Bible College by Web
The Minor Prophets[Corinthians] [Exodus] [Ezra Nehemiah] [General Letters] [Hebrews] [Isaiah]
[John] [Joshua] [Mark] [Matthew] [Minor Prophets] [Prison Epistles]
[Proverbs] [Romans] [Ruth And Esther] [TEpistles]
The Book of Hosea
Although Hosea is the first of the Minor Prophets listed in the Bible, he is actually the fourth in chronological order. He followed Joel, Jonah, and Amos.
Hosea had a great love for his country and pleaded with them to turn back to God. Israel, his people, knew all abou god but did not really know Him.
The key verse of this book is found in chapter 4, verse 6: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
Hosea uses the pictures of his own marriage as a living example to show how Israel was unfaithful to her "husband," God, even as Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea. Thus, Hosea writes with a broken heart and his message is filled with tenderness and compassion.
The name "Hosea" means "The Lord Saves."
The Book of Joel
Joel lived in a time of national Crisis. The entire country was suffering from famine as a result of a swarm of locust eating everything in the land. All the fruits of the trees were fone, the fields had dried up, and the people were desolate.
Joel begins by telling the people the REASON for all their trouble is God's judgment on them because of their sin-business.
We do not like to think that God sends calamities upon us and yet the Bible tells us plainly that even today, God sends judgement on His people with the hope that it will lead them to repentance.
Joel also begins a message of hope and comfort—If we turn from our evil ways, He will "Restore to us the years the locusts have eaten."
The Book of Amos
The prophecy of Amos is primarily concerned with Israel. Amos gives a powerful picture of a people who had grown careless and confident in their wealth. They were proud of their position and their possessions. The majority of the people,however, were poor while most of the wealth was in the hands of the privileged few.
Amos speaks for God to this situation. It is a word of judgement on this kind of society because this is the very kind of life that takes men away from God.
Amos was a shepherd, and a farmer. He was not a "big man" either in the religious or secular world. His importance lies only in the fact that God spoke throughHim to His people in that day and to His people today as well.
The Book of Obadiah
The prophesy of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. This does not, however, mean its message is unimportant. When vital issues are at stake, words are not wasted. Consider telegrams or military orders—brief, to the point, and yet, sometimes of great urgency.
The author, Obadiah, is known simply as "A servant of the Lord." The theme of this little book is the denunciation of Edom, the country of the descendants of Esau. The key to the understanding of Obediah is found in its brevity. The prophet has a tremendous message of doom and desires to waste no words in proclaiming it.
The Book of Jonah
God's Word to Jonah was a clear command to go to the city of Nineveh and preach to the people concerning their sin. He was to warn them that if they did not repent they would be destroyed. This is the only case of a prophet being sent to heathen people and, in the process, being used to cause widespread repentance among them. Often the Old Testament prophets focused on Israel (or Judah), God's chosen people. The people of Nineveh were Gentiles.
Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh because he thought God would not punish them if they turned from their wicked ways. He tried to run away to Tarshish but the Lord prevented him from succeeding. A great fish swallowed Jonah before he arrived and God caused the fish to spit Jonah out on dry land.
Jonah then obeyed God and went to preach God's message in Nineveh. The heathen people repented of their sins and God did not punish them.
The theme of the Book of Jonah is Divine Sovereignty. However man may plan, and whatever he may attempt, it is God who is over all, and working all things in such a way as to bring glory to His own name. Additionally, it is the Lord's prerogative to save whom He will—neither we nor our prejudices will get in His way.
The Book of Micah
Micah was one of the 8th century prophets. He lives at the same time as Isaiah. He was a farmer who lived out in the country and his message was primarily for Samaria and Jerusalem, the capital cities of the two big kingdoms.
There was a lot of corruption in these countries; they were taking away from those who were helpless. Micah tells these people that judgment is going to fall, but that they will afterwards be restored.
Micah also looks into the future when he says that Jerusalem will become the religious center of the world. He even prophesied about Bethlehem, and the birth of the Christ child there, who would rule over all of God's people. Micah pictures God as he talks to these people, as coming down from heaven and walking upon the mountains to destroy Samaria for her idolatry
Micah really backs up a lot of what Isaiah said in his Book. The same types of sin that Micah talks against are found in the Book of Isaiah.
BEGIN YOUR LESSONS.
Please note that these lessons and materials were originally produced for Radio ABC. We hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity to hear the Word of God in your own home as it was originally broadcast to our brothers and sisters in Malawi, Africa.