Date: 0101-01-01 00:00:00+00:00

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The Minor Prophets

A Layman’s Introduction

Grant Stevens

2026

All Bible quotations are from the NASB unless otherwise noted.

Introduction

We Christians, we love to read our Bibles!

The Psalms sing to our hearts about God’s faithfulness in our times of trouble.

The Gospels – wonderful accounts of our Lord’s short time among us.

Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles – simple, direct histories that illustrate the stability resulting from faithfulness to God and the destruction that comes from rejecting His ways.

The Epistles – delightfully specific details of God’s great work on behalf of His people.

The Minor Prophets…

The Minor Prophets. Cryptic. Opaque. Confusing. Full of references to places most of us don’t recognize. Cultural practices far from us in geography and time. Metaphors based on symbols once well-known but now long-forgotten. Parts may seem barely better than gibberish.

For many, reading the minor prophets is a chore from which, even if we brave it, we derive little pleasure, and perhaps little benefit. We may feel like Sisyphus, pushing that boulder up the hill again and again, to no effect.

Yet with a little background, a little narration, a little explanation, the minor prophets can move us as much as the other Scriptures we love to read. They do make sense – once we are properly acclimated.

Our goal here is not to explain every obscure phrase. We leave that to scholars.

Instead, we will hop through each book, touching on highlights, narrating and explaining what at first reading seems obtuse.

Our hope is that once seeing the lay of the land, the reader can engage a prophet’s book without stumbling, naturally understanding the main topics and therefore able to focus on the content rather than on a decryption puzzle.

The Late Divided Kingdom Period

When the earliest minor prophets wrote, both kingdoms – Israel and Judah – were still standing. But this was long past the glory days. Decline was rampant, territory lost to invasions, and hardships common, though peppered with occasional revivals and resurgences. The Assyrian Empire was rising in the east, and threatened both kingdoms.

These hard times came because the people, along with their political and religious leaders, abandoned their covenant with God, turning to idol worship and the evils associated with it. God had promised Israel prosperity if they were faithful, and disaster if they strayed. And in these days, generations of disobedience were culminating in imminent unrecoverable loss.

If you want a more complete backstory, keep reading. Otherwise feel free to skip to the next section.

The people of Israel were very committed to their history. They relied on it to know who they were, how they fit into the world. And by the times of the prophets, they had a lot of history. In order to understand them, we need to know just a few highlights about that history.

In ancient times God made His covenant with a middle-eastern nomad, Abraham. Famine drove his grandson Jacob, also called Israel, and his family to Egypt, where they settled and grew into a thriving community. But the Egyptians came to see them as a threat and enslaved them. God sent Moses to retrieve them from Egypt. Since the Egyptians refused to release them, God sent ten plagues, each worse than the last. Ultimately the people of Israel escaped.

Migrating toward the land God had promised to give Abraham, they stopped at Mount Sinai. There God made another covenant with His people. He gave them standards for right living, including the Ten Commandments, and promised that if they lived accordingly, life would go well for them. But if they continued their selfish and destructive ways, disaster would follow.

God ushered them into the promised land, and under Joshua’s leadership they conquered and inhabited much of it. As God promised, life was good.

Centuries passed, during which God’s people alternated between times of faithfulness to God, resulting in prosperity and security, and times of living selfishly, resulting in invasions by enemies, famines, plagues, and other hardships.

At the right time, God raised a king, David, to shepherd His people. David was extremely devoted to God, trusting Him completely even under great duress. Under David’s leadership, Israel came into their golden age. Always in love with God, he reinvigorated worship, wrote many psalms, refreshed people’s memory about God. And he led them to love God as he did.

His devotion to God led to great success. He so completely subdued the neighbor kingdoms that his son, King Solomon, never needed to fight a war.

But all that was long in the past. Later kings had forgotten or neglected God, ruled unjustly, and so undone much of the good they inherited.

Just a generation after David’s time, the kingdom split in two. The larger, northern portion kept the name “Israel”. Israel immediately rejected God entirely, instead establishing a cult worshiping golden calf idols.

The smaller, southern kingdom took the name “Judah” (David’s tribe). Judah alternated between times of faithfulness to God and times of rejecting God, but gradually dwindled in godliness and prosperity.

Over in the fertile crescent, the Assyrian Empire was the new rising power. Cruel and relentless and conquering everywhere they went, they were feared by all. They had sent their armies all the way to the area surrounding Israel, and destroyed many peoples.

We meet the prophets in this late part of the divided kingdom period. Both kingdoms remain, but are struggling. Other kingdoms have encroached their territory on all sides. They live in fear of further invasions. And they live in fear of their own friends and neighbors, who may turn on them at any time.

The prophets argue the hard times came because they rejected God. If they will return to God and His ways, life will improve.

But for the most part, the listeners are hardhearted. They refuse to hear or change their ways.

A Word about Idols

Throughout the minor prophets, and the whole Bible, we see references to idol worship. God declares Himself jealous, not allowing His people to engage with idols. When His people stray to idol worship, God withdraws His blessings, and the people suffer. When they abandon and destroy their idols and return to Him, He restores their favored status.

How is that fair? Is God a tyrant who can’t stand competition? An egotist? Needy, demanding all the attention?

What is the problem with idols? In our modern age we encourage religious diversity. What was wrong with the ancients, that they were so intolerant?

To rightly understand the Bible’s prophets, we need to make sense of idolatry.

There was a huge problem with idols. Each idol required its devotees to perform unwholesome, even horrible, acts.

Perhaps most extreme was the idol Molech (Zephaniah calls him Malcom), whose worshipers were required to burn their children alive in sacrificial rite. God’s feelings about this are similar to mine and (I imagine) yours, and He totally forbade it[1]. Yet His people kept reverting to this murderous practice[2].

Another idol cult, the golden calf, was prominent in Israel throughout the entire divided kingdom era. The first time we see it, it involved “play”[3] and promiscuous “dancing”[4] and being “out of control”[5].

Modern research shows that sexual “freedom” leads to poorer outcomes for the children[6]. That was no less true in ancient times. God’s prohibition of adultery was not an arbitrary “I don’t want you to have fun” rule; it was intended to benefit the children[7].

During the divided kingdom period, the golden calf cult also dislodged the authorized, trained, and experienced priesthood, replacing them with people hired by the king for political reasons[8]. The levitical priests’ job was to call people away from evil behavior and toward God, but the golden calf priests had no such mission.

The idol Baal promoted sexual license similar to the golden calf. The first time Israel encountered Baal, a kingdom that hoped to conquer Israel sent their Baal-worshiping women to Israel to consort and influence them out from under the Lord’s protection[9].

The astrology cult was per-household[10], lacking organized gatherings. The Lord required such gatherings to remind people how He had cared for them and how they ought to respond. Astrology removed that positive influence. The same was true of household idol cults.

So when the Bible castigates the worship of idols, it isn’t about narrow mindedness or bigotry or senseless restrictions. God’s laws are always designed for the benefit of His people. The “no other gods” law is no exception.

And we violate His laws at great risk.

[1]Leviticus 18:21, Deuteronomy 18:10, and others

[2]2 Kings 16:3, 17:17, 21:6; Jeremiah 32:35

[3]Exodus 32:6

[4]Exodus 32:19

[5]Exodus 32:25

[6]https://www.census.gov/library/working-papers/2025/adrm/CES-WP-25-28.html and many others

[7]Malachi 2:15

[8]1 Kings 12:31

[9]Numbers 25:1, 6

[10]Zephaniah 1:5; “on the housetops” implies each household had their own rooftop shrine.

Hosea

The first minor prophet, Hosea, writes about God’s relentless, covenant-keeping love for His unfaithful people.

Hosea writes his book in three sections.

Part one is about Hosea’s troubled marriage, which is a picture of God’s troubled relationship with His unfaithful people.

Part two is a series of prophecies about Israel’s guilt and the punishment God will inflict.

Part three is a prophecy about the eventual restoration, because God is determined to bring His people back.

Part One – Hosea’s Troubled Marriage

God had a troubled marriage. He had figuratively married Israel. But Israel was unfaithful, repeatedly abandoning her husband and returning to old evil ways. And God was heartbroken.

Young Hosea, who was perhaps studying to be a prophet, was in love with a woman named Gomer. He talked to God about it. And the first time God spoke to Hosea, it was about that question.

When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife inclined to infidelity, and children of infidelity; for the land commits flagrant infidelity, abandoning the Lord.” – Hosea 1:2

“Go ahead and marry her,” God told Hosea. “But she is going to be unfaithful, and it is going to break your heart.”

The next topic in the Bible is Hosea’s children. But let us skip ahead to one particular break in the marriage. We will return to the children.

Gomer had left Hosea. He was alone, beside himself, brokenhearted, as God had told him would happen. Finally, God spoke again to Hosea.

Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet is committing adultery, as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes [eaten in rituals to idols].” – Hosea 3:1

Faithful Hosea did what God said. If there were children by then, he left them with family. He began asking around until finally he found her.

And she wanted to go with him; her life was better back then. But she couldn’t. In her hard times she had incurred some debt, and couldn’t leave until it was paid.

So I purchased her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and a [certain amount] of barley. – Hosea 3:2

Hosea paid her debt, a picture of the way God paid the sin debt we couldn’t pay.

And they came home together.

The next verse may imply their relationship was faithful after that. But to my reading, as with some Bible translations, it instead implies a platonic relationship, until they can rebuild trust.

And I said to her, “You must remain as mine for many days; you shall not play the whore, you shall not have intercourse with a man, nor I with you.” – Hosea 3:3 (New Revised Standard)

That only partly-restored relationship was a symbol of a future time when Israel would have a less than marital connection with God.

For the sons of Israel will live for many days without a king or leader, without sacrifice or memorial stone, and without ephod [worn by prophets] or household idols. Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days. – Hosea 3:4

Hosea’s Children

Returning now to Hosea’s children …

Each child was used by God to represent something about Israel’s broken marriage with God.

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. And the Lord said to him, “Name him Jezreel; for in just a little while I will punish the house of [the late King] Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.” – Hosea 1:3-5

Jezreel was a place in Israel. The name choice was like an American naming a child Austin or Virginia, American places. God had called Jehu to become King and to end the evil reign of King Ahab. Jehu did so, killing Ahab near his Jezreel palace. But he went beyond his commission, shedding much blood.

Unjust bloodshed was a habit in Israel, and God was heartbroken and angry over it.

The next child was also symbolic.

Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer take pity on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. But I will take pity on the house of Judah and save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, sword, battle, horses, or horsemen.” – Hosea 1:6-7

Lo-ruhamah means “not loved”. Yes, that was this poor girl’s name.

Her name was a symbol that God was removing His love for His people. Judgment was coming, and there would be no escape for the northern kingdom of Israel; though God did rescue the southern kingdom of Judah, since their unfaithfulness was interrupted many times by revivals.

When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said, “Name him Lo-ammi, because you are not My people, and I am not your God.” – Hosea 1:8-9

Lo-ammi means “not my child”. Yes again; imagine!

But recall that the child’s mother, Gomer, was habitually unfaithful. Hosea must have known he was not the father.

And his name was a symbol that God would no longer be a loving Father for Israel. They were not His child.

Yet in spite of this brokenness, God would remain faithful to Israel. He promised He would one day restore them.

Yet the number of the sons of Israel

Will be like the sand of the sea,

Which cannot be measured or counted;

And in the place

Where it is said to them,

“You are not My people,”

It will be said to them,

“You are the sons of the living God.”

– Hosea 1:10

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

God loved Israel in spite of her unfaithfulness. And unfaithful she was.

Say to your brothers, “Ammi,” [“my child”] and to your sisters, “Ruhamah.” [“loved”]

“Dispute with your mother, dispute,

Because she is not my wife, and I am not her husband;

But she must remove her infidelity from her face

And her adultery from between her breasts”

– Hosea 2:1-2

Israel pursued whatever they wanted, without regard to who it hurt.

“For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers,

Who give me my bread and my water,

My wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’”

– Hosea 2:5b

God would punish the unfaithfulness, in hope Israel would return to Him.

“And she will pursue her lovers, but she will not reach them;

And she will seek them, but will not find them.

Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my first husband,

Because it was better for me then than now!’”

– Hosea 2:7

… just as Gomer had gone back to Hosea.

Israel didn’t stop to think that, as their covenant with God promised, He was the source of their prosperity.

“Yet she does not know that it was I myself who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil,

And lavished on her silver and gold,

Which they used for Baal [an idol]”

– Hosea 2:8

So God was going to punish their wickedness.

“Therefore, I will take back My grain at harvest time

And My new wine in its season.

I will also take away My wool and My flax

That I gave to cover her nakedness.

So now I will uncover her lewdness

Before the eyes of her lovers,

And no one will rescue her from My hand …

I will punish her for the days of the Baals

When she used to offer sacrifices to them

And adorn herself with her nose ring and jewelry,

And follow her lovers, so that she forgot Me,” declares the Lord.

– Hosea 2:9-10, 13

But the goal of the punishment was always restoration.

“Therefore, behold, I am going to persuade her,

Bring her into the wilderness,

And speak kindly to her.

Then I will give her her vineyards from there,

And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope.

And she will respond there as in the days of her youth,

As in the day when she went up from [slavery in] the land of Egypt.”

– Hosea 2:14-15

God would do whatever it takes to make this broken marriage work.

“I will betroth you to Me forever;

Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice,

In favor and in compassion,

And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.

Then you will know the Lord.”

– Hosea 2:19-20

The hoped-for end is a fully restored marriage.

“I will sow her for Myself in the land.

I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion,

And I will say to those who were not My people,

‘You are My people!’

And they will say, ‘You are my God!’[11]”

– Hosea 2:23

Part Two – Prophecies of Guilt and Judgment

The largest part of Hosea’s book is a sundry collection of prophecies. They are poetic, though perhaps not quite poems.

Hosea starts with a quick prophecy that contains a summary of this entire section.

Listen to the word of the Lord, you sons of Israel,

Because the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land,

For there is no faithfulness, nor loyalty,

Nor knowledge of God in the land.

There is oath-taking [i.e., broken promises], denial, murder, stealing, and adultery.

They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed [blood feuds].

– Hosea 4:1-2

Because of that, the people lack what they need, and nature itself flees.

Therefore the land mourns,

And everyone who lives in it languishes

Along with the animals of the field and the birds of the sky,

And even the fish of the sea disappear.

– Hosea 4:3

But it isn’t possible to correct these people; they aren’t open to it. Part of a priest’s job, in theory, was to tell people of their sins and urge them to change their ways. But some people would argue with the priest and continue their sinful ways.

Yet let no one find fault, and let no one rebuke;

For your people are like those who contend with a priest.

– Hosea 4:4

And because of their refusal to learn or change, they are in danger.

So you will stumble by day,

And the prophet also will stumble with you by night;

And I will destroy your mother.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Since you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being My priest.

– Hosea 4:5-6a

The people don’t just do evil things; they love doing evil.

They feed on the sin of My people,

And long for their wrongdoing.

– Hosea 4:8

Their evil habits cloud their view of right and wrong.

Infidelity, wine, and new wine take away the understanding.

– Hosea 4:11

People wish God would punish someone else’s sins, all the while loving their own similar sins.

I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute,

Or your brides when they commit adultery,

Because the men themselves slip away with the prostitutes

And offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes;

So the people without understanding are ruined.

– Hosea 4:14

Should God offer his support to people who repeatedly do evil and refuse to change?

Since Israel is stubborn

Like a stubborn cow,

Will the Lord now pasture them

Like a lamb in a large field?

– Hosea 4:16

No, He won’t.

The wind wraps them in its wings,

And they will be put to shame because of their sacrifices [to idols].

– Hosea 4:19

Consequences are coming.

Ephraim [one of Israel’s tribes] will become a desolation in the day of rebuke;

Among the tribes of Israel I make known what is trustworthy.

– Hosea 5:9

The hard times to come are because of their determination to do evil.

Ephraim is oppressed, broken by judgment,

Because he was determined to follow man’s command.

– Hosea 5:11

Israel had already fallen far from their glory days, and were small and troubled in Hosea’s day. The people admired the Assyrian Empire, the rising power in the east.

Ephraim then went to Assyria

And sent word to King Jareb.

But he is unable to heal you,

Or to cure you of your sore.

– Hosea 5:13b

God will judge Israel, waiting for them to turn from their evil.

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim

And like a young lion to the house of Judah.

I, yes I, will tear to pieces and go away,

I will carry away, and there will be no one to rescue.

I will go away and return to My place

Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face;

In their distress they will search for Me.

– Hosea 5:14-15

At one point the people did turn to God.

“Come, let’s return to the Lord.

For He has torn us, but He will heal us;

He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.”

– Hosea 6:1

But God could see through their pretense. It was a foxhole conversion, with no commitment to it.

What shall I do with you, Ephraim?

What shall I do with you, Judah?

For your loyalty is like a morning cloud,

And like the dew which goes away early.

– Hosea 6:4

Their religious practices, lacking any effort to learn and do what is right, did not impress God.

For I desire loyalty rather than sacrifice,

And the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings[12].

– Hosea 6:6

Deeply loving His people, God wanted to intervene; but their evil deeds wouldn’t allow it.

When I [wanted to] heal Israel,

The wrongdoing of Ephraim is uncovered …

And they do not consider in their hearts

That I remember all their wickedness.

– Hosea 7:1a, 2a

Israel had been battered by nearby and distant nations, but didn’t understand this happened because of their unfaithfulness.

Ephraim is himself thrown about with the nations;

Ephraim has become a round loaf not turned over [bread untended in the oven and ruined].

Strangers devour his strength,

Yet he does not know it;

Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him,

Yet he does not know it.

– Hosea 7:8-9

God will gladly accept their repentance, but they refuse.

Though the pride of Israel [God] testifies against him,

Yet they have not returned to the Lord their God,

Nor have they sought Him, despite all this.

– Hosea 7:10

Abandoning God always leads to ruin. God waits for their repentance, but they slander Him.

Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me!

Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me!

I would redeem them, but they have spoken lies against Me.

And they do not cry to Me from their heart

When they wail on their beds;

For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves [they only go to religious services for the good meals],

They turn against Me.

Although I trained and strengthened their arms [defended them when they were faithful],

Yet they devise evil against Me.

– Hosea 7:13-15

At a time of military crisis, a trumpet would sound the alarm.

Put the trumpet to your lips!

Like an eagle the enemy comes against the house of the Lord,

Because they have violated My covenant

And rebelled against My Law.

– Hosea 8:1

Israel believes because they are God’s chosen people, He will protect them. But they have rejected God.

They cry out to Me,

“My God, we of Israel know You!”

Israel has rejected the good;

The enemy will pursue him.

– Hosea 8:2-3

Among the false religions favored in Israel, the golden calf cult was prominent. Calf idols and temples were set up in several cities, including the capital, Samaria.

He has rejected your calf, Samaria, saying,

“My anger burns against them!”

– Hosea 8:5a

The impotent calf idol will be destroyed because of the sin it promotes.

A craftsman made it, so it is not God;

Assuredly, the calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces.

For they sow wind

And they harvest a storm.

– Hosea 8:6b-7a

Not long after Hosea’s prophecies, in a time of military crisis, Israel reached out to Assyria, rather than God, for help. But it came at a great cost[13].

For they have gone up to Assyria,

Like a wild donkey all alone;

Ephraim has paid fees for lovers.

Even though they pay for allies among the nations,

I will gather them up now;

And they will begin to diminish

– Hosea 8:9-10a

Israel’s wealth and fortifications would not protect them; God’s judgment would surely come.

For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces;

And Judah has multiplied fortified cities,

But I will send a fire on its cities, and it will consume its palatial buildings.

– Hosea 8:14

Things may seem to be OK in the moment; but as sin builds up, so does judgment.

Do not rejoice, Israel, with jubilation like the nations!

For you have been unfaithful, abandoning your God.

You have loved the earnings of unfaithfulness on every threshing floor.

– Hosea 9:1

The threshing floor was where the harvest was processed. The harvest was always accompanied by celebration, because it foretold survival through the winter. But Israel’s celebrations, rather than being times of thanksgiving, were unholy parties of excess and abuse. And so the bounty would not continue.

Threshing floor and wine press will not feed them,

And the new wine will fail them.

They will not remain in the Lord’s land,

But Ephraim will return to Egypt [i.e., slavery],

And in Assyria [where they were later taken prisoner] they will eat unclean [foreign] food.

– Hosea 9:2-3

The time for consequences had come.

The days of punishment have come,

The days of retribution have come;

Let Israel know this!

The prophet is [treated like] a fool,

The inspired person is [thought] insane,

Because of the grossness of your wrongdoing,

And because your hostility is so great.

– Hosea 9:7

In those days children were highly valued; everyone wanted children. This was one of the blessings God would remove because of their apostasy.

As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird—

No birth, no pregnancy, and no conception!

Though they bring up their children,

Yet I will bereave them of their children until not a person is left.

Yes, woe to them indeed when I depart from them!

Ephraim, as I have seen,

Is planted in a pasture like Tyre;

But Ephraim is going to bring out his children for slaughter.

Give to them, Lord—what will You give?

Give them a miscarrying womb and dried-up breasts.

– Hosea 9:11-14

Faithfulness to God had resulted in prosperity. But prosperity had led to apostasy.

Israel is a luxuriant vine;

He produces fruit for himself.

The more his fruit,

The more altars [for idol worship] he made;

The richer his land,

The better he made the memorial stones.

Their heart is deceitful;

Now they must suffer for their guilt.

The Lord will break down their altars [of idol worship]

And destroy their memorial stones.

– Hosea 10:1-2

Hosea writes many lines about God’s coming judgment, including

Also the high places [hilltop shrines of idol worship] of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed;

Thorns and thistles will grow on their altars;

Then they will say to the mountains,

“Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”[14]

– Hosea 10:8

God reminds Israel of His long lasting love for them, going all the way back to when He rescued them from slavery in Egypt.

When Israel was a youth I loved him,

And out of Egypt I called My son[15].

– Hosea 11:1

But after exiting Egypt, Israel abandoned God and refused to hear His prophets, turning instead to idols.

The more [the prophets] called them,

The more they went away from them;

They kept sacrificing to the Baals

And burning incense to idols.

– Hosea 11:2

This was no minor backsliding, but a determined pattern.

So My people are determined to turn from Me.

Though [prophets] call [Israel] to the One on high,

None at all exalts Him.

– Hosea 11:7

God is very reluctant to punish His people as severely as they deserve.

How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I surrender you, Israel?

How can I make you like Admah [a town destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah]?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim [another town destroyed]?

My heart is turned over within Me,

All My compassions are kindled.

– Hosea 11:8

Yet Israel continues their selfish ways.

Ephraim surrounds Me with lies

And the house of Israel with deceit;

Judah is still unruly against God,

Even against the Holy One who is faithful.

– Hosea 11:12

Farther down, referring both to Israel’s determination to sin and God’s determination to restore them, he says:

Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol [i.e., hell]?

Shall I redeem them from death?

Death, where are your thorns?

Sheol, where is your sting?[16]

Compassion will be hidden from My sight.

– Hosea 13:14

Part Three – Prophecies of Restoration

In spite of Israel’s repeated betrayals, God continually calls His people to repent.

Return, Israel, to the Lord your God,

For you have stumbled because of your wrongdoing.

Take words with you and return to the Lord.

Say to Him, “Take away all guilt

And receive us graciously,

So that we may present the fruit of our lips.”

– Hosea 14:1-2

If they will return to God …

I will heal their apostasy,

I will love them freely,

Because My anger has turned away from them.

I will be like the dew to Israel;

He will blossom like the lily,

And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

His shoots will sprout,

His majesty will be like the olive tree,

And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.

Those who live in his shadow

Will again raise grain,

And they will blossom like the vine.

His fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

– Hosea 14:4-7

Let us turn from our evil practices, knowing the only good future is with God.

Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?

It is I who answer and look after you.

I am like a luxuriant juniper;

From Me comes your fruit.

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 wrongdoers will stumble in them.

– Hosea 14:8-9

Epilogue

God has always wanted a family. He has gone so many extra miles to make that happen.

Yet we whom He called have too often gone our own way, in violation of the covenant He made with us, and we with Him.

Still, His offer stands: if we will follow Him, He will lead us to wonderful places.

[11]Both Paul and Peter quote this verse; Paul to say God now includes Gentiles, previously excluded, in His plan of salvation (Romans 9:25); Peter to say Jews who once stumbled on Jesus are now invited to embrace Him (1 Peter 2:10)

[12]Jesus quoted this verse when defending His decision to interact with people in spite of their bad track records (Matthew 9:13)

[13]Judah’s King Ahaz surrendered national sovereignty to Assyria in exchange for defense against enemies (2 Kings 16:7-9). Israel’s King Menahem did roughly the same (2 Kings 15:19-20).

[14]Jesus quoted this verse of doom regarding the people remaining in Jerusalem when He died (Luke 23:30); and the Apostle John quoted it in reference to the future Apocalypse (Revelation 6:16)

[15]It was this passage that the gospel writer cites, referring to young Jesus’ escape to Egypt and return to the promised land (Matthew 2:15)

[16]The Apostle Paul quotes this verse in his “resurrection chapter”, to celebrate that victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Joel

Joel writes about the Day of the Lord, a dramatic intervention by God in human history that brings both catastrophic judgment upon sin and ultimate salvation for those who return to God.

God had promised His people that if they diligently obeyed, He would bless them agriculturally; but if they violated their covenant with Him, their farms would fail[17]. God’s people alternated between times of faithfulness and times of apostasy.

In Joel’s day, a time of great sin led to repeating plagues of locusts, which destroyed their crops, leaving them hungry and destitute.

The Unprecedented Plague

Joel starts his account of current conditions by pointing out that it is worse than anything they could remember.

Hear this, you elders,

And listen, all inhabitants of the land.

Has anything like this happened in your days,

Or in your fathers’ days?

Tell your sons about it,

And have your sons tell their sons,

And their sons the next generation.

– Joel 1:2-3

What was this unprecedented problem? Wave after wave of locusts, destroying one crop after another.

What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten;

And what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten;

And what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten.

– Joel 1:4

This was as awful as if foreign invaders had destroyed their land.

For a nation has invaded my land,

Mighty and without number;

Its teeth are the teeth of a lion,

And it has the jaws of a lioness.

It has made my vine a waste

And my fig tree a stump.

It has stripped them bare and hurled them away;

Their branches have become white.

– Joel 1:6-7

In a land that depended upon agriculture for its survival, this was an existential threat:

The field is ruined,

The land mourns;

For the grain is ruined,

The new wine has dried up,

Fresh oil has failed.

Be ashamed, you farm workers,

Wail, you vinedressers,

For the wheat and the barley;

Because the harvest of the field is destroyed.

– Joel 1:10-11

The plague deeply affected farm animals; the people of Judah were excellent shepherds.

How the animals have groaned!

The herds of cattle have wandered aimlessly

Because there is no pasture for them;

Even the flocks of sheep have suffered.

– Joel 1:18

Each wave of locusts brought fresh desolation.

A fire consumes before them,

And behind them a flame devours.

The land is like the Garden of Eden before them,

But a desolate wilderness behind them,

And nothing at all escapes them.

– Joel 2:3

The noise of the approaching locusts alarms those who hear them coming.

With a noise as of chariots

They leap about on the tops of the mountains,

Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble,

Like a mighty people drawn up for battle.

Before them the people are in anguish;

All faces turn pale.

– Joel 2:5-6

The Reason for the Plague

The loss of crops was no accident, no random occurrence. There was a reason for it. God brought this plague in response to the sins of His people. The “day of the Lord” refers to a time when God punishes His people’s sins.

The Lord utters His voice before His army;

His camp is indeed very great,

For mighty is one who carries out His word.

The day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome,

And who can endure it?

– Joel 2:11

God’s punishment comes with an invitation to repentance.

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

“Return to Me with all your heart,

And with fasting, weeping, and mourning;

And tear your heart and not merely your garments.”

Now return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and compassionate,

Slow to anger, abounding in mercy

And relenting of catastrophe.

– Joel 2:12-13

If you do,

Then the Lord will be zealous for His land,

And will have compassion for His people.

The Lord will answer and say to His people,

“Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine, and oil,

And you will be satisfied in full with them;

And I will never again make you a disgrace among the nations.

– Joel 2:18-19

Years of crops had been lost, years of hunger and desperation. But God knows how to give those years back.

“Then I will compensate you for the years

That the swarming locust has eaten,

The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust—

My great army which I sent among you.

You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied,

And you will praise the name of the Lord your God,

Who has dealt wondrously with you;

Then My people will never be put to shame.

– Joel 2:25-26

Are there years you have lost to sin? God knows how to give them back to you.

Prophecies for Later

Up till now, Joel has been talking about his own time. Now he shifts to the future. He looks forward to a time when

“It will come about after this

That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;

And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,

Your old men will have dreams,

Your young men will see visions[18] …

And it will come about that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord

Will be saved[19]”

– Joel 2:28, 32a

Joel continues to a time when God will restore His people to their homeland:

“For behold, in those days and at that time,

When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem…”

– Joel 3:1

In order to do that, He will need to judge the nations who have oppressed them:

“I will gather all the nations

And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

Then I will enter into judgment with them there

On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel,

Whom they have scattered among the nations;

And they have divided up My land.”

– Joel 3:2

After expanding on their offenses, Joel talks about how the judgment will proceed.

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.

Come, tread the grapes, for the wine press is full[20];

The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!

For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

The sun and moon have become dark,

And the stars have lost their brightness.

The Lord roars from Zion

And utters His voice from Jerusalem,

And the heavens and the earth quake.

– Joel 3:13-16a

But for those who trust God, the judgment will bring relief.

But the Lord is a refuge for His people,

And a stronghold for the sons of Israel.

Then you will know that I am the Lord your God,

Dwelling on Zion, My holy mountain.

So Jerusalem will be holy,

And strangers will no longer pass through it.

– Joel 3:16b-17

And the relief will not be merely a reprieve, but permanent.

But Judah will be inhabited forever,

And Jerusalem for all generations.

– Joel 3:20

Epilogue

In Joel’s day, persistent sin had brought severe judgment and suffering. God, through Joel, invites His people to repent. If they do, God promises the judgment will end, and His people’s fortune will be restored.

And those who repent will be included in God’s permanent home, a place where plagues and invaders cannot enter.

[17]Deuteronomy 28:4-5, 12, 17-18, 24, 33, 38-40, 42

[18]The Apostle Peter quoted this passage in his sermon, seeing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in his day as a fulfillment of this prophecy (Acts 2:17-21)

[19]The Apostle Paul quoted this in his explanation of salvation (Romans 10:13)

[20]The Apostle John referred to this in his vision of future judgment (Revelation 14:15-18)

Amos

When people intentionally, without compassion, repeatedly hurt each other, God will not let it continue forever. He warns; He applies mild, corrective punishments; He is patient; but eventually, He will put a stop to the abuse.

The nation of Israel started with great promise. After being freed from slavery, they joined in a covenant with God, committed to following His laws and living rightly. But they quickly and repeatedly turned to evil ways. They occasionally repented and made good, but soon forgot and returned to selfish, abusive lifestyles. This pattern continued for centuries.

The religious leaders were false, leading their people away from God and right living. So God spoke to a simple but faithful farmer named Amos, sending him far from his home in southern Judah to speak to Israel.

Part One – Judgments Against Nations

The first part of Amos’s prophecy is a series of seven poems, each describing the offenses of a nearby nation, and declaring God’s coming judgment.

“The Lord roars from Zion,

And from Jerusalem He utters His voice;

And the shepherds’ pasture grounds mourn,

And the summit of Carmel dries up.”

– Amos 1:2b

Hebrew poems did not have rhyme and meter like many English-language poems. Instead, the ideas rhymed; repeated statements, saying the same thing in different words. And the meter was that of verses having the same structure as each other.

Each of Amos’s recitations follows the poetic form

“For three offenses of so-and-so, and for four,”

God will punish;
and he then lists an offense or two,
followed by the form God’s judgment will take.

Judgment Against Damascus

To Israel’s northeast, neighboring Syria, with her capital at Damascus, had been a frequent source of pain. Though friendly to Israel in King David’s day, Syria had harassed them in recent times, invading Israel’s Gilead territory, east of the Jordan River.

The several kings from the Ben-hadad and Hazael families had been especially ruthless. After defeating Israel in one battle, they executed nearly all the captured soldiers and destroyed all their weapons, crushing the weapons (and perhaps the soldiers’ bodies) making them “like the dust at threshing”[21], invoking Amos’ “threshed with iron sledges” metaphor below.

In another battle, they not only killed soldiers, but exterminated civilian survivors[22].

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Damascus, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they threshed Gilead with iron sledges.

So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael,

And it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.

I will also break the gate bar of Damascus,

And eliminate every inhabitant from the Valley of Aven,

As well as him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden;

So the people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,”

Says the Lord.

– Amos 1:3-5

Judgment Against Gaza

The Philistines, Israel’s neighbor to the southwest, had invaded and harassed Israel constantly during their history, from the time of Moses and Joshua[23] up through the days of King David (remember that Goliath was a Philistine). They were subdued in David and Solomon’s time, but became aggressive again in later years.

Then in the days of King Jehoram, Philistines had invaded Jerusalem and kidnapped, among others, the king’s wives and sons to be sold into slavery[24]. It was this offense that Amos mentions.

One of the 5 capital cities of the Philistine nation to Israel’s southwest, Gaza had become a symbol of the whole; hence, Gaza rather than Philistia is named in the judgment. Amos includes 3 other Philistine capitals in his prophecy (Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron; the remaining capital, Gath, was no longer a threat in Amos’ day, having been conquered by foreigners[25] and later completely dismantled[26].)

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Gaza, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they led into exile an entire population

To turn them over to Edom.

So I will send fire on the wall of Gaza

And it will consume her citadels.

I will also eliminate every inhabitant from Ashdod,

As well as him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon;

And I will direct My power against Ekron,

And the remnant of the Philistines will perish,”

Says the Lord God.

– Amos 1:6-8

Judgment Against Tyre

The city of Tyre, in Lebanon near Israel’s northern border, had been on friendly terms with Israel ever since Kings David and Solomon negotiated treaties with them.

But in later times, Tyre conducted slave raids into Israel[27], selling their victims to Israel’s frequent enemy, Edom.

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Tyre, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they turned an entire population over to Edom

And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

So I will send fire on the wall of Tyre,

And it will consume her citadels.”

– Amos 1:9-10

Judgment Against Edom

Israel and Edom were brother nations, descended from ancestors who were brothers: Jacob and Esau.

But it was not a good brotherhood. They were often in conflict, and sometimes bitterly so. Way back in Moses’ day, Edom refused to associate with Israel[28]. Another prophet, Obadiah, had castigated Edom because, when Israel was invaded and conquered, Edom, rather than help brother Israel, helped their oppressors[29]. Edom also conducted slave raids against Israel[30].

For this unmitigated opposition, God promised to judge the nation of Edom.

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Edom, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because he pursued his brother with the sword

And stifled his compassion;

His anger also tore continually,

And he maintained his fury forever.

So I will send fire upon Teman

And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.”

– Amos 1:11-12

Judgment Against Ammon

The Ammonites, Israel’s neighbor to the east, were in conflict with Israel almost constantly through the centuries.

During Israel’s conquest of Canaan, God forbade them from invading Ammon[31]. But by Israel’s era of judges, Ammon no longer reciprocated the border peace[32].

It seems the Ammonites employed the common middle-eastern practice[33] of exterminating civilian populations of the lands they invaded.

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of the sons of Ammon, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead

In order to enlarge their borders.

So I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah,

And it will consume her citadels

Amid war cries on the day of battle,

And amid a storm on the day of tempest.

Their king will go into exile,

He and his princes together,” says the Lord.

– Amos 1:13-15

Judgment Against Moab

Moab, wedged between Edom to the south and Israel to the north, seemed to be hostile to everyone they met. Nearly every Bible reference reflects animosity.

The specific offense Amos cites – desecrating an enemy king’s grave and body – is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible or in history, but it must have been common knowledge in his day.

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Moab, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.

So I will send fire upon Moab

And it will consume the citadels of Kerioth;

And Moab will die amid the panic of battle,

Amid war cries and the sound of a trumpet.

I will also eliminate the judge from her midst

And slay all her leaders with him,” says the Lord.

– Amos 2:1-3

Judgment Against Judah

The first 5 judgments were against neighboring nations, but this one strikes closer to home. Long ago Israel had split into 2 nations, called Israel and Judah. Amos was from Judah but was preaching in Israel, so this poem speaks against the listeners’ brother nation.

Little elaboration on Amos’ accusation is needed. From the time God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt, right up until Amos’ day and beyond, their history alternates between times of faithfulness to their covenant with God and times of increasing evil behavior.

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Judah, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they rejected the Law of the Lord

And have not kept His statutes;

Their lies also have led them astray,

Those which their fathers followed.

So I will send fire upon Judah,

And it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”

– Amos 2:4-5

Amos’ judgment against Judah took place many years later, when Babylon laid siege to Jerusalem, destroyed the city, and took its inhabitants hundreds of miles away captive, subjects to that strange foreign power.

Judgment Against Israel

Amos saves his longest and most poignant judgment for the people among whom he was issuing his prophecy: Israel.

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Israel, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they sell the righteous for money,

And the needy for a pair of sandals.

These who trample the head of the helpless to the dust of the earth

Also divert the way of the humble;

– Amos 2:6-7a

Treating neighbors as expendable in the pursuit of one’s ambitions was considered normal in Israel’s more corrupt times. In one example, Israel’s King Ahab framed an innocent citizen of a capital crime so he could seize his garden[34].

Sexual crimes were rampant in Israel. God had forbidden sexual abuse, and specifically one sort of incest commonly practiced[35].

“And a man and his father resort to the same girl

So as to profane My holy name.”

– Amos 2:7b

People in distress might need to borrow, and their lending neighbors might demand as collateral items the borrower could not part with and survive; clothing, very expensive in those days, was a common example. The law didn’t allow the lender to keep the clothing, endangering the borrower’s life or health, even if the borrower failed to repay promptly[36]. But …

“And on garments seized as pledges they stretch out beside every altar,

And in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.”

– Amos 2:8

The people might feel no obligation to follow the covenant their ancestors made with God. God reminds them their happy lot in life resulted from His actions on their behalf; and so yes, they are obligated.

“Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them,

Though his height was like the height of cedars

And he was as strong as the oaks;

I also destroyed his fruit above and his roots below.

And it was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt,

And led you in the wilderness for forty years

So that you might take possession of the land of the Amorite.”

– Amos 2:9-10

God had raised prophets to denounce and call them to renew the covenant. But refusing to hear, they intimidated the prophets into silence.

Once particular type of prophet was the Nazirite. In addition to speaking for God, the Nazirite pledged various vows, including not cutting their hair (remember Samson?) and not drinking wine. But those committed to their sinful ways sullied those vows.

“Then I raised up some of your sons to be prophets,

And some of your young men to be Nazirites.

Is this not so, you sons of Israel?” declares the Lord.

“But you made the Nazirites drink wine,

And you commanded the prophets, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy!’”

– Amos 2:11-12

God promises judgment against Israel will be uncompromising.

“Behold, I am making a rut in the ground beneath you,

Just as a wagon makes a rut when filled with sheaves.

Refuge will be lost from the swift,

And the strong will not strengthen his power,

Nor the warrior save his life.

The one who grasps the bow will not stand his ground,

The swift of foot will not escape,

Nor will the one who rides the horse save his life.

Even the bravest among the warriors will flee naked on that day,” declares the Lord.

– Amos 2:13-16

Part Two – Guilt and the Call to Repentance

Amos introduces this section by declaring God will punish the nation’s evil practices, because they rejected the very privileged position in which God had placed them.

Hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt:

“You only have I known among all the families of the earth;

Therefore I will punish you for all your wrongdoing.”

– Amos 3:1-2

A series of metaphors of things well-known to Amos’ people lead them to realize that when judgment comes, it is no accident.

Do two people walk together unless they have agreed to meet?

Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?

Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured something?

Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no [bait] in it?

Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?

If a trumpet is blown in a city, will the people not tremble?

If a disaster occurs in a city, has the Lord not brought it about?

– Amos 3:3-6

When judgment is coming, God announces it in advance through his prophets, giving the people time to react and avoid disaster. Amos, who is being harassed by his unwilling hearers, might prefer not to speak up, but he can’t ignore God.

Certainly the Lord God does nothing

Unless He reveals His secret plan

To His servants the prophets.

A lion has roared! Who will not fear?

The Lord God has spoken! Who can do anything but prophesy?

– Amos 3:7-8

In the Israelite town of Bethel, a temple of idol worship had been built centuries ago. Idol worship was not innocent; the worshipers were required to perform evil acts. God was going to put an end to Bethel.

“For on the day that I punish Israel’s offenses,

I will also punish the altars of Bethel;

The horns of the altar will be cut off,

And will fall to the ground.”

– Amos 3:14

Royalty in Israel’s capital of Samaria required their family members to provide luxury, at the expense of those they exploited.

Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria,

Who exploit the poor, who oppress the needy,

And say to their husbands, “Bring now, that we may drink!”

– Amos 4:1

But God will put a stop to the abuse.

The Lord God has sworn by His holiness,

“For behold, the days are coming upon you

When they will take you away with meat hooks,

And the last of you with fish hooks.

You will go out through holes in the walls,

One in front of the other,

And you will be hurled to Harmon,” declares the Lord.

– Amos 4:2-3

God has sent lesser judgments, giving people an opportunity to repent. But they refused.

“But I gave you also cleanness of teeth [i.e., hunger] in all your cities,

And lack of bread in all your places;

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord.

“Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you

While there were still three months until harvest.

Then I would send rain on one city,

But on another city I would not send rain;

One part would be rained on,

While the part not rained on would dry up.

So the people of two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink water,

But would not be satisfied;

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord.

– Amos 4:6-8

In view of their consistent refusal, a more severe and unavoidable judgment is coming.

“Therefore so I will do to you, Israel;

Because I will do this to you,

Prepare to meet your God, Israel.”

– Amos 4:12

But the judgment is avoidable after all – if only the people will stop their evil ways.

We mentioned Bethel earlier, as a place of evil religious practice. Gilgal was similar. Beersheba was also a place where religious leaders took bribes to pervert justice[37].

For this is what the Lord says to the house of Israel:

“Seek Me so that you may live.

But do not resort to Bethel

And do not come to Gilgal,

Nor cross over to Beersheba;

For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity

And Bethel will come to nothing.

Seek the Lord so that you may live”

– Amos 5:4-6a

Justice in Israel was only for those who could afford bribes. The corruption was plainly visible, but no one had the courage to speak up about it.

For I know your offenses are many and your sins are great,

You who are hostile to the righteous and accept bribes,

And turn away the poor from justice at the gate.

Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps quiet, because it is an evil time.

– Amos 5:12-13

Still, God invites repentance and promises to be with those few who remain faithful.

Seek good and not evil[38], so that you may live;

And so may the Lord God of armies be with you,

Just as you have said!

Hate evil, love good,

And establish justice in the gate!

Perhaps the Lord God of armies

Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph [a tribe in Israel].

– Amos 5:14-15

These were troubled times in Israel. They had long expected God to come and rescue them. But because of their sin, God’s coming would not be a rescue; He would come with their punishment.

Woe to you who are longing for the day of the Lord,

For what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you?

It will be darkness and not light;

As when a man flees from a lion

And a bear confronts him,

Or he goes home, leans with his hand against the wall,

And a snake bites him.

Will the day of the Lord not be darkness instead of light,

Even gloom with no brightness in it?

– Amos 5:18-20

These people were deeply religious. But their religion was for some false reason. It did not purify their hearts or their behavior. And God rejected it.

“I hate, I reject your festivals,

Nor do I delight in your festive assemblies.

Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fattened oxen.

Take away from Me the noise of your songs;

I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.”

– Amos 5:21-23

What does God want instead?

“But let justice roll out like waters,

And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

– Amos 5:24

During their 40 years in the wilderness, the people of Israel worshiped God, but half-heartedly. They also kept their idols and their precious sins.

“Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, house of Israel? You also carried along Sikkuth your king and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus[39],” says the Lord, whose name is the God of armies.

– Amos 5:25-27

Because of injustice, horrible times are coming.

Woe to those who are carefree in Zion [a district in Jerusalem],

And to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria

– Amos 6:1a

God has judged others. We may not recognize these cities, but Israel knew them well. If God judged them, He is able to judge Israel too.

Go over to Calneh and look,

And go from there to Hamath the great,

Then go down to Gath of the Philistines.

Are they better than these kingdoms,

Or is their territory greater than yours?

Are you postponing the day of disaster,

And would you bring near the seat of violence?

– Amos 6:2-3

Israel lived in luxury now, but they would soon be taken prisoner.

Therefore, they will now go into exile at the head of the exiles,

And the revelry of those who lounge around will come to an end.

The Lord God has sworn by Himself, the Lord God of armies has declared:

“I loathe the arrogance of Jacob,

And detest his citadels;

Therefore I will give up the city and all it contains.”

– Amos 6:7-8

In that day of disaster, pockets of survivors would live in fear, lest God’s judgment extend its reach and take them too.

And it will be, if ten men are left in one house, they will die. Then one’s uncle, or his undertaker, will lift him up to carry out his bones from the house, and he will say to the one who is in the innermost part of the house, “Is anyone else with you?” And that one will say, “No one.” Then he will answer, “Keep quiet! For the name of the Lord is not to be mentioned.” For behold, the Lord is going to command that the great house be smashed to pieces, and the small house to rubble. – Amos 6:9-11

Part Three – Visions

Amos ends his book with 3 visions that foretell the coming judgment.

First Vision – Judgment Is Unavoidable

The first vision has 3 segments, in which God shows Amos a coming judgment. Amos believes his already weak nation cannot survive the judgment.

This is what the Lord God showed me, and behold, He was forming a swarm of locusts when the spring crop began to sprout. And behold, the spring crop was after the king’s mowing.

– Amos 7:1

Locust swarms were legendary in their destruction to agriculture. Such a swarm was 1 of the 10 plagues God had placed on Egypt long ago, forcing them to free their slaves.

But Amos begged God not to judge so severely.

And it came about [in Amos’ vision], when it had finished eating the vegetation of the land, that I said,

“Lord God, please pardon!

How can Jacob stand?

For he is small.”

The Lord relented of this.

“It shall not be,” said the Lord.

– Amos 7:2-3

Then the second segment of the vision.

So the Lord God showed me, and behold, the Lord God was calling to contend with them by fire, and it consumed the great deep and began to consume the farmland. – Amos 7:4

Fire’s destructive power is known to everyone. Again, Amos asked God to relent. And again, He did.

Then I said,

“Lord God, please stop!

How can Jacob stand?

For he is small.”

The Lord relented of this.

“This too shall not be,” said the Lord God.

– Amos 7:5-6

But God will not stand by forever while people abuse each other.

So He showed me, and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand.

– Amos 7:7

A plumb line was the ancient equivalent of a carpenter’s level, to assure a building was square; if not, the building must be corrected or destroyed.

Such a line was sometimes used in ancient times to separate a group of prisoners into those who would be executed and those who would be allowed to live[40].

God used the plumb line as a symbol that His judgment would not wait forever.

And 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 not spare them any longer.

The high places [hilltop shrines of idol worship] of Isaac [one of Israel’s founding ancestors] will become deserted,

And the sanctuaries of Israel will be in ruins.

Then I will rise up against the house of [Israel’s King] Jeroboam with the sword.”

– Amos 7:8-9

Amos Accused

Amos had been speaking his prophecies at the Israelite town of Bethel, where there was a shrine to the golden calf cult, which Israel’s King Jeroboam frequented.

But Amos was a foreigner here. He was from the town of Tekoa, on the far side of his homeland, Judah.

Besides that, Amos not only accused people of wrongdoing; he also forecast military doom. This could hurt morale, and might be considered sabotage. Folks at Bethel didn’t like it.

Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is unable to endure all his words. For this is what Amos says: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’” – Amos 7:10-11

After reporting him to the authorities, the priest ordered Amos to return home. He implied Amos had come to Israel because a prophet could get better wages in Israel than in Judah.

Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you [prophet], flee to the land of Judah; and eat bread there and do your prophesying there! But do not prophesy at Bethel any longer, for it is a sanctuary of the king and a royal residence.” – Amos 7:12-13

But Amos was not a professional prophet or clergyman. He was from a farming family, until God called him away from the family farm. He wasn’t here seeking his fortune; he was obeying God’s direct orders.

Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’” – Amos 7:14-15

Because of the priest’s rebellion, God had a specific message for him. This prophecy would be fulfilled when the Assyrian army conquered Israel not long after, during their own lifetime.

So now hear the word of the Lord: you are saying, ‘You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you prophesy against the house of Isaac.’ Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line, and you yourself will die upon unclean [i.e., foreign] soil. Furthermore Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’” – Amos 7:16-17

Second Vision – A Basket of Summer Fruit

When fruit is ripe, it must be harvested, or else be lost.

This is what the Lord God showed me, and behold, there was a basket of summer fruit. And He said, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then the Lord said to me, “The end has come for My people Israel. I will not spare them any longer. The songs of the palace will turn to wailing on that day,” declares the Lord God. “The corpses will be many; in every place they will throw them out. Hush!” – Amos 8:1-3

Why was God determined to judge His people?

They could hardly wait for their religious obligation to end so they could go back to cheating each other.

Hear this, you who trample the needy, to put an end to the humble of the land, saying,

“When will the new moon [religious observance] be over,

So that we may sell grain;

And the Sabbath, so that we may open the wheat market [which closed on the Sabbath],

To make the ephah [a measuring cup] smaller and the shekel [a unit of money] bigger,

And to cheat with dishonest scales,

So as to buy the helpless for money,

And the needy for a pair of sandals,

And that we may sell the refuse of the wheat?”

– Amos 8:4-6

In addition to the invasion already mentioned several times, God now turns to an even greater threat: He Himself will no longer listen to His people.

In Old Testament times people could, with proper ceremony, ask God as question and He would answer. But because of persistent sin, He was going to stop answering.

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord God,

“When I will send a famine on the land,

Not a famine of 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 roam about to seek the word of the Lord,

But they will not find it.”

– Amos 8:11-12

Third Vision – Destruction

I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said,

“Strike the pillar [tops] so that the thresholds will shake,

And break them on the heads of them all!

Then I will put to death the rest of them with the sword;

They will not have a fugitive who will flee,

Nor a survivor who will escape.”

– Amos 9:1

People might try to escape, but they will not escape.

“Though they dig into Sheol,

From there My hand will take them;

And though they ascend to heaven,

From there I will bring them down.

And though they hide on the summit of Carmel,

I will track them down and take them from there;

And though they hide themselves from My sight on the bottom of the sea,

I will command the serpent from there, and it will bite them.

And though they go into captivity before their enemies,

From there I will command the sword and it will kill them,

And I will set My eyes against them for harm and not for good.”

– Amos 9:2-4

Eventual Restoration

But in spite of God’s unstoppable punishment, He will keep faith with His people.

“Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom [Israel],

And I will eliminate it from the face of the earth;

Nevertheless, I will not totally eliminate the house of Jacob [i.e., Israel],”

Declares the Lord.

– Amos 9:8

Because a day is coming when God will return His people to the promised land.

“On that day I will raise up the fallen shelter [i.e., house, or family] of David,

And wall up its gaps;

I will also raise up its ruins

And rebuild it as in the days of old”;

So that they may possess the remnant of Edom

And all the nations who are called by My name[41],”

Declares the Lord who does this.

– Amos 9:11-12

Prosperity will return in such a big way they will not be able to take advantage of it all.

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord,

“When the plowman will overtake the reaper,

And the one who treads grapes will overtake him who sows the seed;

When the mountains will drip grape juice,

And all the hills will come apart.

I will also restore the fortunes of My people Israel,

And they will rebuild the desolated cities and live in them;

They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine,

And make gardens and eat their fruit.

I will also plant them on their land,

And they will not be uprooted again from their land

Which I have given them,”

Says the Lord your God.

– Amos 9:13-15

Epilogue

Within mere decades, God’s judgment came. The Assyrian Empire, legendary among the brutal for its overdone brutality, invaded. They destroyed the capital city, Samaria, and then exiled the entire population to other lands they had conquered.

[21]2 Kings 13:7

[22]2 Kings 8:12

[23]Exodus 13:17

[24]2 Chronicles 21:16-17

[25]2 Kings 12:17

[26]2 Chronicles 26:6

[27]Joel 3:4-6

[28]Numbers 20:18

[29]Obadiah 10-11

[30]2 Chronicles 28:17

[31]Deuteronomy 2:19

[32]Judges 3:13, 10:7-9, 11:4; 1 Samuel 11:1

[33]2 Kings 8:12, 15:16

[34]1 Kings 21

[35]Deuteronomy 22:30

[36]Deuteronomy 24:12-13

[37]1 Samuel 8:2-3

[38]The Apostle Paul alludes to this in his rapid-fire list about service to God (Romans 12:9)

[39]The deacon Stephen quoted this in his trial defense before being stoned (Acts 7:42-43)

[40]2 Samuel 8:2

[41]The Apostle James references this passage in his decision at the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:16-17)

Obadiah

The tiny Book of Obadiah – a single chapter, only 21 verses – responds to a then-current event in which a nation took a stand for evil, victimizing a neighbor nation in their moment of need.

God promised to destroy the offending nation.

Historical Context

Two brothers – Jacob and Esau – fathered two nations – Israel and Edom.

The nations, like the brothers, had troubled relationships. Sometimes allies, sometimes enemies.

Then, in a moment of great crisis for Israel, Edom took pitiless advantage of his brother nation.

Obadiah wrote his book indicting Edom for their evil behavior and prophesying their doom in consequence.

Edom’s Doom

God told Obadiah, who wrote:

“The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,

The one who lives in the clefts of the rock,

On the height of his dwelling place,

Who says in his heart,

‘Who will bring me down to earth?’

Though you make your home high like the eagle,

Though you set your nest among the stars,

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

– Obadiah 3-4

The land of Edom was replete with caves in cliffs, easily defended and hard to assault. People taking refuge there could hold off a much larger group of attackers. They thought themselves safe, but God’s reach goes everywhere.

“All the people allied with you

Will send you to the border,

And the people at peace with you

Will deceive you and overpower you.”

– Obadiah 7a

Edom’s Offense

Why is God angry with Edom?

“Because of violence to your brother Jacob,

Shame will cover you,

And you will be eliminated forever.

On the day that you stood aloof,

On the day that strangers carried off his wealth,

And foreigners entered his gate

And cast lots for Jerusalem—

You too were as one of them.”

– Obadiah 10-11

A foreign army had invaded Jerusalem (“foreigners entered his gate”), broken down her protective wall, and forcibly carried her people into slavery.

Edom was in a position to help, at least somewhat. Instead, she “stood aloof”, offering no help. More than that, they celebrated Israel’s misfortune.

“Do not gloat over your brother’s day,

The day of his misfortune.

And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah

On the day of their destruction;

Yes, do not boast

On the day of their distress.”

– Obadiah 12

Edom followed the invading army, looting what was left of Israel’s belongings.

“Do not enter the gate of My people

On the day of their disaster…

And do not lay a hand on their wealth

On the day of their disaster.”

– Obadiah 13

Edom could have helped Israel’s refugees escape. Instead, they arrested them and turned them over to their enemies.

“Do not stand at the crossroads

To eliminate their survivors;

And do not hand over their refugees

On the day of their distress.”

– Obadiah 14

How Will Judgment Happen?

Edom will harvest what she has planted.

“For the day of the Lord is near for all the nations.

Just as you have done, it will be done to you.

Your dealings will return on your own head.”

– Obadiah 15

But God promises Israel will return to her own land.

“But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape,

And it will be holy.

And the house of Jacob will possess their property.”

– Obadiah 17

Unlike Israel, Edom will be lost to history.

“But the house of Esau will be like stubble.

And they will set them on fire and consume them,

So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,”

For the Lord has spoken.

– Obadiah 18b

God will rescue Israel but judge Edom.

The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion

To judge the mountain of Esau,

And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.

– Obadiah 21

Epilogue

God calls on nations, like brothers, to be kind, to treat neighbor nations as they want to be treated. Nations that do so receive God’s blessing. Those that do not invite judgment.

Edom violated God’s call, and in the end lost everything.

Jonah

Everyone knows about Jonah, swallowed by a sea monster. People who don’t know the Bible has “major” and “minor” prophets, know about Jonah.

Though the Bible’s prophets can be challenging reading, Jonah is straightforward, simple, brief, and delightful to read.

The overriding message of the Book of Jonah is …

God is reluctant to punish, and anxious to forgive. He is anxious to forgive anyone who will receive it, including those we think don’t deserve it.

But that lesson was hard on Jonah, who was not so interested in forgiving his enemies, and smiled upon the potential punishment coming to them.

Historical Context

Far to the east of Jonah’s home in Israel, the Assyrian Empire was the rising new power. Though they had not yet invaded Israel, everyone had heard of them. Their cruelty toward people they conquered was legendary. Assyria had already invaded nations near Israel, and everyone anticipated – correctly – that Israel would one day be in Assyria’s cross-hairs.

In that setting, God spoke to His prophet Jonah about the great evil done in the Assyrian Empire, and especially in their capital city, Nineveh. Jonah must have agreed heartily.

But then God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and announce, “If you don’t change your ways, God will destroy the city!”

Jonah was in favor of destroying Nineveh, but the “if” in God’s pronouncement implied some chance that God would relent and spare Nineveh.

Jonah was determined not to let that happen.

Jonah’s Disobedience and Punishment

The Book of Jonah opens with

The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it, because their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord – Jonah 1:1-3

Why would Jonah “flee from the Lord”? Farther down he explains:

Lord, that [because You forgave, and didn’t destroy Nineveh] is why I fled to Tarshish in the first place! I knew you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and inclined to forgive. I didn’t want Nineveh forgiven! – Jonah 4:2, paraphrase

Jonah was so determined not to help the people of Nineveh, he boarded a ship heading away from his mission from God – as far to the west as Nineveh was to the east.

But God wouldn’t let Jonah shirk His mission.

However, 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 – Jonah 1:4

Everyone else on the ship, of course, didn’t know the cause of the storm. Given their beliefs, they surmised God was punishing someone on board.

Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried out to his god, and they hurled the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them – Jonah 1:5a

We notice that Jonah was not the only one hurt by his disobedience. Wrongs committed always affect the surrounding community. And here, people who put cargo aboard the ship lost it all. For some, it may have been their life’s savings.

But Jonah wasn’t even paying attention.

But Jonah had gone below into the stern of the ship, had lain down, and fallen sound asleep – Jonah 1:5b

Everyone was praying for survival, and someone noticed Jonah wasn’t praying.

So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.” – Jonah 1:6

In those days, a common practice when asking God a question, was to cast lots, in the belief God would control the outcome as His way of answering. And sometimes, He did.

And each man said to his mate, “Come, let’s cast lots so that we may find out on whose account this catastrophe has struck us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah – Jonah 1:7

Jonah, of course, fully understood why God’s punishment had come.

And he said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, because I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” – Jonah 1:12

The sailors were very reluctant to throw a man to his death. They tried everything. They rowed harder, but the storm just got worse. Finally, after praying God’s forgiveness for throwing a man overboard,
they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging – Jonah 1:15

As Jonah floated in the sea, he listened to events on the ship he had just left.

Then the men became extremely afraid of the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows – Jonah 1:16

These gruff sailors had never heard of Israel’s God, nor of God’s forgiveness. But they were deeply impressed with their act of obedience and its outcome.

Jonah’s Rescue

Being a prophet of God was serious business. Every prophet vowed obedience to God, Who had once said,

I [God] will raise up for them a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them everything that I command him ... But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name, a word which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die – Deuteronomy 18:18,20

By fleeing to Tarshish, Jonah violated his vow to speak everything God commanded him. And having violated, he deserved to die.

And Jonah must have assumed that, being abandoned at sea, he would die there.

But God had a rescue in mind.

And the Lord designated a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights[42] – Jonah 1:17

The fish was no Ritz Hotel. Even so, Jonah was grateful.

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said,

“I called out of my distress to the Lord,

And He answered me.

I called for help from the depth of Sheol;

You heard my voice.”

– Jonah 2:1-2

Drifting at sea, Jonah had appealed to God for rescue.

“While I was fainting away,

I remembered the Lord,

And my prayer came to You,

Into Your holy temple.”

– Jonah 2:7

And in response to the rescue, Jonah renewed his prophetic vow.

“But I will sacrifice to You

With a voice of thanksgiving.

That which I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation is from the Lord.”

– Jonah 2:9

… meaning, he agreed to go to Nineveh, as God had commanded.

And once that was settled, God completed His rescue of Jonah.

Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land – Jonah 2:10

The Revival at Nineveh

The rescue complete, God took Jonah back to square one.

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” – Jonah 3:1-2

This time Jonah obeyed. He made the 500+ mile trek to Nineveh. And upon arriving, he delivered God’s message.

Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Forty more days, and Nineveh will be overthrown.” – Jonah 3:4

Imagine yourself a citizen of Nineveh. You have perhaps heard stories about a fellow who, hundreds of miles away on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, was coughed up on land from the mouth of some sea monster. And here he is! His skin is redder than any sunburn, having been digested away in the monster’s belly. He speaks with great authority; having once disobeyed God’s command, he now fulfills it with all his heart.

The people of Nineveh, until now committed to their evil behaviors, were stunned into action.

Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them[43]. When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, removed his robe from himself, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the dust – Jonah 3:5-6

In their culture, that was a way of expressing great grief, such as at a funeral for someone close. The people of Nineveh were in grief, not because of a funeral, but because of their own impending doom.

And he [the king] issued a proclamation, and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: No person, animal, herd, or flock is to taste anything. They are not to eat, or drink water. But every person and animal must be covered with sackcloth; and people are to call on God vehemently, and they are to turn, each one from his evil way, and from the violence which is in their hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent, and turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish.” – Jonah 3:7-9

God is reluctant to punish, and anxious to forgive. And God heard. As He always does, God forgave people who repented and changed their ways.

When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their evil way, then God relented of the disaster which He had declared He would bring on them. So He did not do it. – Jonah 3:10

Jonah’s Angry Reaction

Jonah, a prophet whose job it was to promote God’s message, should have been delighted that people listened and changed their evil ways. After all, every faithful prophet knew the frustration when people refused God’s message.

But Jonah was furious! He wanted Nineveh destroyed, not forgiven.

So God and Jonah had a conversation about that.

But it greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry. Then he prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was this not what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore in anticipation of this I fled to Tarshish, since I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in mercy, and One who relents of disaster.” – Jonah 4:1-2

God loves even his enemies, and He wants to teach His prophet to love them too. But Jonah isn’t ready yet. So God wants to ease Jonah into a certain train of thought.

But the Lord said, “Do you have a good reason to be angry?” – Jonah 4:4

Jonah did not answer. Instead, he waited to see what would happen. He wasn’t yet sure if God would forgive, or ultimately destroy Nineveh.

Then Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. There he made a shelter for himself and sat under it in the shade, until he could see what would happen in the city. – Jonah 4:5

Jonah, weary from his many-days-long walk to Nineveh, skin still healing from stomach acid burns while in the sea creature, sat in the middle eastern desert, hot, exposed to sun and wind, unable to be comfortable.

So the Lord God designated a plant, and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head, to relieve him of his discomfort. And Jonah was overjoyed about the plant. – Jonah 4:6

Jonah could not find comfort. But God provided comfort. And Jonah was rightly grateful.

But that was just the first step in God’s lesson.

But God designated a worm when dawn came the next day, and it attacked the plant and it withered. And when the sun came up God designated a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he became faint, and he begged with all his soul to die, saying, “Death is better to me than life!” – Jonah 4:7-8

Jonah sees himself as a failure, disgraced. The revival was a success from God’s perspective, but to Jonah, it elevated enemies who would later destroy his people. Plus, he is exhausted, unwell (“faint”), suffering from the sun and wind; perhaps in danger of dying a painful death.

God’s goal here is to teach Jonah about God’s values – which should also be Jonah’s values, and ours.

So God repeats his earlier question:

But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a good reason to be angry about the plant?” – Jonah 4:9a

Jonah thinks yes, he has a good reason. God has comforted the enemy but refused comfort to His own prophet.

And he said, “I have good reason to be angry, even to the point of death!” – Jonah 4:9b

God does not dispute Jonah’s point. Instead, He drives home His own point:

Then 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. Should I not also have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 people, who do not know the difference between their right hand and their left, as well as many animals?” – Jonah 4:10-11

God cares about people. He has invested deeply in people’s well-being. Even people committed to evil, like those at Nineveh. And because He cares, he wants them to hear the truth and have the opportunity to change their ways.

Jonah cared, too. But not about everyone. Jonah’s care had boundaries. God’s care encompasses everyone.

By the way … God said He has compassion on people “who do not know the difference between their right hand and their left”. What kind of people are those?

The short answer is: no one knows. But one common interpretation is: children.

Wrongs committed always affect, not just the wrongdoer, but also the surrounding community. If God, quite properly, punished the adults in Nineveh as they deserved, the punishment would also horribly impact their children, who had not done anything wrong.

And so God tells Jonah: you care deeply for some things; even for a plant. If you can’t bring yourself to care for the violent people of Nineveh, you can at least care about their innocent children.

Epilogue

God is reluctant to punish, and anxious to forgive.

We, by contrast, often have different, more self-serving, motives.

But as God’s people, we ought to aspire to God’s motives.

The Book of Jonah narrates a simple story of the contrast between God’s noble viewpoint and our, unless we are careful about it, hostile viewpoint.

[42]Jesus cited this statement in prediction of His own death and resurrection (Matthew 12:40)

[43]Jesus referred to this event, contrasting it with people who, in His own day, refused to believe God (Matthew 12:41, Luke 11:32)

Micah

Writing just years before the Assyrian Empire invaded and destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel, Micah realized God’s judgment was inescapable; Assyria would come.

Micah’s prophecy is an indictment of God’s people, for straying from His ways and living lives full of dishonesty, crime, and violence. Having repeatedly, consistently refused God’s offer to protect them if they change their evil ways, judgment was now certain.

Also included in Micah’s book is the declaration that God would restore some of His people. There would be a time of security and peace, ushered in by the future Messiah.

God’s Coming Judgment

Micah begins his prophecy by talking of the judgment to come, caused by Israel’s sin.

Hear, you peoples, all of you;

Listen carefully, earth and all it contains,

And may the Lord God be a witness against you,

The Lord from His holy temple.

For behold, the Lord is coming forth from His place.

He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.

The mountains will melt under Him

And the valleys will be split,

Like wax before the fire,

Like water poured down a steep place.

All this is due to the wrongdoing of Jacob

And the sins of the house of Israel.

– Micah 1:2-5a

Israel had long had hilltop places of idol worship scattered throughout the land. But Micah sees the evil as having moved to the capital cities.

What is the wrongdoing of Jacob [the kingdom of Israel]?

Is it not Samaria [Israel’s capital]?

What is the high place of [the kingdom of] Judah?

Is it not Jerusalem [Judah’s capital]?

– Micah 1:5b

Because of this pattern of evil, the northern kingdom of Israel, with her capital, Samaria, would soon be destroyed. All her magnificent things would be ruined.

For I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the open country,

Planting places for a vineyard.

I will hurl her stones down into the valley,

And lay bare her foundations.

All of her idols will be crushed,

All of her earnings will be burned with fire,

And all of her images I will make desolate;

For she collected them from a prostitute’s earnings,

And to the earnings of a prostitute they will return.

– Micah 1:6-7

Micah was heartbroken over the outcome he could clearly see. It drove him to behave like one who had lost someone dear.

Because of this I must mourn and wail,

I must go barefoot and naked;

I must do mourning like the jackals,

And a mourning like the ostriches

– Micah 1:8

And the population would soon do the same.

Shave yourself bald, yes, cut off your hair,

Because of the children of your delight;

Extend your baldness like the eagle,

For they will go from you into exile.

– Micah 1:16

Micah’s public was deeply committed to evil and selfish ways. Greed was a common theme.

Woe to those who devise wrongdoing,

Who practice evil on their beds!

When morning comes, they do it,

Because it is in the power of their hands.

They covet fields, so they seize them;

And houses, so they take them.

They exploit a man and his house,

A person and his inheritance.

– Micah 2:1-2

Whenever we reject God’s ways, it brings unhappy results.

Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“Behold, I am planning against this family a catastrophe

From which you cannot remove your necks;

And you will not walk haughtily,

For it will be an evil time.”

– Micah 2:3

Foreigners would soon invade and destroy everything.

“On that day they will take up against you a song of mocking

And utter a song of mourning and say,

‘We are completely destroyed!

He exchanges the share of my people;

How He removes it from me!

To the [foreigner] He apportions our fields.’”

– Micah 2:4

Micah and other prophets spoke loudly to convince people to change their ways. The people were determined to silence the prophets.

“‘Do not prophesy,’ so they [who want to silence the prophets] prophesy.

But if they [the prophets] do not prophesy about these things,

Insults will not be turned back.”

– Micah 2:6

The people accused God of being too harsh. But no, God’s ways bring benefits to those who follow them.

“Is it being said, house of Jacob:

‘Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient?

Are these [disasters] His works?’

[God answers,] Do My words not do good

For the one walking rightly?”

– Micah 2:7

More discussion of the people’s greed.

“Recently My people have arisen as an enemy—

You strip the robe off the garment

From unsuspecting passers-by,

From those returned from war.”

– Micah 2:8

Single mothers have long been at a disadvantage; and their children suffer for it.

“You evict the women of My people,

Each one from her pleasant house.

From her children you take My splendor forever.”

– Micah 2:9

The prophets find it hard to get a hearing. But those promoting sin get an audience.

“If someone walking after wind and falsehood

Had lied and said,

‘I will prophesy to you about wine and liquor,’

He would become a prophet to this people.”

– Micah 2:11

Indictment against Corrupt Leaders

The people’s leaders are supposed to know right from wrong, and promote justice.

And I said,

“Hear now, you leaders of Jacob

And rulers of the house of Israel:

Is it not for you to know justice?”

– Micah 3:1

Instead, Israel’s leaders plundered their people.

“You who hate good and love evil,

Who tear off their skin from them

And their flesh from their bones,

Who eat the flesh of my people,

Strip off their skin from them,

Smash their bones,

And chop them up as for the pot,

And as meat in a cauldron!”

– Micah 3:2-3

Because of their commitment to evil, in their day of need, the Lord will not rescue them.

Then they will cry out to the Lord,

But He will not answer them.

Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time

Because they have practiced evil deeds.

– Micah 3:4

The leaders gave favors to those who could afford a bribe, but deprived the poor of justice.

This is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray:

When they have something to bite with their teeth,

They cry out, “Peace!”

But against him who puts nothing in their mouths

They declare holy war.

– Micah 3:5

Because of that, in their time of trouble they would call out to God, but He would not answer them.

Therefore it will be night for you—without vision,

And darkness for you—without divination.

The sun will go down on the prophets,

And the day will become dark over them.

The seers will be put to shame,

And the diviners will be ashamed.

Indeed, they will all cover their lips

Because there is no answer from God.

– Micah 3:6-7

Ultimate Restoration

God is determined to eventually build His kingdom, in spite of opposition.

And 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.

– Micah 4:1

It will be a time of peace. War a thing of the past, the weapons industry will convert to agriculture.

And He will judge between many peoples

And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.

Then they will beat their swords into plowshares,

And their spears into pruning hooks;

Nation will not lift a sword against nation,

And never again will they train for war.

– Micah 4:3

People with no prospects in today’s society will be the movers and shakers in that new society.

“On that day,” declares the Lord,

“I will assemble those who limp

And gather the scattered,

Those whom I have afflicted.

I will make those who limp a remnant,

And those who have strayed a mighty nation,

And the Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion

From now on and forever.”

– Micah 4:6-7

But that is in the far future. In the near term, there would be trouble.

“Now, why do you cry out loudly?

Is there no king among you,

Or has your counselor perished,

That agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth?”

– Micah 4:9

Micah correctly prophesied that the kingdom of Judah would be conquered by Babylon. In Micah’s day, Babylon was not yet prominent; Assyria was the empire to be feared. But it would be Babylon that would take Judah captive, and from there God would rescue them.

Writhe and scream,

Daughter of Zion [a district in Judah’s capital, Jerusalem],

Like a woman in childbirth;

For now you will go out of the city,

Live in the field,

And go to Babylon.

There you will be rescued,

There the Lord will redeem you

From the hand of your enemies.

– Micah 4:10

In spite of the coming judgment, God would raise a rescuing king for Israel. He would come from a small town near Jerusalem.

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Too little to be among the clans of Judah,

From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.

His times of coming forth are from long ago,

From the days of eternity.”

– Micah 5:2

Centuries later, Israel’s religious leaders remembered this promise and knew that their Messiah would be born in Bethlehem[44].

And He will arise and shepherd His flock

In the strength of the Lord,

In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.

And they will remain,

Because at that time He will be great

To the ends of the earth.

– Micah 5:4

Indictment of God’s People

Inviting repentance, God starts a debate with his people.

Hear now what the Lord is saying,

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,

And let the hills hear your voice.

Listen, you mountains, to the indictment by the Lord,

And you enduring foundations of the earth,

Because the Lord has a case against His people;

And He will dispute with Israel.

My people, what have I done to you,

And how have I wearied you? Answer Me.”

– Micah 6:1-3

The people, knowing they have gone far from God, wonder how they might go about appeasing Him. If they offer Him great wealth, their most valuable possessions, would that be enough?

With 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?

Does the Lord take pleasure in thousands of rams,

In ten thousand rivers of oil?

Shall I give Him my firstborn for my wrongdoings,

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

– Micah 6:6-7

But that is not what God wants.

He has told you, mortal one, 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?

– Micah 6:8

The people, however, aren’t behaving that way.

Can I justify dishonest balances,

And a bag of fraudulent weights?

For the rich people of the city are full of violence,

Her residents speak lies,

And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

– Micah 6:11-12

And because of that, God will bring them trouble.

So also I will make you sick, striking you down,

Making you desolate because of your sins.

You will eat, but you will not be satisfied,

And your filth will be in your midst.

You will try to remove valuables for safekeeping,

But you will not save it all,

And what you do save I will turn over to the sword.

You will sow but you will not harvest.

You will tread the olive press but will not anoint yourself with oil;

And tread out sweet wine, but you will not drink any wine.

– Micah 6:13-15

Long ago the wicked kings Omri and Ahab had set the pace. And today, their precedent was still followed.

“The statutes of Omri

And every work of the house of Ahab are maintained,

And you walk by their plans.

Therefore I will give you up for destruction,

And your inhabitants for derision,

And you will suffer the taunting of My people.”

– Micah 6:16

The prophet searches diligently for something, and is distraught not finding it. He speaks metaphorically of looking for fruit.

Woe to me! For I am

Like harvests of summer fruit, like gleanings of grapes.

There is not a cluster of grapes left to eat,

Nor an early fig, which I crave.

– Micah 7:1

What is he searching for so desperately?

The godly person has perished from the land,

And there is no upright person among mankind.

All of them lie in wait for bloodshed;

Each of them hunts the other with a net.

As for evil, both hands do it well.

The leader asks for a bribe, also the judge,

And the great one speaks the capricious desire of his soul;

So they plot it together.

– Micah 7:2-3

With that standard of behavior, no one is safe.

Do not trust in a neighbor;

Do not have confidence in a close friend.

Guard your lips

From her who lies in your arms.

For son disavows father,

Daughter rises up against her mother,

Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

A person’s enemies are the people of his own household[45].

– Micah 7:5-6

Micah knows if he remains faithful, God will keep him safe.

But as for me, I will be on the watch for the Lord;

I will wait for the God of my salvation.

My God will hear me.

– Micah 7:7

Even the best people at times commit evil acts. When we do, we ought to humbly accept God’s punishment, knowing He will forgive and bring us to a good outcome.

I will endure the rage of the Lord

Because I have sinned against Him,

Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me.

He will bring me out to the light,

And I will look at His righteousness.

– Micah 7:9

God is determined to be merciful to all who will receive His mercy.

Who is a God like You, who pardons wrongdoing

And passes over a rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?

He does not retain His anger forever,

Because He delights in mercy.

He will again take pity on us;

He will trample on our wrongdoings.

Yes, You will cast all their sins

Into the depths of the sea.

You will give truth to Jacob

And favor to Abraham,

Which You swore to our forefathers

From the days of old.

– Micah 7:18-20

Epilogue

Even God’s great patience can be exhausted if we determinedly press forward in our selfish, destructive ways. And when that happens, terrifying judgment becomes certain.

Yet God is determined to establish His people in a kingdom of peace and security and love. So He holds His invitation open for any who will disavow their ways and join forces with Him.

[44]Matthew 2:4-6

[45]Jesus cited this verse talking about how His followers would face persecution from their own families (Matthew 10:35, Luke 12:53)

The Late Pre-Exile Period

Between the prophets we have already discussed and those coming next, much had happened.

Most prominent was the Assyrian Captivity. In fulfillment of many prophecies, the Assyrian Empire had invaded Israel, demolishing her capital, Samaria, and taking most of the population out of the promised land, transplanting them far to the east in other conquered lands, never to return. Only the southern kingdom of Judah remained, with her capital at Jerusalem.

Assyria had laid siege to Jerusalem too, but under the godly leadership of King Hezekiah, God had defended His city. What remained of the Assyrian army returned home in disgrace, and never again threatened the promised land.

Meanwhile a new power arose in the fertile crescent: Babylon. Like other growing powers, they conquered one victim after another. It was clear they would eventually set their sights on Judah.

But for the prophets of this time, Babylon was not the issue. Sin was.

Even after all God had done for them, proving His faithfulness time after time, the people still resorted to false religions and the evils they promote.

This trend did not bode well.

Nahum

The Book of Nahum has one simple message …

Nineveh is doomed.

The brutal Assyrian empire had crisscrossed the middle east, leaving carnage everywhere.

Nahum’s message of God’s judgment was good news to Assyria’s victims. The abuse would finally end.

Historical Context

Two minor prophets ago we saw God’s prophet Jonah preach at Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, announcing that if they did not change their evil ways, God would destroy Nineveh.

They did change their ways. And God forgave. He did not destroy Nineveh.

But now, 100-some years later, Nineveh has returned to her old, evil ways. Cruel conquest was the order of the day. Destruction for its own sake was the norm.

And this time, Nineveh refused to repent of her evil.

God’s Power to Judge

The prophet begins his oracle talking about God’s judgment.

A jealous and avenging God is the Lord;

The Lord is avenging and wrathful.

The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries,

And He reserves wrath for His enemies

– Nahum 1:2

Quoting from what God told Moses long ago[46], Nahum reminds us that God is patient, but not infinitely so:

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,

And the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.

– Nahum 1:3a

He continues with several more lines about God’s unstoppable judgment; for example:

Who can stand before His indignation?

Who can endure the burning of His anger?

His wrath gushes forth like fire,

And the rocks are broken up by Him

– Nahum 1:6

He pauses to remind us that God’s judgment serves a purpose: it defends the victims…

The Lord is good,

A stronghold in the day of trouble,

And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

– Nahum 1:7

… before returning to the main message:

But with an overflowing flood

He will make a complete end of its [Nineveh’s] site,

And will pursue His enemies into darkness

– Nahum 1:8

You may think you are strong enough to fight off God’s judgment; but you aren’t:

Whatever you devise against the Lord,

He will make a complete end of it.

Distress will not rise up twice.

– Nahum 1:9

This message of judgment is also a message of comfort: judgment for the offender, comfort for the victim.

Behold, on the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news,

Who announces peace[47]!

Celebrate your feasts, Judah, pay your vows.

For never again will the wicked one pass through you;

He is eliminated completely.

– Nahum 1:15

Nineveh Will Fall

Judgment is coming! Go ahead, make your feeble fortifications.

The one who scatters has come up against you.

Keep watch over the fortress, watch the road;

Bind up your waist, summon all your strength.

– Nahum 2:1

But the invading army is unstoppable.

The chariots drive wildly in the streets,

They rush around in the public squares;

Their appearance is like torches,

They drive back and forth like lightning flashes.

– Nahum 2:4

Beautiful Nineveh will be sacked:

Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days,

Yet they are fleeing;

[someone calls] “Stop, stop,”

But no one turns back.

– Nahum 2:8

Everything of value will be looted.

Plunder the silver,

Plunder the gold! …

She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and waste!

Hearts are melting and knees wobbling!

– Nahum 2:9-10

Nineveh’s doom is because of her evil.

Woe to the bloody city, completely full of lies and pillage;

Her prey does not leave …

Many killed, a mass of corpses,

And there is no end to the dead bodies;

They stumble over the dead bodies!

– Nahum 3:1, 3b

Others failed to withstand God’s judgment.

Are you better than No-amon,

Which was situated by the canals of the Nile? …

Yet she became an exile,

She went into captivity

– Nahum 3:8a, 10a

You can try to resist…

Draw for yourself water for a siege!

Strengthen your fortifications!

Go into the clay and tread the mortar!

Take hold of the brick mold!

– Nahum 3:14

… but you won’t be able:

There fire will consume you,

The sword will cut you down;

It will consume you as the creeping locust consumes a crop.

– Nahum 3:15a

There is no escape.

There is no relief for your collapse,

Your wound is incurable.

All who hear about you

Will clap their hands over you,

For upon whom has your evil not come continually?

– Nahum 3:19

Epilogue

Assyria, with its head at Nineveh, had caused terror and great harm in Israel and many other nations. God had graciously given them chances to repent. They did, once, put a pause to their bad behavior. But it was temporary, and now their presence was causing irreparable harm. God decided it was time to put an end to Nineveh.

[46]Exodus 34:6-7

[47]The Apostle Paul quotes this portion, expressing enthusiasm for sending the gospel everywhere (Romans 10:15)

Habakkuk

The Book of Habakkuk is a conversation between the prophet and God. It goes something like this:

Habakkuk: Your people are doing great evil. How long will you let this go on?

God: Soon I am going to call the Chaldean empire to punish them.

Habakkuk: The Chaldeans!? They’re much worse! How can you punish wickedness with even greater wickedness?

God: When it’s done, I will punish the Chaldeans and restore My people.

Habakkuk: I am afraid of what You are doing; yet I am determined to trust You.

Historical Context

Habakkuk lived during the final years of Judah’s decline.

In his youth, Habakkuk saw the revival under King Josiah, as the nation rededicated itself to the Lord.

But as soon as Josiah died, the decline was severe. Egypt had invaded from the south and placed a puppet king on Josiah’s throne. The new king made citizens slaves to support his appetites[48]. He led Israel into idol worship and its horrible sins, including human sacrifice[49].

Then Babylon, also known as Chaldea, invaded from the north. Much land was lost to their encroachments. It seemed the final destruction of Jerusalem was just over the horizon.

Corruption was everywhere. The kings led the charge in foolish and evil actions, listening to God’s clear guidance but repeatedly ignoring it.

Habakkuk’s Complaint

Everywhere the prophet looks, he sees people committed to evil. Lies, fighting, injustice, violence.

How long, Lord, have I called for help,

And You do not hear?

I cry out to You, “Violence!”

Yet You do not save.

Why do You make me see disaster,

And make me look at destitution?

Yes, devastation and violence are before me;

Strife exists and contention arises.

Therefore the Law is ignored,

And justice is never upheld.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

Therefore justice comes out confused.

– Habakkuk 1:2-4

God’s Promise to Act

God answers the prophet:

Look among the nations! Watch!

Be horrified! Be frightened speechless!

For I am accomplishing a work in your days—

You would not believe it even if you were told[50]!

For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,

That grim and impetuous people

Who march throughout the earth,

To take possession of dwelling places that are not theirs.

– Habakkuk 1:5-6

“Judah won’t get away with it forever,” God replies; “Judgment is coming.” He goes on for several stanzas, talking about how fierce the Chaldeans are.

They are terrifying and feared;

Their justice and authority originate with themselves.

– Habakkuk 1:7

All of them come for violence.

Their horde of faces moves forward.

They gather captives like sand.

– Habakkuk 1:9

Habakkuk’s Challenge

Habakkuk had cried out for justice, but being conquered by Chaldea was not the solution he had in mind.

It seems so unjust! Yes, there is great evil in Judah, but the solution isn’t to promote the even greater evil in Chaldea!

Habakkuk begins by acknowledging God always does what is right.

Are You not from time everlasting,

Lord, my God, my Holy One? …

Your eyes are too pure to look at evil,

And You cannot look at harm favorably.

– Habakkuk 1:12a, 13a

Yet why would God introduce a greater evil to solve a lesser one?

You, Lord, have appointed them [Chaldea] to deliver judgment;

And You, O Rock, have destined them to punish [us]. …

Why do You look favorably at those who deal treacherously?

Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up

Those more righteous than they?

– Habakkuk 1:12b, 13b

God Answers

But not right away. There is a pause, and Habakkuk must be patient for God’s answer.

I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the watchtower;

And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me,

And how I may reply when I am [corrected].

– Habakkuk 2:1

Why did God make Habakkuk wait for His answer? Perhaps because what the answer promised would itself not come as quickly as Habakkuk wished.

Finally God answers,

“For the vision is yet for the appointed time;

It hurries toward the goal and it will not fail.

Though it delays, wait for it;

For it will certainly come, it will not delay long.”

– Habakkuk 2:3

History records that Habakkuk did in fact live to see this judgment. He is said to have accompanied those taken in the Babylonian Captivity.

Whether in Judah or Chaldea, we are required to refuse sin and trust God.

“Behold, as for the impudent one,

His soul is not right within him;

But the righteous one will live by his faith[51].”

– Habakkuk 2:4

Though punished, people in Judah will survive to see Chaldea recompensed.

“Will all of these [Judah] not take up a song of ridicule against him [Chaldea],

Even a saying and insinuations against him

And say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his—

For how long—and makes himself rich with debts!’

Will your creditors not rise up suddenly,

And those who collect from you awaken?

Indeed, you will become plunder for them.

Since you have looted many nations,

All the rest of the peoples will loot you—

Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land,

To the town and all its inhabitants.”

– Habakkuk 2:6-8

God continues about Chaldea’s coming well-deserved punishment, ending by comparing trust in idols versus trust in God.

“What benefit is a carved image when its maker has carved it,

Or a cast metal image, a teacher of falsehood? …

But the Lord is in His holy temple.

Let all the earth be silent before Him.”

– Habakkuk 2:18a, 20

Habakkuk’s Song

After contemplating God’s answer, the prophet composed a song of prayer to God, expressing his admiration for God and his determination to trust God even if things don’t play out as the prophet would prefer.

He starts by saying even though he is afraid, he welcomes God’s promised judgment.

Lord, I have heard the report about You, and I was afraid.

Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years,

In the midst of the years make it known.

In anger remember mercy.

– Habakkuk 3:2

He continues at length about God’s greatness, His power, and the effectiveness of His judgment.

His splendor covers the heavens,

And the earth is full of His praise. ...

He stood and caused the earth to shudder;

He looked and caused the nations to jump.

Yes, the everlasting mountains were shattered,

The ancient hills collapsed.

His paths are everlasting. …

In indignation You marched through the earth;

In anger You trampled the nations.

You went forth for the salvation of Your people,

For the salvation of Your anointed.

You smashed the head of the house of evil

To uncover him from foot to neck.

– Habakkuk 3:3b, 6, 12-13

God’s judgment is not to be taken lightly. Habakkuk is rightly afraid.

I heard, and my inner parts trembled;

At the sound, my lips quivered.

Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble;

Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress,

For the people to arise who will attack us.

– Habakkuk 3:16

But even though this is not the path Habakkuk would have chosen, it is God’s choice, and so he knows, it is the right path. Habakkuk is determined to trust God, even if things don’t go as he wished.

Even if the fig tree does not blossom,

And there is no fruit on the vines,

If the yield of the olive fails,

And the fields produce no food,

Even if the flock disappears from the fold,

And there are no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will triumph in the Lord,

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength,

And He has made my feet like deer’s feet,

And has me walk on my high places.

– Habakkuk 3:17-19

Even if judgment comes and things are horrible for a time, keep trusting God!

Epilogue

Everywhere we look, we see things that are not as they should be. Why doesn’t God do something about it? Is God even paying attention? How can He let things be this way?

Yes, God is paying attention. He is diligently working, often in ways beyond our understanding.

We can trust Him. His way of handling things is always the right way.

Like Habakkuk, even when we are confused and afraid, let us be determined to trust God!

[48]Jeremiah 22:13-14

[49]Jeremiah 19:4-5

[50]The Apostle Paul quotes this verse in his sermon at Antioch (Acts 13:41)

[51]The Apostle Paul quoted this in two epistles to prove that even in the Old Testament times, salvation was by faith, not by the works of the law (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11). The Epistle to the Hebrews also quotes it to encourage his audience to continue in faithfulness to God (Hebrews 10:38).

Zephaniah

Like the last couple prophets, Zephaniah served when the kingdom of Judah was in its last days. People refused to follow God, insisting on their destructive behaviors. Warnings had come, and opportunities to make things right, but Judah refused.

Now, God’s judgment was unavoidable. The promised land would be left a wasteland, and its people relocated to a foreign, confusing, even incomprehensible setting.

Even so, God invites His people to repent. For the few who do, He promises survival and an ultimately wonderful outcome.

The Coming Day of the Lord

Zephaniah begins his prophecy by announcing the soon judgment of the Lord.

“I will completely remove all things

From the face of the earth [that is, the promised land],” declares the Lord.

– Zephaniah 1:2

He continues, including the reason for God’s judgment.

“So I will stretch out My hand against Judah

And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

And I will eliminate the remnant of [the idol] Baal from this place,

And the names of the idolatrous priests along with the other priests.

And those who bow down on the housetops to the heavenly lights,

And those who bow down and swear to the Lord, but also swear by [the idol] Milcom,

And those who have turned back from following the Lord,

And those who have not sought the Lord nor inquired of Him.”

– Zephaniah 1:4-6

What form will this judgment take?

And on that day,” declares the Lord,

“There will be the sound of a cry from the Fish Gate [in Jerusalem’s protective wall],

Wailing from the Second Quarter [district of Jerusalem],

And a loud crash from the hills.

Wail, you inhabitants of the Mortar [district of Jerusalem],

Because all the people [i.e., merchants] of Canaan will be destroyed;

All who weigh out silver will be eliminated.

– Zephaniah 1:10-11

Why is everyone mourning?

Their wealth will become plunder,

And their houses desolate;

Yes, they will build houses but not inhabit them,

And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.

– Zephaniah 1:13

This will be a horrible time, and it is coming soon.

The great day of the Lord is near,

Near and coming very quickly;

Listen, the day of the Lord!

In it the warrior [the strongest of men] cries out bitterly.

That day is a day of anger,

A day of trouble and distress,

A day of destruction and desolation,

A day of darkness and gloom,

A day of clouds and thick darkness

– Zephaniah 1:14-15

It’s not too late to be prepared on the day of God’s judgment.

Seek the Lord,

All you humble of the earth

Who have practiced His ordinances;

Seek righteousness, seek humility.

Perhaps you will remain hidden

On the day of the Lord’s anger.

– Zephaniah 2:3

Judgment against Nearby Nations

The coming judgment will extend to many of Israel’s neighbors as well…

For Gaza will be abandoned,

And Ashkelon will become a desolation;

The inhabitants of Ashdod will be driven out at noon,

And Ekron will be uprooted.

Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,

The nation of the Cherethites!

The word of the Lord is against you,

Canaan, land of the Philistines;

And I will eliminate you

So that there will be no inhabitant.

– Zephaniah 2:4-5

… because of their crimes against God’s people.

“I have heard the taunting of Moab

And the abusive speech of the sons of Ammon,

With which they have taunted My people

And boasted against their territory.”

– Zephaniah 2:8

More distant nations will also be judged, for the same reason.

“You also, Ethiopians, will be slain by My sword.”

And He will stretch out His hand against the north

And eliminate Assyria,

And He will make Nineveh a desolation,

Parched like the wilderness.

– Zephaniah 2:12-13

Judgment against Jerusalem

But judgment is primarily directed toward God’s people.

Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,

The oppressive city [Jerusalem]!

– Zephaniah 3:1

That’s because they had every opportunity to hear from God and obey, but refused.

She obeyed no voice,

She accepted no discipline.

She did not trust in the Lord,

She did not approach her God.

– Zephaniah 3:2

And that attitude led to more blatant sin.

Her leaders within her are roaring lions,

Her judges are wolves at evening;

They have no bones to gnaw in the morning [because they ate it all at once].

Her prophets are insolent, treacherous men;

Her priests have profaned the sanctuary.

They have done violence to the Law.

– Zephaniah 3:3-4

God has consistently pulled them in a positive direction.

The Lord is righteous within her;

He will do no injustice.

Every morning He brings His justice to light;

He does not fail.

But the criminal knows no shame.

– Zephaniah 3:5

And He calls His people, when the horrible time of judgment comes, to trust Him.

“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.

For then I will restore to the peoples pure lips,

So that all of them may call on the name of the Lord,

To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.”

– Zephaniah 3:8-9

God is determined to rebuild His people. Some will survive the judgment, and they will live securely.

“But I will leave among you

A humble and lowly people,

And they will take refuge in the name of the Lord.

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 frighten them.”

– Zephaniah 3:12-13

It will be wonderful for those who remain.

“At that time I will bring you in,

Even at the time when I gather you together;

Indeed, I will make you famous and praiseworthy

Among all the peoples of the earth,

When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,”

Says the Lord.

– Zephaniah 3:20

Epilogue

When people consistently, repeatedly refuse to follow God, living instead self-serving and destructive lifestyles, disaster is unavoidable.

Even so, God’s invitation is always open to those few who will accept it. That remnant would suffer greatly along with those God is punishing. But they will emerge afterwards to participate in God’s just, sin-free, and peaceful community.

The Post-Exile Period

The previous few minor prophets were written during Judah’s Pre-Exile period. The next couple skip entirely past the exile and are set as a group of captives return to the promised land to reestablish their ancient home.

Because of Judah’s insistence on selfish, harmful ways and their consistent refusal of God’s invitations to repentance and wholesome living, the disaster God had warned of, came: the Babylonian Captivity. The army of Babylon laid siege, destroyed Jerusalem’s protective wall, and took the population to Babylon as captives. There they finished out their lives.

God sent some prophets during the Babylonian Captivity, but they are not among the Bible’s minor prophets. Jeremiah survived into the captivity and continued to prophecy. Daniel was taken captive as a young man and prophesied in Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel was born in captivity.

The prophet Jeremiah had revealed a particular message from God: after 70 years in captivity, Judah would return to their homeland. As an old man, the prophet Daniel realized that meant the return would happen in his own time.

And finally, a small contingent did return, under the civil leadership of the governor Zerubbabel and the religious leadership of the priest Joshua. Harassed by enemies, underfunded, and disorganized, this group nevertheless established a barely sustainable life in the promised land.

Much later than this, under Nehemiah and Ezra, a second wave came to improve on this hardscrabble existence.

But that was long afterward. We will be discussing the first group of returnees.

Haggai

Haggai looked around and saw people who had lost their purpose. They had become distracted by life’s necessities, gotten busy, and forgotten what is most important.

Haggai called his people to remember: remember why they were here in the first place. It’s not just about living your life.

Historical Context

Because of their sin, God’s people had been exiled from the promised land and transplanted in foreign lands far away.

After 70 years, God prompted their foreign king to return their descendants home to Jerusalem to rebuild the old Temple, destroyed in the exile.

A group returned, along with chosen leaders: Zerubbabel the governor, and Joshua the high priest.

But instead of building the temple, the returnees got caught up in building their own homes, running their businesses, living their lives – as though God had no role.

In this setting the prophet Haggai, working alongside his colleague the prophet Zechariah, wrote his short but densely packed prophecy, pressing the people to continue the work for which God had returned them home.

Haggai’s Opening Appeal

The returned refugees were saying it isn’t the right time to build the Temple. Haggai begins his appeal this way:

“This is what the Lord of armies says: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”’” – Haggai 1:2

It’s a big project, and we’re a small and underfunded group. We need to wait until we have the right resources!

Haggai responds:

Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses while this house remains desolate?” – Haggai 1:3-4

It’s a bit hypocritical, isn’t it? They were glad when God gave them the chance to return home to rebuild the Temple. But instead, they have focused on their own luxuries, procrastinating the purpose for which they have this privilege.

That hypocrisy has brought God’s judgment.

Now then, the Lord of armies says this: “Consider your ways! You have sown much, only to harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but there is not enough for anyone to get warm; and the one who earns, earns wages to put into a money bag full of holes.” – Haggai 1:5-6

Why has this hardship come upon them?

“Why?” declares the Lord of armies. “It is because of My house which remains desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on mankind, on cattle, and on all the products of the labor of your hands.” – Haggai 1:9b-11

The people believe God’s message.

Then Zerubbabel [the governor], and Joshua ... the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, just as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people showed reverence for the Lord. – Haggai 1:12

As soon as the people obeyed, God’s gave His blessing.

Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke by the commission of the Lord to the people, saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares the Lord.” – Haggai 1:13

And the work resumed.

…they came and worked on the house of the Lord of armies, their God… – Haggai 1:14b

Encouragement for the Disappointed

Solomon’s Temple, funded with vast wealth accumulated by his father King David, and built by the best craftsmen in the region, was an architectural wonder, reflecting the opulence of the empire at the time.

This new Temple, being built by a perhaps ragtag group of refugees, was not in the same league. A few of the refugees were old enough to remember and compare. And it broke their hearts.

Haggai addressed the people about this:

“‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison? But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the Lord of armies.” – Haggai 2:3-4

But why? Why invest so much work in something so inferior?

“‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of armies, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of armies.” – Haggai 2:9

But how is that possible?

The Transition from Unacceptable to Clean

Haggai asks the experts of his people: if a clean thing touches a dirty thing, does it make the dirty thing clean? Or does it make the clean thing dirty?

“The Lord of armies says this: ‘Now ask the priests for a ruling: If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and touches bread with this fold, or touches cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?’” And the priests answered, “No.” – Haggai 2:11-12

Obviously not. Touching something clean to something dirty does not make the dirty thing clean.

Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these things, will the latter become unclean?” And the priests answered, “It will become unclean.'” – Haggai 2:13

Obviously, it will make the clean thing dirty.

And that is our condition before God, when we are not actively obeying Him. Everything we touch is tainted and unacceptable.

Then Haggai responded and said, “‘So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.’” – Haggai 2:14

And that unclean state results in loss of God’s support.

“‘From that time when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there would be only twenty. I struck you and every work of your hands with scorching wind, mildew, and hail; yet you did not come back to Me,’ declares the Lord.” – Haggai 2:16-17

But now that the people are engaged and obeying God, that has changed.

“‘Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the Lord was founded, consider: Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not produced fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.’” – Haggai 2:18-19

Opposition will come, but God will assure His chosen outcome.

Then the word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, “Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. And I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, every one by the sword of another. On that day,’ declares the Lord of armies, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’” declares the Lord of armies. – Haggai 2:20-23

Epilogue

It is so easy to forget what God has called us to, and to focus on things of the world around us.

But we are not here merely to enjoy the world and our life. We are here to partner with God and promote his goals, pushing aside any selfish goal that conflicts with the awesome purpose God has in mind for us.

Haggai reminds us: step back, and be sure we pursue what God has for us.

Zechariah

Of all the Bible’s prophets, Zechariah is perhaps the most difficult to follow. Mysterious, hard-to-understand visions; prophesies about places we have perhaps never heard of; symbols of ancient things little-known to moderns.

And yet, the overall message is familiar to readers of the Bible: Israel will be restored; the Messiah will rescue His people; and we must make ourselves ready by repenting and changing our evil ways.

We will present Zechariah in three broad sections. The first is a straightforward call to repentance, paired with the promise God will give His support to those who respond appropriately. The second is a series of strange visions, each with a point to make about sin, judgment, and the coming Messiah. The third is a series of prophesies, each by itself understandable though presented a bit cryptically, and thrown in a rapid fire sequence without context.

Section One – Repentance and Restoration

As Zechariah begins, the Lord reminds people how things were before the Babylonian Captivity. He starts,

“The Lord was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of armies, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of armies. “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me,” declares the Lord. – Zechariah 1:2-4

God had sent prophet after prophet to His pre-captivity people, calling them to quit their evil ways. In spite of occasional revivals, overall they refused.

“Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they [preach] forever? But did My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, not overtake your fathers?” – Zechariah 1:5-6a

Eventually God stopped calling them to repentance, and judgment came: the Babylonian army destroyed the promised land and took its people to Babylon as captives.

Their descendants realized their degraded state was because they abandoned God.

“‘Then they repented and said, ‘Just as the Lord of armies planned to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’” – Zechariah 1:6b

Now the few and powerless people who have returned to rebuild Jerusalem wait for God’s help. God spoke to Zechariah in a strange dream of men on horseback patrolling the area around Jerusalem. An angel explains:

“These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.” So they responded to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is still and quiet.” – Zechariah 1:10b-11

Meaning, nothing was happening to change the helpless situation.

Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord of armies, how long will You take no pity on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant for these seventy years?” And the Lord responded to the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words. So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.”’” – Zechariah 1:12-14

God declares He will again support His people. The building of the Lord’s Temple had halted, but it will be completed. Construction projects would be undertaken. People would live at peace.

“‘Therefore the Lord says this: “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,” declares the Lord of armies, “and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.”’ Again, proclaim, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’” – Zechariah 1:16-17

God gave Zechariah another vision of the restoration of Jerusalem.

Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” – Zechariah 2:1-2

The usual reason for measuring a place is to prepare to build things. The angels in Zechariah’s vision speak of how vast and successful it will be.

And he said to him, “Run, speak to that young man there, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as open country because of the multitude of people and cattle within it. But I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a [protective] wall of fire to her on all sides, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” – Zechariah 2:4-5

The Invitation to Return

Some of God’s people had returned from Babylon to the promised land. He invites them all to return.

We moderns think of Babylon (present day Iraq) as east of the promised land, because we are accustomed to maps and globes. But no one traveled straight across the desert; Babylon’s army followed the rivers northwestward, then invaded Israel from the north. So people in Israel thought of the Babylon threat as “from the north”.

“You there! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “because I have spread you out like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the Lord. “You, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” – Zechariah 2:6-7

The captives’ homes in Babylon may seem secure. God assures them His people are precious to Him. He will take care of them in the promised land.

For the Lord of armies says this: “[For His] glory He has sent me against the nations that plunder you, for the one who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.” – Zechariah 2:8

The Lord, long silent, will again be at work among His people.

And the Lord will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. “Be silent, all mankind, before the Lord; for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.” – Zechariah 2:12-13

The Vision of the High Priest’s Purification

Among those who returned to the promised land was their High Priest, a man named Joshua. Joshua was active in the rebuilding of the Temple, and a natural leader of his people.

But Joshua was a flawed person. We aren’t told the nature of his flaws, but we are told of his need for cleansing. In Zechariah’s vision about Joshua,

Now Joshua was clothed in filthy garments and was standing before the angel. And he responded and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your guilt away from you and will clothe you with festive robes.” Then I said, “Have them put a clean headband on his head.” So they put the clean headband on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the Lord was standing by. – Zechariah 3:3-5

God similarly cleanses anyone who asks. And like Joshua, God calls them to His service.

And the angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, “The Lord of armies says this: ‘If you walk in My ways and perform My service, then you will both govern My house and be in charge of My courtyards, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.’” – Zechariah 3:6-7

A Vision to Encourage the Governor

Like Joshua, Zerubbabel was a leader of the small and troubled group who returned to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel was their governor. Joshua was their religious leader, Zerubbabel their civil leader.

God showed Zechariah a strange vision.

Then the angel who had been speaking with me returned and woke me, like a person who is awakened from his sleep. And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” – Zechariah 4:1-3

The vision didn’t make sense to Zechariah. (Maybe it doesn’t make sense to us either.) The angel later explains the symbols, but the explanation may also seem mysterious. Even so, the message communicated by the vision is clear.

Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” – Zechariah 4:4

The angel explains: Zerubbabel isn’t strong enough to bring about his goals, but God will support his efforts.

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of armies. ‘What are you, you great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring out the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” – Zechariah 4:6-7

The building of the Temple had started, but proceeded by fits and starts. It was slow and difficult, and people doubted its success.

The angel assures God’s people.

Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of armies has sent me to you. For who has shown contempt for the day of small things? But [the Temple furnishings] will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—they are the eyes of the Lord roaming throughout the earth.” – Zechariah 4:8-10

Section Two – Strange Visions

The next section contains a series of visions God showed Zechariah. Each is beyond grasp, so he has to ask the angel to explain them.

We should not be discouraged if we do not understand these visions. They were intended for a different audience, a different time, a different culture. We admit they are hard to understand and hard to explain.

Nevertheless, we will take a brief look at each one.

Vision of a Flying Scroll – Judgment for Sin

First is the flying scroll vision. The vision itself was quite simple.

Then I raised my eyes again and looked, and behold, there was a flying scroll. And [an angel] said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a flying scroll; its length is [ten meters], and its width [five meters].” – Zechariah 5:1-2

The angel explains that the vision announces God’s punishment for the sins of theft and contracts made with intent to break them.

Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going forth over the face of the entire land; everyone who steals certainly will be purged away according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears falsely [i.e., breaks their promises] will be purged away according to the writing on the other side. I will make it go forth,” declares the Lord of armies, “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night within that house and destroy it with its timber and stones.” – Zechariah 5:3-4

A further strange vision emphasizes how severely God will punish sin.

Then the angel who had been speaking with me went out and said to me, “Now raise your eyes and see what this is that is going forth.” And I said, “What is it?” Then he said, “This is the ephah [i.e., harvest basket] going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land. And behold, a lead cover was lifted up.” He continued, “And this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” Then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her into the middle of the ephah and threw the lead weight on its opening. – Zechariah 5:5-8

Vision of Chariots – Judgment against Babylon

Now I raised my eyes again and looked, and behold, four chariots were going out from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong spotted horses. – Zechariah 6:1-3

The vision was beyond understanding; what did it mean?

So I responded and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?” – Zechariah 6:4

The angel explains: this vision portends judgment against Babylon, whose conquest of Judah years ago was far more cruel than necessary.

The angel replied to me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out after taking their stand before the Lord of all the earth, with one of which the black horses are going out to the north country; and the white ones are to go out after them, while the spotted ones are to go out to the south country.” When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth. And He said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then He called out to me and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north [Babylon].” – Zechariah 6:5-9

Vision of the Crown – the Coming Messiah

Earlier, Zechariah’s vision called exiles still in Babylon to return to their homeland. In this next section, a group returns, and we meet their leaders.

The word of the Lord also came to me, saying, “Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah; and you shall go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.” – Zechariah 6:9-10

At the home of Josiah, the returning leaders present a contribution to the rebuilding effort.

Also take [their gifts of] silver and gold, make an ornate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. – Zechariah 6:11

We met Joshua above, when God purified him and commissioned him to lead in the rebuilding. Here, after giving him the crown, God tells about the coming Messiah, whom He refers to as “Branch”. Joshua was building the Temple in Jerusalem; the Messiah would someday build another temple. He would be both king and priest; no one had ever been both.

“Then say to him, ‘The Lord of armies says this: “Behold, there is a Man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the Lord. Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will bear the majesty and sit and rule on His throne. So He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.”’” – Zechariah 6:12-13

Section Three – Prophecies

The final section of Zechariah is a series of prophecies. These are not as mysterious as the visions.

The Question about Fasting

A few people had escaped the Babylonian Captivity and had survived in the promised land those 70 years. One group sent a delegation to Jerusalem to ask if all their religious activities were worth it. After all, things didn’t look good for God’s people. Should they continue, or was it a waste of effort?

Now the town of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to seek the favor of the Lord, speaking to the priests who belong to the house of the Lord of armies, and to the prophets, saying, “Shall I weep in the fifth month and fast, as I have done these many years?” – Zechariah 7:2-3

God provides His answer: their actions were no different from before the captivity, when people performed their religious ceremonies while still loving their evil ways.

Then the word of the Lord of armies came to me, saying, “Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted? And when you eat and drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? Are these not the words which the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and carefree along with its cities around it, and the Negev [the southern region of the promised land] and the foothills were inhabited?’” – Zechariah 7:4-7

God tells us to first treat people well. Otherwise our religious observances are meaningless.

Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, “This is what the Lord of armies has said: ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’” – Zechariah 7:8-10

But the pre-captivity generation wouldn’t listen. That’s why the Babylonian Captivity happened in the first place.

“But they refused to pay attention, and turned a stubborn shoulder and plugged their ears from hearing. They also made their hearts as hard as a diamond so that they could not hear the Law and the words which the Lord of armies had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the Lord of armies.” – Zechariah 7:11-12

That old message was still God’s message to these people. And so far, they also had not listened.

God’s Strong Support for Jerusalem

The small and weak community of returnees must have wondered whether they were following God’s guidance, or a pipe dream. God speaks to Zechariah to emphasize His plan for Jerusalem.

This section speaks of Zion, which was a prominent district of Jerusalem. It was where God’s Temple had been, and was being rebuilt by these people.

Then the word of the Lord of armies came, saying, “The Lord of armies says this: ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’” – Zechariah 8:1-2

In view of the people’s commitment to sin, God had removed Himself. But He would return to Jerusalem.

“The Lord says this: ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of armies will be called the Holy Mountain.’ The Lord of armies says this: ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the public squares of Jerusalem, each person with his staff in his hand because of age.’” – Zechariah 8:3-4

Feeble people weren’t safe when Jerusalem was abandoned and subject to marauders. But God will change that. He continues.

“‘And the public squares of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its squares.’ The Lord of armies says this: ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the Lord of armies.”  – Zechariah 8:5-6

Because of God’s promised support, the people should not be afraid to engage in the difficult job of rebuilding.

“The Lord of armies says this: ‘Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of armies was laid, so that the temple might be built.’” – Zechariah 8:9

In recent times, anything built was subject to theft and vandalism.

“For before those days there was no wage for man nor any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no peace because of his enemies, and I sent all the people against one another.” – Zechariah 8:10

But God is putting a stop to that.

“‘But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the Lord of armies. ‘For there will be the seed of peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will provide their dew; and I will give to the remnant of this people all these things as an inheritance. And it will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.’” – Zechariah 8:11-13

Because of the people’s sin, God brought disaster on them. But because of God’s determination to build His people and His city, He will bring relief.

“For this is what the Lord of armies says: ‘Just as I determined to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to anger,’ says the Lord of armies, ‘and I have not relented, so I have again determined in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear! These are the things which you shall do: speak the truth to one another[52]; judge with truth and judgment for peace at your gates. Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these things are what I hate,’ declares the Lord.” – Zechariah 8:14-17

God returns to the subject of religious fasting, mentioned earlier. If the people live according to God’s law, their fasts will please Him.

Then the word of the Lord of armies came to me, saying, “The Lord of armies says this: ‘The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth months will become joy, jubilation, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah; so love truth and peace.’” – Zechariah 8:18-19

Prophecies against Nearby Nations

Zechariah names several nearby places whose evil has come to God’s attention.

The pronouncement of the word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach, with Damascus as its resting place

(for the eyes of mankind, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the Lord),

And Hamath also, which borders on it;

Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.

For Tyre built herself a fortress,

And piled up silver like dust,

And gold like the mud of the streets.

– Zechariah 9:1-3

What will happen to these places?

Behold, the Lord will dispossess her

And throw her wealth into the sea;

And she will be consumed with fire.

– Zechariah 9:4

Other nearby people will live in fear that the same will overtake them; and they are correct.

Ashkelon will see it and be afraid.

Gaza too will writhe in great pain;

Also Ekron, because her hope has been ruined.

Moreover, the king will perish from Gaza,

And Ashkelon will not be inhabited.

And a people of mixed origins will live in Ashdod,

And I will eliminate the pride of the Philistines.

– Zechariah 9:5-6

But in the middle of all that trouble, God will protect His people.

But I will camp around My house because of an army,

Because of him who passes by and returns;

And no oppressor will pass over them anymore,

For now I have seen with My eyes.

– Zechariah 9:8

Prophecy of Restoration for God’s People

Zechariah had spoken earlier about the Messiah, calling Him “Branch”. This time he refers to Him as “king”.

Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!

Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

He is righteous and endowed with salvation,

Humble, and mounted on a donkey,

Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey[53].

– Zechariah 9:9

God does this because He is determined to keep His promise, even if His people have been faithless. That’s why He brought them back from Babylon.

As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you,

I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

– Zechariah 9:11

God again invites exiles to return.

Return to the stronghold [Jerusalem], you prisoners who have the hope;

This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.

– Zechariah 9:12

God truly treasures His people.

And the Lord their God will save them on that day

As the flock of His people;

For they are like the precious stones of a crown,

Sparkling on His land.

For how great will their loveliness and beauty be!

Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine, the virgins.

– Zechariah 9:16-17

Prophecy against Unfaithful Leaders

In a time of need, we ought to ask God …

Ask for rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain—

The Lord who makes the storm winds;

And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each person.

– Zechariah 10:1

… rather than whatever else we might trust to meet our need.

For the household idols speak deception,

And the diviners see an illusion

And tell deceitful dreams;

They comfort in vain.

Therefore the people wander like sheep,

They are wretched because there is no shepherd.

– Zechariah 10:2

God will punish the leaders who have pushed people in that direction.

“My anger is kindled against the shepherds [leaders],

And I will punish the male goats [the ones in charge];

– Zechariah 10:3a

But in spite of this, God will build up His people.

“For the Lord of armies has visited His flock, the house of Judah,

And will make them like His majestic horse in battle.”

– Zechariah 10:3b

God will restore His people’s fortunes as in old days.

“And I will strengthen the house of Judah [one of Israel’s tribes],

And I will save the house of Joseph [another tribe],

And I will bring them back,

Because I have had compassion on them;

And they will be as though I had not rejected them,

For I am the Lord their God and I will answer them…

I will whistle for them and gather them together,

For I have redeemed them;

And they will be as numerous as they were before.”

– Zechariah 10:6, 8

And His people will one day be faithful to Him.

“And I will strengthen them in the Lord,

And in His name they will walk,” declares the Lord.

– Zechariah 10:12

Parable of the Doomed Flock

This next section is an elaboration of the above prophecy against the corrupt ones among Israel’s leadership.

There was a sheep ranch whose sheep were failing, dying off and dwindling, because of the exceptionally poor work of those hired to shepherd them. The workers stole sheep and ate or sold them, and did not take care of the sick or feeble sheep.

God sent Zechariah to be the new shepherd for this flock.

This is what the Lord my God says: “Pasture the flock doomed to slaughter. Those who [tend] them slaughter them and go unpunished, and each of those who sell them says, ‘Blessed be the Lord, for I have become rich!’ And their own shepherds have no compassion for them.” – Zechariah 11:4-5

The shepherds were a metaphor for leaders who were committed to selfishness.

“For I will no longer have compassion for the inhabitants of the land,” declares the Lord; “but behold, I will let the people fall, each into another’s power and into the power of his king; and they will crush the land, and I will not rescue them from their power.” – Zechariah 11:6

So Zechariah took the job as foreman of the shepherds. Initially his primary duty was to nurse the ill sheep back to health.

So I pastured the flock doomed to slaughter, therefore also the afflicted of the flock. – Zechariah 11:7a

To do the job he needed to make or obtain tools. And in the custom of the day, he named his tools.

And I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Favor, and the other I called Union; so I pastured the flock. – Zechariah 11:7b

Favor was a symbol of God’s covenant with his people, which granted them great favor when obeyed. Union was a symbol of unity for Israel’s people, who were splintered and in conflict with each other.

But the project didn’t go well. The previous shepherds were still on staff, and still harming the flock. Zechariah finally determined he could not help the sheep while those hurting them remained. So he fired them.

Then I did away with the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was tired of me. – Zechariah 11:8

Even so, the work was too much for Zechariah. He couldn’t hire honest help, and he couldn’t do it alone. So he quit before his contract was complete.

Then I said, “I will not pasture you. What is to die, let it die, and what is to perish, let it perish; and let those who are left eat one another’s flesh.” – Zechariah 11:9

To emphasize that he was actually quitting and not just complaining, he destroyed his shepherd staff.

And I took my staff Favor and cut it in pieces, to break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples. – Zechariah 11:10

Again, this was a symbol of the people, who had broken their covenant with God.

The ranch owners realized he was serious about breaking his contract. Even the sheep seemed to know something bad was happening.

So it was broken on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized that it was the word of the Lord. – Zechariah 11:11

Zechariah had performed good work and so deserved some pay; but since he terminated his contract, the owners weren’t obligated to pay anything.

And I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!” So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages[54]. – Zechariah 11:12

God gave Zechariah instructions about that token payment. Near where the Temple was being rebuilt was a community of pottery makers. And near that was a field where potters discarded broken pots and other rubbish. God told Zechariah to throw his pay in the garbage publicly.

Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter [near] the house of the Lord[55]. – Zechariah 11:13

And to further emphasize his feeling about the failed project, the prophet destroys his other shepherd staff.

Then I cut in pieces my second staff Union, to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. – Zechariah 11:14

God had given Zechariah an assignment, but he had quit without completing it. God sends him back to finish his contract. It wasn’t about the sheep; His goal was to complete the symbol of destruction caused by poor leadership.

And the Lord said to me, “Take again for yourself the equipment of a foolish shepherd. For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or provide for the one who is exhausted, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs.

Woe to the worthless shepherd

Who abandons the flock!

A sword will be on his arm

And on his right eye!

His arm will be totally withered,

And his right eye will be blind.”

– Zechariah 11:15-17

Prophecy of God’s Defense against Impossible Odds

One day there will be a horrible attack against Jerusalem and the entire nation of Israel.

[God speaking] “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.” – Zechariah 12:2

The attack will be unstoppable. Jerusalem’s soldiers will be terrified.

“And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. On that day,” declares the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion and its rider with insanity.” – Zechariah 12:3b-4a

But in spite of the hopeless situation, God will rescue His people.

“But I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the [attacking] peoples with blindness. Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a strong support for us through the Lord of armies, their God.’” – Zechariah 12:4b-5

In that time of distress, Israel will realize they did not recognize their Messiah, and killed Him. Their grief will be intense.

“And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me whom they pierced[56]; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” – Zechariah 12:10

Prophecy against False Prophets

Once Israel recognizes their Messiah, God will purify them.

“And it will come about on that day,” declares the Lord of armies, “that I will eliminate the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered; and I will also remove the [idol] prophets and the unclean spirit from the land.” – Zechariah 13:2

People will respect the Old Testament’s prohibition against false prophets. They will invoke, literally or figuratively, the capital punishment specified for that crime.

“And if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who gave birth to him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the Lord’; and his father and mother who gave birth to him shall pierce him through when he prophesies.” – Zechariah 13:3

Anyone who has the Biblical gift of prophecy will hide that fact. People dressed according to their career, so these prophets would put on the garb of a different profession. Careers, including prophecy, were often handed down within families, so these prophets would alter their heritage.

“Also it will come about on that day that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, and they will not put on a hairy robe in order to deceive; but he will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I am a cultivator of the ground, because a man sold me as a slave in my youth.’” – Zechariah 13:4-5

These prophets were at risk from their own people because of their gift and career. Zechariah continues with this cryptic prophecy, foreshadowing how the Messiah would die.

“And someone will say to him, ‘What are these wounds [in] your hands?’ Then he will say, ‘Those with which I was wounded at the house of my friends.’” – Zechariah 13:6

And then this poem, also about the Messiah.

“Awake, sword, against My Shepherd,

And against the Man, My Associate,”

Declares the Lord of armies.

“Strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered[57];

And I will turn My hand against the little ones.”

– Zechariah 13:7

Prophecy of God’s Ultimate Victory

Zechariah repeats that someday the entire world would attack Jerusalem.

For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be taken, the houses plundered, the women raped, and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be eliminated from the city. – Zechariah 14:2

But in that horrible time, God will defend His city.

Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. – Zechariah 14:3

Near Jerusalem was a hill known as the Mount of Olives. Centuries later Jesus would frequent there. In the still-future attack, God’s defense will come from there.

On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west forming a very large valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and the other half toward the south … Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him! – Zechariah 14:4, 5b

When the battle is over, flawed human control will finally end, and God will rule all.

And the Lord will be King over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one. – Zechariah 14:9

For the attackers, the end will be stunningly sudden.

Now this will be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth. – Zechariah 14:12

Who in ancient times could imagine a weapon capable of that?

The survivors among them will be in such panic they will attack each other.

And it will come about on that day that a great panic from the Lord will fall on them; and they will seize one another’s hand, and the hand of one will be raised against the hand of another. – Zechariah 14:13

Those who remain will recognize that God is unbeatable, and will render their submission.

Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of armies, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. – Zechariah 14:16

The Feast of Booths was a harvest-time thanksgiving event, initiated in Moses’ day, to be celebrated annually. In that future day, it will be celebrated worldwide.

And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of armies, there will be no rain on them. And if the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. – Zechariah 14:17-19

God will rule over all.

Epilogue

Weird visions. Cryptic symbols. Obscure prophecies.

And yet the message of Zephaniah is simple and consistent with what we already know about the Bible and God.

God will not tolerate sin; not forever. His judgment will come.

God will defend His people. His Messiah will be their rescuer.

He offers restoration to any offenders who abandon their destructive ways and join Him.

His victory is certain. And it includes a wonderful outcome for all who stand with Him.

[52]The Apostle Paul quotes this while describing how Christians ought to treat each other (Ephesians 4:25)

[53]Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He rode a donkey into Jerusalem, surrounded by cheering crowds (Matthew 21:5, John 12:15)

[54]This was the same amount of money for which Judas sold out Jesus (Matthew 26:15)

[55]This is reminiscent of what happened to the price Judas was paid (Matthew 27:3-10)

[56]The Apostle John quotes this Scripture twice. (John 19:37, Revelation 1:7)

[57]Jesus quoted this Scripture, predicting that once He was arrested, His disciples would abandon Him (Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:27)

The Inter-Testament Period

During the Post-Exile period in which the previous couple prophets wrote, God was still active among His people.

But as they drifted away from Him and into old violations, God again pulled Himself away from them.

With the last prophet, Malachi, we transition from that Post-Exile period of God’s activity into the Inter-Testament period of God’s silence.

But before going silent, God offers one more chance.

Malachi

Malachi – the last prophet.

Generations ago his ancestors had been conquered and taken captive to Babylon. Their grandchildren had returned, as allowed by their conqueror du jour, Persia, and had established a life in their ancient homeland. In perhaps their grandchildren’s time, Malachi surveyed his surroundings and saw how, like their ancestors, his people had abandoned God and so were inviting His judgment yet again.

Malachi wrote a series of short vignettes, each illustrating one perspective on moral violations or apathy toward God versus faithfulness to God.

God’s Unnoticed Love for Israel

Malachi begins,

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have You loved us?” – Malachi 1:2a

God’s heart has been toward Israel since Abraham’s day. But Malachi’s generation considered God distant, uninvolved.

“Was Esau not Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau[58], and I have made his mountains a desolation and given his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.” – Malachi 1:2b-3

Esau, the father of the nation of Edom. Israel’s brother nation, but now nearly extinct.

An earlier prophet, Obadiah, had seen Edom’s evil and opportunistic behavior in Judah’s hour of crisis, and pronounced God’s judgment and Edom’s doom. By Malachi’s day, Edom was no more a nation, only little bands of survivors.

Though Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins”; this is what the Lord of armies says: “They may build, but I will tear down; and people will call them the territory of wickedness, and the people with whom the Lord is indignant forever.” – Malachi 1:4

God would display His love for Israel by keeping this ancient frenemy at bay.

And your eyes will see this, and you will say, “The Lord be exalted beyond the border of Israel!” – Malachi 1:5

Sin in Insincere Worship

The people of Israel were worshiping God, yes; but it was pretend. It brought God no honor.

“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of armies to you, the priests who despise My name! But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’” – Malachi 1:6

“We haven’t done anything wrong,” the people exclaim.

You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is to be despised.’ – Malachi 1:7

You also say, ‘See, how tiresome it is!’ And you view it as trivial,” says the Lord of armies – Malachi 1:13a

The people went to religious services, but considered it a waste of time. They didn’t like going, and invested the minimum effort possible. They only worshiped out of a sense of social obligation. It had nothing to do with reaching out to God.

But there was more.

And when you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not evil? Or when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not evil? So offer it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you, or would he receive you kindly?” says the Lord of armies – Malachi 1:8

“and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I accept it from your hand?” says the Lord – Malachi 1:13b

God calls on us to give our best to Him – our “first fruits”. When we only give God our castoffs, this sends the message that we do not honor Him. It is so upsetting to God, He would prefer they not worship at all!

“If only there were one among you who would shut the gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar for nothing! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of armies, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand.” – Malachi 1:10

Theirs was no minor offense. It hurt God deeply.

“But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the Lord of armies, “and My name is feared among the nations.” – Malachi 1:14

The Sins of the Religious Leaders

Malachi addresses his next message to the leaders.

“And now, this commandment is for you, the priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of armies, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.” – Malachi 2:1-2

God had established Israel’s tribe of Levi as the priesthood, the people whose job it was to learn from God and take that learning to the people.

“My covenant with him [Levi] was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and was in awe of My name. True instruction was in his mouth and injustice was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and justice, and he turned many back from wrongdoing.” – Malachi 2:5-6

But the priests were no longer turning people toward God, and so were violating that covenant.

“But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have ruined the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of armies. “So I also have made you despised and of low reputation in the view of all the people, since you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.” – Malachi 2:8-9

Violence in the Home

We all are a family; and we ought to treat each other as family deserves.

Do we not all have one Father? Is it not one God who has created us? Why do we deal treacherously, each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers? – Malachi 2:10

Because they treated each other badly, God removed His blessing and was silent toward them.

Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your marriage companion and your wife by covenant. – Malachi 2:14

People who love God do not take their vows lightly. People who have abandoned God may be inclined to similarly abandon their families.

But not one has done so [mistreated his wife] who has a remnant of the Spirit. – Malachi 2:15a

Why should God care if we honor our marriage? Because a healthy marriage is good for the children.

And why the one? He was seeking a godly offspring. – Malachi 2:15b

So …

Be careful then about your spirit, and see that none of you deals treacherously against the wife of your youth. “For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with [resorts to] violence,” says the Lord of armies. “So be careful about your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” – Malachi 2:15c-16

The Coming of the Lord

God had long promised He would visit His people. Here He reinforces that promise.

“Behold, I am sending My messenger, and he will clear a way before Me[59]. And the Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of armies. – Malachi 3:1

Because of this prophecy, the Jews expected a special prophet[60] to announce the arrival of the Messiah.

The people of Israel had long expected God to visit them. God warns them the visit may not be to their liking.

“But who can [survive] the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap. And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.” – Malachi 3:2-3

Yes, the Lord will come; but His people aren’t ready! So when He comes, He will purify them, and it can be a painful process. But it has an excellent outcome.

“Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old, and as in former years.” – Malachi 3:4

And because they will be pleasing to God, His blessing will be on them. He will remove those who victimize them.

“Then I will come near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, those who oppress the wage earner in his wages or the widow or the orphan, and those who turn away the stranger from justice and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of armies. – Malachi 3:5

God invites His people to return to Him.

“From the days of your fathers you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of armies. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’” – Malachi 3:7

Robbing God

“Would anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the entire nation of you!” – Malachi 3:8-9

God had required His people to present certain gifts and services periodically. But the people withheld what was owed, and in consequence, God withheld things they needed.

But if the people restore their owed offerings, God will restore His supply of what they need.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this,” says the Lord of armies, “if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground; nor will the vine in the field prove fruitless to you,” says the Lord of armies. “All the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of armies. – Malachi 3:10-12

Arrogance Against God

“Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ You have said, ‘It is pointless to serve God; and what benefit is it for us that we have done what He required, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of armies? So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also put God to the test and escape punishment.’” – Malachi 3:13-15

God’s Book of Remembrance

Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened attentively and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and esteem His name. “And they will be Mine,” says the Lord of armies, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will have compassion for them just as a man has compassion for his own son who serves him.” So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. – Malachi 3:16-18

God’s Judgment Is Coming

Which side are you on?

For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall. And you will crush the wicked underfoot, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I am preparing,” says the Lord of armies. – Malachi 4:1-3

How do we assure God’s judgment is favorable?

“Remember the Law of Moses My servant, the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.” – Malachi 4:4

God had given Israel His covenant at Mount Horeb (that is, Mount Sinai). He calls on His people to remember it, and conform.

Judgment is coming, and it will be wonderful for some and terrible for others.

“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet[61] before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete destruction.” – Malachi 4:5-6

Epilogue

For centuries God had coaxed His people to be truly His people. And for centuries they had resisted. Insincere worship while flagrantly violating His covenant. Violence everywhere, even in one’s own home. Withholding their best and leaving their leftovers for God.

God remained determined to build His people. But that required that His people participate instead of resisting and violating. And so far, that wasn’t happening.

So as God prepares to retreat temporarily from His people, He sends a final message, exposing His reasons, and promising to eventually return and fulfill His good plan for them.

[58]The Apostle Paul quotes this in his argument that God does not need to justify His decisions or actions to our satisfaction (Romans 9:13)

[59]Jesus mentioned this expectation in connection with John the Baptizer (Matthew 17:11-12, Mark 9:11-13).

[60]That prophet was the old prophet Elijah, as we learn in Malachi 4:5

[61]An angel quoted this passage to the father of John the Baptizer, indicating his son would help turn people back to God, making them ready for the Messiah (Luke 1:17)

Conclusion

God is patient. Our sin grieves Him deeply and harms people He cares about. But He gives second chances and many more chances.

God is inclined to forgive. Any who will turn to Him and put a stop to their selfish ways, God will welcome. Their bad history doesn’t matter. His arms and His home are open.

God’s patience is not infinite. If we prove unwilling, He will judge sin. Our evils do harm that spreads like an epidemic. If it isn’t stopped it will destroy all it touches. In the end, God will put a stop to sin.

God will establish His kingdom. He is determined to build a home that is satisfying, secure, and built on love. And He is determined to populate His home with as many as will enter.

The minor prophets may speak in language that feels foreign to us.

But their message is the familiar message readers of the Bible have long recognized.

Table of Contents

- Title Page
- Introduction
- The Late Divided Kingdom Period
- A Word about Idols
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- The Late Pre-Exile Period
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- The Post-Exile Period
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- The Inter-Testament Period
- Malachi
- Conclusion