The Minor Prophets Part 2 © John Stevenson, 2012

The Minor ProphetsThe Minor ProphetsPart 2Part 2

© John Stevenson, 2012

Oracle Oracle against against EdomEdom

Obadiah 1:1Obadiah 1:1The vision of Obadiah.

Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom–

We have heard a report from the LORD,

And an envoy has been sent among the nations saying,

“Arise and let us go against her for battle”

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Kings of Judah

Josiah

Jehoahaz

Jehoiakim

Jehoiachin

Zedekiah

Jerusalem & Temple Destroyed

Fall ofNineveh

Zephaniah

Jeremiah

Daniel

Ezekiel

Obadiah?

Nahum

Vision against Vision against EdomEdom

• Edom will be Edom will be defeated defeated despite her despite her present present strength & strength & security, 1-4security, 1-4

Warning against Warning against EdomEdom

Israel’s Israel’s VictoryVictory

1:11:1 1:121:12 1:151:15

Obadiah 1:3Obadiah 1:3“The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,

You who live in the clefts of the rock,

In the loftiness of your dwelling place,

Who say in your heart,

‘Who will bring me down to earth?’

Obadiah 1:4Obadiah 1:4“Though you build high like the eagle,

Though you set your nest among the stars,

From there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.


• Defeated Defeated despite despite strength & strength & security, 1-4security, 1-4

• Edom to be Edom to be thoroughly thoroughly plundered, 5-plundered, 5-77



1:11:1 1:121:12 1:151:15



• Thoroughly Thoroughly plundered, 5-plundered, 5-77

• Cut off Cut off forever, 8-10forever, 8-10



1:11:1 1:121:12 1:151:15

Obadiah 1:10Obadiah 1:10Because of violence to your brother Jacob,

You will be covered with shame,

And you will be cut off forever.







1:11:1 1:121:12 1:151:15

Do not…Do not…• GloatGloat• Rejoice over sons Rejoice over sons

of Judahof Judah• Enter gate of Enter gate of

JudahJudah• Loot JudahLoot Judah• Hurt survivorsHurt survivors• Imprison survivorsImprison survivors







1:11:1 1:121:12 1:151:15

Do not…Do not…• GloatGloat• Rejoice over sons Rejoice over sons

of Judahof Judah• Enter gate of Enter gate of

JudahJudah• Loot JudahLoot Judah• Hurt survivorsHurt survivors• Imprison survivorsImprison survivors

• Day of the Day of the Lord coming, Lord coming, 15-1615-16

• God cares for his people when they God cares for his people when they

suffer.suffer.

• God warns but will eventually judge God warns but will eventually judge those who persecute his people.those who persecute his people.

• God will give victory to his people.God will give victory to his people.

• God’s faithful people will inherit the God’s faithful people will inherit the kingdom of God in its fullness.kingdom of God in its fullness.

What comes to mind when you What comes to mind when you first think of Jonah?first think of Jonah?

The word of the LORD came to The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 22 “Arise, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”come up before Me.”

Jonah 1:1-2Jonah 1:1-2

But Jonah rose up to flee to But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.the presence of the LORD.

Jonah 1:3Jonah 1:3

IsraelIsrael

AssyriaAssyria

The City that Turned back

to God

The One that Got Away

Chapter 2 Chapter 1 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

In the Ship

In the Fish

In Nineveh Outside Nineveh

Jonah the Reluctant Prophet

Jonah - A Man on Fire for God

The Prodigal Prophet

The Praying Prophet

The Preaching Prophet

The Pouting Prophet

Jonah 2:10Jonah 2:10Then the LORD commanded the

fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.

Jonah 3:1-2Jonah 3:1-2Now the word of the LORD came

to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.”

Jonah 3:3Jonah 3:3So Jonah arose and went to

Nineveh according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk.

~yhil{ale ~yhil{ale hl'AdG>-ry[ihl'AdG>-ry[iLiterally, “a great city to god”Literally, “a great city to god”

Jonah 3:3Jonah 3:3So Jonah arose and went to

Nineveh according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk.

NIV: NIV: Now Nineveh was a very Now Nineveh was a very important city -- a visit required important city -- a visit required

three days.three days.

Jonah 3:10Jonah 3:10When God saw their deeds, that

they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

Jonah 4:1Jonah 4:1But it greatly displeased Jonah

and he became angry.

Jonah 4:2Jonah 4:2He prayed to the LORD and

said, “Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and com-passionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.”

Jonah 4:3Jonah 4:3“Therefore now, O LORD, please

take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.”

Jonah 4:8Jonah 4:8When the sun came up God

appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he became faint and begged with all his soul to die, saying, “Death is better to me than life.”

Jonah 4:10-11Jonah 4:10-11Then the LORD said, “You had

compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. 11 Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?”

Why does the book of Jonah Why does the book of Jonah end this way?end this way?

Lessons from JonahLessons from Jonah

• God wants repentanceGod wants repentance– In NinevehIn Nineveh

– In JonahIn Jonah

• God is a God of compassion; God is a God of compassion; His compassion extends both His compassion extends both to pagan cities as well as to to pagan cities as well as to stubborn prophets.stubborn prophets.

Micah 1:1Micah 1:1The word of the LORD which

came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

4th D

ynasty

Amaziah(796-767 B.C.)

Jehoash(798-782 B.C.)

Jeroboam II(793-753 B.C.) Azariah

(Uzziah)(790-740 B.C.)

Jonah

Hosea

Amos

Zechariah

Jotham(750-731 B.C.)

ShallumMenahem

Pekhaiah

Pekah(742-732 B.C.)

Hoshea(732-721 B.C.) Ahaz

(735-715 B.C.)

Isaiah

Micah

Hezekiah

Promise of future

restoration

Promise of future glory

Promise of eventual

regathering

Micah 1-2

First Oracle

Micah 3-5 Micah 6-7

Second Oracle

Third Oracle

Judgment of idolatry

Judgment against rulers

Judgment against

disloyalty

Micah 1:6Micah 1:6For I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the open country,

Planting places for a vineyard.

I will pour her stones down into the valley,

And will lay bare her foundations.

Micah 1:7Micah 1:7All of her idols will be smashed,

All of her earnings will be burned with fire,

And all of her images I will make desolate,

For she collected them from a harlot's earnings,

And to the earnings of a harlot they will return.

““Tell it not in Gath”Tell it not in Gath”1919 Your beauty, O Israel, is Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places!slain on your high places!

How have the mighty fallen!How have the mighty fallen!

2020 Tell it not in Gath, Tell it not in Gath,

Proclaim it not in the Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon;streets of Ashkelon;

Lest the daughters of the Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,Philistines rejoice,

Lest the daughters of the Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.uncircumcised exult.

(2 Samuel 1:19-20).(2 Samuel 1:19-20).

Tell it not in Gath,Tell it not in Gath,

Weep not at all Weep not at all (Micah 1:10a)(Micah 1:10a)..

Micah 1:10Micah 1:10Tell it not in Gath,

Weep not at all.

At Beth-le-aphrah roll yourself in the dust.

““House of Dust”House of Dust”

Tell it not in Tellington!Tell it not in Tellington!Wail not in Wailing!Wail not in Wailing!Dust Manor will eat dirt,Dust Manor will eat dirt,Dressy Town will flee naked.Dressy Town will flee naked.Safefold will not save,Safefold will not save,Allchester's walls are down,Allchester's walls are down,A bitter dose drinks Bitterton.A bitter dose drinks Bitterton.Toward Jerusalem, City of Peace,Toward Jerusalem, City of Peace,The Lord sends war.The Lord sends war.Harness the war-steeds,Harness the war-steeds,O men of Barstead!O men of Barstead!Zion's beginning of sinning,Zion's beginning of sinning,Equal to Israel's crimes.Equal to Israel's crimes.To Welfare a last farewell!To Welfare a last farewell!For Trapping trapped Israel's kingsFor Trapping trapped Israel's kings

Micah 4:1Micah 4:1And it will come about in the last days

That the mountain of the house of the LORD

Will be established as the chief of the mountains.

It will be raised above the hills,

And the peoples will stream to it.

The Mountain ThemeThe Mountain Theme

• “The Mountain of God” (Exodus 3:1).

• The Song of Moses.

You wilt bring them and plant them in the You wilt bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance,mountain of Your inheritance,The place, O Lord, which You have made The place, O Lord, which You have made for Your dwelling,for Your dwelling,The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established. (Exodus 15:17)have established. (Exodus 15:17)..

The Mountain ThemeThe Mountain Theme

• “The Mountain of God” (Exodus 3:1).

• The Song of Moses.

• The Mountain of God and the Covering Cherub (Ezekiel 28:14-16).

Micah 4:2Micah 4:2And many nations will come and say,

“Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD

And to the house of the God of Jacob,

That He may teach us about His ways

And that we may walk in His paths.”

For from Zion will go forth the law,

Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Micah 5:2Micah 5:2But 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.

Micah 6:6Micah 6:6With what shall I come to the LORD

And bow myself before the God on high?

Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings,

With yearling calves?

Micah 6:7Micah 6:7Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams,

In ten thousand rivers of oil?

Shall I present my first-born for my rebellious acts,

The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Micah 6:8Micah 6:8He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

But to do justice, to love kindness,

And to walk humbly with your God?

The Prophet of Nineveh’s The Prophet of Nineveh’s DestructionDestruction

Nahum and JonahNahum and Jonah

• Both Nahum and Jonah focus upon Both Nahum and Jonah focus upon Assyria and their capital city of Nineveh.Assyria and their capital city of Nineveh.

• Both Nahum and Jonah contain Both Nahum and Jonah contain prophecies of Nineveh's destruction.prophecies of Nineveh's destruction.

• Both Nahum and Jonah close their books Both Nahum and Jonah close their books with a question. with a question.

Nahum means “comfort”Nahum means “comfort”

And it will come about that all who see you

Will shrink from you and say,

“Nineveh is devastated!

Who will grieve for her?

Where will I seek comforters for you?” (Nahum 3:7).

~x;n~x;n""

NachamNacham

Prayer and PraisePrayer and Praise

Why does Why does God allow the God allow the Wicked to go Wicked to go unpunished?unpunished?

I am going to I am going to bring bring

JudgmentJudgment

Habakkuk 1:6Habakkuk 1:6For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.

Habakkuk 1:6Habakkuk 1:6For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.

Habakkuk 1:7Habakkuk 1:7They are dreaded and feared; Their justice and authority originate with themselves.

Habakkuk 1:8Habakkuk 1:8Their horses are swifter than leopards And keener than wolves in the evening. Their horsemen come galloping, Their horsemen come from afar; They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour.

Habakkuk’s ProblemHabakkuk’s Problem

1:1 1:12

Problem #1: Why does God allow the wicked?

Answer #1: God will bring judgment

Problem #2: How can God use wicked to punish?

Answer #2: God will also judge them

Habakkuk 2:14Habakkuk 2:14For the earth will be filled For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.As the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk’s ProblemHabakkuk’s Problem

Praise for the…

• Person of God

• Power of God

• Purpose of God

• Because of faith in God

Habakkuk’s Habakkuk’s PraisePraise

1:1 1:12 3:1

Problem #1: Why does God allow the wicked?

Answer #1: God will bring judgment

Problem #2: How can God use wicked to punish?

Answer #2: God will also judge them

Though the fig tree should not Though the fig tree should not blossom blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, And there be no fruit on the vines, Though Though the yield of the olive should the yield of the olive should fail fail And the fields produce no food, And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off Though the flock should be cut off from the fold from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, And there be no cattle in the stalls,

Habakkuk 3:17Habakkuk 3:17

Yet I will exult in the LORD, Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.salvation.


The Lord God is my strength,The Lord God is my strength,And He has made my feet like hinds’ And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,feet,And makes me walk on my high And makes me walk on my high places.places.For the choir director, on my For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.stringed instruments.


Judgment Against JudahJudgment Against Judah

Zephaniah Zephaniah hyn;hyn;p.c"p.c"!!

p;c"p;c"From (From (tsaphantsaphan))

““to hide.”to hide.”

((TsephanyahTsephanyah))

Seek the LORD, Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His Who have carried out His ordinances; ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Seek righteousness, seek humility.

Perhaps you will be hidden Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’S anger. In the day of the LORD’S anger. (Zephaniah 2:3).(Zephaniah 2:3).

Zephaniah 1:1Zephaniah 1:1The word of the LORD which

came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah:

Date of WritingDate of Writing

• In the days of Josiah son of Amon, In the days of Josiah son of Amon,

king of Judah (Zephaniah 1:1)king of Judah (Zephaniah 1:1)..

• A Call for National Repentance.A Call for National Repentance.

• Slightly prior to Jeremiah.Slightly prior to Jeremiah.

• Foretells the Destruction of Nineveh Foretells the Destruction of Nineveh (2:13).(2:13).

640 630 620 610 600 590 580

Kings of Judah

Josiah

Jehoahaz

Jehoiakim

Jehoiachin

Zedekiah

Jerusalem & Temple Destroyed

Fall ofFall ofNinevehNineveh

Zephaniah

Jeremiah

Daniel

Ezekiel

Nahum

Coming judgment on Jerusalem (1:1-6)Coming judgment on Jerusalem (1:1-6)

Coming judgment of leaders & wealthy (1:7-13)Coming judgment of leaders & wealthy (1:7-13)

God’s judgment against the nation (1:14-18)God’s judgment against the nation (1:14-18)

Call to repentance (2:1-3)Call to repentance (2:1-3)

God’s judgment against the nations (2:4-15)God’s judgment against the nations (2:4-15)

Coming judgment of leaders (3:1-7)Coming judgment of leaders (3:1-7)

Coming restoration of Jerusalem (3:8-20)Coming restoration of Jerusalem (3:8-20)

Zephaniah 2:1-2Zephaniah 2:1-2Gather yourselves together, yes, gather, O nation without shame, 2 Before the decree takes effect– The day passes like the chaff– Before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD’S anger comes upon you.

Zephaniah 2:3Zephaniah 2:3Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’S anger.

Zephaniah 3:8Zephaniah 3:8“Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.”

Zephaniah 3:8Zephaniah 3:8“Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.”

Zephaniah 3:9Zephaniah 3:9“For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.”

Zephaniah 3:10Zephaniah 3:10“From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings.”

Zephaniah 3:11Zephaniah 3:11“In that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst Your proud, exulting ones, And you will never again be haughty On My holy mountain.

Zephaniah 3:12Zephaniah 3:12“But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of the LORD.”

Zephaniah 3:13Zephaniah 3:13“The remnant of Israel will do no wrong And tell no lies, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will feed and lie down With no one to make them tremble.”

Zephaniah 3:14Zephaniah 3:14Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Zephaniah 3:15Zephaniah 3:15The LORD has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You will fear disaster no more.

Zephaniah 3:16-17Zephaniah 3:16-17In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp. 17 “The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Zephaniah 3:18Zephaniah 3:18I will gather those who grieve about the appointed feasts– They came from you, O Zion; The reproach of exile is a burden on them.

Zephaniah 3:19Zephaniah 3:19Behold, I am going to deal at that time With all your oppressors, I will save the lame And gather the outcast, And I will turn their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

……fixing our eyes on fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before for the joy set before

Him endured the cross, Him endured the cross, despising the shame, despising the shame,

and has sat down at the and has sat down at the right hand of the throne right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2).of God. (Hebrews 12:2).

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears,

we may have confidence and not shrink away from

Him in shame at His coming (1 John

2:28).

Zephaniah 3:20Zephaniah 3:20“At that time I will bring you in, Even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you renown and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” Says the LORD.

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The Minor Prophets Part 2 © John Stevenson, 2012