The MAJOR & MINOR Prophets - The 16 Writing Prophets Of The Hebrew Canon

Introducing... e

Major & Minor PROPHETS “ e Sixteen Writing Prophets Of e Hebrew Canon”

By Ernest Gentile

1

BT Johnson Publishing PO Box 1 %DWWOH *URXQG , WA 98 btjohnsonpublishing.com

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher. Visit the author’s web site: www.ernestgentile.com

2

Table of Contents Dedication............................................................................................................3 Foreward............................................................................................................... 5 Chart of the Kings & Prophets.......................................................................... 6, 7 Timelines............................................................................................ .. ................. 8 Obadiah...............................................................................................................1 5 Joel....................................................................................................................... 21 Jonah.................................................................................................................... 27 Hosea................................................................................................................... 33 Amos.................................................................................................................... 39 Isaiah........................................................................................................... . ........ 47 Micah........................................................................................................ . ........... 61 Zephaniah.................................................................................................. .. ......... 71 Nahum........................................................................................................ . ......... 77 Jeremiah.................................................................................................. .. ............ 85 Habakkuk.............................................................................................. .. ............ 101 Daniel....................................................................................................... .. ......... 109 Ezekiel........................................................................................................... . ..... 129 Haggai.................................................................................................... . ............ 147 Zechariah................................................................................................. . .......... 155 Malachi.......................................................................................................... .. ..... 161 Bibliography................................................................................................. .. ...... 168

4

Foreword

This study takes a fresh look at the sixteen Major & Minor Prophets of the Old Testament, seeking both new insights of how God spoke to the nations of Israel and Judah and how God might still speak to His people today. This book is not meant to be the final word on the subject of Prophecy, but rather a sincere effort to examine how God used His Spirit to empower His servants, the prophets. Each prophet in his historical setting has a message for our time. Together, their amazing stories tell RI WKH )DWKHU·V unceasing, great love for His people in spite of their continuous attraction to idolatry and other destructive choices. Some of the greatest stories of faith come out of these ancient episodes, and ZH VHH *RG·V XQUHOHQWLQJ HIIRUWV W o bring His people into the lifestyle which will prosper and help them. I hope this book will bless and benefit you, bringing deeper insight about the heavenly Father who loves and cares deeply about every aspect of your life. May we all be stirred to seek a deeper XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI *RG·V KHDUW DQG WR KHDU WKH YRLFH RI WKH /RUG PRUH clearly than ever before!

Sincerely,

Ernest Gentile

5

6

7

8

Timelines

Introduction Chart of Prophets Time Chart of Kings & Prophet s

Part l. e 9 th & 8 th Century B.C. Prophets Key oughts Chart of the 7 Prophets Obadiah Joel Jonah Hosea Amos Isaiah Micah Part ll. e 7 th Century B.C. Prophets Key oughts Chart of the 4 Prophets Zephaniah Nahum Jeremiah Habakkuk Part lll. e 6 th Century B.C. Prophets Key oughts Chart of the 2 Prophets Daniel Ezekiel Part lV. e 5 th Century B.C. Prophets Key oughts Chart of the 3 Prophets Haggai Zechariah Malachi Bibliography

9

urin Exile After Exi le After Exi Durin uring Exile After Exi

Prophets Before th

re the Exile

900BC

800BC entury 8 th Century

700BC

600BC 7 th Century 6 th C

500BC 4 Century 5 th Centu

400BC tury

9 th Ce

Dani (606 Bab

aniel

Obadiah (848-840 Edom diah 0)

Jonah (785-770) o Sent from Israel t Nineveh

Zephaniah (638-624) Judah

ai Hagg (520-505) Judah

6-536)

abylon

Hosea (755-710) Sent from Judah to Israel to

Joel (81 Judah

Nahum (650-620) Judah/Nineveh

Lam (58 Jerus Lamentations 6) usalem

Zechariah (520-480) Judah iah

10-780)

Jeremiah (626-560) Judah

Ezeki (593 Bab

el 3-563)

Amos (765-755) Israel

Malachi (435-410) Judah

abylon

Isaiah (740-690) Judah Micah (735-700) Judah

Habakkuk (620-600) Judah

10

Part l e 9 th & 8 th Century B.C. Prophets t ,FZ ćPVHIUT $IBSU PG UIF 1SPQIFUT t 0CBEJBI t +PFM

t +POBI t )PTFB t "NPT t *TBJBI t .JDBI

11

! ! ! Quick Summary of the 9 th and 8 th Century BC Prophetic Books Book Meaning of Name Key Thought Approx. Date BC Audience # of Chap. Key Verse(s) NT References Obadiah Servant or worshiper of the LORD Retribution 844? Edom 1 3, 4, 15 Rom 9:13; 11:1-2 Joel The LORD is God Day of LORD Between 810 & 780 Judah 3 1:14-15; 2:1,11,12, 17, 23; 2:28-32 Ac 2:13-21; 2 Th; 2 Pet 3; Jn 7:39; Ja 5:7; Jonah Dove Mercy on the Gentiles Between 780 & 770 Nineveh 3 Mt 12:40

1:17; 2:1-2, 8-9; 3:2, 10; 4:2

Hosea

The LORD Saves

Persevering Love

Between 750-710

Israel

14

1:2; 4:1; 11:7-9; 14:9

Mt 2:15; 4:13; 17:23; Rom 9:25-26; 11:1-2; 1 Cor 8:6;15:54-55; 1 Pet 2:10

Amos

Burden or Burden Bearer

Judgment/

Between 765-755

Israel

9

3:7; 4:11, 12; 5:14, 24; 7:15-16; 8:11; 9:11-12

Mt 18:16; Ac 7:42; 15:16-18; Jude 23

Punishment

Isaiah

Salvation is of The LORD 1 “God Saves”

Messianic

740-690 Judah

66

9:6-7; 12:6; 56:1; 53:6; 61:1-3

See chart on Messianic Predictions

Redemption

Micah

Who is like

Conviction

735-700 Israel

7

3:8; ; 4:3, 5; 5:2, 4-5; 6:8; 7:7, 18

Mt 2:5-6; 10:36; Mk 15:19; Jn 10; 7:5; Ac 1:8

The LORD?

& Judah

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 “Salvation” is mentioned 26 time in Isaiah, but only 7 times in all the other prophets.

12

(Continued)

Book

Theme

Obadiah

The proud, haughty descendants of Esau were a constant threat to Israel down through the years, doing whatever they could to hinder the descendants of Jacob. God’s response: “As you have done, it will be done to you.” And so it was. Using a locust plague to illustrate the terrible “Day of the LORD,” Joel calls the people of God to fasting and prayer. This turning to God brought the abundant restoration of all that had been destroyed. A remarkable prophecy of a future outpouring of the Holy Spirit is given, showing how God’s people will all become prophetic. God commissioned Jonah to go to the wicked gentile city of Nineveh and preach repentance. The reluctant prophet tried to run away from the assignment, but God captured him and he finally went. The sincere, repentant response of the total population of Nineveh to Jonah’s message caused God to spare the city. Then God had to deal with His despondent prophet. Hosea sounded a final call to Israel for repentance before the death knell of the country. The domestic life of Hosea, his wife and children give remarkable spiritual and moral application to Israel’s relationship with God Himself. Hosea actually portrayed in real life the heart, agony and righteousness of God as he married a wife that he knew would be unfaithful to him, illustrating that God will tolerate no rival – but that His love is undying and forgiving. Amos, the Judean farmer, went to Bethel and challenged the King, leaders, prophets and people that they have departed from the way of the LORD. Israel has forgotten her covenant with God and gone into wanton corruption and moral decay. In spite of the devastation that the Assyrians will bring, God promises an eventual restoration of David’s Tabernacle and a marvelous ingathering of both Israel and Gentiles. “Isaiah is the supreme poet-prophet to come out of the Hebrew people.” 1 He presents the holiness of God in a graphic way and makes “salvation” his major emphasis. Three themes are repeated and developed: judgment, comfort and hope.” His remarkable prophetic insights portray the Messiah as both a suffering servant and a conquering king. Presented like a courtroom scene, God brings serious accusations against His people whom He has cared for and loved. Judgment will fall on leaders and people in both Israel and Judah. Eventually, a glorious restoration of His kingdom will occur with the Messiah as king and shepherd.

Joel

Jonah

Hosea

Amos

Isaiah

Micah

_____________________________ 1 Eugene Peterson, The Message , p. 912.

13

14

Th The Book of Obadiah h

Obadia this was youmigh Israelite RI ´2E h tio ed i th Old was a common name becaus might easily have been name te family in the middle of th badiahs mentioned in the Old EDGLDK µ EXW LI \RX KDG EH do not know You probably kn KLSHU RI WKH /25' µ ´6HUYDQ y over a child: ealing to parents wishing carries a deeply spiritu & OO G ´ K lif G·VJUHDW lated one of Go gs from the Hebrew prop This one-chapter book, th &DOOHG ´WKH PRVW KLJ om. V YLROHQFH DQG SULGH f feud that had persisted tioned had to do with the fu Ed endicular cliff, overlookin Like an impregnable rocky scended from Esau) located sou Edom no longer exists, bu KROGV KLJK XS LQ WKH URFN\ Edomites would go ou QV« ´5DLGHUV RI WK eir stories (as ce into the deepcanyon leadi s, Isaiah, Jeremiah,Ezekiel a prophets who prophesied UH WKHP WKDW *RG·V MXGJP ·V SURSKHF\ DSS Obadiah among otly debated issue verses 11-14 occurred in H to determine the date wou rom an interpretive point of the book is The date y? L , p. 102 e New Open Bible Study Edition oneoftheoverseers whotook part in RKLG*RG¶VSURSKHWVLQDFDYH .LQ KRODUV DWWHPSW WR LGHQWLI\ WKH DXWKRU RI Encyclopedia of Biblical Proph Payne, (Gr +DOOH\¶V %LEOH +DQGERRN . Halley, KL gn ld it id Obadiah Prophesy of Edom (GRP· family mentio of Ed articulate writings perpen area. L descen VWURQJK FDQ\RQ for thei entrance Amos, Isa Otherp UHDVVXU The 10:5). 17:7); (3) SDODFHZKR RPH VFK S 2 J. Parton 3 HenryH 1 ´ZRUVK destiny appeali name When D this hotly whenver to way vital fr

the ninth century B.C., HHQ D VRQ ERUQ LQWR DQ ow anyone by the name t! ld T because there are thirteen amed Obadiah. We know 1 This ld Testament! or QW RI WKH /25'µ to cast a prophetic al meaning, most iritu

\JRUJHV µ out on raiding expeditions 3 ). KH /RVW $UNµ leading to Edombecause it Hollywood mo against Edom were PHQW ZRXOG FRPH RQ WKLV D SDUHQWO\ ZDV QRW JLYHQ LQ editi aidin ing a valley of marvelou ci fortress, their capital ocky south of the Dead Sea in t but in the mid-ninth centu edicti KO e principles while pronou ophets, was the message he smallest in the Old Testame predictive book in th JKO\ for two thousand years, f uture of Judah and Edom book in

MXGJPHQW RQ lmination of a ything se ever n the kingdom prophet that earliest of the hi imp the mountain YHG KLJK LQ D of the Mt. Seir nation (mainly eir impregnable mystical setting arved, red-rock bl

ZLWK*RG·V inally ending om), Obadiah shows the culm (because µ ire Bibl th onouncing divinejudgment on ssage of a simple, obscure stament and perhaps the 2 (bec the entire Bible their d h velous beauty, far back in th ´FDUY city was Sela (Petra), the mountainous terrain o tury B.C. it was a fierce n ons, and then retreat to their provides a mysterious, my movies like to show the car

DUUR DQW QDWLRQ IRU WKHLU Y Q (GRP LWVHOI EXW VSRNHQ J

LQGLFWLYHQHVV Q WR -XGDK WR

lachi. kiel and Ma

g scholars has not y, and Hebrew histor would be to pinpoint . The only of view debatable, but not

IL e of Nehemiah (Neh. cities of Judah (2 Ch. WKH RIILFHU LQ $KDE¶V $K

24. repairing the temple under Josiah (2 C RQHRIWKHRIILFLDOVVHQWRXWE I WKLV ERRN ZLWK RQH RI WKH RWKHU WZHOYH (Grand Rapids:Baker Books, 199 hecy rand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1965, 24 IL

Chr. 34:12); or (4) a priest in the time h the law in the c E\ -HKRVKDSKDW WR WHDF H KHUHDUHIRXURIWKHSURVSHFWV ³ W 6 [1980]), p. 418. ed.), p. 361.

15

ey caught escaping Judean ans), [and] es orBabyloni UHIHU WR DQ RFF probably

ns, mistreated the Edomites DVLRQ ´:KHQ

shared in its plunder. They (either by Philistines sacked ese controversial verses p

Jerusalem been com

DQG VROG WKHP DV VODYHV µ delight in its downfall, and salem was plundered and sacked solved. These completely 4 date The second alternative ; 2 tioned in 2 Chron 21:16f The Philistines (with Arabi giving the oyed Jerusalem,

WKHP D took de

etime date would be later (som Kings 8:20); this would p m Jerusale abians) invaded occasion a post-exilic date. adi ne of the Book of Ob Judgment of Edom (1-16) adiah 6)

after 586 B.C.) when the place Obadiah at an early of Jehoram m in the reign to be the best ate. These seem

e Babylonians ly or pre-exilic m (c. 844 B.C.), best possibilities.

date. T mentio destroy

Outline o

I. The J

A.

(GRP·V3XQLVKPHQW -9) n 1. Title and Introductio 2. Her Pride Humbled ( 9) 3. Completeness of Dest (GRP·V 6LQ $JDLQVW -XGD 1. Violence Against Broth 2. 7KH ´(LJKW 6KRXOG 1R

n (1) 2-4)

2 4) Destruction (5-9)

B.

K -14) ther (10-11) RWVµ -14)

II. The D

he Day of the Lord (15-21)

A. B.

The Judgment of Nations ( *RG·V 5HVWRUDWLRQ RI ,VUDH *RG V 5HVWRUDWLRQ RI ,VUDH

s (15-16) HO 21) -21)

The Famil

«Z amily Feud Started

ZLWK WKH %LUWK RI 7ZLQV

nd the two nations they wou , telling her the edwoman b, so she in her womb, were couple prayed, and Rebekah UDKDP·V VRQ ,VDDF PD Ab m] [Esau/Edo other And the One people will be stronger Two peoples shall be separa nations are in [rival] ´7ZR ey babies were brought for al anguish of travailing bir At last released from the ed wide and her jaw dropp gh

would produce. internal struggle prefigur e anxiously inquired of the conceived. Soonshereali ebekah and twenty DUULHG 5HEHNDK ld pr viewing and cuddling. sagged with r rth, Rebekah e months of womb movem µ . shall serve the younger [Jacob/Isra r than the other rated from your body; n your womb, el], /Isra sly these were obviou ² ped g. g

red the future antagonism e LORD (Gen 25:22). God ealized that the severe jostli . ty childless years passed

ism between her d spoke to the ling indicated . Desperately

sons an troubled twins were the cou

Her eyes relief. The ement and

two ba the final opened

identical twins! not were eye

The Zondervan Pictorial QH\ JHQ HG Encyclopedia of the

4 Bible, Vol. )RU DQ LQ

(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975), p 4 Q GHSWK GLVFXVVLRQ VHH $ . +HOPEROG

pp. 479-482. ³2EDGLDK %RRN RI ´ 0HUULOO & 7HQQ

16

¶ I have loved you >,VUDHO@ · says the LORD. Yet you say ¶,Q ZKDW ZD\ KDYH

´· You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your KHDUW ¶ZKR ZLOO EULQJ PH GRZQ WR WKH JURXQG"· 7KRXJK \RX H[DOW \RXUVHOI DV KLJK DV WKH

5 J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1977, 14 th printing), Vol. 6, p. 86. 6 The five contrasts by J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book, Vol. 4, p. 140. 7 Hobart E. Freeman, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets (Chicago: Moody Press, 1968), p. 142.

18

eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, · says the LORD (vss. 3-4). µ

Finally the downfall did come. By 312 B.C. an Arab people, the Nabataeans, had displaced the Edomites from Petra. The Edomites then moved to occupy Idumaea; the name the Greeks gave southern Palestine. During the Maccabean period they were subdued and brought under Jewish law and circumcision. In 47 B.C. Julius Caesar appointed Antipater, an Idumaean, procurator of Judea. 8 Strangely, the Edomites who had survived fought with the Jews against the Romans, but Jerusalem was taken and burned. According to Baxter, ´7KH VXUYLYRUV WRRN UHIXJH DPRQJ GHVHUW WULEHV LQ ZKLFK they became absorbed; and Origen, in the third century A.D., spoke of them as a people whose name and language had altogether perished. Thus, the sentence on Edom was H[HFXWHG DQG 2EDGLDK·V SURSKHF\ IXOILOOHG µ 9 More than any other nation mentioned in the Old Testament, Edom is the VXSUHPH REMHFW RI *RG·V Z rath : Ps 83:5-18; 137:7; Isa 11:14; 21:11-12; 34:5; 63:1-6; Jer 49:7 22; Lam 4:21-22; Ez 25:12-14; 35:1-15; Joel 3:19; Am 1:11-12; 9:11-12; Mal 1:2-5 Notice the connection between national pride as well as Satan ·V SULGH in Ez 28 and Isa 14. T here are a number of valuable lessons to be learned from Obadiah. It i VQ·W MXVW WR label greed and cruelty as wrong, although things of that nature are abhorrent to God and Esau certainly reaped what he sowed. Being one of the first of the writing prophets, Obadiah and his message reflect an attitude of God that will be foundational for the rest of the written prophecies. All of the SURSKHWV VHHPHG WR UHDOL]H WKDW *RG·V SODQ ZRXOG EH XQIROGLQJ VHFWLR n by section, covenant by covenant, era by era, and the divine objective must ever be kept in mind. Eventually, God will have a people that will truly be a shining kingdom of beauty, free of satanic influence and stain-- God and His people in perfect unity and purpose. 7KH SURSKHWV ZHUH *RG·V YRLFH WR WKH VXFFHHGLQJ JHQHUDWLRQV VRPHWLPHV WKH\ were successful in their efforts to promote righteousness, sometimes they were martyred for their proclamations. Sometimes, they themselves did not understand all that the LORD was attempting to say and do. $IWHU VHQGLQJ ´0\ 6HUYDQWV WKH 3URSKHWVµ D favorite expression of the LORD), only to see them undergo various degrees of rejection, God took a final step and sent His beloved Son, THE prophet of prophets, Jesus the Messiah and our Lord. Both Jews and Gentiles joined in crucifying the holy One. After ascending to heaven, Jesus then sent the Holy Spirit upon His followers, the Church made up of both Jews and Gentiles who commi W WKHPVHOYHV WR *RG·V REMHFWLYHV 1RZ ZH DUH VWLOO PRYLQJ LQH[RUDEO\ IRUZDUG WR ILQG *RG·V SHUIHFW SODQ IXOILOOHG ² God and H LV SHRSOH ILQDOO\ IUHH RI $GDP·V VLQ DQG 6DWDQ·V influence. Is There a Lasting, Permanent Message in This Book?

8 Herod the Great, who sought to kill the baby Jesus, was an Idumean. Thus we trace the trail of blood all the way from Esau to the murderus attempt to assassinate the Son of God. 9 Baxter, Vol. 4, p. 141.

19

Knowing that His plan would be mistreated, The LORD has worked patiently down through the years with the nations, His people (Israel) and the Church. He has received differing degrees of cooperation. There have been times when the national and individual opposition has tried the patience of God, and He has taken drastic steps: such as, destroying the Amalakite and Edomite nations, removing His blessing from king Saul, letting Samson die in an unusual way, etc. Always, God has measured people, nations and circumstances in terms of how these things affect His integrity and His ultimate will. One example is the story of Obadiah. God shows us that He will always have a people; there will always be an Israel of God. Obadiah ·V PHVVDJH WR ERWK -XGDK DQG (GRP was that their running battle through the ages could never end with the destruction of Israel. God did not utterly cast off His ancient people Israel and He will not tolerate anyone or any nation taking advantage of His people, even if *RG·V SHRSOH are sinning. God will hold Israel accountable, He will hold every nation accountable, and every individual will stand personally before the living God. *RG·V KROLQHVV DQG ULJKWHRXVQHVV will be declared by all, for the beauty of His accomplishment will be uncontested.

Discussion Questions

1. ‘Šȱ˜Žœȱȃ ‹Š’Š‘Ȅȱ mean and do we know when he lived?

2. Who or what nation was his main audience?

3. What was the approximate date?

4. In your own words, what was the main theme or topic of Obadiah?

5. What was the general historical setting?

6. Was there any reference to this book in the New Testament?

7. What life principle does this book teach?

20

The Book of Joel

If you were God, and you determined that you must act decisively to awaken your people out of spiritual/moral apathy and religious backsliding, what would you do? What action, plague or terrifying event would shake up the people, turning them humbly back to their God? What about an army of destruction , one that would show no mercy, one that would reduce Judah to a bare existence? Or, the plan God used to get His people out of Egypt: ten horrific plagues!

Once again it was time to shake up His people. Once again God would need a special, fearless prophet. Although some commentators favor a late date that is postexilic like the time of the Babylonian captivity, our approach follows the evidence suggesting Joel was written in the mid-ninth century B.C., possibly about 835 B.C.

Our proposal is that the Book of Joel does not describe what was actually happening or had happened, but rather it was a timeless, visionary prophecy that laid out the consequences that occur when a people forget *RG 7KH WKHPH RI ´WKH 'D\ RI WKH /25'µ LV QRW XQLTXH WR -RHO 1 but the graphic description (not traceable to a specific KLVWRULFDO RFFDVLRQ VHWV EHIRUH *RG·V SHRSOH (even to this day) the awful results of forsaking God and the glorious results of doing His will. So, with this in mind, whom could God find to deliver such a challenging message? He VHOHFWHG -RHO ZKLFK LQ +HEUHZ PHDQV ´

1 1RWH ³7KUHH WLPHV -RHO GHFODUHG WKDW WKH GD\ RI WKH /RUG ZDV µQHDU¶ >QRWH WKDW DGGV WKDW ³WKH GD\ RI the LORD is terrible @ DQG PRVW RI WKH RWKHU SURSKHWV ZKR UHIHUUHG WR WKH 'D\ RI WKH /RUG DOVR VSRNH RI LW DV µQHDU¶ ,V (]N 2E =SK =HSKDQLDK DGGHG WKDW WKH GD\ ZDV µUDSLGO\ DSSURDFKLQJ ¶´ +&6% S

21

think Joel was a priest as well as a prophet. 2 Joel was certainly a man who could hear and deliver a word from God clearly and concisely, preaching repentance without compromise. -RHO·V message recalls a neat hand the LORD played during the exodus when Moses brought the eighth plague: Locusts! So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD sent an east wind over the land all that day and through the night. By morning the east wind had brought in the locusts. The locusts went up over the entire land of Egypt and settled on the whole territory of Egypt. Never before had there been such a large number of locusts, and there will never be again. They covered the surface of the whole land so that the land was black, and they consumed all the plants on the ground and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green was left on the trees or the plants in the field throughout the land of Egypt (Exodus 10:13-15, HCSB). The Day of the Locust

Nothing is more terrifying to an agricultural community than a swarm of locusts. Imagine the sight of a huge black cloud of insects headed for your farm! And, as the swarm draws closer, to hear the incessant, high pitched whistling sound of rushing air, combined with the dull roar of millions of beating wings. Then to exhaust yourself killing the beasts with a shovel, finally giving up

as the unending flow of the critters destroys all vegetation OHDYLQJ \RX ZHDN DQG WUHPEOLQJ«DV they move on. In 835 B.C. they knew little about locusts in comp DULVRQ ZLWK WRGD\·V sophisticated information. If you go on the Internet and type LQ ´/RFXVWVµ \RX can see and hear the locusts in action ´7KH\ HDW WKH HTXLYDOHQW RI WKHLU RZQ ZHLJKW LQ a day, and, flying at night with the wind, may cover some 500 kilometers (310 mi). The largest known swarm covered 1,036 square kilometers (400 sq PL FRPSULVLQJ DSSUR[LPDWHO\ ELOOLRQ LQVHFWV µ 3 The picture that Joel presented to Judah was clear and frightening, and the people could easily imagine the locusts portrayed in his first two chapters. The similarity between locusts and an invading army did not miss their attention! Description of the Locusts Joel gave six descriptions of an invading army, identifying them finally as a gigantic swarm of locusts; the six mentions of the army are clearly relating to the same thing: ´0\ JUHDW DUP\ ZKLFK , VHQW DPRQJ \RXµ 7KDW VDPH YHUVH FRQQHFWV ZLWK ZKHUH WKH VWDJHV RI locust are itemized. 4

1. ´$ QDWLRQ KDV LQYDGHG P\ ODQGµ +&6%

2 Because of his references to the priesthood in 1:13, 14, and 2:17. 3 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2/10/12, p. 3. 4 7KH SHRSOH RI WKDW GD\ WKRXJKW LQ WHUPV RI WKH ORFXVW¶V IRXU GHYHORSPHQWDO VWDJHV WRGD\ VFLHQWLVWV KDYH QRZ IRX nd that the locust has six stages of development, from newly hatched nymph to full winged adult.

22

2. ´$ JUHDW VWURQJ SHRSOHµ 3. ´$ VWURQJ SHRSOH VHW LQ EDWWOH DUUD\µ RU µD PLJKW\ DUP\ GHSOR\HG IRU ZDUµ (2:5) 4. ´+LV DUP\µ 5. ´7KH northern $UP\µ 6. ´0\ JUHDW DUP\ ZKLFK , VHQW DPRQJ \RXµ

5HDGLQJ -RHO·V background, the meaning becomes obvious. Incidentally, it was not a problem for the Lord to arrange for the hatching of millions of nymphs in another land, bring them to the adult stage of swarming, have them start flying in the evening, continue all night and then drop on the land of Egypt. He could do the same thing in Judah!

Outline of the Book of Joel

I. The Threat of a Locust Plague (1:1-2:11) A. Contemplate the Devastation (1:1-4) B. Completeness of Devastation (1:5-12)

II. A Call for Repentance (1:13-17)

A. Consecrate a fast (1:14; 2:12, 15) B. Cry Out to God (1:19) C. Blow the Trumpet in Zion (2:1, 15) D. Intercession (2:17) III. *RG·V 5HVSRQVH WR +LV 3HRSOH -27) IV. The Day of the Lord (2:28-3:21)

A. A Great Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (2:28-32) B. God Will Judge the Nations (3:1-15) C. The Lord Dwells in Zion (3:16-21)

Sound the Alarm!

´%ORZ WKH WUXPSHW >UDP·V KRUQ@ LQ =LRQµ (2:1, 15) is a strident call to the whole community to stop everything and seek the Lord. Without telephones, TV and newspapers, the fastest communication was with t KH UDP·V KRUQ $ variety of trumpet calls were used for different reasons, but when the priesthood

23

called the community for prayer, the sound of the horn was like a modern air raid warning.

1. ´&RQVHFUDWH D IDVW«FU\ RXW WR WKH /25' µ 2. ´2 /25' WR

The Pentecostal Outpouring Foretold (2:28-32)

$ GD\ ZLOO FRPH LQ ZKLFK *RG ´ZLOO SRXU RXW +LV 6SLULW RQ DOO IOHVK [humanity] µ ² Jews and Gentiles, sons and daughters, old and young. How wonderful that must have sounded! Can you believe that we today have entered that era of the Holy Spirit?

This most heralded Old Testament prophecy of the Holy Spirit found dynamic fulfillment in Acts Chapter 2 when the Church of Jesus Christ was birthed! The Apostle Peter and 129 other followers of Jesus experienced then the first of many outpourings of the Holy Spirit. Those Jewish believers experienced an overwhelming presence of God, then began speaking miraculously in Gentile tongues they had never learned. Two thousand Jewish pilgrims, from all parts of the Diaspora responded and then were baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah and Lord. Jesus had returned to heaven and ´SRXUHG RXWµ >D GHVFULSWLYH PHWDSKRU@ WKH +RO\ Spirit on His Church, bringing the People of God into a whole new dynamic dimension of living. ´7KHQ 3HWHU VDLG WR WKHP ¶5HSHQW DQG let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:38-39). µ

24

´+LV - GLYLQH Fromt experie acceptab (Isa IXOILOOLQ Zonder IX IL

IO -RHO·V DELGLQJFRQWULEXWLRQWR& 6SLULWRQ¶DOOIOHVK· DSURS hat time on the personal posses ience. Although in OT days the ably (Judg 6:34; 1 Sam 16:13), =HFK -RKQ +H QJ WKH LGHDO LPSOLFLW LQ WKH 7RUD rvan Pictorial Encyclopedia of t

&KULVWLDQ WKRXJKW LV LQ KLV WHDFK SKHF\ TXRWHG E\ 3HWHU LQ KLV 3H ssion of the Holy Spirit was to b Holy Spirit came upon men and the new age of grace begun at P HQFHIRUWK DOO *RG·V SHRSOH ZRXO DK EXW QHYHU DFWXDOO\ DFKLHYHG µ the Bible, Vol. 3 (Grand Rapid

KLQJ DERXW WKH RXWSRXULQJ RI WK HQWHFRVWVHUPRQ $FWV -21) be normative in Christian spirit nd helped them to serve God Pentecost was to be one of the Sp OG EH SULHVWV DQG SURSKHWV WKXV KH . itual Spirit

µ 5 . +DUULVRQ ´-RHO µ pids: Zondervan), p. 622 pids: Zondervan), p. 622.

Judgm

ions (Ch ment on the Nat

h. 3 Outline)

c. A refuge forH b. God will rende a. Sun/moon dar 5. The Valley of Decisi *RG·V VXPPRQV 4. ly w 1. God & His people B. Israel blessed (3:17) 3. Prepare for holy w 2. Retribution to nation 1. Gather the nations ( A. Restoration of Judah 4. Lord dwells in Zion 3. Judah & Jerusalem i 2. Egypt and Edom d d. A fountain sh c. Streams of Juda b. Hills flow wit a. Mountains dr

ly war (3:9-11) ions (3:7-8) s (3:2) lem (3:1) and Jerusa Judah

His people (3:16) der verdict (3:16) tars cease shinin arkened, s ision (3:14) judgment on nations (3:12) 12)

ng (3:15)

le in Zion

ion (3:20) lem inhabited, pardoned(3:20 m desolate (3:19) house ( IURP*RG·V hall flow dah flow with water th milk s drip with sweet wine (3:18) 3:20) flow

se (3:18)

7KH7K

KHPH RI ´7KH 'D\ RI WKH

H/25'µ

FRQVLVWHQWO\ WKURXJK WKH LWV WKHPH ´7KH ' s oel had a

ERRN PRUH VR WKDQ DQ\ R D\ RI WKH /25' µ QRW ´7K

her W KH'D\

k. estament boo /RFXVW µ 7KLV WKHPH UXQV Actually, the Book of Joe

Old Testam RI WKH/

Joel 1:15 'D\RI , 31; 3:14; Amos 5:1 l 1:15; 2:1,11 19 times WKH /25'µ LV XVHG VS his theme Sometimes th

SHDNV RI MXGJPHQW VRPHWL

eph. 1:7, 14 (twice); Zech bad. 15; Z 9; Ezek. 13:5; 30 2; 13:6, s: Isa 2:1 PHV SURPLVH DQG KRSH ´ ch 14:1; :3; zek. 13:5; 30 ´7KH

by eight OT authors: Isa 2:1

s 5:18 (twice), 20; Obad. 15; Z

Mal. 4:5. Mal. 4:5. See in the New Testam estament: 2 Thessalonians and 2

d 2 Peter 3.

25

Swollen Skies Swarms of locusts darkening skies a west Africa in wha warns could be th in 15 years. rge of the voracious in invaded Mauritani Mali and Niger an thr eatening to mov towards West Afri Photos courtesy of Gianp of the Food and Agr Organization (FAO g Large swarms con

s have been cross north

what the UN

he worst plague

taining billions g bi nsects, have ia, Senegal, darenow ve southwards rica. iero Diana Gianp iculture )

http://

www.bbc.co.uk/news/

February 2012

Discus

uestions ssion Q

ȱ ˜ –Š—¢’–Žœ˜Žœ 2. 1. Do we know exactly whe 4. Are the five references giv 3. Do you think Joel's army expression mean to you ȱ ȱ Š ar s today? u y is Joel's prophecy for 5. Wh today's churches? W

ȱ œ ȃ ‘Ž Š¢ ˜ ‘Ž Ȅ when Joel was written? Wh es given under "Sound the my would be locusts or an ou? ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ u u y for the outpouring of th Why?

ar appear in Joel? What doe What did his name mean? a

oes th is

an Alarm" suitable advice for n actual army? Why? or ar

he Spirit (2:28-32) importan

ant to

a 6. How many times is "T Th The Day of the LORD" used sed by Old Testament auth hors?

26

The Book of Jon

ah

Special Introdu This t le city Genti

gn XHVWLRQ the agnostic. Q EXW -RQDK·V H[SHULHQFH many miraculous accoun ything miraculous is susp HD FUHDWXUH ZDV ´SUHSDUHG d the modern mind easily the original Bible texts do HSXWDEOH FRQILUPDWLRQ RI eader in my early teens, I µ a fish and survive? wed by Q ag ible. Since I became a zealou scientific minds laugh at gh school and colleges I fou iracle has become a byword. s story has been told arou st a few words here DQG DOZD\V WUD Testament PDQ µ )LUVW KH H[SODLQHG WKH FKDOOH . Rimmer faced hat men have been swallowed great plates in its mouth VKDUN µ ´7K - G WKH ´ZKDOH Rhinodon ² wer of Jonah structions, Rimmer reported \ ntist as well. I was thrilled my delight I finally found ctuall hat such a thing was a ction: A Whale of a Stor Introdu is three-chapter book presen u ty of Nineveh, a distastef gn y A Whale of a Stor rboar e crew throw him ove takesship in theopposite dir , ty

esents the story of a Galilea ul assignment for any Isr ard and a fish swallows Jo direction to escape the assign y sig

lean prophet 1 raelite. So distasteful, in f onah. gnment, but God apprehe l,

sent by God to the

fact, that the to the wicked ends Jonah at act,

Of course, SRVVLEOH UH Bible read imp WKDW WKH VH whale, and sea, has the prophet takes it impossib years that secular hig the miracle miraculous Just many course, words, anyth

-RQDK·V H[SHULHQFH I searched for any nts in the Hebrew spect! There were, of G E\ *RG µ ,Q RWKHU ly skips over the fact QRW FDOO ´WKH ILVKµ D do ould a man be ´& e VHHPV WR KROG WK tian and s Chris zealou y, declaring the stor ound in my younger d. While attending ound the world, and t that. This abou

focus of t 6FULSWXUHV

swallowed by

in the Old DOORZD sw Dr. showing th through gr VKDUN µ DQG the swallo their constr and a scien To th discover

DQVODWHG ´ILVK µ $IWHU D ORQ WKDW WKH ZRUG WUDQVODWHG ´ HQJH WKDW ´WKHUH LV QR ZK called variously s, nodon Typicu \ RQH ´DV IDU DV ZH N ted onl NQ by this great fish. Rimme lowed stated Rimmer. Variou µ , KLV VKDUN KDYLQJ QR WHHWK e monstrous sharks this sailo hinodon in the English Chan evoted to current events conta The to acquire his book led d the writings of Harry Rimme ally possible!

he Harmony of Science and Sc immer, D.D., Sc.D., a genuin

Scripture e believer a genuin 2 and

QJ GLVFXVVLRQ RI ZKDOHV OD appearing nin dag, ´ILVKµ LV KDOH WKDW KDV D WKURDW ODUJ r illustrated: imme ious documented cases ar IHHGV OLNH WKH ZKDOH VWUDLQ VKDUN µ WKH ´ - ´ERQH sly the would make it a ca NQRZ µ J or fell overboard, and before nel. Briefly the account stated tained an account of an English

DUJH ILVK DQG neteen times JH HQRXJK WR are available QLQJ LWV IRRG -Pacific ´,QGR candidate for J

attempt was Som to harpoon one of these ttempt s swallowed by a gigantic Rh me years ago a magazine dev

re he could be ted that in the sh sailor who

1 Jonah was a pr 2 ´ theWhale. Harry Rimmer

rophet of Gath-hepher, a small town loc The Harmony of Science and Scripture r,

f Nazareth, in the ki cated 3 miles NE o *UDQG 5DSLGV 0, :P % (HUGPD re

ingdom ofnorthernIsrael. DQV &KDSWHU9 ³0RGHUQ6FLHQF FH -RQDK DQG

27

PLWWDQFH IHH EHLQJ DGYHUWLVH The account concluded by sa s found to be suffering from ey were amazed to find the m ore and opened it, to give the were too light to haul up the body urred, the fish was sighted entire trawler fleet put out frightened the utcry that they picked up again, the shark, feed DGP fit. ish d odd patches of a yellow J GHVFULSWLRQ ´+LV SK\VLF µ /DWHU 5LPP like Jonah 5LPPHU·V VXPPDU\ ´7K was they sho were occurr The outcr picked

G DV ´7KH -RQDK RI WKH 7ZHQ saying that the man was on EURZQ FRORU FRYHUHG KLV h FDO DSSHDUDQFH ZDV RGG L PHU GLG DFWXDOO\ PHHW WKH KHUH DUH FUHDWXUHV ZKLFK V shock alone, and a few hour man unconscious but alive! body of their friend Christia body of the mighty denizen of and slain with a one-pound ut to hunt the fish down, fish, and it sounded and dis and engulfed h ding, turned

ade so much

QWLHWK &HQWXU\ µ exhibit in a London Museum V HQWLUH VNLQ µ that his entire body was LQ PDQ GHVFULEHG DERYH DQ VZLP WKH VHDV ZKLFK FRXO s later was discharged as bein He was rushed to the hospita tianburial. But when the shark the deep, so they towed the d deck gun. The winches on and forty-eight hours after appeared. him. His horrified friends ma

ing physically ital, where he rk was opened, carcass to the n the trawlers ter the accident seum at a shilling

was devoid of QG JLYHV WKLV G«EH KRVWV

hair, and o LQWHUHVWLQJ to a man l U D

Out utline of the Book of Jo

onah

I.

Jonah Cuts A. -RQD B. The uns from His Mis s and R DK·V&DOODQG)OLJKW FKV 6DLORUV·:RHIXO&U\ e Disobedient Prophet Ex own to the Raging Sea (1:11 g ea (1:11 he Rag uished Cry from Hell An Ang RPPLVVLRQ 5HQHZHG Herald to Nineveh (3:1 Great City Repents (3:5 ) s (3:10 e Lord Relent Is Displeased (4:1 . Jonah -5) 3:1-4) 5) he B. T C. Th D. Jonah C. The D D. Thro E. An Ang -RQDK·V&R A. A

Mission V -2) -6) Exposed (1:7-10) ea (1:11-16) ea (1:11 16)

Hell (2:1-9)

II.

(3:5-9)

E. Go

s His Concer od Explain

n (4:6-11)

A Story w

racles with 12 Mi

remarkable the miracle The f of Israel." teach the ten

in of God. le working power e following is an abbreviated

on a supernatural phase d. Twelve connecting mir viated account of the Book of J

of the story. "Jonah's sto miracles form the backbon of Jonah, told in a way to em ah hus to rebuke the false excl clusiveness story was to ne of this emphasize als

kable account, each focusing d enderness of God towar

an a a repentant nation and th

28

stroy their city in 40 days-- 1LQHYHK RQH RI $VV\ULD·V ng, making him an inspired t God spoke to and through e word of the LORD came rd (1:1) e Prophetic Wo eaction shows he did not th stroy their city in 40 days reacti in acc D WK know ancient Assyrian records, ounts of their cruel treatm KUHDW ´$VV\ULDQ FUXHOW\ ow that Assyria had weake gn YH SUHSDUHG WKH SHRSOH IRU lagues (765 and 759 B.C.) an occurred in the reign of Ash B.C. The seventh centuries t, he could not outrun Go d (in the taking ship westwar onah had no desire to see f t out a great w e LORD sen gre aged and all on boar e sea r HGLWHUUDQHDQ 6HD ´7KH /2 KDY plagu occu seven Go The d in repentance. Jonah was e spiritual climate of the gr the sea r 0H 3; Josh 7 onah. Note Prov 16:3 d were responsible. The tr sperately seekingthe reaso (1:7) e lot fell on Jonah d from its raging e sea cease eluctant servants. NotePsa 89: ntrolling the sea is an easy m relu Con e right moment to catch th iving right on time, position ow and in what way the fis [lit., e LORD had prepared QHYHK·V 3UHSDUDWLRQ

destr WR1 bein but The 1. The Prop

LQHYHK VKDOO EH RYHUWKURZ hose idolatrous Gentiles th was f God. The message him, breathing His Word in something he thought up or

´

ZQ -RQDK V ZQ µ -RQDK·V that God will startling! Go into his total determined,

! t think up the idea

1LQ 2.

oboam II of Israel (782-753 ripe forsuch a remarkable stil of mild decline, and yet

B.C.), kable turning to 3 still remained so we

ds, especially from the nin eatment of captives have been KDG EHFRPH OHJHQGDU\ was in a period eaker rulers, U -RQDK·V PHVVDJH RI MXGJ and a solar eclipse (763 B.C shurdan III (773-755 B.C repentance of Nineveh p God. Waiting until the sh direction), probably opposite forgiveness granted to the at wind (1:4) for their lives. board despaired 25' VHQW RXW D JUHDW ZLQG as a contemporary ofJerobo great city was apparently (1:15) ng osh 7:14ff; 15:1; 1 Sam 14:336 e true God had no hesitation eason for the storm, the sailor 48. 8-29; Mk 6: sa 89:9; 107:2 easy matter for the Lord, and the terrified run away. ositioning itself beside the boat an ish was prepared, we do not fish a great ., appointed]

inth and been found *UDSKLF JPHQW µ B.C.) may .). Two probably 4

But, takin Jona 3. The LO

ves. G µ D GLYLQHO\ VHQW ZLQG VR ip was out in the deep wat obably headingfor a cityin dista e hated Assyrians, so he

R VWURQJ WKDW waters of the distant Spain. cut and ran,

Jona Go Desp 4. The l

kn c 1:26. 4:336-45; A ation in letting them know. T to determine ors drew lots

he lot fel l on who and his

e 5. Th

to deal with

d He certainly knows how

kn e boat and opening its mighty m ot know. The fish responded ) 17 (1:

the r arrivi How e L 6. Th

ty maw at just onded perfectly,

i 3 See 2 Kings 14 4 The New Open

4:25 which speaks of his nationalistic z (Nashville: Thomas Bible Study Edition

zealandencouragementtoJereboam II. mas Nelson Publishers, 1983), p. 1028. II.

29

GHGLFDWHG KLV OLIH DQG ILQDOO heol), losing all hope. Fo whole experience was terrifyi im. Of course, it was not TO rtunately the fish, as described h al e fish swallowed Jona 12:40) day . ophetic day experience as a pr an on the shore. e hapless m eed like a torpedo toward God spoke to ² anksgiving and had star ² forts parently waiting until H /25' VSRNH WR WKH ILVK« color the app in Israeli was D w into Amazi this com ² coloring on his skin e deep, possibly losing h pearance of the prophet had b forty days the city wou aelites and Assyrians used was apparently speaking in because of bell-ringer VQ·W to a three-day fast, confessi ² mazingly, the whole city ook up the city. color g o is sk th s com W FOLPDWHV JURZV UDSLGO\ W OFRPH VKDGH WR WKH PLVHU ovide shade from the brigh Finding a vantage point on e shade, but upset that God was so g (4:6) KRW ZHO provide Fin the s the spe tha discom Ap ey turned from their evil w (3:10) way shoo t e LORD prepared a plan

etic sign of His own three-day O\ EURNH LQWR ZRUVKLSIXO WK For three days and three n ying and prayer-inciting. Fo OO comfortable for Jonah in our introduction, escribed live (1:17) e. the Holy Land, finally disgo to the fish, causing it to in to give praise started instead the prophet had vented Jonah onto dry l «YRPLWLQJ s combined by his surprise app his hair and acquiring sp ad been altered during his t would be destroyed. Probably d on occasion, simply warn the Aramaic tongue wh he unhappy p ger messages. T essing great repentance. It certain humans and animals alike s combi ed by s su p ise app

UHG (Sh wh him. For 7. The f

day sojourn in death and the tom KDQNVJLYLQJ -HVXV XVHG -R nights, the prophet search Forhim it was like descend of chapter 2 i ! The prayer arp teeth did not have sh

b (Mt d the tom - RQDK·V WKUHH ched his soul, ding into hell indicates the to pulverize

H Th 8.

disgorging instantly aise and ted all his anguish, comp (2:10) ry land

plaints, and

9. They turned

certainly went ² ke

earance and gloomy me ise app splotchy is time in the obably warning that ich both y prophet

message really

e L 10. Th

HDYHV µ DVW JURZLQJ FDVWRU RLO SOD a fast growing plant to ted onah constructed a simp 5 eveh. The prophet was

which in DQW to bring more imple shelter to was grateful for

R JLYH VKDGH ZLWK ODUJH OH DEOH PDQ SRVVLEO\ ´WKH ID t sunshine. God planted brigh of town, Jo on the outskirts racious to Nineve d was so g

ch GR +LV PDVWHU·V ELGGLQJ God prepared a worm (ju d prepared a worm (4:7)

WRG So, 11. God

chewing away until the plan ust as easily as he prepared

lant died, causing loss of coo ed the fish), and the worm

cooling shade. m proceeded

5 The MacArthu

p. 1296. r Study Bible,

30