THE MINOR PROPHETS
The apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus speaks of “the twelve prophets” (9:10) as a unit of writings parallel to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. “The twelve prophets” is a way of speaking of what we know today as the Minor Prophets. It is likely that these books were originally collected on a single scroll. Augustine was the first writer we know of to call the “Minor Prophets,” referring, not to the insignificance of their message, but to the relative brevity of their message when compared to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
The Jewish canon placed these works in the order it was believed they were written in, and they appear in that order in our English Bible. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah were thought to have been written at the peak of Assyrian power. Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah were believed to have been written during the decline of Assyrian power as Babylon began its politico-military ascendancy. Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi were written after the Babylonian exile, when God’s people returned to Jerusalem.
Largely speaking, the Minor Prophets were concerned about Israel and Judah’s covenant obligations—specifically, the way in which they failed, time and again, to live up to these obligations. For the most part, these prophets rebuked the people for their covenant unfaithfulness and warned them of God’s impending judgement. James Montgomery Boice captures the theological significance of these books: “They highlight God’s sovereignty, holiness, and] love. In the Minor Prophets, we will hear the voice of God speaking to us in a fresh way as individuals and as a spiritual fellowship in the church.”
Worshipping Deception (Amos 5:18–27)
As we have considered the book of Amos, and particularly chapters4–5, we have seen that his message concerned Israel’s worship. In chapter 4, he called Israel to prepare to meet its God. This preparation would take the form of the people examining their worship. To be...
Escaping Judgement (Amos 5:1–17)
In chapter 4, Amos urged his listeners to prepare to meet their God. Judgement was coming and they needed to be prepared to face it. In chapter 5, he continues this theme of judgement, highlighting that the source of the judgement would be Yahweh himself. He also...
Prepare to Meet Your God (Amos 4)
On 8 July 1741, American revivalist preacher Jonathan Edwards preached his most famous sermon: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” The tone was unusual for Edwards, whose preaching was generally more pastoral. His fellow preacher, George Whitefield, was more prone...
The Uncaused Causer (Amos 3)
Amos, it appears, ministered at a time when Israel was at the peak of its political and military power. Jeroboam, son of Joash (1:1) (known to historians as Jeroboam II), was one of Israel’s most capable military and political leaders. According to the biblical...
Where Judgement Begins (Amos 1–2)
Judgement is a consistent theme in the Minor Prophets, as, indeed, it in the rest of Scripture. More often than not, judgement in the prophetic books (both Major and Minor) is focused on Israel and Judah. Every now and again, God turns his focus to the nations....
Extraordinarily Ordinary (Amos 1:1–2)
What comes to your mind when you think of a prophet? You may be tempted to think of an extraordinary individual with perhaps unusual gifting and training. Prophets are quite unlike us ordinary Christians, we think. A prophet might be of priestly heritage, like...