In our Wednesday evening Bible study, we have just begun a journey through the so called "Minor Prophets". They are not minor in importance than the more familiar names, simply shorter in size. The Jewish people often refer to them as "the twelve".
I do not think it is a coincidence that there are twelve of them. Twelve is a highly significant number if the Bible. There are twelve tribes of Israel. There were twelve original apostles. There are twelve gates in the New Jerusalem.
Many people assume that the twelve are in some form of chronological order, but that is not the case. They appear in our Bible in the order they did in the Jewish books. They are varied explanation as to the order of their appearance, but I haven't found one that makes an airtight case yet, so I won't speculate.
| Prophet | Date (BC) |
| Obadiah | 840 - 830 |
| Hosea | 830 - 750 |
| Joel | 780 - 740 |
| Jonah | 765 - 725 |
| Amos | 760 |
| Micah | 740 - 700 |
| Nahum | 640 - 620 |
| Zephaniah | 640 - 609 |
| Habakkuk | 608 - 605 |
| Haggai | 520 |
| Zechariah | 520 - 480 |
| Malachi | 420 - 400 |
In our study group we started with Hosea chapter one, and will work our way through each of them. Hosea starts out with some pretty rough stuff. God tells the prophet to take for himself an adulterous wife. Some translations even call her a harlot. Whichever, he is to marry a woman he knows will be unfaithful. Hosea's marriage is to be a warning to the divided kingdom (Israel and Judah) about their spiritual unfaithfulness and His impending judgment on them. God allowed the enemies of Israel to triumph and carry her off into captivity
The kingdoms are materially wealthy, ungodly, blasphemous, self focused and deep in sin. They do not even acknowledge God's provision. Even within the priestly class there are great sins occurring and God's truth is not being proclaimed. Does this sound familiar? It seems to be very much like the western world today. There are even kingdoms determined to eradicate the people of Israel and Christians.
In captivity there was a faithful remnant of God's people. Even if we were to fall totally under the control of Muslims, secular humanists and the like, there would still be a remnant of believers. God never abandons His people.
The first chapter of Hosea ends with some very encouraging words.
"Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, `You are not my people,' they will be called `sons of the living God.' The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited, and they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel. (Hosea 1:10-11 NIV)
God will restore them. He will remember those who are faithful. I am reminded of the promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Our way of life stands in peril because of our spiritual adultery, but it is not too late. As His people, we can humble ourselves, repent, turn from our ways and seek His face.
No comments:
Post a Comment