MINOR PROPHETS
Overview of The Minor Prophets
Hosea:
Prophesied to the Northern Kingdom from 755 – 710 B.C.
Pre-exilic
Was a contemporary of Amos, Isaiah, Micah, and Jonah
Married the prostitute Gomer
“Out of Egypt I called my son.” – 11:1
14 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: Hosea’s Times (Hosea 1:1)
Pt 2: Hosea’s Experience--A Portrayal of God’s Dealings with Israel (Hosea 1:2 – 3)
A) The Symbolism of Hosea’s Family (1:2 – 2:1)
B) Restoration through punishment (2:2 – 23)
C) The Restoration of Hosea’s Marriage (3)
Pt 3: Hosea’s Message – God’s Judgment and Restoration of Israel (Hosea 4 – 14)
A) The Lord’s case against Israel (4 – 6:3)
B) The Lord’s case against Israel expanded (6:4 – 11:11)
C) The Lord’s case against Israel concluded (11:12 – 14)
Joel:
Prophesied either around 835 B.C. or 515 B.C.
Ministered to the people of Judah.
Either early pre- or late post- exilic.
Used a recent locust plague to illustrate the Day of the Lord.
“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – 2:32
3 Chapters
The Major Interpretive Problems: The nature of the army in Joel 2:1 – 11 and “The Day of The Lord” in Joel
The Outline:
Pt 1: Introduction (Joel 1:1)
Pt 2: The Locust Plaque (Joel 1:2 – 20)
A) An Opening Appeal (1:2 – 4)
B) A Call to Mourn (1:5 – 13)
C) A Call to Repentance (1:14)
D) The Significance of The Plague (1:15 – 20)
Pt 3: The Coming Day of The Lord (Joel 2:1 – 11)
A) The Nearness of The Lord’s Army (2:1 – 2)
B) The Destructive Power of The Lord’s Army (2:3 – 5)
C) The Relentless Charge of The Lord’s Army (2:6 – 9)
D) The Invincibility of The Lord’s Army (2:10 – 11)
Pt 4: A Renewed Call to Repentance (Joel 2:12 – 17)
A) An Appeal for a Sincere Change of Heart (2:12 – 14)
B) An Appeal for National Involvement (2:15 – 17)
Pt 5: Forgiveness and Restoration (Joel 2:18 – 27)
A) The Lord’s gracious response described (2:18)
B) The Lord’s promise of restored agricultural blessing (2:19 – 27)
Pt 6: Promises of a Glorious Future (Joel 2:28 – 3:21)
A) Spiritual Renewal and Deliverance (2:28 – 32)
B) The Judgment of The Nations (3:1 – 16)
C) Israel’s ultimate restoration (3:17 – 21)
Amos:
Prophesied around 750 B.C.
Although born in Judah, he was a shepherd sent to prophesy the impending doom of the Northern Kingdom (721)
Pre-exilic
A contemporary of Isaiah, Hosea, Micah and Jonah
No other prophet bears such a wrathful message against God’s people
“For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath.” – 2:6
9 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: Prologue (Amos 1:1 – 2)
A) The Author and Date (1:1)
B) The Theme (1:2)
Pt 2: The Roar of Judgment (Amos 1:3 – 2:16)
A) Judgment against The Nations (1:3 – 2:16)
B) Judgment against Israel (2:6 – 16)
Pt 3: The Reasons for Judgment (Amos 3 – 6)
A) The 1st Message (3)
B) The 2nd Message (4)
C) The 3rd Message (5:1 – 17)
D) The 4th Message (5:18 – 27)
E) The 5th Message (6)
Pt 4: The Results of Judgment (Amos 7 – 9:10)
A) The Swarming Locusts (7:1 – 3)
B) The Devouring Fire (7:4 – 6)
C) The Testing Plumb Line (7:7 – 17)
D) The Culminating Fruit (8)
E) The Avenging Lord (9:1 – 10)
Pt 5: The Restoration after Judgment (Amos 9:11 – 15)
A) Political Renewal (9:11)
B) National Purpose (9:12)
C) Prosperity, peace, and permanence (9:13 – 15)
Click here for more information on The Book of Amos
Obadiah:
Ministered either around 835 or 515 B.C.
Prophesied about the judgment of Edom and the restoration of Jerusalem.
Post-exilic
“The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.” – v. 15
1 Chapter
The Outline:
Pt 1: Edom’s Destruction (Oba. vv. 1 – 9)
A) The Call to The Nations to destroy Edom (1)
B) The Prophecy of Edom’s destruction (2 – 9)
Pt 2: Edom’s Crimes (Oba. vv. 10 – 14)
A) Violations in attitudes (10 – 12)
B) Violations in actions (13 – 14)
Pt 3: God’s Judgment on Israel’s Enemies (Oba. vv. 15 – 16)
Pt 4: God’s Blessings on Israel’s People (Oba. vv. 17 – 21)
A) The Deliverance of Israel (17 – 18)
B) The Delineation of Israel’s territories (19 – 20)
C) The establishment of The Lord’s Kingdom (21)
Jonah:
Prophesied around 760 B.C.
Is entirely autobiographical
A contemporary of Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah
Pre-exilic
The message of the book is not evangelistic
“But the Lord replied, ‘Have you any right to be angry?” – 4:4
4 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: The Disobedience of Jonah (Jonah 1 – 2)
A) The commission of the prophet (1:1 – 2)
B) The disobedience of the prophet (1:3)
C) The consequences of the prophets disobedience (1:4 – 2)
Pt 2: The Obedience of Jonah (Jonah 3 – 4)
A) The recommissioning of the prophet (3:1 – 2)
B) The obedience of the prophet (3:3 – 4)
C) The conversion of The Ninevites (3:5 – 10)
Click here for more information on The Book of Jonah
Micah:
Prophesied to Judah from 735 to 710 B.C.
From the rural town of Moresheth-Gath
Pre-exilic
A contemporary of Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Jonah
The most hopeful of the Twelve
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you ? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – 2:32
7 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1 : 1st Message – Judgment will come (Micah 1 – 2)
A) Introduction (1:1)
B) Prediction of Coming Judgment ((1:2 – 7)
C) Lament over The People (1:8 – 16)
D) Sins of Judah (2:1 – 11)
E) Prediction of future Regathering (2:12 – 13)
Pt 2: 2nd Message – Blessing will follow Judgment (Micah 3 – 5)
A) Judgment on The Nation’s Leaders (3)
B) Kingdom blessings for The Nation (4 – 5)
Pt 3: 3rd Message – An Indictment of Sin and a Promise of Blessing (Micah 6 – 7)
A) An Indictment by The Lord (6:1 – 5)
B) The response of Micah for The Nation (6:6 – 8)
C) The Lord’s judgment because of sin (6:9 – 16)
D) Micah’s pleading with The Lord (7)
Nahum:
Prophesied against Nineveh around 660 B.C.
Probably from Elcesei in southern Judah
Pre-exilic
Proclaimed the impending divine judgment that was about to befall the Assyrian empire (in 612)
Forms a sequel to Jonah
“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies.” - 1:2.
3 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: The Title (Nahum 1:1)
Pt 2: The Certainty of God’s Judgment on Nineveh (Nahum 1:2 – 15)
A) God’s wrath to be extended to Nineveh and His goodness to His own (1:2 – 8)
B) Nineveh’s plotting against The Lord to come to an end (1:9 – 11)
C) Judah’s affliction to end because of Nineveh’s destruction (1:12 – 15)
Pt 3: The Description of God’s Judgment on Nineveh (Nahum 2)
A) The attack (2:1 – 6)
B) The defeat and the plundering (2:7 – 13)
Pt 4: The Reasons for God’s Judgment on Nineveh (Nahum 3)
A) Her violence and deceit to result in shame (3:1 – 7)
B) Her treatment of Thebes to result in her own defeat (3:8 – 11)
C) Her defense efforts to be useless (3:12 – 19)
Habakkuk:
Was written between 612 and 605 B.C.
Exilic
A contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zephaniah
Paints a picture of Judah that is strikingly similar to that painted by Amos of the Northern Kingdom
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” - 3:19.
3 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: A Dialogue with God – Habakkuk Previewed God’s Discipline of Judah (Hab. 1)
A) Habakkuk’s Distress (1:1 – 4)
B) God’s disclosure (1:5 – 11)
C) Habakkuk’s dilemma (1:12 – 17)
Pt 2: A Dirge from God – Habakkuk Pronounced God’s Destruction of Babylon (Hab. 2)
A) Habakkuk’s anticipation – “Watch” (2:1)
B) God’s admonition – “Write” (2:2 – 5)
C) Habakkuk’s annotation – “Woe” (2:6 – 20)
Pt 3: A Doxology to God – Habakkuk Praised God’s Design of Creation (Hab. 3)
A) Habakkuk’s prayer for mercy (3:1 – 2)
B) God’s presence of majesty (3:3 – 15)
C) Habakkuk’s peace in ministry (3:16 – 19)
Zephaniah:
Prophesied to Judah between 635 and 625 B.C.
Of royal descent
Exilic
A contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Habakkuk
Perhaps a catalyst in the final revival under Josiah
“The great day of the Lord is near— near and coming quickly… That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin.” - 1:14a, 15a
3 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: Introduction (Zeph. 1:1)
Pt 2: The Day of Yahweh’s Judgment (Zeph. 1:2 – 3:8)
A) Judgment on all the earth (1:2 – 3)
B) Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem (1:4 – 2:3)
C) Judgment on the surrounding nations (2:4 – 15)
D) Judgment on Jerusalem (3:1 – 7)
E) Judgment on all the earth (3:8)
Pt 3: The Day of Yahweh’s Restoration (Zeph. 3:9 – 20)
A) The Restoration of The Nations (3:9 – 10)
B) The Restoration of Israel (3:11 – 20)
Haggai:
Prophesied in the year 520 B.C.
Post-exilic
A contemporary of Zechariah and Zerubbabel
Motivated the people to rebuild the temple.
“‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” - 2:9
2 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt. 1: The 1st Message – A Judgmental Call to Rebuild The Temple (Haggai 1)
A) The Superscription (1:1)
B) The Accusation of Procrastination (1:2 – 6)
C) The Exhortation to Rebuild The Temple (1:7 – 8)
D) The Explanation of the people’s impoverishment (1:9 – 11)
E) The Response of Leaders and People to The Prophetic Message (1:12 – 15)
Pt. 2: The 2nd Message – A Prophetic Promise of the Future Glory of The Temple (Haggai 2:1 – 9)
A) The Superscription (2:1 – 2)
B) The Promise of The Lord’s enabling presence as an encouragement for rebuilding The Temple (2:3 – 5)
C) The Proclamation of the future glory of The Temple (2:6 – 9)
Pt. 3: The 3rd Message – A Priestly Decision to Illustrate the Present Blessings of Obedience (Haggai 2:10 – 19)
A) The Superscription (2:10)
B) A Ritual comparison showing the corrupting effect of sin (2:11 – 14)
C) A Promise of present blessing in contrast with previous chastening (2:15 – 19)
Pt. 4: The 4th Message – A Messianic Prophecy concerning Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:20 – 23)
A) The Superscription (2:20 – 21a)
B) A Proclamation of the future overthrow of The Gentile Kingdoms (2:21b – 22)
C) A Proclamation of the restoration of The Davidic Kingdom (2:23)
Click here for more information on The Book of Haggai
The Date of Key Events in Haggai’s and Zechariah’s Time:
August 29, 520 B.C. – Haggai’s 1st Sermon
September 21, 520 B.C. – Temple rebuilding resumed
October 17, 520 B.C. – Haggai’s 2nd Sermon
Oct. – Nov. 520 B.C. – Zechariah’s ministry begun
December 18, 520 B.C. – Haggai’s 3rd and 4th Sermons
February 15, 519 B.C. – Zechariah’s 8 Visions
December 7, 518 B.C. – Delegation from Bethel
March 12, 515 B.C. – Temple dedicated
Zechariah:
Prophesied between 520 and 470 B.C.
A priest like Ezekiel and Jeremiah
Post-exilic
A younger contemporary of Haggai and Zerubbabel
Encouraged the people to finish the temple.
The most messianic and apocalyptic minor prophet
“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.” – 9:9
14 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt. 1: The 8 Symbolic Visions (Zech. 1 – 6)
A) The Introduction to The Visions (1:1 – 6)
B) The Communication of The Visions (1:7 – 6:8)
C) The Symbolic act concluding The Vision (6:9 – 15)
Pt. 2: The 4 Explanatory Messages (Zech. 7 – 8)
A) The Messages required by the question about fasting (7:1 – 3)
B) The Messages declared as the answer from The Lord (7:4 – 8:23)
Pt. 3: The 2 Revelatory Oracles (Zech. 9 – 14)
A) The anointed King rejected (9 – 11)
B) The rejected King enthroned (12 – 14)
Malachi:
Prophesied around 430 B.C.
A contemporary of Nehemiah
Called the people of Judah to renew their allegiance to the covenant and temple worship
“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight.” – 3:1
4 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt. 1: Introduction – The Burden of Malachi (Mal. 1:1)
Pt. 2: 1st Oracle – Respond to God’s Love (Mal. 1:2 – 5)
A) The Claim of God’s Love for Israel (1:2a)
B) Israel’s Question of The Claim (1:2b)
C) The Vindication of God’s Claim (1:2c – 5)
Pt. 3: 2nd Oracle – Honor God (Mal. 1:6 – 2:9)
A) The Charge of Disrespect (1:6a)
B) Israel’s Question of The Charge (1:6b)
C) The Proof of God’s Charge: Contemptible Sacrifices (1:7 – 14)
D) A Warning to The Priests (2:1 – 9)
Pt. 4: 3rd Oracle – Be Faithful as God’s Covenant People (Mal. 2:10 – 16)
A) The Charge of Unfaithfulness (2:10)
B) The 1st Evidence: Illegal Intermarriage (2:11 – 12)
C) The 2nd Evidence: Divorce (2:13 – 16a)
Pt. 5: 4th Oracle – Hope in God (Mal. 2:17 – 3:6)
A) The Charge of Wearisome (2:17a)
B) Israel’s Question of The Charge (2:17b)
C) The Proof of The Charge: No Hope for God’s Justice (2:17c)
D) The Warning by God (3:1 – 5)
Pt. 6: 5th Oracle – Obey God (Mal. 3:7 – 12)
A) The Charge of Disobedience (3:7a)
B) Israel’s Question of The Charge (3:7b)
C) The Specification of The Charge: Robbery (3:8a)
D) Israel’s Repeated Question of The Charge (3:8b)
E) The Proof of The Charge (3:8c – 9)
F) The Promise of Blessing (3:10 – 12)
Pt. 7: 6th Oracle – Fear God (Mal. 3:13 – 4:3)
A) The Charge of Blasphemy (3:13a)
B) Israel’s Question of The Charge (3:13b)
C) The Proof of The Charge: The Endorsement of Evil (3:14 – 15)
D) The Response of The Believing Remnant (3:16)
E) The Warning and Promise of God (3:17 – 4:3)
Pt. 8: Conclusion – Be Prepared for God’s Coming (Mal. 4:4 – 6)
A) The Present Preparation (4:4)
B) The Future Preparation (4:5 – 6)
Prophesied to the Northern Kingdom from 755 – 710 B.C.
Pre-exilic
Was a contemporary of Amos, Isaiah, Micah, and Jonah
Married the prostitute Gomer
“Out of Egypt I called my son.” – 11:1
14 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: Hosea’s Times (Hosea 1:1)
Pt 2: Hosea’s Experience--A Portrayal of God’s Dealings with Israel (Hosea 1:2 – 3)
A) The Symbolism of Hosea’s Family (1:2 – 2:1)
B) Restoration through punishment (2:2 – 23)
C) The Restoration of Hosea’s Marriage (3)
Pt 3: Hosea’s Message – God’s Judgment and Restoration of Israel (Hosea 4 – 14)
A) The Lord’s case against Israel (4 – 6:3)
B) The Lord’s case against Israel expanded (6:4 – 11:11)
C) The Lord’s case against Israel concluded (11:12 – 14)
Joel:
Prophesied either around 835 B.C. or 515 B.C.
Ministered to the people of Judah.
Either early pre- or late post- exilic.
Used a recent locust plague to illustrate the Day of the Lord.
“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – 2:32
3 Chapters
The Major Interpretive Problems: The nature of the army in Joel 2:1 – 11 and “The Day of The Lord” in Joel
The Outline:
Pt 1: Introduction (Joel 1:1)
Pt 2: The Locust Plaque (Joel 1:2 – 20)
A) An Opening Appeal (1:2 – 4)
B) A Call to Mourn (1:5 – 13)
C) A Call to Repentance (1:14)
D) The Significance of The Plague (1:15 – 20)
Pt 3: The Coming Day of The Lord (Joel 2:1 – 11)
A) The Nearness of The Lord’s Army (2:1 – 2)
B) The Destructive Power of The Lord’s Army (2:3 – 5)
C) The Relentless Charge of The Lord’s Army (2:6 – 9)
D) The Invincibility of The Lord’s Army (2:10 – 11)
Pt 4: A Renewed Call to Repentance (Joel 2:12 – 17)
A) An Appeal for a Sincere Change of Heart (2:12 – 14)
B) An Appeal for National Involvement (2:15 – 17)
Pt 5: Forgiveness and Restoration (Joel 2:18 – 27)
A) The Lord’s gracious response described (2:18)
B) The Lord’s promise of restored agricultural blessing (2:19 – 27)
Pt 6: Promises of a Glorious Future (Joel 2:28 – 3:21)
A) Spiritual Renewal and Deliverance (2:28 – 32)
B) The Judgment of The Nations (3:1 – 16)
C) Israel’s ultimate restoration (3:17 – 21)
Amos:
Prophesied around 750 B.C.
Although born in Judah, he was a shepherd sent to prophesy the impending doom of the Northern Kingdom (721)
Pre-exilic
A contemporary of Isaiah, Hosea, Micah and Jonah
No other prophet bears such a wrathful message against God’s people
“For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath.” – 2:6
9 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: Prologue (Amos 1:1 – 2)
A) The Author and Date (1:1)
B) The Theme (1:2)
Pt 2: The Roar of Judgment (Amos 1:3 – 2:16)
A) Judgment against The Nations (1:3 – 2:16)
B) Judgment against Israel (2:6 – 16)
Pt 3: The Reasons for Judgment (Amos 3 – 6)
A) The 1st Message (3)
B) The 2nd Message (4)
C) The 3rd Message (5:1 – 17)
D) The 4th Message (5:18 – 27)
E) The 5th Message (6)
Pt 4: The Results of Judgment (Amos 7 – 9:10)
A) The Swarming Locusts (7:1 – 3)
B) The Devouring Fire (7:4 – 6)
C) The Testing Plumb Line (7:7 – 17)
D) The Culminating Fruit (8)
E) The Avenging Lord (9:1 – 10)
Pt 5: The Restoration after Judgment (Amos 9:11 – 15)
A) Political Renewal (9:11)
B) National Purpose (9:12)
C) Prosperity, peace, and permanence (9:13 – 15)
Click here for more information on The Book of Amos
Obadiah:
Ministered either around 835 or 515 B.C.
Prophesied about the judgment of Edom and the restoration of Jerusalem.
Post-exilic
“The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.” – v. 15
1 Chapter
The Outline:
Pt 1: Edom’s Destruction (Oba. vv. 1 – 9)
A) The Call to The Nations to destroy Edom (1)
B) The Prophecy of Edom’s destruction (2 – 9)
Pt 2: Edom’s Crimes (Oba. vv. 10 – 14)
A) Violations in attitudes (10 – 12)
B) Violations in actions (13 – 14)
Pt 3: God’s Judgment on Israel’s Enemies (Oba. vv. 15 – 16)
Pt 4: God’s Blessings on Israel’s People (Oba. vv. 17 – 21)
A) The Deliverance of Israel (17 – 18)
B) The Delineation of Israel’s territories (19 – 20)
C) The establishment of The Lord’s Kingdom (21)
Jonah:
Prophesied around 760 B.C.
Is entirely autobiographical
A contemporary of Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah
Pre-exilic
The message of the book is not evangelistic
“But the Lord replied, ‘Have you any right to be angry?” – 4:4
4 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: The Disobedience of Jonah (Jonah 1 – 2)
A) The commission of the prophet (1:1 – 2)
B) The disobedience of the prophet (1:3)
C) The consequences of the prophets disobedience (1:4 – 2)
Pt 2: The Obedience of Jonah (Jonah 3 – 4)
A) The recommissioning of the prophet (3:1 – 2)
B) The obedience of the prophet (3:3 – 4)
C) The conversion of The Ninevites (3:5 – 10)
Click here for more information on The Book of Jonah
Micah:
Prophesied to Judah from 735 to 710 B.C.
From the rural town of Moresheth-Gath
Pre-exilic
A contemporary of Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Jonah
The most hopeful of the Twelve
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you ? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – 2:32
7 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1 : 1st Message – Judgment will come (Micah 1 – 2)
A) Introduction (1:1)
B) Prediction of Coming Judgment ((1:2 – 7)
C) Lament over The People (1:8 – 16)
D) Sins of Judah (2:1 – 11)
E) Prediction of future Regathering (2:12 – 13)
Pt 2: 2nd Message – Blessing will follow Judgment (Micah 3 – 5)
A) Judgment on The Nation’s Leaders (3)
B) Kingdom blessings for The Nation (4 – 5)
Pt 3: 3rd Message – An Indictment of Sin and a Promise of Blessing (Micah 6 – 7)
A) An Indictment by The Lord (6:1 – 5)
B) The response of Micah for The Nation (6:6 – 8)
C) The Lord’s judgment because of sin (6:9 – 16)
D) Micah’s pleading with The Lord (7)
Nahum:
Prophesied against Nineveh around 660 B.C.
Probably from Elcesei in southern Judah
Pre-exilic
Proclaimed the impending divine judgment that was about to befall the Assyrian empire (in 612)
Forms a sequel to Jonah
“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies.” - 1:2.
3 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: The Title (Nahum 1:1)
Pt 2: The Certainty of God’s Judgment on Nineveh (Nahum 1:2 – 15)
A) God’s wrath to be extended to Nineveh and His goodness to His own (1:2 – 8)
B) Nineveh’s plotting against The Lord to come to an end (1:9 – 11)
C) Judah’s affliction to end because of Nineveh’s destruction (1:12 – 15)
Pt 3: The Description of God’s Judgment on Nineveh (Nahum 2)
A) The attack (2:1 – 6)
B) The defeat and the plundering (2:7 – 13)
Pt 4: The Reasons for God’s Judgment on Nineveh (Nahum 3)
A) Her violence and deceit to result in shame (3:1 – 7)
B) Her treatment of Thebes to result in her own defeat (3:8 – 11)
C) Her defense efforts to be useless (3:12 – 19)
Habakkuk:
Was written between 612 and 605 B.C.
Exilic
A contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zephaniah
Paints a picture of Judah that is strikingly similar to that painted by Amos of the Northern Kingdom
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” - 3:19.
3 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: A Dialogue with God – Habakkuk Previewed God’s Discipline of Judah (Hab. 1)
A) Habakkuk’s Distress (1:1 – 4)
B) God’s disclosure (1:5 – 11)
C) Habakkuk’s dilemma (1:12 – 17)
Pt 2: A Dirge from God – Habakkuk Pronounced God’s Destruction of Babylon (Hab. 2)
A) Habakkuk’s anticipation – “Watch” (2:1)
B) God’s admonition – “Write” (2:2 – 5)
C) Habakkuk’s annotation – “Woe” (2:6 – 20)
Pt 3: A Doxology to God – Habakkuk Praised God’s Design of Creation (Hab. 3)
A) Habakkuk’s prayer for mercy (3:1 – 2)
B) God’s presence of majesty (3:3 – 15)
C) Habakkuk’s peace in ministry (3:16 – 19)
Zephaniah:
Prophesied to Judah between 635 and 625 B.C.
Of royal descent
Exilic
A contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Habakkuk
Perhaps a catalyst in the final revival under Josiah
“The great day of the Lord is near— near and coming quickly… That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin.” - 1:14a, 15a
3 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt 1: Introduction (Zeph. 1:1)
Pt 2: The Day of Yahweh’s Judgment (Zeph. 1:2 – 3:8)
A) Judgment on all the earth (1:2 – 3)
B) Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem (1:4 – 2:3)
C) Judgment on the surrounding nations (2:4 – 15)
D) Judgment on Jerusalem (3:1 – 7)
E) Judgment on all the earth (3:8)
Pt 3: The Day of Yahweh’s Restoration (Zeph. 3:9 – 20)
A) The Restoration of The Nations (3:9 – 10)
B) The Restoration of Israel (3:11 – 20)
Haggai:
Prophesied in the year 520 B.C.
Post-exilic
A contemporary of Zechariah and Zerubbabel
Motivated the people to rebuild the temple.
“‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” - 2:9
2 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt. 1: The 1st Message – A Judgmental Call to Rebuild The Temple (Haggai 1)
A) The Superscription (1:1)
B) The Accusation of Procrastination (1:2 – 6)
C) The Exhortation to Rebuild The Temple (1:7 – 8)
D) The Explanation of the people’s impoverishment (1:9 – 11)
E) The Response of Leaders and People to The Prophetic Message (1:12 – 15)
Pt. 2: The 2nd Message – A Prophetic Promise of the Future Glory of The Temple (Haggai 2:1 – 9)
A) The Superscription (2:1 – 2)
B) The Promise of The Lord’s enabling presence as an encouragement for rebuilding The Temple (2:3 – 5)
C) The Proclamation of the future glory of The Temple (2:6 – 9)
Pt. 3: The 3rd Message – A Priestly Decision to Illustrate the Present Blessings of Obedience (Haggai 2:10 – 19)
A) The Superscription (2:10)
B) A Ritual comparison showing the corrupting effect of sin (2:11 – 14)
C) A Promise of present blessing in contrast with previous chastening (2:15 – 19)
Pt. 4: The 4th Message – A Messianic Prophecy concerning Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:20 – 23)
A) The Superscription (2:20 – 21a)
B) A Proclamation of the future overthrow of The Gentile Kingdoms (2:21b – 22)
C) A Proclamation of the restoration of The Davidic Kingdom (2:23)
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The Date of Key Events in Haggai’s and Zechariah’s Time:
August 29, 520 B.C. – Haggai’s 1st Sermon
September 21, 520 B.C. – Temple rebuilding resumed
October 17, 520 B.C. – Haggai’s 2nd Sermon
Oct. – Nov. 520 B.C. – Zechariah’s ministry begun
December 18, 520 B.C. – Haggai’s 3rd and 4th Sermons
February 15, 519 B.C. – Zechariah’s 8 Visions
December 7, 518 B.C. – Delegation from Bethel
March 12, 515 B.C. – Temple dedicated
Zechariah:
Prophesied between 520 and 470 B.C.
A priest like Ezekiel and Jeremiah
Post-exilic
A younger contemporary of Haggai and Zerubbabel
Encouraged the people to finish the temple.
The most messianic and apocalyptic minor prophet
“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.” – 9:9
14 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt. 1: The 8 Symbolic Visions (Zech. 1 – 6)
A) The Introduction to The Visions (1:1 – 6)
B) The Communication of The Visions (1:7 – 6:8)
C) The Symbolic act concluding The Vision (6:9 – 15)
Pt. 2: The 4 Explanatory Messages (Zech. 7 – 8)
A) The Messages required by the question about fasting (7:1 – 3)
B) The Messages declared as the answer from The Lord (7:4 – 8:23)
Pt. 3: The 2 Revelatory Oracles (Zech. 9 – 14)
A) The anointed King rejected (9 – 11)
B) The rejected King enthroned (12 – 14)
Malachi:
Prophesied around 430 B.C.
A contemporary of Nehemiah
Called the people of Judah to renew their allegiance to the covenant and temple worship
“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight.” – 3:1
4 Chapters
The Outline:
Pt. 1: Introduction – The Burden of Malachi (Mal. 1:1)
Pt. 2: 1st Oracle – Respond to God’s Love (Mal. 1:2 – 5)
A) The Claim of God’s Love for Israel (1:2a)
B) Israel’s Question of The Claim (1:2b)
C) The Vindication of God’s Claim (1:2c – 5)
Pt. 3: 2nd Oracle – Honor God (Mal. 1:6 – 2:9)
A) The Charge of Disrespect (1:6a)
B) Israel’s Question of The Charge (1:6b)
C) The Proof of God’s Charge: Contemptible Sacrifices (1:7 – 14)
D) A Warning to The Priests (2:1 – 9)
Pt. 4: 3rd Oracle – Be Faithful as God’s Covenant People (Mal. 2:10 – 16)
A) The Charge of Unfaithfulness (2:10)
B) The 1st Evidence: Illegal Intermarriage (2:11 – 12)
C) The 2nd Evidence: Divorce (2:13 – 16a)
Pt. 5: 4th Oracle – Hope in God (Mal. 2:17 – 3:6)
A) The Charge of Wearisome (2:17a)
B) Israel’s Question of The Charge (2:17b)
C) The Proof of The Charge: No Hope for God’s Justice (2:17c)
D) The Warning by God (3:1 – 5)
Pt. 6: 5th Oracle – Obey God (Mal. 3:7 – 12)
A) The Charge of Disobedience (3:7a)
B) Israel’s Question of The Charge (3:7b)
C) The Specification of The Charge: Robbery (3:8a)
D) Israel’s Repeated Question of The Charge (3:8b)
E) The Proof of The Charge (3:8c – 9)
F) The Promise of Blessing (3:10 – 12)
Pt. 7: 6th Oracle – Fear God (Mal. 3:13 – 4:3)
A) The Charge of Blasphemy (3:13a)
B) Israel’s Question of The Charge (3:13b)
C) The Proof of The Charge: The Endorsement of Evil (3:14 – 15)
D) The Response of The Believing Remnant (3:16)
E) The Warning and Promise of God (3:17 – 4:3)
Pt. 8: Conclusion – Be Prepared for God’s Coming (Mal. 4:4 – 6)
A) The Present Preparation (4:4)
B) The Future Preparation (4:5 – 6)
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