6 Minor Prophets prior to Captivity (Hosea - Micah)

HOSEA

Hos.1

2 - “...When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord..." Another prophet acting out reality.

3-5 Gomer gives birth to a son Jezreel - foretelling the Northern Kingdoms pending destruction (25 yrs later).

6-7 Gomer gives birth to a daughter Lo-ruhamah - no longer have compassion on Israel.

8-9 Gomer gives birth to a son Lo-ammi - not my people, I’m not your God.

10-11 proclaiming a reuniting of God’s people.

Hos.2

1-7 The unfaithfulness of God’s ‘wife’ is tempered by the ‘hedge of protection’ God puts around her. Does God put a hedge around us?

8-13 Punishment.

8 - she does not recognize My blessings.

13 - she will get punished.

14-23 Restoration.

15 - the valley of Achor as the door of hope.

19,20 - “...I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord...”

Hos.3

Hosea buys Gomer back.

God will purchase His adulterous people. Did He purchase you?

Hos.4

1 - absence of faithfulness, kindness and knowledge of God.

3 - the land mourns.

6 - “...My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children...” What knowledge? [4:1 of God]

14 - people without understanding are ruined.

Hos.5

4 - “...Their deeds will not allow them To return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, And they do not know the Lord...” Why is return not possible?

6 - God has withdrawn.

15 - “...I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me...” Two steps? Can one seek God but not earnestly?

Hos.6

1-3 Sounds like a good thing. 3 - “...So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth...."

4-11 But God sees through words without heart led action. 6 - “...For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings...” What does this mean?

Hos.7

7 - “...All of them are hot like an oven, And they consume their rulers; All their kings have fallen. None of them calls on Me...”

8 - mixing with nations.

9 - loss of strength.

11 - without sense.

13 - they have strayed from? [God]

Hos.8

4 - “...They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off...”

5,6 Reference to the idolatry of Jeroboam - golden calves in Ephraim and Dan.

14 - Israel has forgotten his Maker

Hos.9

7 - The days of punishment and retribution have come.

9 - They have gone deep in depravity. How deep is too deep?

15 - “...All their evil is at Gilgal; Indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of My house! I will love them no more; All their princes are rebels...” Harsh? Isn’t God’s love everlasting?

Hos.10

12 - “...Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes to rain righteousness on you...”

Hos.11

3 - They didn’t recognize God’s healing.

7 - They turned on God.

8-10 God is still compassionate.

12 - God’s people are unruly and full of lies and deceit.

Hos.12

6 - “...Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually...”

Hos.13

6 - Satisfaction leads to pride, which leads to forgetting God.

Hos.14

2 - “...Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity And receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips...”

4 - “...I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from them...”

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...”

JOEL

Joel.1

1-7 Description of locust plague. Was this a natural disaster that was coming, or had occurred? Was this an invading army?

Either way, what is the proper response?

13,14 Lament, wail, fast, cry out.

15 - “...Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, And it will come as destruction from the Almighty...” From where is the Destruction coming?

Joel.2

1 - ”...Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the Lord is coming; Surely it is near,...” Certainly sounds like a warning of something coming.

2-11 Sounds eerily similar to the 5th trumpet judgment of Revelation [locusts, appearance as horses].

18-27 Deliverance and restoration is possible.

28 - “...It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions...”

32 - “...And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the Lord has said, Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls...”

Joel.3

The judging of the nations.

14 - “...Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision...”

17 - “...Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, Dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. So Jerusalem will be holy, And strangers will pass through it no more...”

AMOS

Amos was from Tekoa, the place where the wise woman lived whom Joab brought to convince David to reconcile with his son Absalom.

Amos 1,2

Pronounced judgment on the nations for their transgressions.

2:4 “...they rejected the law of the Lord ... Lies also have led them astray...”

Amos 3

7 - “...Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets...” God is not capricious!

10 - “...But they do not know how to do what is right," declares the Lord, "these who hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels..."

Amos 4

6 - Lack of bread, but didn’t return.

7,8 - Withheld rain, but didn’t return.

9 - Scorching wind, mildew, and caterpillar, but didn’t return.

10 - Plague, but didn’t return.

11 - Overthrew, but didn’t return.

Dark ages to Enlightenment to Age of Reason - a deistic pamphlet, written by eighteenth-century British radical and American revolutionary Thomas Paine, that criticizes institutionalized religion and challenges the legitimacy of the Bible. Published in three parts in 1794, 1795, and 1807, it was a bestseller in the United States, where it caused a short-lived deistic revival. Paine advocates reason in the place of revelation, leading him to reject miracles and to view the Bible as an ordinary piece of literature rather than as a divinely inspired text. It promotes natural religion and argues for the existence of a creator-God.

Amos 5

4 - “...For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel, "Seek Me that you may live...”

6 - “...Seek the Lord that you may live, Or He will break forth like a fire, O house of Joseph, And it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel,..”

14 - “...Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the Lord God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said!...”

15 - “...Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the Lord God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph...” What does this look like?

21-24 It isn’t religious ritual, but proper living that God desires.

Amos 6

Those at ease can’t hide from God.

Amos 7

Vision of locusts, but Amos interceded successfully.

Vision of fire, but Amos again intercedes.

Vision of Plumb Line 8 - “...The Lord said to me, "What do you see, Amos?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer...” Measurement by God’s standard - how would we do?

12,13 Amaziah the priest of Bethel tries to get Amos out of the country.

Amos 8

4 - “...Hear this, you who trample the needy, to do away with the humble of the land,...”

5 - cheating with dishonest scales.

11,12 - “...Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord God, "When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the Lord. "People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, But they will not find it...”

Amos 9

8 - “...Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom, And I will destroy it from the face of the earth; Nevertheless, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob," Declares the Lord...”

11-15 restoration will happen.

OBADIAH

Shortest old testament book.

Vision concerning Edom, descendants of Esau who lived in the mountains.

3 - “...the arrogance of your heart has deceived you...”

4 - “...I will bring you down...”

11 - Complacency when Judah was besieged by Babylon.

15 - “...For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head....” Reap what you sow.

JONAH

Jonah 1

1,2 - The call to preach.

3 - Fleeing from the call.

4 - “...The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up...” The Age of Reason would never admit that this was an Act of God. What did all the sailors think? [they all called on their gods, but it was only Jonah who knew The Living God].

Does your response to God’s call on your life affect those around you? Most know v17, but not v16.

16,17 “...Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights...”

Jonah 2

Jonah’s prayer from the belly.

7 - “...While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple...”

9 - Confessed that “...salvation is from the Lord...”

10 - vomited onto the dry ground.

Jonah 3

Jonah goes to Ninevah.

Proclaims that there will be overthrow in 40 days (remember Amos 3:7 - God always gives a warning through His prophets)

The whole city repents.

The disaster is averted.

Jonah 4

1 - “...But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry...”

4 - “...The Lord said, "Do you have good reason to be angry?..."

Why was he angry? Concern for own reputation? Not in sync with God’s heart?

So Jonah goes outside the city to watch.

6 - God causes a plant to grow up to be shade (interaction).

7 - God appoints a worm to attack the plant (interaction).

8 - God appointed a scorching east wind (interaction)

Lesson? God cares about the people in sinful cities and so should we.

MICAH

Micah 1

3 - “...For behold, the Lord is coming forth from His place. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth...”

5 - the high place of Judah? [Jerusalem]

The high place of Americans?

Micah 2

1 - Woe to those who scheme iniquity. Does anyone do this? [hollywood?]

3 - God is planning a calamity.

8,9 - Why? People aren’t being treated correctly. How does one take God’s splendor from children? [not proclaiming and not living in it].

Micah 3

6 - The sun will go down on the prophets.

7 - The seers will be ashamed.

9 - Rulers “...abhor justice and twist everything that is straight...”

11 - leaders, priests, and prophets keep saying all is well.

Micah 4

God will ultimately establish His reign on earth.

12 - “...But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord, And they do not understand His purpose; For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor...”

Micah 5

2-5 - From Bethlehem will go forth One who will be the Great Shepherd - [Jesus?]

12 - “...I will cut off sorceries from your hand, And you will have fortune-tellers no more...”

Micah 6

8 - “...He 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?...” Learn this and do this! Do what is right, have mercy on those who aren’t, and don’t be arrogant about it. Simple.

Micah 7

7 - “...But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me...”

18-19 “...Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea...”

God Reigns - Past, Present, Future (Ez.40 - Dan.12)

Ez.40

14 years after Jerusalem was taken, Ezekiel was transported from exile to a mountain perch. From there he watched as the Temple measurements were taken (wall thickness, threshold of the gate, guardroom, porch, gateway, etc.)

Ez.41,.42

Extensive measurement of the inner temple, the chambers, the outside dimensions.

Ez.43

2 - Ezekiel watches the glory of the Lord come from the east,

4 - come in through the east gate,

5 - and fill the temple.

7 - “...He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the corpses of their kings when they die,...” Forever?

Rev.21:3 “...And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,...”

Rev.21:10-21 John is taken to a mountain and views the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven - and measured.

Rev.21:22 “...I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple...”

10,11 “...As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the plan. "If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes, and all its laws. And write it in their sight, so that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes and do them...”

What temple is this?

1. Zerubbabel’s temple of 520-515 BC (Ezra/Nehemiah)? But this didn’t compare to Solomon’s temple, and didn’t last forever.

2. A temple yet to be built in the millennium? But why the sacrifices after Christ’s perfect sacrifice?

3. The temple in the New Jerusalem? But John saw no temple, for the Lord and the Lamb are its temple.

Ez.44

2 - The east gate is to be permanently shut “...for the Lord God of Israel has entered by it...”

6-9 Abomination of profaning the sanctuary by bringing in people who aren’t set apart for God.

Does God’s presence demand certain things?

Remember that abominations prevent His presence. (5:11,8:6)

Do we have His presence, His glory, in our sanctuary?

15-31 Interesting list of requirements for Levites

- wear linen so don’t sweat.

- no shaved heads, no long hair.

- marry only virgins unless widow of priest.

- teach holy vs profane, clean vs unclean.

Leviticus gave these requirements for the nation being established in Canaan.

This is now 1000 years later when the people will be returning from captivity.

This is 500 years prior to Christ, our high priest.

Ez.45,46

Responsibilities of Princes

46:9 Can’t exit from the same door as entered? Order?

Ez.47

Water from the temple starts out as a trickle but ends up a river too great to ford.

12 - “...By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing..."

13-23 Boundaries for the land of Israel. Who determines the boundaries for Israel?

Ez.48

Land divided.

DANIEL

Dan.1

1,2 - Who determines the outcome of global conflict? God.

7 - Why do we call Daniel by his original name (not Belteshazzar), but we don’t remember Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego’s original names (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah)?

9 - God granted Daniel favor.

17 - The four were granted knowledge and intelligence.

19 - They entered the king’s personal service.

Should you, and can you, serve a godless leader?

Dan.2

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

5 - demands that the dream be interpreted without even relaying it, or torn limb from limb. Would you like to serve this leader?

12,13 - a decree is made to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

17,18 - Daniel calls for a prayer meeting with his 3 friends.

19 - The dream is revealed in a night vision.

20-23 Daniel praises and worships God

28 - “...However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed...”

31-35 Statue dream

38 - Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold

39 - Two kingdoms will follow (Medes/Persians and Greece)

40-43 Fourth kingdom strong as iron (Rome?) But divided, with part brittle

44 - “...In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever...” The divine kingdom endures forever.

Dan.3

Nebuchadnezzar sets up a 90’ golden statue (not just a head of gold). Is he trying to modify prophesy? Do we?

5-7 All must bow down or be thrown into the fiery furnace.

12 - “...There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up..." Do we worship the gods erected by our world and world leaders?

17,18 - “...If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up..." Do we have this type of courage?

19-27 Furnace heated 7x hotter than usual. Men tied up. Men who threw them in are burned up.

27 - “...The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king's high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them...” Does God override the physical laws of the universe? Are God’s blessings a higher law?

Dan.4

King has another dream.

6 - Orders wise men in again. Why not Daniel immediately?

10-12 Tree, large and strong, beautiful and fruitful.

13-17 Angel orders the tree’s destruction. Mind changed to that of a beast. Why? 17 - “...This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men..."

20-26 The tree ... It is you ...great and strong ...to be driven away. 26b - “...your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules...”

Twelve months later, as he was bragging about his greatness ...sovereignty was removed from him. What happened in 12 months? What should have happened?

34,35 - “...But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. "All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What have You done?'...”

37 - “...Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride..."

Dan.5

Nebuchadnezzar reigned for 43 years, died in 562BC.

There were four more kings between Neb and Belshazzar, with reigns of 2yrs, 4yrs, 2mos, 17yrs.

1-4 Now Belshazzar is drinking for the holy temple vessels which had been brought from Jerusalem.

5 - The fingers of a man’s hand write on the wall.

6 - The king was considerably alarmed (pale, knocking knees)

10 - The queen recommends Daniel (rulers again show themselves careless regarding history and spiritual matters)

18-22 - Daniel gives Belshazzar a history lesson.

23 - “...but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and your ways, you have not glorified...”

25 - “...Now this is the inscription that was written out: 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.'...”

26-28 “...This is the interpretation of the message: 'MENE' - God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. " 'TEKEL' - you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. " 'PERES' - your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians..."

Belshazzar is killed that very night.

Dan.6

Darius becomes another foreign king that Daniel serves.

3-5 Commissioners and satraps are jealous of Daniel, who had distinguished himself because “...he possessed an extraordinary spirit...”

6-9 They talk the king into establishing an injunction forbidding worship of anyone but him. Are there any laws being passed to trap and quiet Christians?

10 - “...Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously...”

16 - Daniel is cast into the lions’ den.

18 - The king fasts and frets, then finds Daniel alive in the morning.

24 - Daniel’s accusers, their wives, and their children don’t fare as well as Daniel in the lion’s den.

Dan.7

1-8 Vision of the 4 beasts, like a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a 10 horned extremely strong beast. Then another horn.

9-12 The Ancient of Days reigns over all.

13,14 The Son of Man is given everlasting dominion. His kingdom will not be destroyed.

Interpretation is then given.

17 - four beasts are kings.

18 - Saints will ultimately receive the kingdom.

23 - 4th king will devour the whole earth.

24 - 10 kings will arise, with another after them, who is different.

25 - Alterations in times and law - saints worn down for time, time, and ½ time (3 and ½ years?).

27 - Then saints get the kingdom.

Dan.8

2 years later, vision of Ram with 2 horns, one longer than the other [Medes and Persians (8:20) with Persian dominance]

5 - male goat [Greece (8:21)]

6,7 - Ram defeated.

8 - Goat magnifies himself but horn is broken and 4 horns take its place [Alexander the Great died young and 4 generals split up the kingdom]

9-14 small horn [Antiochus IV] flings truth to the ground, loots the temple, stops the sacrifices.

17 - “...So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end..."

25b The small horn “...will be broken without human agency...”

Dan.9

3 - “...So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes...”

13 - “...As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth...”

19 - “...O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name...”

20-23 Gabriel comes to chat.

24-27 The 70 weeks of Daniel (7 + 62 + 1 split in two). A lot is conjectured concerning these times.

Dan.10

Cyrus - yet another king that Daniel serves.

2 - Vision after 3 weeks of mourning.

7 - “...Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves...” Some have eyes to see spiritual things. Some run and hide.

13-21 This is where much is made of demons controlling areas of the earth. Daniel was Persian territory. Prince of Greece mentioned. Michael was Daniel’s prince.

Dan.11

Coming conflict - Alexander the Great? Syria and Egypt. King of north. King of south.

21 - despicable person seizing the kingdom by intrigue.

23 - practicing deception, gaining power.

27 - “...As for both kings, their hearts will be intent on evil, and they will speak lies to each other at the same table; but it will not succeed, for the end is still to come at the appointed time...”

32 - “...By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action...”

35 - “...Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time...”

Dan.12

1 - “...Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued...”

4 - “...But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase..." Air travel and Google?

6,7 - “...And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be until the end of these wonders?" I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed...”

10 - “...Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand...”