1/02/2025

Minor Prophets
Joel, Amos and Obadiah

Overview

• God raised the prophets to speak out at crucial times.

• Their message was not only to Israel, but often also
to neighbouring nations which impacted His people.
• While prophecy is in all of the Bible, and there were
prophets such as Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha, we are
focusing our attention on the prophetic messages of
the Minor Prophets.
• They are ‘Minor’ not because they are lesser in
importance, but because their length is shorter
compared to the Major Prophets.

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• The twelve Minor prophets are grouped in the

Old Testament after the longer Books of
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and
Daniel.
• The Twelve are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah,
Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,
Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
• Of these we will look at the messages of Joel
Amos and Obadiah.

• Each of these three prophets anticipates the “day of the Lord.”

• On that day, God will judge the earth and relieve his people from their
suffering at the hands of their enemies, refreshing and reestablishing
them.
• This day of the Lord begins, however, with judgment upon God’s own
people.
• God had given Israel his presence, his Word, and a special relationship
with him, but they grew complacent and self-indulgent and even took
advantage of the weak and impoverished among God’s people.
• Therefore, God promised to begin judgment with his own people, which
would arrive through the armies of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.

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• Even so, God offered hope to his people, if they would but return to
him.
• His people should turn back to God and away from their false worship,
complacency, indulgence, and mistreatment of the weak and
impoverished, then God would defeat their enemies, restore them to the
Promised Land, and, most importantly, be reconciled to them.
• Like the prophets Joel, Amos, and Obadiah who awaited a coming day of
the Lord, we, too, eagerly await the day of the Lord
• It will be a day in which our King and Savior Jesus Christ will return and
establish his rule over all nations.

• Understanding Biblical Prophecy

• 2 Peter 1:19-21
• (19) We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable,
and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark
place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
• (20) Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came
about by the prophet's own interpretation of things.
• (21) For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets,
though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy
Spirit.
• Amos 3:7
• Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his
servants the prophets.

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• It is said that Biblical prophecy is 95% forthtelling and only 5%

foretelling.
• In the midst of His judgement of Israel for her idolatry, God used
prophetic messages to reveal what He was doing and call the nation to
repentance.
• The Old Testament prophets addressed the people of their day about the
situations they were facing, and used God's revelation of the future to
challenge and encourage them to return to holy living.
• While the prophets addressed the needs of the audience of their day,
some of what they said has future content.
• Some of the future content has been fulfilled in the time of the New
Testament and other prophecies are still to be fulfilled in our future.

• Features
• “The Minor Prophets dramatize the character of God as few other
books in the Bible do.
• They particularly highlight three aspects of God’s character: His
sovereignty, His holiness, and His love.”
• The message of the prophet must fit into the historical,
geographical, and cultural context in which the prophet
ministered.
• What was said by the prophet had meaning first to the people of
that day and thereafter could be relevant to the future.

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• 1 Peter 4:17-18 ESV

• (17) For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it
begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel
of God?(18) And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the
ungodly and the sinner?”
• The day of the Lord, is a day of judgment for both God’s people and the
nations of the world.
• Even so, in the midst of judgment lies salvation, as God promises to
establish his rule over the nations.
• His rule includes not only Israel but all of God’s people gathered from all
the nations on earth.

Context

• After King Solomon had died,

the nation was divided into two
parts, Israel in the north with
10 tribes, and Judah in the
South, with two tribes.
• Samaria was capital of the
Kingdom of Israel
• Jerusalem was capital of the
Kingdom of Judah

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• In 734 BC Assyria began to

dominate the region.
• This included conquering the
northern kingdom of Israel
and the relocation of the
inhabitants of Israel to other
areas throughout Assyria’s
empire.

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• In 586 BC Babylon conquered

Judah and carried the
inhabitants of Judah into exile.
• Edom, Judah’s southeastern
neighbor and ethnic cousin, not
only refused to help Judah in
her times of crisis—especially
Edom
during the Babylonian assault
on Judah—but even took
advantage of Judah’s various
vulnerabilities, plundering
Judah whenever possible.

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• Into these tumultuous times God sent his prophets Joel, Amos, and
Obadiah.
• During their respective ministries, they brought God’s perspective
on, and explanation for, the surrounding world events.
• Joel 2:12-13
• (12) "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with
fasting and weeping and mourning."(13) Rend your heart and not your
garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and
compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from
sending calamity.

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Messages directed to Edom, Israel, Judah

EDOM
ISRAEL 734 BC
JUDAH 605 BC

Obadiah Joel Amos

840 835-830 760-755

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Joel
• The prophet Joel ministered in Judah during the reign of Joash, who
ascended the throne at the age of seven.
• The young king came under the regency of the High Priest, Jehoiada.
• Joel spoke and wrote because of two recent natural disasters and the
imminent threat of a foreign military invasion.
• His purpose was first to bring the people of Judah together before the
Lord
• Joel 1:14
• Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live
in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.

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Joel
• Second, to call them to sincere repentance, calling for God’s mercy with
fasting, weeping and mourning
• Joel 1:14
• Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live
in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
• And third, to record God’s prophetic word to his people on the occasion
of their sincere repentance.
• Joel 2:23
• Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the
autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both
autumn and spring rains, as before.

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Amos
• Amos was a shepherd, who also cared for sycamore-fig trees.
• He was from Tekoa, a village in Judah south of Jerusalem.
• God gave him a prophetic burden for rebellious Israel. He boldly
proclaimed a message of justice, righteousness and divine
retribution at Bethel.
• When prevented from speaking he went back home and put his
message to writing for the benefit of King Jeroboam II and his
people.

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Obadiah
• The Book of Obadiah, shortest in the Old Testament, has a strong
message.
• It is primarily a prophecy concerning the downfall of Edom, a
neighboring nation of Israel.
• As Israel came from Jacob, Edom came from his twin brother Esau.
• But hatred between their descendants often spilled into war, and the
Edomites rejoiced at Jerusalem’s troubles
• Obadiah reveals God’s intense anger at Edom for their rejoicing.
• Obadiah 1:2
• "See, I will make you small among the nations; you will be utterly despised.

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Obadiah
• The overarching message is that of divine justice and retribution:
• Judgment Against Edom: Edom is condemned for its arrogance and
mistreatment of Israel, highlighting the consequences of pride and betrayal.
• Day of the Lord: A broader message about the "Day of the Lord" where all
nations will be judged according to their deeds.
• Restoration of Israel: Despite the impending judgment, there's also a
promise of restoration and deliverance for the people of Israel.
• In essence, it's a stern reminder that actions have consequences
and that justice, both divine and earthly, will prevail.
• Obadiah 1:1
• Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble, and they will
set him on fire and destroy him. There will be no survivors from Esau." The
LORD has spoken.

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Reflection

• What does the ‘Day of the Lord’ hold for us?

• In the ‘far view’ the Day of the Lord is in our future too.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
• (1) Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write
to you,(2) for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief
in the night.
• (3) While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them
suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
• (4) But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should
surprise you like a thief.(5) You are all children of the light and children of the
day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
• (6) So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and
sober.

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