8

4. It is not that God did not call for sacrifice, but all the

worship in the world will not cover a lack of mercy and true

knowledge of God! - cf. Hos 4:6, also Jer 9:23-24

E. “THEY DO NOT CONSIDER IN THEIR HEARTS THAT I REMEMBER…”

1. Look at Hos 7:2

2. How sad that people sin, as though there is no God who takes

notice of what they are doing

3. But a time is coming when all that has been done will be

brought to light! - cf. Eccl 12:14; Ro 2:16; Rev 20:12

– Our only hope is to have our sins forgiven by the blood of

Jesus!

F. “EPHRAIM HAS MIXED HIMSELF AMONG THE PEOPLES”

1. Cf. Hos 7:8

2. Through unsavory associations, Israel had been corrupted

3. Such is the danger of the wrong companions - cf. 1 Co 15:33

4. Thus we need to heed warnings such as those found in 2 Co 6:

14-18

CONCLUSION

1. Truly the words of prophets like Hosea were “written for our

admonition” - 1 Co 10:11

a. Like Israel, we have been richly blessed - Ep 1:3

b. Like Israel, we are expected to remain faithful - Re 2:10

2. The question is, will we “fall after the same example of

disobedience”? - cf. He 4:11

a. Will we fall for lack of knowledge?

b. Will we fall because our faithfulness is like a morning cloud or

early dew?

c. Will we fall because we forget the importance of mercy in our

service to God?

d. Will we fall because we do not consider that God remembers what

we do?

e. Will we fall because rather than be the “salt of the earth”, we

become so “mixed” by those in the world we lose our flavor? (cf.

Mt 5:14)

Through a careful and serious study of the prophets, we are more likely

to avoid making the same mistakes as Israel, and to heed the words of

the apostle Paul:

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

(1 Co 10:12)

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Hosea - God’s Redeeming Love (8:1-10:15)

INTRODUCTION

1. Thus far in our survey of the book of Hosea, we have seen…

a. The analogy of Hosea and Gomer, illustrating God’s experience

with Israel

1. Israel’s rejection symbolized, in the names of Hosea and

Gomer’s children - Hos 1:2-9

2. Israel’s restoration foretold - Hos 1:10-2:1

3. Israel’s unfaithfulness described, depicted as a wife guilty

of harlotry - Hos 2:2-13

4. Israel’s restoration described, finally cured of her idolatry

- Hos 2:14-23

5. Israel’s restoration symbolized, depicted as a harlot taken

back to be a wife - Hos 3:1-5

b. God’s indictment of Israel

1. The charges brought against Israel - Hos 4:1-5:15

2. Israel’s appeal rejected - Hos 6:1-7:16

– The theme proposed for this book has been “God’s Redeeming Love”

2. The love God has for Israel does not preclude the need for

punishment if she is to be truly redeemed…

a. As mentioned in Hos 2:13

b. This punishment will be seen in the form of the Assyrian

invasion, as foretold in the section now before us

[In this lesson, we shall continue our survey of Hosea by noticing

God’s warning of punishment that is to befall Israel, chapters 8-10…]

I. GOD’S PUNISHMENT FOR ISRAEL (8:1-10:15)

A. WARNING OF APPROACHING JUDGMENT (8:1-14)

1. Judgment is coming because they transgressed the covenant

- Hos 8:1-6

2. They have sown the wind, through their alliances with Assyria,

and shall reap the whirlwind - Hos 8:7-10

3. The altars of their religion has made them sin, their

punishment will be a “return to Egypt” (Egypt as a symbol of

captivity) - Hos 8:11-13

4. Israel has forgotten his Maker, and even Judah places more

trust in fortified cities; but judgment will come upon them

both - Hos 8:14

B. ASSYRIAN CAPTIVITY FORETOLD (9:1-17)

1. Because Israel has played the harlot - Hos 9:1-2

2. Ephraim (Israel) shall “return to Egypt” - Hos 9:3-9

a. Egypt used as a type for captivity, but then Assyria is

mentioned by name

b. They will be unable to celebrate the feasts

c. They will be punished for their sins

3. The fleeting glory of Israel - Hos 9:10-17

a. Though considered the firstfruits, they soon gave

themselves over to idolatry

b. Thus their glory will fly away, and they will be like one

childless

c. For their wickedness, God will cast them away

C. ISRAEL’S SIN AND CAPTIVITY REITERATED (10:1-15)

1. Her guilt and coming captivity - Hos 10:1-8

2. Her sin and coming punishment - Hos 10:9-15

[With such ample warnings through prophets like Hosea, God let Israel

know what was to befall her. Yet the prophet’s message did not end

there. A message of hope concerning restoration was also proclaimed,

which we will shall consider in our next lesson. For a few remaining

moments, let’s review…]

II. SOME KEY PASSAGES IN THIS SECTION

A. “I HAVE WRITTEN FOR HIM THE GREAT THINGS OF MY LAW, BUT THEY WERE

CONSIDERED A STRANGE THING”

1. Notice Hos 8:12

2. This is a sad commentary on the condition of Israel

a. God had done a wondrous thing by giving them His Word - cf.

Ps 19:7-11

b. Yet they had become so perverted that God’s word seemed

strange to them!

3. Is this not true today as well?

a. We have been richly blessed with the full revelation of

God’s will through His Son Jesus Christ

b. Yet many people (even some in the church)…

1. …are so unaware of what the Bible says

2. …are so caught up in the thinking of the world

…that the principles and truths of God’s word are

“considered a strange thing”!

– Is God’s word considered a strange thing to you?

B. “SOW FOR YOURSELVES RIGHTEOUSNESS, REAP IN MERCY”

1. Consider Hos 10:12

2. While we cannot earn our salvation by good works, works of

righteousness can result in experiencing God’s grace and mercy

a. A case in point is the conversion of Cornelius - Ac 10:1-6

b. His fear of God, prayers, and alms did not save him, but

God did take notice

c. By striving to serve and please God, he came to know the

way of mercy and salvation

– Thus we should be diligent in our service, not to earn

salvation, but to receive God’s gracious mercy - e.g.,

Onesiphorus - 2 Ti 1:16-18

C. “YOU HAVE PLOWED WICKEDNESS, YOU HAVE REAPED INIQUITY”

1. Read Hos 10:13

2. Iniquity (injustice, NASB) is the natural consequence of

wickedness

a. When people turn their ears away from hearing the Word of

God, they will be wicked

b. And the consequence is great injustice and lawlessness

– Sadly, I believe we can see why our society is reaping so much

injustice and lawlessness today (because of the wickedness

that is sown)

CONCLUSION

1. The messages of Hosea, though first spoken to a people of an earlier

time, speak to us also…

a. History tends to repeat itself; we need to learn from the

mistakes of others

b. The people of God are not immune from apostasy, wickedness and

rebellion

2. As Paul wrote to the church of Corinth, after reviewing parts of

Israel’s history…

“Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should

not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” (1 Co 10:6)

3. God’s “intent” in preserving the Old Testament was that we might

benefit from Israel’s mistakes

a. The works of prophets like Hosea can certainly help

b. Will his words be well known to us, or will they too be

“considered a strange thing”?

I pray this study will help his words become more familiar to us…

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Hosea - God’s Redeeming Love (11:1-14:9)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our survey of the book of Hosea we have proposed the theme as

“God’s Redeeming Love”; this may have seemed strange…

a. As we considered “God’s Indictment of Israel” in chapters 4-7

b. As we considered “God’s Punishment for Israel” in chapters 8-10

2. But as we saw in the first three chapters, Hosea’s experience with

Gomer serves as an analogy of God’s experience with Israel…

a. Following the adultery there was a period of separation

b. Following the separation there was the ultimate restoration

– Therefore Israel would be restored, but only after a period of

separation

3. Here is another way to summarize chapters 4-14…

a. God is holy (which is why He must indict Israel for her sins)

- Hos 4-7

b. God is just (which is why Israel must be punished for her sins)

- Hos 8-10

c. God is love (which is why He will restore Israel) - Hos 11-14

– So having declared the holiness and justice of God, Hosea now

proclaims His great love for Israel

[In this lesson we shall complete our study of Hosea by first looking

at…]

I. GOD’S PROMISE OF A FUTURE RESTORATION (11:1-14:9)

A. GOD’S LOVE DESPITE ISRAEL’S REBELLION (11:1-11)

1. God brought Israel out of Egypt, yet they worshipped the Baals

- Hos 11:1-2

2. God nurtured Israel though they knew it not - Hos 11:3-4

3. God will send them to Assyria because of their backsliding

- Hos 11:5-7

4. Yet God will return them to their homes - Hos 11:8-11

B. ISRAEL’S REBELLION AND GOD’S CHASTISEMENT (11:12-13:16)

1. Ephraim (Israel) is full of sin, and while Judah still walks

with God to a degree, God has a complaint against Judah as

well - Hos 11:12-12:6

2. Ephraim is cunning and boastful, and so God will bring his

reproach upon him - Hos 12:7-14

3. Ephraim and Samaria (both representative of Israel), shall be

held guilty and punished accordingly - Hos 13:1-16

C. ISRAEL’S FUTURE RESTORATION (14:1-9)

1. A call to return to the Lord, for Assyria will not save - Hos

14:1-3

2. God promises to heal their backsliding and return them to the

land - Hos 14:4-10

3. Ephraim (Israel) will finally be cured of her idolatry - Hos

14:8

4. A concluding call to wisely consider these things - Hos 14:9

[God fulfilled His promise to restore Israel (and Judah) starting with

the decree of Cyrus and under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and

Nehemiah (cf. the books of Ezra and Nehemiah). As indicated in Hos

14:8, Israel was once for all cured of her idolatry. Her faith in God

may have weakened later on, but idolatry never had the appeal it once

had.

In the spirit of Hos 14:9, which calls upon us to understand and know

what is revealed in this book, here are some…]

II. CONCLUDING LESSONS TO BE DRAWN FROM HOSEA

A. GOD IS A GOD OF LOVE…

1. He loves His people

a. Like a man loves his wife (cf. Hosea and Gomer)

b. Like a father loves his child - Hos 11:1

2. Because He loves His people…

a. He blesses them abundantly

b. He nurtures them patiently - Hos 11:3-4

B. GOD IS A GOD OF HOLINESS…

1. He expects His people to know His will - Hos 4:1-2,6; 8:12

2. He expects His people to avoid harmful influences - Hos 7:8-9

3. He expects His people to sow righteousness, not wickedness

- Hos 10:12-13

C. GOD IS A GOD OF JUSTICE…

1. He cannot let sin go unpunished - Hos 9:9

2. Those who remain in sin He will devour - Hos 13:7-8

D. GOD IS A GOD OF MERCY…

1. He call upon His people to repent - Hos 14:1

2. He will gladly heal those who do so - Hos 14:4

CONCLUSION

1. Hosea presents a picture of God who is certainly desirous of

redeeming those He loves

a. Sadly, not many took Hosea’s message seriously

b. I.e., only a remnant of Israel returned after the restoration

2. Today, God’s redeeming love is offered through His Son Jesus Christ

- cf. Ep 1:3-7

a. Sadly, not many take the gospel message seriously either

b. Even as Jesus warned - cf. Mt 7:13-14; 21-23

What many need to heed is the call of Hosea at the end of his book…

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.

(Hos 14:9)

Are we growing in our knowledge and walking in the ways of the LORD?

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Micah - Judgment Now, Blessings Later (1:1-2:13)

INTRODUCTION

1. The eighth century (800-700 B.C.) was filled with prophetic

activity…

a. Starting with Jonah, who prophesied to the city of Nineveh (790

B.C.)

b. Continuing with prophets sent primarily to the northern kingdom

of Israel

1. Amos (755 B.C.)

2. Hosea (750-725 B.C.)

c. The southern kingdom of Judah was also the recipient of God’s

prophets

1. Isaiah (740-700 B.C.)

2. Micah (735-700 B.C.)

2. In our study of “The Minor Prophets”…

a. We have looked at the works of Jonah, Amos, and Hosea

b. We now come to the works of Micah, the last prophet of the eighth

century B.C.

[Before we take a look at the messages of Micah as recorded in his

book, it may be helpful to first look at some…]

I. BACKGROUND MATERIAL

A. MICAH - THE MAN…

1. His name means “Who is like Jehovah?” - cf. Mic 7:18

2. His home was Moresheth-Gath - Mic 1:1,14

a. In the lowlands of Judah, near Philistia

b. About 20-25 miles southwest of Jerusalem

3. Nothing is known of his occupation prior to becoming God’s

prophet

4. Characterization

a. “He was the prophet of the poor and downtrodden.” (Homer

Hailey)

b. “He had Amos’ passion for justice and Hosea’s heart for

love.” (J.M.P. Smith)

c. Comparing Micah to his contemporary Isaiah (as suggested by

Hailey)

1. Micah was a man of the fields, Isaiah was of the city

2. Micah took little interest in politics, giving himself

to the concern over spiritual and moral problems; Isaiah

was in close contact with world affairs, the associate

of kings and princes

3. Both Micah and Isaiah…

a) Saw God as the infinite Ruler of nations and men

b) Recognized the absolute holiness and majesty of God

c) Stressed that violating principles of God’s divine

sovereignty and holiness would bring judgment and

doom

B. MICAH - THE BOOK…

1. The date: 735-700 B.C.

a. During the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of

Judah - Mic 1:1

b. Just as the northern kingdom of Israel was falling under

Assyria’s attack

2. The message: “Present Judgment, Future Blessings”

a. Judgment is coming because of Israel’s unfaithfulness to

God

b. Blessings will come because of God’s faithfulness to Israel

1. Cf. the promise God made to Abraham - Gen 22:18

2. God would fulfill in the person of Jesus Christ - cf.

Ac 3:24-26

3. A brief outline: The book appears to contain three messages

or oracles, all beginning with the word “Hear”; therefore the

book can be divided as follows:

a. The coming judgment, with a promise of restoration - Mic 1:

1-2:13

b. God’s condemnation of Israel, with a glimpse of the future

hope - Mic 3:1-5:15

c. God’s indictment of Israel, with a plea for repentance and

promise of forgiveness - Mic 6:1-7:20

[In the remaining part of this lesson, let’s take look at Micah’s first

message…]

II. THE COMING JUDGMENT AND PROMISED RESTORATION (1:1-2:13)

A. JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED ON ISRAEL AND JUDAH…

1. Micah’s message is for both Samaria (Israel) and Jerusalem

(Judah) - Mic 1:1

2. The Lord announces His coming judgment - Mic 1:2-5

3. The destruction of Samaria (representing the northern kingdom

of Israel) - Mic 1:6-7

4. Micah’s mourning - Mic 1:8-16

a. For the judgment has reached even Judah and Jerusalem

b. His lament involves making a play on words involving the

names of cities; for example…

1. “Tell it not in Gath” (Gath is similar to the Hebrew

word for “tell”)

2. “Weep not at all in Beth Aphrah, Roll yourself in the

dust” (Beth Aphrah means “house of dust”)

3. “Pass by in naked shame, you inhabitant of Shaphir”

(Shaphir means “fair, beautiful, pleasant”)

4. “The inhabitant of Zaanan does not go out” (Zaanan means

“come out”)

5. “Beth Ezel mourns; its place to stand is taken away

from you” (Beth Ezel can be paraphrased as “nearby

house”)

c. As revealed in verse 16, their judgment will involve

captivity

B. REASONS FOR THE INEVITABLE JUDGMENT…

1. The arrogance and violence of the nobles - Mic 2:1-5

a. For coveting fields and taking them by violence

b. So it will happen to them

2. For rejecting true prophets, and accepting false ones - Mic

2:6-11

a. They tell the prophets of God not to speak of God’s words

b. They abuse the people of God

c. Destruction is coming, because they are defiled and accept

false prophets

C. RESTORATION PROMISED…

1. It will involve God assembling a remnant - Mic 2:12

2. God will lead them like a flock of sheep, with a king at their

head - Mic 2:12-13

CONCLUSION

1. Later, Micah will tell us more about the ultimate fulfillment of

that restoration, and from where that “king” shall arise who shall

lead God’s flock! - cf. Mic 5:2-5

2. But for now we have seen that Micah certainly follows the pattern of

God’s prophets at that time…

a. Proclaiming the coming judgment, which would involve captivity

b. Providing the basis for such judgment, describing the nature of

their sins and departure from God

c. Promising that God would one day restore the good fortunes of

Israel, but requiring repentance and involving a “remnant”

3. How sad that many in Israel and Judah did not heed the words of such

men like Micah, Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah…

a. But are we heeding God’s spokesmen for today?

b. Such as His apostles Peter and Paul, and of course, His Son Jesus

Christ?

We would do well to remember the preaching of Micah as we read in the

New Testament…

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we

have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken

through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and

disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if

we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first

spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who

heard, God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and

wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit

according to His own will. (He 2:1-4)

Israel as a nation failed to heed the message sent to them; are we

heeding the message for us today?

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Micah - Judgment Now, Blessings Later (3:1-5:15)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson on the book of Micah…

a. We briefly considered some background material

1. Concerning Micah, the man

a) His name means “Who is like Jehovah?”

b) He was from Moresheth-Gath, 20-25 miles SW of Jerusalem

c) A contemporary of Isaiah

d) A prophet of the poor and downtrodden

2. Concerning Micah, the book

a) The prophecies occurred around 735-700 B.C.

b) They were directed toward both Israel and Judah

c) The general theme appears to be “Present Judgment, Future

Blessings”

b. We briefly considered the first of three messages in the book

1. Each message begins with “Hear…” - Mic 1:2; 3:1; 6:1

2. The first message proclaimed “The Coming Judgment And Promised

Restoration”, as it described:

a) The judgment pronounced upon Israel and Judah - Mic 1:2-16

b) The reasons for the coming judgment - Mic 2:1-11

c) The promise of the restoration of a remnant - Mic 2:12-13

2. In this lesson, we shall consider Micah’s second message…

a. As presented in Mic 3:1-5:15

b. Which follows a similar theme as in the previous message:

1. God’s condemnation of Israel

2. With a glimpse of the future hope

[This second message has much more to say about the future hope,

especially regarding the Messiah. But it begins with…]

I. GOD’S CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL’S LEADERS

A. INDICTMENT OF ISRAEL’S CIVIL LEADERS…

1. The outrageous conduct of the rulers - Mic 3:1-3

a. They hate good and love evil

b. They consume the people (i.e., oppress them)

2. The judgment to come upon them - Mic 3:4

a. They will cry to the Lord, but He will not hear them

b. He will hide His face from them

B. INDICTMENT OF ISRAEL’S RELIGIOUS LEADERS…

1. The judgment to come upon the false prophets - Mic 3:5-7

a. Because they lead God’s people astray

b. They shall have no vision, they shall be made ashamed

2. Micah’s own ministry, in contrast to that of the false

prophets - Mic 3:8

a. He is full of the power of the Spirit, and of justice and

might

b. He declares the transgression and sin of Israel

C. INDICTMENT OF ISRAEL’S LEADERS RENEWED…

1. Addressing once again the rulers of Israel, their sins are

categorized - Mic 3:9-11

a. They abhor justice and pervert equity (fairness)

b. They build up Jerusalem with bloodshed and iniquity

c. Whether judges, priests, or prophets, they do it only for

the money, belying their claim to trust in the Lord

2. The judgment to come upon Israel because of them - Mic 3:12

a. Zion shall be plowed like a field

b. Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins

[This prophecy of Micah was fulfilled when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem

in 586 B. C. (cf. 2 Chr 36:17-21). But his message is not finished; as

ominous as it was in proclaiming the coming judgment, he now continues

with a glimpse into the future…]

II. THE FUTURE EXALTATION OF ZION AND MESSIANIC HOPE

A. THE GLORY TO COME IN “THE LATTER DAYS”…

1. What will happen “in the latter days”

a. The “mountain of the Lord’s house” will be established, and

many people will want to go it - Mic 4:1-2

b. They will want to learn of God’s ways, and the word of the

Lord will go forth from Jerusalem - Mic 4:2

c. The Lord will judge the nations, and there will be peace

- Mic 4:3

d. Everyone will be content, walking in the name of the Lord

forever - Mic 4:4-5

– Isaiah had a similar prophecy - Isa 2:1-4

2. What is the fulfillment of this prophecy?

a. Some believe it is all yet to come (e.g., premillenialists)

b. Some believe it is all past (e.g., some amillenialists)

c. I am inclined to believe there are past, present, and

future elements

1. It began in Jerusalem with the preaching of the gospel

on Pentecost

a) For Peter identifies the events of that day as

beginning the fulfillment of what would occur in the

“last days” - cf. Joel 2:28-32; Ac 2:16-17

b) For Jesus said the gospel would go forth from

Jerusalem as prophesied - Lk 24:46-47; cf. Mic 4:2;

Isa 2:3

2. It continues as people respond to the gospel that

originated from Jerusalem

a) Such people “have come to Mount Zion” - He 12:22-24;

cf. Mic 4:2

b) They learn the ways of the Lord - Ep 4:20-24; cf.

Mic 4:2

3. The “judging among many people” may be both present and

future

a) The book of Revelation reveals the Lord as judging

both in the present and in the future - cf. Re 1:5;

2:26-27; 17:14; 20:11-15

b) Peter viewed some of Isaiah’s prophecies as yet to be

fulfilled - 2 Pe 3:13; cf. Isa 65:17-19; 66:22

c) Therefore Mic 4:3-5 may find some of its fulfillment

in the eternal destiny of the redeemed, as part of

the “New Jerusalem” of the “new heaven and new earth”

described in Re 21-22

3. As Micah continues, he describes what will occur “in that day”

- Mic 4:6-8

a. The Lord will assemble a remnant of those whom He afflicted

- cf. Ro 11:5

b. He will reign over them forever - cf. Lk 1:30-33

– I understand that the fulfillment of this prophecy began

with the first coming of Christ, and that the church is a

spiritual kingdom in which the “former dominion” of Israel

has been restored and given to Jesus who reigns from heaven

- cf. Mt 28:18; Ac 1:6-8; 2:30-36; Re 1:5; 2:26-27; 3:21

B. THE DISTRESS AND CAPTIVITY BEFORE RESTORATION…

1. The “Now” of Mic 4:9 suggests that Micah has returned from his

glimpse of the future hope to what will occur in the immediate

present

2. Their judgment will involve distress like a woman in labor, as

they will be delivered to Babylon, from which they will also

be redeemed - Mic 4:9-10

3. Even “now”, many nations (e.g., Assyria) have come up against

them - Mic 4:11-5:1

a. Who seek to defile Zion, whom God will use to break them

into many pieces

b. Yet the daughter of Zion (Israel) shall be humbled also

- cf. Mic 5:1

C. THE COMING MESSIAH…

1. Here we find the prophecy of the Messiah’s birthplace - Mic

5:2; cf. Mt 2:1-6

a. The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah

b. He would become the ruler of Israel - cf. Isa 9:6-7; Lk

1:30-33

c. His “goings forth have been from old, from everlasting”

- cf. Jn 1:1-3

2. The Messiah will lead His people in peace - Mic 5:3-5a

a. Though first they must be given up for a short time

(Babylonian captivity)

b. Then a remnant shall return, whom the Ruler shall feed in

the strength of the Lord

D. FURTHER JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL AND HER ENEMIES…

1. Some take this section to be Messianic

2. I tend to take it as pertaining to Micah’s day and those that

followed shortly after…

a. The Assyrian threat would prove to be no real threat (for

Judah - Mic 5:5b-6; cf. Isa 36-37

b. When the remnant is dispersed (as a result of Babylonian

captivity), they shall be a lion among flocks of sheep

- Mic 5:7-9 (e.g., Daniel, Esther?)

c. God would cut off her false strengths (such as horses and

chariots, cf. Isa 31:1) and her idolatry - Mic 5:10-15

CONCLUSION

1. With the recurrent theme in his messages (“Present Judgment, Future

Blessings”), Micah’s purpose appears to be two-fold…

a. To warn the people, that they may repent as necessary

b. To encourage the people, that their hope for the future might

help them to endure the hard times to come

2. A similar two-fold message is found in the New Testament as well…

a. Warnings to persevere, lest we fall away - e.g., He 4:1,11

b. Promises to encourage us for whatever lies ahead - e.g., 2 Pe 3:

13-14

3. Today, we have an advantage over the Israelites of Micah’s day…

a. We have already seen much of his prophecy fulfilled with the

first coming of the Messiah

b. As Peter wrote, “we also have the prophetic word made more sure”

- 2 Pe 1:19

c. Made more sure by virtue of its fulfillment, it can serve to

comfort us and strengthen our hope regarding any future promise

of God - cf. Ro 15:4

– If God kept His promise concerning the first coming of His

Messiah, we can have confidence He will keep His promise

concerning His return!

Perhaps that is why Peter went on to say concerning “the prophetic

word” (e.g., The Minor Prophets)…

“which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place,

until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts”

(2 Pe 1:19)

By careful study and consideration of the prophets, both in the Old

Testament and New Testament, our hope for the future is strengthened!

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Micah - Judgment Now, Blessings Later (6:1-7:20)

INTRODUCTION

1. This is the third of three lessons in our survey of the book of

Micah…

a. Micah was a prophet of God, a contemporary of Isaiah (ca. 735-700

B.C.)

b. His prophecies were directed to both Israel and Judah, though

mostly to the latter

c. His general theme: “Present Judgment, Future Blessings”

2. In his first message…

a. He proclaimed “The Coming Judgment And Promised Restoration”

b. In which he described:

1. The judgment pronounced upon Israel and Judah - Mic 1:2-16

2. The reasons for the coming judgment - Mic 2:1-11

3. The promise of the restoration of a remnant - Mic 2:12-13

3. In his second message…

a. He proclaimed “God’s Condemnation of Israel, And The Future Hope”

b. In which he described:

1. God’s condemnation of Israel’s civil and religious leaders

- Mic 3:1-12

2. The future exaltation of Zion and Messianic hope - Mic 4:1-5:15

4. In his third and final message, Micah’s message is “God’s Indictment

of Israel, With A Promise Of Forgiveness And Restoration” - Mic 6:1-7:20

[Similar to what we saw in Hosea, the prophet Micah presents the Lord’s

complaint as though He were taking Israel to court…]

I. THE LORD’S CONTROVERSY WITH ISRAEL

A. GOD’S COMPLAINT…

1. The people called to present their case against God, as He has

a complaint against them - Mic 6:1-2

2. How has the Lord wearied them? Testify against Him! - Mic 6:3

3. Did He not redeem them from Egyptian bondage with the aid of

His servants Moses, Aaron, and Miriam? - Mic 6:4

4. Remember how He even had Balaam counter the counsel of Balak

- Mic 6:5

B. WHAT THE LORD REQUIRED OF THEM…

1. What must they offer for their sins? - Mic 6:6-7

2. What God wanted was for them to do justly, love mercy, and

walk humbly before Him - Mic 6:8

C. THE PUNISHMENT FOR ISRAEL’S INJUSTICE…

1. Justified, for they were full of dishonesty and violence - Mic

6:9-12

2. Judgment is coming in the form of desolation, for they hold on

to the idolatry of Omri and works of Ahab - Mic 6:13-16

[Once again, for the third time, Micah has foretold of the judgment to

come. As before, he does not close without offering a hope for

blessings in the future…]

II. A LAMENT FOLLOWED BY A PROMISE OF RESTORATION

A. PERHAPS SPEAKING FOR THE FAITHFUL REMNANT, MICAH LAMENTS…

1. His sorrow because the faithful man had perished - Mic 7:1-4

2. Things are so bad, only the Lord can be trusted - Mic 7:5-7

B. A CONFESSION OF SIN, WITH COMFORT IN WHAT THE LORD WILL BRING…

1. His enemy is not to rejoice over him - Mic 7:8-10a

a. For though he may fall, he will arise; the Lord will be a

light to him

b. He is willing to bear the indignation of the Lord, for he

has sinned; he knows also that the Lord will eventually

plead his case and execute justice for him

2. He takes comfort in the future restoration of Zion - Mic 7:

10b-13

a. Though first to be trampled down like mire in the streets

b. When restored, all will come to her (a messianic reference

akin to Mic 4:1-2?)

c. But first there will be desolation (cf. the destruction of

the city by Babylon)

C. A CLOSING PRAYER, WITH PRAISE TO GOD…

1. A prayer for God’s protection, to shepherd them as in days

gone by - Mic 7:14

2. God answer: “I will show them marvelous things” - Mic 7:15

3. Micah’s song of praise - Mic 7:16-20

a. The nations shall be made afraid when they see what the

Lord has done

b. Who is a God like Jehovah?

1. Who pardons iniquity

2. Who passes over the transgressions of the remnant of His

heritage

3. Who does not retain anger forever, for He delights in

mercy

4. Who will again have compassion, subdue their sins, and

cast their sins away

5. Who will give truth and mercy to Jacob and Abraham

(i.e., their descendants) as He has sworn from days of

old (cf. Gen 12:2-3)

CONCLUSION

1. Thus Micah ends his book like he ended each of his three messages:

offering hope concerning the future for the people of Israel

2. In our previous lesson we noted how these promises concerning a

glorious future to a great extent were fulfilled “in the latter

days”, beginning with the coming of our Lord

a. Certainly the restoration and rebuilding of temple following

Babylonian captivity was a partial fulfillment

b. But even that was just a glimpse of what Jesus Christ would offer

in His spiritual kingdom, which we now enjoy by being in Him

3. From Micah, we can learn a lot about…

a. The nature of God - cf. Mic 7:18-20

b. How God would have us live - cf. Mic 6:6-8

4. We also can have our faith strengthened by observing those

prophecies which have been fulfilled…

a. Such as the birthplace of the Messiah - Mic 5:2

b. Such as the establishment of the Lord’s house - Mic 4:1-2

So while Micah may have been sent first to the nation of Israel, let’s

not forget what Peter said concerning the Old Testament prophets…

“To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they

were ministering the things which now have been reported to you

through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy

Spirit sent from heaven; things which angels desire to look into.”

(1 Pe 1:12)

Yes, when the prophets like Micah foretold of the “the glories that

would follow”, they were serving us who would be later be in the

kingdom of God. Do we appreciate how blessed we are? If so, then let’s

also do what God requires of us, as expressed in Micah’s own words:

“to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”

(Mic 6:8)

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHET’s

Zephaniah - Through Judgment To Blessing (1:1-3:20)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our survey of “The Minor Prophets” we now come to the first of

three prophets who preached to Judah alone, following the downfall

of the northern kingdom of Israel

2. The prophet is Zephaniah, whose name means “Jehovah Hides”

a. Concerning the MAN

1. King Hezekiah was his great-great-grandfather - Zeph 1:1

2. This has prompted some to call him “the royal prophet”

3. He was contemporary with Jeremiah, as were Nahum and Habakkuk

b. Concerning his MESSAGE

1. Zephaniah prophesied in the days of Josiah, king of Judah

a) Josiah ruled from 640-609 B.C.

b) He was a good king, a great reformer - 2 Chr 34:1-3,29-34;

35:1-19

c) Josiah’s reforms were short-lived, however, and the nation

soon apostasized after his death

2. Zephaniah proclaimed the coming “day of the Lord” - cf. Zeph

1:7,14-16

a) So vivid are his descriptions that George Adam Smith wrote:

“No hotter book lies in all the Old Testament.”

b) And yet it ends on an encouraging note concerning the

future

– Therefore its overall message is: “Through Judgment To

Blessing”

[As we get into the book, we note that it can be divided into three

sections. The first section encouraged the people to “look within”…]

I. GOD’S WRATH COMING UPON JUDAH

A. THE LORD IS BRINGING JUDGMENT!

1. The prophet announces a universal and all-consuming judgment

- Zeph 1:1-3

2. With special mention and attention given Judah - Zeph 1:4-6

B. THE “DAY OF THE LORD” IS AT HAND!

1. This “day” as it will affect Judah and Jerusalem - Zeph 1:7-13

a. Punishment upon the princes and king’s children (note, the

king himself is not mentioned), and upon those who are full

of violence and deceit

b. There will wailing and mourning in the city of Jerusalem

c. The Lord will search out and punish the complacent

2. This great “day” described - Zeph 1:14-18

a. A day that is near and hastens quickly

b. A day of devastation, desolation, darkness, and distress

c. A day in which silver and gold cannot deliver one from the

Lord’s wrath

C. AND SO - A CALL FOR THE NATION TO REPENT!

1. Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon them - Zeph

2:1-2

2. To seek the Lord, to seek righteousness, to seek humility

- Zeph 2:3

[Having encouraged the people to “look within” and see the need for

their own repentance, Zephaniah now prompts the people to “look around”

to see…]

II. GOD’S WRATH COMING UPON SURROUNDING NATIONS

A. GOD’S JUDGMENT ON NATIONS EAST AND WEST…

1. Philistia - Zeph 2:4-7

a. It’s cities will be made desolate, the inhabitants

destroyed

b. The land will be for the remnant of Judah, whose captivity

God will restore

2. Moab & Ammon - Zeph 2:8-11

a. They shall be like Sodom and Gomorrah

b. Because of their pride, and for their mocking reproach of

God’s people

c. And God will one day be worshipped by people from all

nations

B. GOD’S JUDGMENT ON NATIONS SOUTH AND NORTH…

1. Ethiopia will by slain by the sword - Zeph 2:12

2. Assyria with its capital Nineveh will become desolate - Zeph

2:13-15

C. AND SO - WOE TO JERUSALEM…

1. She has rebelled against the Lord - Zeph 3:1-5

a. She has not obeyed His voice nor drawn near to Him

b. Her civil and religious leaders are like lions and wolves,

insolent and doing violence to the Law

c. The unjust knows no shame; the Lord, however, is righteous

and never fails in His justice

2. She has ignored God’s judgment upon other nations - Zeph 3:6-7

a. Which should have prompted her to receive God’s instruction

b. But instead the people corrupted all their deeds

[Finally, lest the faithful remnant despair, Zephaniah ends his message

with a “look beyond”…]

III. THROUGH JUDGMENT TO BLESSING

A. WAIT UPON THE LORD…

1. The faithful are told to wait for Lord to carry out His

judgment - Zeph 3:8

2. Even as Micah said he would do - cf. Mic 7:7-9

B. GOD WILL RESTORE HIS PEOPLE…

1. After His judgment, God will restore to the peoples

(Gentiles?) a “pure language” to worship and serve Him in one

accord - Zeph 3:9

2. His dispersed ones (Israel?) shall bring offerings from afar

- Zeph 3:10

3. God will remove the proud from His “holy mountain”, leaving a

meek and humble people who will trust and rest in the Lord

- Zeph 3:11-13

C. AND SO - THERE WILL BE JOY IN JERUSALEM…

1. For the Lord will remove their judgments and their enemies

- Zeph 3:14-15

2. For the Lord will be in their midst, providing them with

gladness, love and singing - Zeph 3:16-17

3. For the Lord has given them great assurance - Zeph 3:18-20

a. God will gather those who sorrow over the reproach of His

people

b. God will deal with those who afflicted His people

c. God will gather those who have been driven out, and give

them fame and praise

CONCLUSION

1. The message of Zephaniah is a simple one: Judgment is coming, but

blessings will follow for those who heed the warning to repent

a. It was a message that would later comfort the remnant taken away

into Babylonian captivity

b. It was a message that perhaps had an initial fulfillment

following their restoration under Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah

c. But I believe the ultimate fulfillment pertains to the age of the

Messiah

1. Which began with the establishment of His spiritual kingdom,

the church

a) Into which God is “gathering” His people - cf. 1 Th 2:12

b) In which we enjoy the presence of God and His blessings

- cf. He 12:22-24

2. Which will be culminated when Jesus comes again - Re 21:1-22:5

2. The message of the apostles is not really much different today…

a. The “day of the Lord” (of which Zephaniah’s “day” was a type) is

coming - 2 Pe 3:7-10

b. God’s people (i.e., the church) are admonished to remain faithful

- 2 Pe 3:11-14

Are we heeding that message? For those willing to listen, here is what

else Peter had to say…

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted

out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of

the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to

you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of

restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of

all His holy prophets since the world began. (Ac 3:19-21)

Be converted through your obedience to the gospel of Christ (cf. Mk 16:

15-16; Ac 2:38), and you too can “look beyond” the coming judgment for

the blessings to follow!

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Nahum - The Fall Of Nineveh (1:1-3:19)

INTRODUCTION

1. At the same time Jeremiah and Zephaniah were pronouncing judgment

against Judah, another prophet was directing his attention at one of

her enemies

2. The prophet was Nahum, whose name means “Consolation”

a. The name “is in a sense symbolical of the message of the book,

which was intended to comfort the oppressed and afflicted people

of Judah” (Eiselen)

b. Concerning the MAN

1. His home was Elkosh, of which little is known - Nah 1:1

2. Some think that Capernaum (lit., “village of Nahum”) may have

been his birthplace

3. He was contemporary with Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah

b. Concerning his MESSAGE

1. His message is usually dated around 630-612 B.C.

a) The northern kingdom of Israel was already in Assyrian

captivity

b) Assyria itself was still a world power, though in a state

of decline

2. The theme of his message is simple: “The Fall Of Nineveh”

a) This makes his work a complement to that of Jonah

b) Though by this time no mercy would be shown, judgment would

be final

[The book of Nahum can easily be divided into three sections which

coincide with the three chapters. In the first section we find…]

I. NINEVEH’S DOOM DECLARED

A. THE CHARACTER AND POWER OF THE LORD…

1. God’s vengeance, even though He is slow to anger - Nah 1:1-3a

2. The fierceness of His anger described - Nah 1:3b-6

3. The goodness of the Lord, as a stronghold to the faithful

- Nah 1:7

4. The pursuer of His enemies - Nah 1:8

B. THE COMPLETE OVERTHROW OF NINEVEH…

1. She will not afflict again, despite her plotting against the

Lord - Nah 1:9-11

2. Judah will be delivered from Nineveh’s affliction - Nah 1:

12-13

3. Nineveh’s destruction has been commanded by the Lord - Nah 1:

14

4. There shall be good tidings in Judah, she can keep her feasts

- Nah 1:15

[Having “declared” Nineveh’s doom in the first section, we now find…]

II. NINEVEH’S DOOM DESCRIBED

A. THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF THE CITY…

1. Furious preparation for the battle is described - Nah 2:1-4

2. Resistance is futile, captivity has been decreed - Nah 2:5-7

a. Note verse 6: “The gates of the rivers are opened, and the

palace is dissolved”

b. “The Babylonian Chronicle tells that Nineveh fell because

the flooding rivers made breaches in the city’s defenses.”

(Believers’ Study Bible)

B. THE UTTER SACK OF THE CITY…

1. Her inhabitants flee, the city is plundered - Nah 2:8-10

2. Her destruction will be complete, Nineveh as a dwelling of

devouring lions will be no more - Nah 2:11-13

[Thus far, Nineveh’s doom has been “declared” and “described” by Nahum.

In the third and final section, we find him saying…]

III. NINEVEH’S DOOM DESERVED

A. BECAUSE OF HER SINS…

1. Her woe will be due to her sins - Nah 3:1-4

2. The Lord will uncover her shame and make her a spectacle - Nah

3:5-7

B. SHE IS NO BETTER THAN NO-AMON…

1. Nineveh is no better than No-Amon (Thebes in Egypt) - Nah 3:8

2. Who despite her strength, was carried away into captivity

- Nah 3:9-10

3. So it will be with Nineveh - Nah 3:11

C. HER STRENGTH AND WEALTH WILL NOT SAVE HER…

1. Her strongholds will fail - Nah 3:12-13

2. All her efforts, her wealth, her army, will be futile - Nah

3:14-17

D. HER END HAS COME…

1. Her leaders are dead, her people scattered - Nah 3:18-19a

2. Those who hear of her fall will rejoice - Nah 3:19b

CONCLUSION

1. The message of Nahum for the people of God is one of consolation…

a. That those who afflict God’s people will be judged - Nah 1:2-3;

cf. Lk 18:7-8

b. That God is a stronghold in time of trouble - Nah 1:7; cf.

Ps 27:5

– Are you trusting in God as your Stronghold?

2. The message of Nahum for those who do evil is one of warning…

a. Don’t rely on what mercy was shown to your ancestors (e.g., as in

the days of Jonah)

b. The Lord may be merciful and slow to anger, but the day of

judgment does finally come!

– Are you trusting in what your parents or ancestors may have done,

to escape the judgment of God?

This message of Nahum is reminiscent of the words of Paul:

“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who

fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His

goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.” (Ro 11:22)

Let us be sure to “continue in His goodness”, lest we too experience

the “severity of God”!

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Habakkuk - From A Sob To A Song (1:1-3:19)

INTRODUCTION

1. We have seen that during the O.T. period known as “Judah Alone”…

a. Zephaniah was prophesying to Judah

b. Nahum was pronouncing God’s judgment upon Nineveh

2. Then there was Habakkuk, a prophet filled with troubling questions

a. Concerning his NAME

1. It means “Embrace”

2. “His name, as Luther well puts it, speaks as one who took his

nation to his heart, comforted it and held it up, as one

embraces and presses to his bosom a poor weeping child,

calming and consoling it with good hope.” (Geikie)

b. Concerning the DATE

1. Around 612-606 B.C.

2. Just as Babylon was making her westward move toward world

conquest

c. Concerning his MESSAGE: the book easily falls into three sections

1. A “burden” - Hab 1:1-2:1

2. A “vision” - Hab 2:2-20

3. A “prayer” - Hab 3:1-19

3. We note an immediate difference between Habakkuk and other

prophets…

a. Instead of taking the Lord’s message directly to the people (as

do most prophets)

b. He takes the complaint of the people directly to the Lord,

representing them in the complaint

– As he does so, it has been said that Habakkuk goes “From A Sob To

A Song”

[This process begins with a “burden” as found in the first section of

his message…]

I. HIS “BURDEN”: FAITH GRAPPLING WITH A PROBLEM

A. THE PROPHET RAISES A QUESTION…

1. He laments over apparent rule of wickedness and violence

2. How can the Lord justify His apparent indifference to such

things? - Hab 1:1-4

B. GOD’S ANSWER…

1. He is not indifferent!

2. He is doing something that will be hard to fathom - Hab 1:5-11

a. Raising up the Chaldeans (Babylon) to execute His judgment

b. Using a violent nation that arrogantly thinks it is serving

its own god (and purpose)

C. THE PROPHET’S SECOND QUESTION…

1. How can a holy God employ such an impure and godless agent?

- Hab 1:12-17

2. This is hard for Habakkuk to understand, but he will watch to

see what the Lord will say to him - Hab 2:1

[Indeed, it is a heavy “burden” for Habakkuk. God has answered his

first question by saying He will use the Chaldeans to punish the

wickedness and violence in Judah. But the Chaldeans are wicked also,

how can God use them?

Habakkuk receives his answer in the form of a “vision”…]

II. HIS “VISION”: FAITH GRASPING THE SOLUTION

A. GOD’S ANSWER: FIRST, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH…

1. Habakkuk is to write what God reveals to him - Hab 2:2-3

2. The proud is not upright; but the just shall live by his faith

- Hab 2:4

B. GOD’S ANSWER: SECOND, GOD WILL JUDGE THE PROUD…

1. Woe to the proud possessed with the lust of conquest and

plunder - Hab 2:5-8

2. Woe to their efforts to build a permanent empire through

cruelty and godless gain - Hab 2:9-11

3. Woe to those who build cities with bloodshed - Hab 2:12-14

4. Woe to those with cruelty in their treatment of those they

conquered - Hab 2:15-17

5. Woe to those given over to idolatry - Hab 2:18-20

a. Who worship that in which there is no breath at all

b. While the Lord is in His holy temple, before whom the earth

should keep silence

[The answer to Habakkuk’s second question appears to be this: While

God may use a wicked nation like Babylon to punish the wickedness of

Judah, He will not let Babylon’s wickedness go unpunished either!

In the meantime, the just (righteous) person will live by his faith in

God, which Habakkuk illustrates with his “prayer”…]

III. HIS “PRAYER”: FAITH GLORYING IN ASSURANCE

A. PETITION FOR GOD’S ACTION AND MERCY…

1. Written in the form of a psalm - Hab 3:1,19c

2. Asking God to revive His works, and in His wrath remember

mercy - Hab 3:2

B. PRAISE FOR GOD’S PAST DELIVERANCE…

1. His mighty works in the past - Hab 3:3-7

2. Bringing both judgment to the wicked and salvation to His

people - Hab 3:8-15

C. PROFESSION OF FAITH…

1. He trembled at what he has heard, that he will have rest in

the day of trouble - Hab 3:16

2. But he expresses his faith, that while trouble may come he

will rejoice in the Lord who will be his strength - Hab 3:

17-19

– Here we find one of the greatest expressions of faith found

anywhere!

CONCLUSION

1. What lessons can we glean from this short book? (as suggested by

Homer Hailey)

a. The universal supremacy of God’s judgment upon the wicked

1. God would use Chaldea to punish wicked Judah

2. Then Chaldea would be destroyed for its own wickedness

b. Evil is self-destructive

1. If the righteous can be patient, trusting in the Lord

2. The tyranny and arrogance of the wicked will eventually fall

c. The fact of divine discipline

1. In Job it is shown in the suffering of the individual

2. In Habakkuk it is shown in the suffering of the nation

– In both cases, suffering is disciplinary

2. Perhaps the most important lesson concerns the value of “faith”…

a. By it the righteous in Habakkuk’s day would live

b. Even more so today!

1. In receiving salvation - Ro 1:16-17

2. In persevering - He 10:35-39

– Notice that both quote from Hab 2:4

But our faith must not be a shallow faith; it must be like that

expressed by Habakkuk…

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no

food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there

be no herd in the stalls;”

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my

salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like

deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Is this our kind of faith?

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Haggai - Build The Temple! (1:1-2:23)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our survey of “The Minor Prophets”, we now jump ahead about

100 years…

a. Prophets like Zephaniah, Nahum, and Habakkuk prophesied shortly

before the seventy years of Babylonian captivity (i.e. before

606-536 B.C.)

b. Following the return under the leadership of Zerubbabel (536

B.C.), it was not long before two more prophets were sent to the

people of Israel

2. These prophets were Haggai and Zechariah, the first of which we

shall consider in this lesson…

a. Concerning the MAN

1. His name means “Festival” or “Festive”

2. What we know of Haggai is limited to his book and references

in Ezra (see below)

3. Together with Zechariah he motivated the Jews in rebuilding

the temple

b. Concerning the MESSAGE

1. It is commonly dated around 520 B.C. (the second year of King

Darius - Hag 1:1)

a) For the foundation of the temple had been laid shortly

after the arrival under the leadership of Zerubbabel (i.e.,

536 B.C.) - cf. Ezra 3:8-13

b) Yet opposition to rebuilding the temple stopped it for 16

years - Ezra 4:1-24

c) God then raised up Haggai and Zechariah - Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14

2. The theme of Haggai’s preaching: Build The Temple!

a) His message contains four separate proclamations

b) All within four months - cf. Hag 1:1; 2:1,10,20

[As we outline and briefly consider the message of Haggai, we begin by

noticing…]

I. A WORD OF REPROOF

A. BUILDING THE TEMPLE IS LONG OVERDUE…

1. Haggai takes the Lord’s message to Israel’s leaders - Hag 1:1

a. Zerubbabel the governor (who lead the first group of exiles

back home)

b. Joshua the high priest (also known as Jeshua, Ezra 2:1-2,

36,40; 3:2-8)

2. The Lord takes issue with what the people have been saying

- Hag 1:2-4

a. They have been saying the time is not right to build the

temple

b. The Lord challenged them as to whether they should live in

paneled houses while the temple lies in ruins

B. THE PEOPLE SHOULD CONSIDER THEIR WAYS…

1. The Lord challenged them to consider what was happening - Hag

1:5-6

a. Their efforts were much

b. But they received little in return

2. To motivate them in building the temple, their trouble is

explained - Hag 1:7-11

a. They needed to build the temple and thereby glorify God

b. For their efforts to obtain much for themselves was

frustrated by God

1. They looked for much, but God blew it away

2. While His house lay in ruins, they were busy building

their own

3. Therefore God had called for a drought on the land and

its fruit

C. THE TESTIMONY OF THE PROPHET IS HEEDED…

1. With the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the people obeyed

- Hag 1:12

2. The Lord promises to be with them - Hag 1:13

3. Stirred up by the Lord, Zerubbabel and Joshua lead the remnant

to resume work on the temple - Hag 1:14-15

[From Hag 1:1,15, we can determine that it took 24 days for the people

to begin rebuilding the temple. About a month later (cf. Hag 2:1),

another message from the Lord comes by way of Haggai. This message

is…]

II. A WORD OF SUPPORT

A. ARE THE PEOPLE DISCOURAGED?

1. Haggai is sent again to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the faithful

remnant - Hag 2:1-2

2. Those who had seen the former temple in its glory are asked if

the present temple appears as nothing in comparison - Hag 2:3

– The new temple evidently did not compare with the temple built

by Solomon

B. THE LORD PROVIDES A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT…

1. The Lord encourages them to be strong, for He is with them

- Hag 2:4-5

2. The Lord promises to make the glory of this temple greater

- Hag 2:6-9

a. By shaking the nations and having them come to “the Desire

of All Nations”

1. This can be translated “the desired of all nations will

come”, perhaps speaking of the nations bringing their

wealth to the temple - cf. Hag 2:8; Isa 60:5

2. Many see a Messianic reference in this phrase, though no

reference is so made in the New Testament (He 12:26-27

does make an allusion to verse 6)

b. By giving peace “in this place”

1. Some see another Messianic reference in this phrase

2. Certainly Jesus as the Prince of Peace, came to the

temple

[With such a word of encouragement, the people would continue with

their task of rebuilding the temple. But all was not well in the eyes

of the Lord; He needed Haggai once again to prophesy to the people, so

two months later (cf. 2:1,10) comes…]

III. A WORD OF EXPLANATION

A. THE PEOPLE ARE OFFERING A WORK THAT IS UNCLEAN…

1. Through two questions, the Lord challenges the priests to

think - Hag 2:10-13

a. Can holiness be transferred through casual contact? - No

b. Can defilement be transferred through casual contact? - Yes

2. Well, the people are unclean, and what they therefore offer is

unclean! - Hag 2:14

a. Unclean people can’t build a holy temple

b. Therefore, their offering is unclean!

B. ONCE AGAIN THE PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO CONSIDER…

1. First, begin considering what God has done in the past - Hag

2:15-17

a. Before the stone was laid in the temple, things were scarce

b. The Lord even brought blight, mildew and hail to frustrate

their labors, but they did not heed Him

2. Now, begin considering what God is promising to do - Hag 2:

18-19

a. Begin considering that very day (24th day of the ninth

month)

1. Consider what has occurred from the day the temple’s

foundation was laid

2. Is there seed in the barn? (no) Nor has the produce

yielded its fruit

d. But beginning that very day (24th day of the ninth month),

God was going to bless them!

[With such a promise, they would likely repent and build the temple as

they should. To encourage them further, Haggai has one last message…]

IV. A WORD OF PROMISE

A. GOD WILL OVERTHROW THE KINGDOMS OF THE NATIONS…

1. This message came at the same time as the third message - Hag

2:20

a. On the 24th day of the ninth month, of the second year of

Darius

b. Nearly four months after the first message - cf. Hag 1:1

2. Directed to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah - Hag 2:21-22

a. God proclaims He will shake heaven and earth

b. He will overthrow the kingdoms of the Gentiles

c. This He will do, “everyone by the sword of his brother”

– Note: Just as He did before, using Assyria to punish

Israel, Babylon to punish Assyria, Medo-Persia to punish

Babylon, etc.

B. GOD’S SPECIAL PROMISE TO ZERUBBABEL…

1. In the same day that God will overthrow the nations - Hag 2:

23a

2. God will make Zerubbabel as a signet ring, for God has chosen

him - Hag 2:23b

a. Many see a Messianic reference in this promise

1. For God calls Zerubbabel “My servant”, an expression

often used in Isaiah in reference to the Messiah - cf.

Isa 52:13; 53:11

2. And God says “for I have chosen you” (Messiah means

anointed, chosen)

b. That as governor of Judah and descendant of David,

Zerubbabel represents the Messianic hope that has been

renewed and would be ultimately fulfilled with the coming

of Jesus!

– Note: With His exaltation to the right hand of God, Jesus

began to rule the nations “with a rod of iron”, as

Revelation vividly depicts - Re 1:5; 2:26-27; 3:21; 17:14

CONCLUSION

1. Haggai’s message was primarily designed to encourage Zerubbabel and

the faithful remnant of Israel who had returned from Babylonian

captivity…

a. To finish rebuilding the temple

b. To do so in a manner that would honor and glorify God

c. To look to the future with hope and promise

2. Like other books of the Old Testament…

a. Haggai was “written for our learning” - Ro 15:4

b. There are lessons that can easily be gleaned from this book, such

as:

1. The importance of putting God first - Hag 1:2-4

2. The need for every one to work, not just the leaders - Hag 1:

12-15

3. The danger of letting evil contaminate our efforts to serve

God - Hag 2:11-14

3. As Christians, we are blessed to be “a holy temple in the Lord” - Ep

2:19-22; cf. 1 Pe 2:5

a. The foundation of this temple has been laid

b. But the need for building upon the foundation continues!

Living in a highly materialistic society, it may easy for us to neglect

the ongoing construction of the Lord’s house. Perhaps we need to

remember the words of the Lord through Haggai:

“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses,

and this temple to lie in ruins?” (Hag 1:4)

If we are indeed guilty of neglecting the Lord’s house, then heed also

these words of Haggai:

“Consider your ways!”

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Zechariah - I Am Zealous For Zion (1:1-3:10)

INTRODUCTION

1. Following 70 years of Babylonian exile, Israel was allowed to return

home…

a. Precipitated by the decree of Cyrus, they returned to rebuild the

temple - Ezra 1:1-5

b. The first group of exiles were led by Zerubbabel - Ezra 2:1-2

c. While they were quick to build the altar and the foundation of

the temple, resistance by adversaries soon resulted in a long

delay - Ezra 4:1-5

d. To encourage Zerubbabel and the others, God sent two prophets:

Haggai and Zechariah - Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14-15

2. Our previous study looked at the book of Haggai; now we begin our

study of Zechariah…

a. Concerning the MAN

1. His name means “Whom Jehovah Remembers”

2. At least 27 men bear this name in the Old Testament

3. Like Ezekiel, he was of priestly descent

4. He was also called to be a prophet, to stir up the people in

building the temple

a. Concerning the MESSAGE

1. He prophesied around 520-518 B.C. - cf. Zech 1:1,7; 7:1

2. In view of these dates, his book can be thought of as a sequel

to Haggai’s book

3. His book is the longest and most obscure of “The Minor

Prophets”

a) Considered by some as the most difficult in the O.T.

b) Apocalyptic in nature; filled with symbolic visions, like

Ezekiel and Daniel

c) Very messianic in nature; comparative to Isaiah

d) Should certainly be approached with humility

4. The basic message and theme seems clear enough: I Am Zealous

For Zion - cf. Zech 1:14

[As we read through the book, we must keep in mind that the primary

purpose of Zechariah’s preaching was to encourage the people in

building the temple. This will be especially helpful later on, when we

get into the “visions” of Zechariah. But we notice that the book

begins with…]

I. A CALL TO REPENTANCE

A. ZECHARIAH’S FIRST MESSAGE…

1. Dated in the 8th month of the second year of Darius (520 B.C.)

- Zech 1:1

2. This places his prophecy between Haggai’s 2nd and 3rd

prophecies - Hag 2:1,10

3. Comparing this prophecy with Haggai’s third suggests that

while the temple was being rebuilt, some repentance was still

necessary - cf. Hag 2:14

B. KEY THOUGHTS IN THIS CALL TO REPENTANCE…

1. The Lord has been angry with their fathers (e.g., Babylonian

captivity) - Zech 1:2

2. The people need to return to the Lord to gain His favor - Zech

1:3; cf. Ja 4:8

3. Don’t be like their fathers, who ignored the prophets - Zech

1:4; cf. 2 Chr 36:15-18

4. Learn from their fathers, who learned things the hard way

- Zech 1:5-6

[The first message is certainly clear enough, and seems to complement

Haggai’s third message. Then three months later, Zechariah had a series

of eight visions that occurred in one night…]

II. VISIONS IN THE NIGHT - Part One

A. THE RIDER AND THE HORSES…

1. Zechariah sees a man riding on a red horse among myrtle trees

in a hollow, followed by red, sorrel, and white horses - Zech

1:7-9

2. The horses are explained as sent by the Lord to walk

throughout the earth, who report (or perhaps those on them)

that the earth is resting quietly - Zech 1:10-11

3. The “Angel of the Lord” asks how long will God not show mercy

on Jerusalem and Judah - Zech 1:12

4. The Lord responds with comforting words, which Zechariah is

told to proclaim - Zech 1:13-17

a. Words describing the Lord’s zeal for Jerusalem and Zion

b. Words conveying God’s anger at the nations

5. So while the nations may appear “at ease”, their judgment is

forthcoming and God will show mercy to Jerusalem

– The purpose of this vision (and the one to follow) appear to

confirm the promise made to Zerubbabel by Haggai - cf. Hag 2:

20-22

B. THE FOUR HORNS AND FOUR CRAFTSMEN…

1. Zechariah sees four horns that are identified as that which

scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem - Zech 1:18-19

2. He is then shown four craftsmen, who will cast out the horns

(nations) that scattered Judah - Zech 1:20-21

– This vision appears to confirm the promise made in the first

vision; both visions designed to comfort the people who were

building the temple!

C. THE MAN WITH THE MEASURING LINE…

1. This vision appears to develop further the thought expressed

in Zech 1:16c

2. The FIRST PART of the vision indicates that Jerusalem would be

inhabited to overflowing, and protected by the Lord - Zech 2:

1-5

3. The SECOND PART calls for the dispersed Jews to return - Zech

2:6-9

a. To flee from Babylon

b. For the Lord is against such nations

4. The THIRD PART proclaims the future joy of Zion and many

nations - Zech 2:10-12

a. Fulfilled in part soon after the completion of the temple?

b. Fulfilled in part with the coming of the Messiah?

5. Finally, a call to all to be silent, for God is aroused (i.e.,

is about to act!) - Zech 2:13

– This vision also appears designed to encourage the building of

the temple!

D. JOSHUA, THE HIGH PRIEST…

1. In the first part of the vision… - Zech 3:1-5

a. Joshua, the high priest (cf. Hag 1:1), stands in filthy

garments before Satan and “the Angel of the Lord”

b. Satan is rebuked, while Joshua is forgiven and clothed with

rich robes, as “the Angel of the Lord” stands by

2. In the second part of the vision… - Zech 3:6-10

a. Joshua is admonished by “the Angel of the Lord”

b. He is given conditions for serving as priest before God

c. Joshua and his companions (the restored priesthood?) are a

sign

1. Of the coming Servant, the “Branch”

2. I.e., the coming Messiah - cf. Isa 11:1-2; Mt 2:23

d. A stone is laid before Joshua

1. Upon which are seven eyes

2. Upon which the Lord will engrave its inscription

e. The Lord promises the removal of iniquity, describing

prosperity “in that day”

– This vision seems designed to encourage the re-establishment

of the priestly service in the temple, and it certainly has

Messianic overtones

CONCLUSION

1. Remember that the context of these visions is the work of Zechariah

and Haggai, who were sent to stir up the people to complete building

the temple

a. Exhorting them through messages calling the people to repentance

b. Encouraging them by proclaiming the visions the Lord had revealed

2. This is not to discount the fact their messages and visions often

had Messianic connotations…

a. As so much of what happened in the Old Testament was a type of

what was to come

b. And even these prophecies of Zechariah often appear to have a

double fulfillment

1. A fulfillment pertaining to the people of that day

2. A fulfillment that was realized with the coming of the

Messiah, Jesus! - cf. Zech 3:8b

3. But we must be careful in seeking to understand these visions…

a. Unless we have an inspired interpretation provided for us in the

New Testament…

b. We should use caution and humility in interpreting them outside

of their context

We shall resume our study of Zechariah in the next lesson, in which we

will consider the remaining four of eight visions seen in one night…

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Zechariah - I Am Zealous For Zion (4:1-6:15)

INTRODUCTION

1. Our previous study introduced us to the book of Zechariah…

a. A prophet of God who worked together with Haggai

b. Whose work focused mainly on the rebuilding of the temple - Ezra

5:1-2; 6:14-15

2. The book starts out in typical fashion with a call to repentance

(Zech 1:1-6), but then we find eight visions that occurred in one

night…

a. We briefly considered the first four in the previous study

1. The rider and the horses - Zech 1:7-17

2. The four horns and four craftsmen - Zech 1:18-21

3. The man with the measuring line - Zech 2:1-13

4. Joshua the high priest - Zech 3:1-10

b. These visions were designed to motivate the people in completing

the temple

1. As God related His zeal for Jerusalem and His house - e.g.,

Zech 1:14,16,21; 2:4

2. As God reassured Joshua the high priest of his role - e.g.,

Zech 3:6-7

3. As God revealed even greater things to come pertaining to His

Servant (the Messiah) - e.g., Zech 3:8-10

3. In this study, we shall examine…

a. The remaining four visions - Zech 4:1-6:8

b. The command to crown Joshua the high priest - Zech 6:9-15

[From Zech 4:1, it appears that Zechariah had fallen into a deep sleep

after the first four visions. Awakened by the angel, he is shown four

more…]

I. VISIONS IN THE NIGHT - Part Two

A. THE GOLD LAMPSTAND AND TWO OLIVE TREES…

1. Awakened from a deep sleep, Zechariah is shown a golden

lampstand with seven lamps and seven pipes, with olive trees

on both sides - Zech 4:1-3

2. Asking the angel what they represent, he is told…

a. That it is a message to Zerubbabel (the governor) - Zech

4:6a

b. That by God’s Spirit, not man’s might or power, Zerubbabel

shall bring forth the capstone (finishing stone) of the

temple - Zech 4:6b-7

c. Thus Zerubbabel will finish the temple - Zech 4:8-9

d. For the eyes of the Lord (represented by the seven lamps)

which scan the whole earth, rejoice to see the plumb line

in the hand of Zerubbabel - Zech 4:10

e. And that the olive trees represent “two anointed ones”

(Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor?) who

stand beside the Lord - Zech 4:11-14

– With such encouragement, who can “despise the day of small

things?” (as the temple looked when its foundation was first

laid - cf. Ezra 3:11-12; Hag 2:2-3)

B. THE FLYING SCROLL…

1. Turning and raising his eyes, Zechariah sees a flying scroll,

twenty cubits long and 10 cubits wide (approx. 30 feet by 15

feet) - Zech 5:1-2

2. The scroll is explained as being the curse going out on the

whole earth - Zech 5:3-4

a. According to what is written on one side, every thief will

be expelled

b. According to what is written on the other side, every

perjurer will be expelled

c. Thus it will enter and consume the houses of thieves and

those who swear falsely

– Such people were responsible for the downfall of Israel and

Judah (cf. Hos 4:2-3; Mic 2:2-3); this vision ensures such

will be removed from God’s people

C. THE WOMAN IN THE BASKET (EPHAH)…

1. Zechariah is directed to see a large basket, in which sits a

woman - Zech 5:5-7

2. As the woman is explained to represent wickedness…

a. She is thrust down into the basket with a lead cover over

the top - Zech 5:8

b. Two women with wings like those of a stork lift the basket

to take it a house in the land of Shinar (Babylon) - Zech

5:9-11

– This vision symbolizes that wickedness will be removed from

the land

D. THE FOUR CHARIOTS…

1. Zechariah sees four chariots coming between two bronze

mountains - Zech 6:1-3

a. The first chariot had red horses

b. The second chariot had black horses

c. The third chariot had white horses

d. The fourth chariot had dappled horses

2. He is told what the chariots represent - Zech 6:4-8

a. They represent the four spirits of heaven

b. The chariot with the black horses is going to the north

country, followed by the chariot with the white horses

c. The chariot with the dappled horses is going to the south

country

d. The chariots go throughout the earth, with those going to

the north giving rest to God’s Spirit in the north country

3. This final vision appears to correspond with the first (cf.

Zech 1:7-11)

a. In the first vision, the four horses report that the earth

was at peace, while the temple lay uncompleted

b. Now, it is God’s Spirit which is given rest in the north

country (Babylon?)

– Perhaps this vision reflects that God would be at ease once

His purposes concerning Jerusalem (restoration of its temple)

and Babylon (judgment for its sins) were completed

[With these eight visions in one night, Zechariah had a message to

encourage Zerubbabel and Joshua in their efforts to rebuild the temple.

The message would be reinforced with yet another given to Zechariah…]

II. THE COMMAND TO CROWN JOSHUA

A. THE INSTRUCTIONS TO ZECHARIAH…

1. Take the gift from the captives and make an elaborate crown

- Zech 6:9-11a

2. Set the crown on the head of Joshua the high priest - Zech

6:11b

3. Speak the following words to Joshua - Zech 6:12-13

a. Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!

b. From His place He shall branch out

c. He shall build the temple of the LORD

d. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and reign on the His

throne

e. He shall be a priest on His throne, with the counsel of

peace

4. The elaborate crown to be a memorial in the temple - Zech 6:14

5. Those from far away will help build the temple - Zech 6:15

B. THE MESSIANIC ELEMENTS OF THIS SYMBOLIC CROWNING…

1. Certainly this symbolic crowning was intended to encourage

Joshua and those captives who had returned to build the temple

2. But Joshua appears to be a type of the coming Messiah., i.e.,

Jesus

a. Jesus was called “a Nazarene” (branch) - Mt 2:23; cf. Zech

3:8

b. He would “branch out” - cf. Isa 11:1-2; 53:2

c. He would build the “temple of the Lord” (i.e., His church)

- Mt 16:18; Ep 2:21-22

d. He would “rule on His throne” - 1 Co 15:25; Re 1:5; 2:27-28

e. He would be “a priest on His throne” - He 8:1-2; Re 3:21

f. He would provide the “counsel of peace” - Ep 2:14-17

– And so this symbolic crowning was not only to encourage

Joshua, but those who looked forward to the coming of the

Messiah, whom Joshua represented!

CONCLUSION

1. Through the use of such visions and symbolic representations…

a. Zechariah succeeded in motivating Joshua, Zerubbabel, and the

captives who returned with them to rebuild the temple - cf. Ezra

6:14-15

b. Zechariah likely increased their anticipation of the future as

well, as they would wonder about the fulfillment of these visions

2. Zechariah’s work is not finished, however…

a. He will provide answers to questions the people had regarding

certain fasts

b. He will have more to say about the future of Jerusalem and the

coming Messiah

…which we shall consider in the next couple of lessons

Having been reminded in this study of our Lord’s role as both king and

priest, perhaps we can close by asking:

Are you submitting to the Kingship of Jesus Christ?

Are you making proper use of His intercession as our High Priest?

How you respond to His gospel will answer such questions!

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Zechariah - I Am Zealous For Zion (7:1-8:23)

INTRODUCTION

1. Thus far in our survey of the book of Zechariah…

a. We noticed “A Call To Repentance” - Zech 1:1-6

b. We surveyed the “Visions In The Night”, of which there were eight

1. The rider and the horses - Zech 1:7-17

2. The four horns and four craftsmen - Zech 1:18-21

3. The man with the measuring line - Zech 2:1-13

4. Joshua the high priest - Zech 3:1-10

5. The gold lampstand and two olive trees - Zech 4:1-14

6. The flying scroll - Zech 5:1-4

7. The woman in a basket - Zech 5:5-11

8. The four chariots - Zech 6:1-8

c. We considered “The Command To Crown Joshua” - Zech 6:9-15

2. In these different ways God used Zechariah…

a. To motivate Joshua, Zerubbabel, and the captives who returned

with them to rebuild the temple - cf. Ezra 6:14-15

b. To increase their anticipation of the future as well, as they

would wonder about the fulfillment of these visions

3. Zechariah’s work was not yet finished…

a. About two years later, as the temple was still in construction,

he was asked concerning the observance of certain fasts

b. This provided the Lord the opportunity to do two things:

1. To remind the people of what prompted their exile

2. To once again proclaim His great zeal for Zion (Jerusalem)

[An important lesson or two can be gleaned from this section (Zech 7:1-

8:23) that Christians would do well to remember. Also, God’s zeal for

Zion as expressed in this section appears to have Messianic

ramifications…]

I. THE QUESTION ABOUT THE FIFTH MONTH FAST

A. THE PRIESTS ARE ASKED…

1. In the fourth year of King Darius (ca. 518 B.C., nearly two

years later) - Zech 7:1

2. When the people send messengers - Zech 7:2

B. THE PEOPLE WISH TO KNOW…

1. Should they continue to weep and fast in the fifth month?

- Zech 7:3

2. The fifth month was the time of the year the temple was

destroyed nearly seventy years before - cf. 2 Ki 25:8,9; Jer

52:12,13

[Perhaps because the temple was being rebuilt, they wanted to know if

they should continue with a fast designed to commemorate the temple’s

destruction. In response, the Lord challenges them to evaluate their

devotion…]

II. THE FAILURE OF THE PEOPLE REVIEWED

A. THEIR FASTS: FOR THE LORD, OR FOR THEMSELVES?

1. In addition to the fast on the fifth month, there was one on

the seventh (mourning the murder of Gedaliah - cf. 2 Ki 25:25;

Jer 41:1-3)

2. These fasts were developed during their seventy year exile

3. But the people are challenged to consider whether they had

been serving themselves or the Lord in keeping these fasts

- Zech 7:4-6

4. The Lord would have preferred them to obey Him from the

beginning - Zech 7:7

5. Note: Which is better…

a. To worship God as He first instructed?

b. Or to develop traditions to bemoan your state after you

have disobeyed Him?

– Clearly God desired the former

B. THEIR EXILE WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR SINS…

1. The Lord had asked them to display justice, mercy and

compassion - Zech 7:9-10

2. But the people refused to hear, so God scattered them among

the nations - Zech 7:11-14

[Their fasting, while appearing to express devotion for the loss of the

temple, should never have been necessary. If they had served God to

begin with, there would be no need to fast!

As the Lord continues, He explains why their fasts should now be

occasions for feasting…]

III. A TIME FOR FEASTING, NOT FASTING

A. THE LORD’S ZEAL FOR JERUSALEM…

1. The Lord is zealous for Zion with great zeal - Zech 8:1-2

2. He will return to Zion, and dwell in Jerusalem - Zech 8:3a

3. Jerusalem will be called “the City of Truth”, “The Mountain of

the LORD of hosts”, and “The Holy Mountain” - Zech 8:3b

B. THE LORD’S FUTURE FOR JERUSALEM…

1. It will be place of peace for the elderly and young - Zech 8:

4-6

2. The Lord will bring His remnant back, and He shall be their

God - Zech 8:7-8

3. Those building the temple should take heart, for the Lord

shall make them a blessing - Zech 8:9-13

4. Just as God once sought their punishment, now He is determined

to do good for them - Zech 8:14-15

C. THE LORD’S DESIRE FOR JERUSALEM…

1. For the people to speak truth, show justice and peace, not

evil (to do what should have been done before the exile!)

- Zech 8:16-17

2. To let the fasts be a time for joy, gladness and cheerful

feasts - Zech 8:18-19

a. The fast of the fourth month had commemorated the breaching

of the walls when Jerusalem was destroyed - 2 Ki 25:3,4;

Jer 52:6,7

b. The fast of the fifth month commemorated the destruction of

the temple

c. The fast of the seventh month commemorated the murder of

Gedaliah

d. The fast of the tenth month commemorated the beginning of

the siege of Jerusalem - 2 Ki 25:1,2; Jer 39:1; 52:4,5

– But now these were to be replaced with feasting!

D. THE LORD’S PROMISE FOR JERUSALEM…

1. Many nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem

- Zech 8:20-22

2. People of every language will seek to know the God of the Jews

- Zech 8:23

CONCLUSION

1. How comforting and exciting this must have been to those in

Zechariah’s day!

a. It certainly should have encouraged them to continue with

rebuilding the temple

b. It should have encouraged them to look forward to the future

2. While there may have been a partial fulfillment to these prophecies

with the rebuilding of the temple and walls of Jerusalem, it is

likely that there are Messianic elements as well…

a. With fulfillment beginning with the establishment of the church

in Jerusalem - cf. Isa 2:2-3; Ac 2:1-47; He 12:22

b. With fulfillment culminating with the ushering in of the “New

Jerusalem” in the “new heavens and new earth” following the

Lord’s second coming - cf. He 11:16; 13:14; 2 Pe 3:10-13; Re 21:

1-22:5

3. Finally, is there a not a lesson to be learned about “self-imposed

religion”?

a. The exiles had begun fasting by their own design

b. What the Lord preferred was for them to have heeded His Word in

the beginning!

c. Jesus taught that man-made traditions lead to vain worship - Mt

15:8-9

d. Paul described the inability of self-imposed religion to deal

with the flesh - Co 2:20-23

If we desire to truly be citizens in the “New Jerusalem”, then let’s

concentrate on doing the will of the Father, not on making up new ways

to worship Him. As Jesus warned:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom

of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

(Mt 7:21)

In our acts of devotion, are we doing the Father’s will, or things

devised by men?

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Zechariah - I Am Zealous For Zion (9:1-11:17)

INTRODUCTION

1. The last six chapters of the book of Zechariah contain two “burdens”

(i.e., weighty words of judgment)…

a. The “burden” against Israel’s enemies - cf. Zech 9:1-2

b. The “burden” against Israel herself - Zech 12:1

2. There is a sharp contrast between these chapters and the first

eight…

a. Prompting some to suggest they may have been written by a

different author

b. While others (myself included) believe they were written much

later in the life of Zechariah

3. Though the temple was completed by this time, and Zechariah’s

initial work a success…

a. His work as a prophet was not over

b. Through him the Lord has much to say about the future of Israel,

with glimpses concerning the coming Messiah (Jesus)

[In this lesson, we shall survey the first “burden”, which contains

words of judgment against Israel’s longtime enemies, while offering

words of hope to Israel herself…]

I. JUDGMENT AGAINST ISRAEL’S ENEMIES

A. AGAINST SYRIA…

1. Against its leading cities: Damascus, Tyre, Sidon - Zech 9:

1-2

2. Despite her strength and wealth, the Lord will bring

destruction - Zech 9:3-4

– Many commentators point to the conquests of Alexander the

Great as the fulfillment of this prophecy (ca. 333 B.C.)

B. AGAINST PHILISTIA…

1. Her cities (Gaza, Ekron, Ashkelon) will be dismayed - Zech 9:5

2. Strangers will abide there; those that remain will be for God

- Zech 9:6-7

3. In contrast, God will protect His house, or Israel - Zech 9:8

– Alexander the Great did not destroy Jerusalem as he made his

way through Palestine (cf. Josephus, Antiquities Of The Jews)

[Verse 8 might actually belong to what follows. If so, then it begins

what appears to be designed to provide comfort to Israel concerning her

future…]

II. ISRAEL’S HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

A. HER KING IS COMING…

1. The promise of the King - Zech 9:9a

2. The character of the King - Zech 9:9b

3. The nature of His kingdom - Zech 9:10

a. A peaceful kingdom

b. A universal reign

– That Jesus fulfilled this passage is taught in the New

Testament! - Mt 21:1-7; 28:18; Ep 1:22; 2:14-17

B. GOD WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE…

1. Her prisoners will be delivered, even from her enemies like

Greece - Zech 9:11-13

2. The Lord lead them to victory and glory - Zech 9:14-17

– The fulfillment of this passage may be figurative, alluding to

the spiritual victory we have in Christ (cf. Lk 4:16-21);

some, however, believe Zechariah is returning to the theme of

Israel overcoming the Greeks in the time of Alexander

C. ISRAEL WILL BE RESTORED…

1. The people are encouraged to seek blessings from the Lord, not

idols - Zech 10:1-2

2. The Lord will provide proper shepherds - Zech 10:3-5

a. The old leaders removed

b. New leaders raised up to lead them to victory

3. Both Judah and Joseph (Ephraim) will be redeemed and restored

- Zech 10:6-8

4. Though sown among the nations, they shall remember and return

- Zech 10:9-11

5. Strengthened in the Lord, they shall walk in His name - Zech

10:12

– While speaking in terms that may have been meaningful to the

Israelites of that day, this section may also have its

fulfillment in the work of Christ through the gospel

D. BUT NOT WITHOUT JUDGMENT…

1. With great imagery, coming judgment is described - Zech 11:1-3

a. Coming by way of the north (Lebanon)

b. In which the shepherds in particular wail for their loss

2. Zechariah is told to feed a flock destined for slaughter

- Zech 11:4-6

a. Whose owners and shepherds do not pity them

b. For a time is coming when the Lord would not pity His flock

3. Zechariah does so, but not for long - Zech 11:7-14

a. He starts by making two staffs, one called “Beauty”, the

other “Bonds”

b. He feeds the flock, but not without opposition from the

other shepherds

c. He gives up on the flock, breaking his staffs

1. The breaking of “Beauty” symbolizing the breaking of the

covenant

2. He is paid 30 pieces of silver, and is told to throw it

to the potter

3. Then he breaks “Bonds” which symbolizes the break of the

brotherhood between Judah and Israel

4. Zechariah is then told to take the implements of a foolish

shepherd - Zech 11:15-17

a. For the Lord will one day raise up a foolish shepherd

b. One who will not care for the flock, upon whom judgment

will come

5. What is this chapter about?

a. Many see in it the destruction that befell Israel and

Jerusalem by the hands of the Romans in A.D. 70

b. Because Israel’s shepherds (leaders) rejected its Good

Shepherd for which they paid a paltry 30 pieces of silver

(cf. Mt 27:1-10), they were rejected by God

CONCLUSION

1. The last six chapters of Zechariah have been described as some of

the most difficult in the Bible…

a. The difficulty lies in discerning the true fulfillment of these

prophecies

b. Not only their initial fulfillment, but whether a double

fulfillment was intended as well

– Even the apostles were unable to fully discern Old Testament

prophecy without the Lord’s help - cf. Lk 24:44-47

2. As with all Old Testament prophecy, I recommend the following…

a. Where the inspired writers of the NT have provided inspired

interpretation, we should certainly hold to what they wrote

b. But on those prophecies of the OT where NT writers have not

commented, we should be very cautious:

1. We can offer our understanding as to what they pertain

2. But we should abstain from developing doctrines or practices

based upon our uninspired interpretations of such prophecy

3. Indeed, if the Lord had wanted us to know…

a. I am persuaded the New Testament would have made it known

b. Just as it did the “mystery” of the gospel - cf. Ro 16:25-26;

Ep 3:3-5

Part of that “mystery” that had been hidden so long was contained in

these very words of Zechariah:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of

Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and

having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal

of a donkey. (Zech 9:9)

And again…

Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages;

and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty

pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the

potter”; that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty

pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD for

the potter. (Zech 11:12-13)

Yes, the mystery concerning One who was coming to be their King. He has

come, but some rejected Him for 30 pieces of silver (cf. Mt 27:1-10)!

Have you rejected Jesus from being your King, for what is a paltry sum

in comparison to the blessings He provides? - cf. Ac 2:36-38

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Zechariah - I Am Zealous For Zion (12:1-14:21)

INTRODUCTION

1. With this final lesson on the book of Zechariah, we come to the

second of two “burdens” which make up the last six chapters…

a. The first “burden” was against Israel’s enemies, though it also

spoke of Israel’s hope for the future - cf. Zech 9:1-2,9-10

b. This second “burden” is against Israel herself, though it too

speaks of a glorious future for Jerusalem - cf. Zech 12:1;

14:8-11

2. As previously mentioned, these last chapters are among the most

difficult in the Bible…

a. Some look for a literal fulfillment of what is described,

concluding it has yet to come

b. Others suggest this section is figurative, and is fulfilled with

the coming of Christ and His kingdom, the church

3. I confess I am challenged by this section of Scripture; what I will

do in this lesson is:

a. Briefly survey the main points presented in Zechariah’s prophecy

b. Offer some thoughts as to what this prophecy refers to

[As we have seen from the very beginning, the main theme of the book is

“I Am Zealous For Zion” (cf. Zech 1:14). This last section certainly

resounds with that theme as it describes…]

I. THE FUTURE OF JERUSALEM

A. THE LORD’S CARE FOR JERUSALEM…

1. Jerusalem is depicted in some future time as under siege by

the nations - Zech 12:1-9

2. “In that day” (12:3,4), the Lord will use Jerusalem:

a. As a “cup of drunkenness” to all the surrounding peoples

b. As a “very heavy stone” for all peoples

– I.e., Jerusalem will be a means by which God judges the

nations

3. “In that day” (12:6,8,9), the Lord will defend Jerusalem, and

destroy her enemies

B. THE LORD’S CLEANSING FOR JERUSALEM…

1. Cleansed from her sins - Zech 12:10-13:6

a. The Lord will pour out on Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and

supplication

b. They will look on Him whom they have pierced, and mourn “in

that day” (12:11) as they did when Josiah died - cf. 2 Chr

35:20-25

c. “In that day” (13:1,2,4), the Lord will…

1. Open a fountain for sin and for uncleanness

2. Cut off the idols from the land

3. Cause the prophets and unclean spirit to depart from the

land, prompting…

a) Parents to kill their sons who dare to prophesy

b) Those who prophesy to be ashamed and admit they are

not prophets

2. Refined through persecution - Zech 13:7-9

a. The Shepherd will be struck and His sheep scattered - cf.

Mt 26:31-32

b. But the Lord will use this to refine and test the people of

God - cf. He 12:3-11

C. THE LORD’S DELIVERANCE FOR JERUSALEM…

1. “The day of the Lord” is coming when the Lord will gather all

the nations to battle against Jerusalem - Zech 14:1-3

a. The city will be taken and rifled, the women ravished

b. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant

will not be cut off

2. But then the Lord go forth and fight against those nations

- Zech 14:4-7

a. He will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will cause a

great valley

b. Through the valley the people will flee for safety

c. “In that day” (14:6) there will be no light until evening

D. THE LORD’S GLORY FOR JERUSALEM…

1. What is said of Jerusalem “in that day” (14:8,9) - Zech 14:

8-11

a. Living waters shall flow from Jerusalem both east and west,

summer and winter

b. The Lord will be King over all the earth

c. The land from Geba (6 mi. NE of Jerusalem) to Rimmon (35

mi. SW of Jerusalem) will be turned into a plain, while

Jerusalem will be built up and safely inhabited

2. What is said of Jerusalem’s enemies “in that day” (14:13)

- Zech 14:12-15

a. The Lord will strike them with a plague

b. The Lord will send a great panic among them

c. Judah will fight for Jerusalem, with the wealth of the

nations gathered

d. The plague will afflict even the animals

3. What is said of Jerusalem “in that day” (14:20,21), continued

- Zech 14:16-21

a. Those of the nations which remain will worship the King,

the LORD of hosts and keep the Feast of Tabernacles

b. Those who do not will experience drought and the plague

c. “Holiness to the Lord” will be engraved on the bells of the

horses - cf. Exo 28:36-38

d. The pots in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the

LORD of Hosts

e. There shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the

LORD of hosts

[Can you see why it has been said that these last six chapters are

among the most difficult in the Bible? What is this talking about?

Has it been fulfilled?]

II. SOME PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS

A. THIS SECTION NATURALLY RAISES QUESTIONS…

1. Are we to expect a literal or figurative fulfillment?

2. Was it fulfilled at the beginning of the Messianic period?

(His first coming)

3. Or is it to be fulfilled toward the end of the Messianic

period? (His second coming)

B. SOME THOUGHTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION…

1. As mentioned previously, I recommend the following regarding

OT prophecy:

a. Where the inspired writers of the NT have provided inspired

interpretation, we should certainly hold to what they wrote

b. But with prophecies of the OT where NT writers have not

commented, we should be very cautious

1. We can offer our understanding as to what they pertain

2. But we should abstain from developing doctrines or

practices based upon our uninspired interpretations of

such prophecies

3. Indeed, many false doctrines and cults are based upon

speculative interpretations of OT prophecies

2. Those who believe in a literal fulfillment say it is yet to be

fulfilled

a. The pre-millenialist, for example, believes this section

pertains to events surrounding literal Jerusalem just prior

to the coming of Christ

b. But what little is quoted by Jesus and NT writers is

applied to His first coming

1. Compare Zech 13:7 with Mt 26:31-32; Mk 14:27

2. Compare Zech 12:10 with Jn 19:37

3. I believe this section is intended to be understood

figuratively

a. For that is how inspired men in the NT often explained OT

prophecy; e.g….

1. Notice how James applied Amos 9:11-12

2. He applied the rebuilding of the tabernacle of David to

the establishment of the church - cf. Ac 15:14-17

b. If so, then Jerusalem throughout this section should be

understood as the church

1. As seen in He 12:22-24

2. That the Lord is illustrating how His care, cleansing,

deliverance and glory for His people would continue

3. But it is written in terms meaningful to the people of

Zechariah’s day

4. I am not closed to the idea that there may be futuristic

elements of this prophecy

a. For Peter indicates that some of Isaiah’s prophecies were

yet to be fulfilled - cf. 2 Pe 3:13-14 with Isa 65:17-19;

66:22

b. But if there are, I would tend to view Zechariah’s prophecy

in the same time frame as Re 20:7-22:25

1. I.e., a depiction of the church in its last tribulation

and ultimate glory

2. In which both Zechariah and John describe it in terms

particularly meaningful to the people of their day

CONCLUSION

1. While the book of Zechariah may continue to challenge us, its main

purpose is evident…

a. Zechariah was sent to encourage the people of God

b. This he did, through visions, teachings, and prophecies

c. His theme throughout is the same: “I Am Zealous For Zion”

2. As Christians in the church of our Lord…

a. We have come to “Mt Zion and to the City of living God, the

heavenly Jerusalem” - He 12:22

b. We can rest assured that regarding His church today the Lord is

still “zealous for Zion”!

In light of the wonderful truth expressed by Paul…

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but

fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of

God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and

prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in

whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a

holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built

together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ep 2:19-22)

…may we be diligent in building the “temple” (church) of the Lord

today!

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Malachi - My Messenger (1:1-2:16)

INTRODUCTION

1. With the aid of the prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah…

a. The temple was rebuilt - Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14-16

b. What had begun in 536 B.C. was finally finished in 516 B.C.

2. In 458 B.C., another group of exiles returned to Jerusalem, led by

Ezra…

a. A priest

b. His work was to teach the people the word of God - Ezra 7:10

3. About 444 B.C., a third group of exiles returned led by Nehemiah…

a. Who became governor

b. Under his leadership, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt

(Neh 1-6)

c. Together with Ezra, he led the people to a great revival (Neh

7-13)

4. Contemporary with Ezra and Nehemiah was another prophet, Malachi…

a. His name means “My Messenger”

1. Certainly Malachi was a messenger of God

2. But he also spoke of God’s messengers to come - Mal 3:1

b. Like Ezra the priest…

1. Malachi attacked the spiritual and moral decay that was

prevalent

2. Among both priests and people

c. In so doing, he resorted to a new style of teaching

1. Known as the didactic-dialectic method of speaking

2. I.e., making a charge, raising potential objections, and then

refuting them

3. Which later became common in Jewish schools and synagogues

[In this study, we shall consider several examples of this style of

teaching as we survey the first two chapters. In these chapters we

find Malachi addressing several problems…]

I. THEY WERE DOUBTING GOD’S LOVE

A. EVIDENTLY THEY WERE QUESTIONING GOD’S LOVE FOR THEM…

1. After years of captivity, one might understand why they felt

this way

2. Their return from Babylonian captivity was not without

difficulty

B. GOD REASSERTS HIS LOVE FOR ISRAEL…

1. Note the didactic-dialectic style - Mal 1:2

a. “I have loved you”

b. “In what way have You loved us?”

c. “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? Yet Jacob I have loved; but

Esau I have hated”

2. God is speaking of Jacob and Esau as the representative of

their descendant nations; God did not hate Esau personally,

but did hate what Edom as a nation had become

3. He goes on to illustrate what He means

a. Edom (the descendants of Esau) had become desolate; despite

their claims to the country, it would remain desolate

- Mal 1:3-4

b. But Israel would one day see the Lord magnified beyond its

border - Mal 1:5

[If the people only observed how Israel was being restored while Edom

remained desolate, they would know God still loved them as a nation.

But perhaps their doubting of God’s love had led to another problem

that was prevalent at that time…]

II. THEY WERE DISHONORING GOD’S NAME

A. BY OFFERING BLEMISHED SACRIFICES - Mal 1:6-11

1. Sons honor their fathers, and servants their masters; but they

were despising God

2. When asked in what way, they are told of their defiled

sacrifices

3. They were offering to God what they would be embarrassed to

offer men

4. The Lord would even wish that someone shut the doors so they

could not sacrifice

5. Despite their dishonor, one day God’s name would be great even

among the Gentiles

B. BY OFFERING HALF-HEARTED WORSHIP - Mal 1:12-14

1. They also were profaning God’s name by saying His service is

contemptible and a weariness

2. Those who continued to bring blemished sacrifices would fall

under God’s curse, for He is “a great King”

C. SUCH CORRUPTION WOULD NOT GO UNANSWERED - Mal 2:1-9

1. Addressing the priests directly, the nature of God’s curse is

graphically depicted

2. Because they had failed to live up to what was expected of

God’s priests, He will make them base and contemptible

[As Malachi continues, we also learn…]

III. THEY WERE PROFANING GOD’S COVENANT

A. BY MARRYING HEATHEN WOMEN - Mal 2:10-12

1. They were dealing treacherously and profaning the covenant

made with their fathers by marrying pagan women (“the daughter

of a foreign God”)

2. This nature of this problem is described in Ezra 9-10; Neh

13:23-24

3. Malachi prays that the Lord will cut off from Jacob those who

do this - Mal 2:12; cf. Ezr 10:7-8; Neh 13:23-28

B. BY DIVORCING THEIR JEWISH WIVES - Mal 2:13-16

1. Despite their weeping, God was no longer regarding their

sacrifices - cf. 1 Pe 3:8

2. For they had dealt treacherously with the wives of the their

youth (i.e., Jewish wives) by divorcing them

a. Even though they had entered into a covenant (e.g., “Till

death do us part”)

b. Even though God had made them one (cf. Gen 2:24)

3. Therefore God hates divorce - Mal 2:16

a. For it covers one’s garment with violence (e.g., against

the wife and children)

b. It is treacherous to so deal with one’s spouse in that way!

CONCLUSION

1. Israel was showing signs of spiritual and moral decay…

a. Failing to appreciate God’s love for them

b. Dishonoring God by offering second-best and half-hearted worship

c. Profaning God’s covenant by disregarding it and their wives

2. It is easy for Christians to make application with such verses…

a. As spiritual priests we are to offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Pe

2:9; Ro 12:1-2)

b. Is our service honoring God? Or do we:

1. Dishonor God by offering less than our best and with

half-hearted service?

2. Profane God’s covenant by disregarding the covenant we made

with Him and our wives when we married them?

3. Hinder our worship to God by our treatment of our wives?

c. Are we any better than the priests of Malachi’s day?

Let the book of Malachi be a guide as to when one’s religion is showing

signs of spiritual and moral decay! Certainly God is worthy of our

best, and we should do what we can to make sure these words prove true:

For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,

My name shall be great among the Gentiles;

In every place incense shall be offered to My name,

And a pure offering;

For My name shall be great among the nations,”

Says the LORD of hosts.

- Malachi 1:11

“STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS”

Malachi - My Messenger (2:17-4:6)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson we introduced the last of “The Minor

Prophets”…

a. Malachi, whose name means “My Messenger”

b. A prophet of God during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah (ca. 444

B.C.)

c. A prophet who like Ezra the priest…

1. Attacked the spiritual and moral decay at that time

2. Especially among the priests

d. A prophet who used the didactic-dialectic style of teaching

1. Making a charge, raising potential objections, and then

refuting them

2. Which later became common in Jewish schools and synagogues

2. We have already seen how Malachi addressed three problems affecting

Israel at that time…

a. They were doubting God’s love - Mal 1:1-5

b. They were dishonoring God’s name - Mal 1:6-2:9

1. By offering blemished sacrifices

2. By offering half-hearted worship

c. They were profaning God’s covenant - Mal 2:10-16

1. By marrying heathen women

2. By divorcing their Jewish wives

3. In the last section of the book of Malachi, we find…

a. More indications of their spiritual and moral decay

b. Promises concerning the coming Messiah!

[We begin with the last verse of the second chapter, noting how…]

I. THEY WERE TRYING GOD’S PATIENCE

A. BY QUESTIONING THE JUSTICE OF GOD - Mal 2:17

1. They had wearied God with their words

2. Especially regarding His justice:

a. For they said that those who do evil is good in God’s

sight, that He even delights in them

b. For they asked, “Where is the God of justice?”

B. THE LORD’S RESPONSE WILL BE TO SEND HIS MESSENGER - Mal 3:1-5

1. First, the “messenger” who will prepare His way for Him - Mal

3:1a

a. A clear reference to John the Baptist

b. Compare Isa 40:3; Mt 3:1-3; 11:7-10

2. Then will appear the “Messenger of the covenant” - Mal 3:1b

a. Here the reference is to Christ, the Messiah for which they

had longed

b. Who certainly came to His temple - Mt 21:12ff

c. And was a messenger of a new covenant - Mt 26:26-28

3. His coming will be one to purge His people - Mal 3:2-5

a. Like a refiner’s fire and a fuller’s soap

b. The sons of Levi (i.e., priests) especially, that their

offerings may be acceptable

c. He will come near to judge those who do not fear the Lord

- cf. Mt 3:11-12

[With the coming of the “Messenger of the covenant”, they would have

their answer to the question “Where is the God of justice?”

As we continue, we see yet another complaint God had against the

Israelites in Malachi’s day…]

II. THEY WERE FORSAKING GOD’S ORDINANCES

A. GOD CHARGES THEM WITH INCONSISTENCY - Mal 3:6-7

1. Unlike God Himself, whose unchanging nature has kept Him from

totally consuming Israel! - Mal 3:6

2. Yet their history showed a practice of apostasy - Mal 3:7a

3. Even when called to return, they ask “In what way shall we

return?” - Mal 3:7b

4. No answer is given directly

a. Perhaps because the answer is so obvious it does not

deserve a response

b. Or the answer is given by the example which follows…

B. THEIR TITHES AS A CASE IN POINT - Mal 3:8-12

1. They had robbed God by their failure to offer their tithes

- Mal 3:8

2. For this reason the whole nation had been accursed - Mal 3:9

3. They are challenged to bring the tithes, and to see the

blessings that would follow - Mal 3:10-12

[The sixth and final complaint that God had against them is now

presented…]

III. THEY WERE DESPISING GOD’S SERVICE

A. BY SAYING IT WAS VAIN TO SERVE GOD - Mal 3:13-15

1. Their words were harsh against God - Mal 3:

2. Questioning what profit there was in keeping His ordinances

- Mal 3:14

3. Calling the proud blessed, saying the wicked are raised up,

and those who tempt God go free - Mal 3:15

B. YET SOME BEGAN TO HEED MALACHI’S MESSAGE - Mal 3:16-4:6

1. Those who feared the Lord, as they spoke to one another - Mal

3:16a

2. Whom the Lord noticed, and a “book of remembrance” was written

- Mal 3:16b

3. Whom the Lord promised to make His “jewels” and spare them

- Mal 3:17

a. It will be easy to discern the righteous - Mal 3:18

b. For the day was coming when the wicked will be burned liked

stubble - Mal 4:1

c. But those who fear His name will be blessed by “the Sun of

Righteousness” (i.e., Jesus) - Mal 4:2-3

4. Until then…

a. The faithful are exhorted to heed the Law of Moses - Mal

4:4

b. And await the coming of “Elijah the prophet” (i.e., John

the Baptist) who will come to prepare people for the coming

of the Lord - Mal 4:5-6; cf. Lk 1:16-17

CONCLUSION

1. As with most prophets, Malachi had a message for both the present

and the future…

a. Exhorting the people to look at themselves, how they were guilty

of:

1. Doubting God’s love

2. Dishonoring God’s name

3. Profaning God’s covenant

4. Trying God’s patience

5. Forsaking God’s ordinances

6. Despising God’s service

– Note: These points were adapted from Wiersbe’s “Be Amazed”

commentary

b. Encouraging the people to look forward to the coming of:

1. God’s Messenger (John), who would come in the spirit of Elijah

and prepare people for the coming of the Lord

2. The Messenger of the covenant (Jesus), who come to refine and

purify those willing to repent, and bring judgment on those

who do not fear the Lord

2. It is encouraging to note that some evidently took Malachi’s message

to heart - Mal 3:16-18

a. Whom the Lord would claim as His

b. Whom the Lord would make His “jewels”

c. Whom the Lord would spare as a man spares His own son who serves

him

As we come to the close of this survey of “The Minor Prophets”, perhaps

it is appropriate to ask: Are we willing to take the prophets’ messages

to heart?

* They were written for our learning and admonition - cf. Ro 15:4;

1 Co 10:11

* They help make us wise for the salvation which by faith in Christ

- cf. 2 Ti 3:14-15

* They are certainly profitable for instruction in righteousness

- cf. 2 Ti 3:16-17

I pray that in some way this series has helped you to appreciate the

value of studying “The Minor Prophets” and making application of them

to your life.