God's Plan in the Minor Prophets
Say it like a seminarian - God’s plan is to manifest the fullness of His Glory to His creation by establishing His Kingdom upon the earth in which God dwells through Jesus Christ with His people as the King for eternity.
Say it in Three Words - Jesus Revealed in Scripture
Say it in One Word - Jesus
I. What are “The Minor Prophets”?
a. The collection of the last 12 smaller prophetic books in the Old Testament beginning with Hosea, ending in Malachi
b. Typically called, “The 12”
c. “The 12” is framed with wisdom themes which indicate these books are meant for God’s people to learn instructions about God’s ways.
Hosea 14:9 - Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them.
Malachi 3:16 - those who “fear the Lord”
d. Content and Context
Division of Israel’s Kingdom—931 B.C.
i. Hosea ca. 753 B.C.—The love of God manifested to a prostituting people
ii. Joel ca. anywhere from 800–515 B.C. —“The Day of the Lord”
iii. Amos ca. 760 B.C.—God as the Author of desolation and restoration
iv. Obadiah ca. 586 B.C. —God will judge the nation (Edom) who mocks the downfall of His people
v. Jonah ca. 760 B.C.—Jonah like Israel would rather die than see God’s grace extended to the nations
vi. Micah ca. 720 B.C. —“Who is like Yahweh—the One bringing judgment, restoration, and His Kingdom”
Micah 5:2 - But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will go forth for me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity)
722 B.C. The Northern Kingdom is destroyed and taken captive
vii. Nahum ca. 650 B.C. —Yahweh, the Divine Warrior who will judge the nations as symbolized by Nineveh
viii. Habakkuk ca. 605 B.C. God’s Surprising Justice and the triumph of those who manifest faith (Hab 2:4 “The righteous will live by faith”)
ix. Zephaniah ca. 640 B.C. The destructive Day of the Lord and future restoration
586 B.C. The Southern Kingdom is destroyed
586 B.C.–532 B.C. EXILE—God’s people are captive for 70 years
532 B.C. RESTORATION—The remnant of God’s people are freed from captivity
x. Haggai ca. 520 B.C. God will fulfill all His promised restoration but God’s people must be characterized by righteousness in God’s Kingdom
xi. Zechariah ca. 520 B.C. God will completely fulfill all His covenant promises through a Davidic descendant
Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. . . . And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.
xii. Malachi ca. 470 B.C. The Kingdom of God will belong to those who persevere in living faithfully to God. A coming “Day of the Lord” will show who those people really are.
II. What do the Minor Prophets teach?
a. About man? – The seed of Adam has failed to realize the Kingdom of God because of his lack of loyalty to God
b. About God?
i. God is Sovereign King of all nations in contrast to human kings
ii. As King He is able to bring out His “Day”—“The Day of the Lord” which is His dramatic intervention in history in judgment and salvation.
III. How do the Minor Prophets point to Jesus?
a. What do the Minor Prophets show us about who will fully realize the Kingdom of God? Those who are righteous.
1. Matthew 1:23 Jesus—Born of the seed of the Spirit
2. Matthew 3:15 Jesus—“that I may fulfill all righteousness”
3. Matthew 5:17 Jesus—“I came to fulfill the Law and the prophets”
4. John 19:4 about Jesus—“I find no guilt in Him”
5. Hebrews 1–2 Jesus is the heir of all things including the kingdom of God
b. How will the righteous be revealed? A Day of the Lord where God’s judgment is unleashed and the righteous (ONE) shine forth and are delivered. (Acts 2:17-36)
c. How will you be righteous and inherit the Kingdom of God? Only if you are found in Jesus Christ by God through faith.
