When people read their Bibles, they do not automatically gravitate to the Minor Prophets. Most people either skim over these books or avoid them. There is good reason for this. These books are hard to read and understand. It takes time to work through them and truly grasp their message. Therefore, most people do not read them much. There are verses and passages that stand out, especially those quoted in the New Testament, but mostly, the books of the Minor Prophets are not read. That is a great loss for Bible readers. The Minor Prophets contain deep and rich truths that are worth the effort to comprehend.
The Minor Prophets are also called the Book of the Twelve. It is composed of twelve smaller but important prophetic books in one scroll. They are linked together thematically and roughly chronologically. They continue the same focus on judgment and salvation as the other prophets. These prophets were called by the Lord to prophesy to Israel and Judah over approximately 300 years. The twelve prophetic books are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
The prophetic books are an important part of the biblical storyline. They do not advance the storyline historically, but they do provide great insight into God’s unfolding plan during the time of the kings. The Lord sent prophets to call kings and people back to the covenant when they had strayed far from its stipulations given in the Law. But it is important to note that prophecy is the way God speaks to his people throughout biblical history (Hebrews 1:1). So, what we learn about prophets and prophecy is significant to the whole biblical story.
The prophet is a messenger inspired by the Spirit of God. The prophet did not take the prophetic mantel himself, nor did he speak his own words, but only those the Lord gave him (2 Peter 1:20-21). The prophets suffered for the message of God they spoke. They would not invent a message and claim it was from God and remain steadfast to that message in the face of severe suffering. They had a critically important message from God for the people of their day that is equally important for the people of this day.
There are three kinds of Prophets we notice in the Bible:
(1) Speaking only, like Nathan & Elijah
(2) Writing only, like Joshua & David
(3) Speaking & Writing, like Isaiah & Jeremiah
Most of the writing prophets lived and ministered during the divided kingdom, but some prophesied during the exile and return. The message of all the prophets is a message of judgment and salvation that is given in four parts. It is critical to keep these four parts of the prophetic message in mind when we are reading the prophetic books.
| (1) Reminder: Covenant Relationship | (2) Charge: Covenant Breach |
| (3) Warning: God’s Judgment | (4) Offer: Mercy through Repentance |
The prophetic message is focused on one or more of four timeframes (those books written in exile and return have a different focus in #2).
| (1) The Prophets Own Day | (2) The Exile & Return |
| (3) The Messiah’s Suffering | (4) The Messiah’s Kingdom Come |
The prophets prophesied about these events but did not know the exact time between them, so the time between the suffering and the kingdom of the Messiah was not yet clear. Consequently, when Messiah Jesus came, the people of his day struggled to grasp the messianic timing. They were expecting a very different Messiah from the one God sent. They were looking for a conquering kong rather than a suffering servant.
What is the message of the Minor Prophets? As we stated earlier, the basic message of the Minor Prophets is salvation and judgment. But there is a deeper and broader message that is important to see. Each book has its own focus and message, but all the books together have an overarching message we need to understand. The message of the Minor Prophets is a call for the people of God to turn from sin and back to the God who desires to pour out his love and mercy upon them. It is a call to walk in faithfulness to God and his word, a call to remember the covenant with the Lord God. The Day of the Lord will arrive, a day in which he will vindicate his people who do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before God. For those who refuse to repent, there is a fearful warning of impending judgment. But the fundamental message of the Minor Prophets is a message of hope. God has not forsaken them; they are his people, and he is their God. God will one day establish the Messianic King to rule over his covenant people with a new covenant. King Jesus Messiah has come. He has inaugurated his eternal kingdom in his first coming. He is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father, guiding its development. He will one day soon return to consummate his kingdom of love, justice, and truth. Let us strive to hear the message of the Minor Prophets and be faithful to be on mission with Jesus in the kingdom work of salvation.