STUDY OF THE MINOR PROPHETS
In the Hebrew bible all 12 minor prophets are counted as one book and are simply called "The Twelve."
Term minor prophets first used by Augustine because of their small size.
Chronological Sequence and Geographic Area
Obadiah 845 southern kingdom
Joel 835 southern kingdom
Amos 810-783 northern kingdom
Jonah 824-783 Assyria
Hosea 790-725 northern kingdom
Micah 758-710 southern kingdom
Nahum 710-664 southern kingdom
Habakkuk 650-622 southern kingdom
Zephaniah 640-610 southern kingdom
Haggai 520 to the Jews of the Restoration
Zachariah 520 to the Jews of the Restoration
Malachi 433-424 to the Jews of the Restoration
Main Themes:
1. Basic spiritual principles concerning God and man.
2. Strong condemnation of sin.
3. Provide comfort to the believing Remnant.
4. Prophecy things both near and far.
5. Prophetic Periods: (1) their own times socially and politically (2) the Babylonian and Assyrian captivities and restoration from the Babylonian and Assyrian captivities (3) first coming of Messiah (4) coming of the Great Tribulation (5) second coming prophecies (6) elements of the Messianic Kingdom.
OBADIAH The First One
Vs 1: introduction - the vision
Timing:
* name means the servant of Jehovah
* no mention of king reigning
* Jeremiah quotes vs 1-4 in 49:14-16 and vs 5-6 in 49:9-10 and vs 8-9 in 49:7,22
*Joel quotes vs 17 in 2:32
Therefore Obadiah precedes Jeremiah's prophecies.
*10-14 describes a sacking of Jerusalem but which one? King Jehoram 845 BC Jerusalem sacked by the philistines, arabs and Edom likely the sacking described by Obadiah.
Locale: Judah
Historical Setting: The sacking of Jerusalem of 845 BC
Major Points: (1) God will avenge Israel (2) God will restore Israel
Theme: The doom of Edom
*edom had a brotherhood relationship with Israel even closer than Moab and Ammon but Edom was the most antagonistic against Israel that is why the prophets are more severe in their dealings with Edom.
Prophetic Vision: Not all prophecies came by means of visions but this one did come that way where a video is played out for the prophet and what is seen is written down.
Coming Total Destruction of Edom
Vs 1b: call goes out with an ambassador sent out. Possibly an angel is sent out to stir up the nations against Edom. Whether in the angelic or human realm something is going on.
Vs 2: Edom population reduction.
Vs 3: Edom's pride and security will be of no avail.
Vs 4: Edom's defensive heights seem impenetrable but they are not.
Vs 5: Description of the destruction seen in contrast of robbers and gatherers of the field. No one is ever capable of robbing every little item. But this destruction will leave nothing behind.
Vs 6: None of her allies will help Edom.
Vs 7: her allies will turn against her.
Vs 8: the counsel of her wisemen shall fail.
Vs 9: everyone cutoff no descendants left alive.
Reason for Edom's Destruction
Vs 10: For sinning against her twin brother.
Vs 11: For failing to come to the aid of Israel under duress.
Vs 12: For exercising glee over Israel's distress.
Vs 13: Edom followed after the invading armies and took what was left in Israel.
Vs 14: Edom blocked escapees from making it out.
And delivered those who they captured over to the enemy.
Ezekiel 35:1-5: Edom has had a perpetual hatred for Israel. Began in Numbers 14 twice Edom refused passage of the Jews thru their land even tho Moses made the request based upon blood relationships.
Timing of the Fulfillment of the Prophecy in the Day of Jehovah aka The Tribulation
Vs 15: The most common name for the seven years of future judgement is not the Tribulation but the Day of Jehovah.
Vs 16: Another reason why this will happen to them is because when they arrived on the mount the got drunk. Now they are to be swallowed up.
Vs 17: Israel will survive it. Those that escaped are known as the Remnant of Israel.
Vs 18: While Israel will have a Remnant, Edom will not. Ezekiel 25:12-14 - same point made. Esau to have no descendants in the Messianic Kingdom. Other prophets reveal that while the rest of the earth blossoms during the kingdom, Edom will be a land of smoke and Edom to be a confinement of demons.
Vs 19: Possession of land by the Jews.
Vs 20: The Jews captured anywhere else will be returned to the land and Zerapath which is Lebanon will be their possession.
Vs 21: The Jews will establish the Kingdom.
Obadiah is the first of the minor prophets and he sets the motif.
JOEL
Name: means Jehovah is God
Date:
* no kingship mentioned
* Joel 3:16 quoted by Amos in 1:2 & 3:18 in Amos 9:13 thus putting his prophecy before Amos.
* he does not rail against idolatry like Amos
* Probably prophesied during the reign of Joash a good king in 835 BC
Locale: Judah probably Jerusalem
Historical Setting: a locust invasion that set the stage for two future invasions one demonic and one an army.
Two Major Points: (1) God controls world events (2) God always responds to repentance
Theme: The Day of Jehovah 1:15,2:1,11,31,3:14.
NT Quotes: 2:28-32 in Acts 2:17-21, and 2:32 in Rom 10:13.
Historical Locust Invasion 2-14
Vs 2: This invasion unique to all past history. The old men could not recall anything to compare it to.
Vs 3: Elders are told to tell of it to four generations.
Vs 4: Four stages of devastation: Four successive swarms. In the Old Testament the number four sometimes represents totality of destruction (Jer 15:3, Ez 14:21). Again by the time Joel writes these words this is not a prophecy but already history. But it will become the background for something prophetic.
Vs 5: The drunks are called to awake after their last binge and to weep and wail for there wine is to be cut off.
Vs 6: These things are destroyed by an army of locusts which symbolizes an army as in Pr 30:25,27.
Vs 7: The branches are made white meaning the bark itself has been eaten up. Not only are the drunks to mourn but also the rest of the population.
Vs 8: Those to lament (Hebrew word for lament "Betulah" used only here and nowhere else in the OT it's a feminine imperative because it pictures the whole nation as the virgin daughter of Zion).
Vs 9: Priesthood called to repent now because the things that sustained them from the tithes is now gone.
Vs 10 - 12a: Again emphasis on what has been lost.
Vs 12b: No Feast of First Fruits.
Vs 13: Refers to the priesthood as the ministers of the altar because they were responsible for the offering and as ministers of my God because they were responsible for representing God. They're told to keep the sackcloth normally worn only at day are to keep it on even in their sleep.
There is a real danger of massive starvation.
Vs 14: Joel calls upon all people to fast which would be a sign (Judges 20:26, Neh 1:4) of outward national grief and repentance. And to cry unto the Lord showing the inward repentance.
The Prophetic Invasion, Joel Shoots Forward to the Day of Jehovah
Vs 15: Begins with an announcement: (Joel's theme) The Day of Jehovah is at hand.
Vs 16: In this day also sustenance cut off from the temple as in the locust invasion.
Vs 17: In the preceding invasion things were destroyed by things eating them but here these things will be destroyed by fire.
Vs 18:
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