What God Wants
The first chapter of the book of Joel describes a locust plague that devastated the land. The land was so ravaged that the people had no food to eat and nothing to sacrifice for their sins. In the midst of such devastation Joel gives a prophecy about a future destruction from a foreign military that will act as God's arm of discipline against Israel. The reason for both the actual plague and the coming judgment are the same: the people had forgotten God. With nothing left and a future filled with dread God provides hope (2.12). The Lord is not interested in sacrifices, he desires their hearts.
Intro to Haggia and Zechariah
Haggai is the first prophet to the returning exiles. A lot of significant history has passed to reach this point in Israel's life, including the end of the Babylonian Empire, the rise of the Persian Empire, the absence of a Jewish nation, and now the resurgence of Jewish nationalism and the beginnings of a national restoration. The chart below offers a timeline-like understanding of the significant events, and a chronological placement of both the major prophets (marked with an •) and the minor prophets. The prophets are divided as such not because some were "greater", but simply by the length of their writings.
Intro to Micah
When Jeremiah prophesied Assyria’s routing of Israel and Judah, he was promptly arrested and tried for treason (Jeremiah 26.7-.19). While the court debated his fate (most favoring Jeremiah’s execution) one councilman remembered a passage of God’s Word that applied to this situation. He recited Micah for the council, showing that when the prophet of old spoke those same words a century ago, he was not arrested for treason. Instead, the people repented and the Lord relented his wrath. The court agreed to follow the precedent of Micah and spared Jeremiah’s life. In this case, God’s Word literally leads to life.
Intro to Obadiah
The story of Obadiah begins more than a millennia earlier, in the womb of a woman named Rebekah (Genesis 25.24-26), and finds the fruition of its prophecy almost a couple hundred years later by the hands of Rome (70 AD). What appears on the surface of this, the shortest book in the Old Testament (all of 21 verses), is merely the tip of the proverbial iceberg. One has to dig a little deeper to uncover the rich history and incredible fulfillment of prophecy which this narrative rests atop. It is a story twelve hundred years in the making.
Summary Sheet of the Minor Prophets
This one page summary of the Minor Prophets (also called The Twelve) ends our series on introductions to the Old Testament books. We sincerely hope this has been fruitful for all our readers and helped them improve their knowledge of the Bible and provided a resource everyone can return to when studying a particular book of the Bible. We will be updating these pages as new information becomes available so be sure to check back for the very latest content. The series will return later in the year in order to provide introductions for all New Testament books.
Intro to Zephaniah
To appreciate Zephaniah's ministry a review of history is helpful. Earlier in the nation of Judah’s life there was a king named Manasseh. He was by far the most evil king to have ruled over Judah, and his reign was longer than any other (55 years). It was during this reign of evil that God gave an irreversible judgment on Judah saying, “I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and hand them over to their enemies.” 2 Kings 21.2-6 recounts the sins of Manasseh:
Intro to Jonah
To understand Jonah requires understanding some of the history of his time. The Assyrian empire formed circa 1100 b.c. and began a military empowered expansion program a couple centuries later. During Jonah’s lifetime, the Assyrians had enveloped many Syrian and Palestinian territories and had become the greatest world power. Even the Northern Kingdom paid duties to Assyria, causing a hatred of Assyrians by Jews that surpasses any good sports rivalry today. Running a close second in military power and Semitic hatred were the Babylonians, who would some centuries later conquer Assyria and lead the Southern Kingdom into captivity.
Intro to Amos
At this point in Israel’s history she could be compared to America in the 1980’s. Powerful, capable rulers lead both the Northern and Southern kingdoms into times of prosperity and great wealth. Judah’s influence of power spread as far as Egypt, and Israel had extended her borders just far enough north to control the major trade routes. Expensive homes were built to accommodate the new wealth. Morality, however, declined rapidly. The people’s private lives were bereft of spirituality despite a strong religious sense. Both kingdoms honored God through sacrifice, but their hearts and daily practices were far removed from Him.
Intro to Malachi
From the very beginning the prophet tells us this is going to be a troublesome book. His use of the word “oracle,” which means “burden,” tells us that much. And while, as is customary for the prophets, there is a hope threaded through the book there are also numerous chastisements for Israel’s sins. And their sins were many. Malachi denounces their blemished offerings, ignoring the tithe, divorces, marriages to foreign women, and many others. But they were guilty of much more, including selling of their children into slavery, the prostitution of their daughters to pay debts, and ignoring the Sabbath.
Intro to Nahum
In Genesis chapter twelve we see the promise that the nation of Israel will be founded by God through Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." In this disclosure of future events, God also makes a promise saying, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse....” Centuries later, (about 750 BC), Jonah visits Nineveh and prevailed upon them a mass revival. Because of their remarkable about-face and repentance to Elohim, God spared them.
Names of God - Elohe Mauzi
King David was no stranger to surprising circumstances. On multiple occasions he found himself either on the run, or warring against surrounding nations. Feeling like the sword of Damocles was waiting to drop on him, it appeared from his perspective that God was no where to be found. Most of us have been there. Probably not running from those who want to murder us our dealing with a national crises, but we've had relationships that fail, declining health, or situations at work that threaten our career. We find ourselves in situations beyond our control and feel helpless as a result.
El Kanna
I read a lot of murder mysteries, and among the most common motives for murder is jealousy. It makes people ugly and can lead to even worse actions. This is how jealousy is presented most of the time, from novels to daytime dramas, but there is another definition for jealousy and it's a positive one. Imagine a jealousy that strives to vigilantly watch over a beloved one, to protect them from unfaithfulness and a passionate zeal for the object of his love. This second definition is the one behind the name El Kanna (also El Kanno) in the Old Testament.