Thursday, February 16, 2023

Minor Prophets

 Minor Prophets   

Title: Minor Prophets. Originally it was one book – most likely “Book of Prophets” or “Book of 12” (cp. Acts 7:42-43).

Date of writing: From Hosea (8th century BC) to Malachi (5th century BC).

Structure:

Isaiah, the kingdom

Jeremiah, social issues

Ezekiel, Temple

8th century BC

6th century BC

Late 6th – 5th century BC

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

 

The books of the first block are daisy chained:

Hosea 14:7 – 1:5,9 Joel 3:16 – 1:2 Amos 9:12 – 1:1 Obadiah 1:19,20 – 1:1 Micah   

                                                                                    `-> – 1:2 Jonah 

Main themes:

Test of suspicious wife/bride – based on Num. 5:11-31. We begin with the marriage between Hosea the prophet and a wife of whoredom as a symbol of unfaithfulness of Israel to her Bridegroom – YHWH. The book of 12 ends with the discussion of marriage and liturgical faithfulness in Malachi.

The Day of the LORD. The term is more than a dozen times just in the Book of the 12.

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

Triumphant entry to Jerusalem – all Gospel writers build up on the prophesy of Zechariah (9:9).  

Stephen (Steven) uses the abandonment of God by Israel as a pivotal point of his sermon (7:42-43). 

Paul uses the statement from Habakkuk in Romans (1:17), Galatians (3:11), and in Letter to Hebrews (10:38).  

Lutheran teaching:

A part of Jonah’s prayer [2:8] is important in two confessional statements. First it used to reinstitute the idea of justification by grace. Apology V (III):209/330 commenting on the verse says: that is, all confidence is empty, except confidence in mercy. Mercy delivers us; our own merits, our own efforts, do not. Then, second, Luther uses the same verse in his explanation of the Second Commandment in his Large Catechism [LC, I:54]: but the greatest abuse occurs in spiritual matters. They have to do with the conscience, when false preachers rise up and offer their lying vanities as God’s Word.

Zech. 9:10 is an important passage in the discussion on the Person of Christ. Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration VIII brings up the questions of His miracles during earthly life [25] and the power He has after ascension to heaven where He rules not like “any other saint… He rules from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth, as the prophets predict” [27].

Lutheran hymnody:

361 – O Little Town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

462 – All the Earth with Joy is Sounding (st. 1 He [Jesus], the greater Jonah)

Relevancy of the Book:

Historical prophesies are important for two reasons at least. First, seeing how they were fulfilled gives us assurance that the Word of God is strong and inerrant. The LORD is going to complete what He decided. The blessings will be bestowed, and discipline will be applied. Second, learning from the saints of the past can give us wisdom and encouragement to be steadfast in the midst of the troubles.

Memory verses:  

Hab. 2:4 – Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,

                        But the righteous shall live by faith(-fulness).

Zech. 9:9 – Rejoice greatly. O daughter [of] Zion! Shout aloud, o daughter [of] Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; Righteous and having salvation is he, Humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

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