{ Amos }
Amos is from Judah but is called to prophesy judgement to the Northern kingdom. In class, John said that it was before King Tiglath of Assyria attacked so it was hard for the Israelites to take Amos seriously. There is an earthquake that is mentioned which gives a very accurate date for the time of Amos. In 7:12-16 we get another glimpse into the man Amos was. To them is written the most judgement, but they don't see it coming. (2:6) The purpose of this prophet is to call them back to their first love, that they may have life. "Come back to the Lord and live" (5:4,6,14)
All of chapters 1 and 2 show God's justness. He is holy and sin deserves just punishment. In 5:24 He calls Israel to the same things, justice and righteousness.
I see a nod to Jesus when God says, "In that day I will restore the fallen house of David." (9:11) God's redemptive plan in Amos is a sort of teaser for the Israelites; for the whole picture is not revealed. In 5:15 he prophesies, "…Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven's Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.*" (People meaning the remnant of Joseph) Even amidst all of the judgement in Amos, there is hope.
The kings who reigned in Judah and Israel during Hosea's time are stated and we are told that he was the son of Beeri. He was married to Gomer and had two sons and a daughter. (1:1-9) The Assyrians were a presence and it is obvious that Hosea is writing to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Never before had I realized how small the part about Gomer was, which tells me that there is more to Hosea than her. Marrying Gomer perfectly exemplified God's relationship with Israel. Their marriage gives me a glimpse into the heart of God that is so beautiful. That is the purpose of this prophet more than anything; to show Israel how God desperately wants them back no matter how far they've strayed. God has never done anything to warrant their utter refusal to follow Him. Hosea 11:1-11 is a heartbreaking summary of where they started, where they are and where they will end up; God will "bring them home again."
God will not relent in His pursuit of Israel; He will always be their hope. (14:4-8) God's faithfulness to Israel is seen in the sign of Hosea and Gomer's marriage. God's "romantic" side is shown in the book because of His steadfast love, mercy and faithfulness; but it is an unrequited love. Gomer continually leaves Hosea and Israel turns to Baal again and again. Yet God still offers them His love. Wow!
As seen in the names of Hosea's children God plans to restore His people to Himself. Though this is not necessarily pointing to Jesus, it is a part of God's redemptive plan. (1:10-11)
{ Micah }
Micah was a prophet to Judah, primarily, when Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were on the throne. He was from a small town and I think that is why he has such a simplistic view of life and repentance. The famous Micah 6:8 shows this. He gives simple instructions which summarize the book perfectly. "This is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." That is the purpose of Micah, not only to call Judah back, but to show them that it is uncomplicated.
God is a promise keeper. He will not abandon His people with no hope to look forward to. He always comes through on what He says He will do. The conclusion of Micah states it beautifully. (7:18-20)
God's redemptive plan is seen very clearly in Micah 5:2, as it predicts that Bethlehem will be the birthplace of Jesus. Amazing!
{ Joel }
Joel was a prophet during and after Joash's reign and he prophesied to Judah. Like prophets do, Joel speaks of coming destruction and calls the people of Judah to "return to the Lord your God." (2:13) What I love about Joel is that it ends with a beautiful promise. "But the Lord will be a refuge for his people…" (3:16) and "I will pardon my people's crimes…and I, the Lord will make my home in Jerusalem with my people" (3:21) give Judah hope! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. The purpose of Joel, to me, is to shine the light of renewal amidst the darkness of judgement.
In Joel I see God's mercy in a huge way. He is constantly giving His people in Judah chance after chance to come back to Him. (2:13) "Turn to me now, while there is still time. Give me your hearts." (2:12)
"The day of the Lord" is an obvious theme and Joel predicts the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (2:28-32) but there is no obvious prediction or foreshadowing of Jesus to me. For Joel to predict the Pentecost is amazing; hundreds of years before it happened. What a confirmation! Too bad he wasn't around to see it fulfilled.
Application:
I want to choose God every moment of every day; to turn to the Light. I want to believe His promises with everything in me and turn away from the world and the lies it holds.
Point of Passion:
For Joel to predict the outpouring of the Holy Spirit means that there will be a new way of life for God's followers. That means that there will be a new way to worship and not with animal sacrifices. The new covenant brings so much freedom and no longer the need to bring a blood sacrifice to the places of worship. What an upgrade!! (understatement) Worship now can be dancing, singing, shouting and bowing before God! No blood, no stench, no measuring cups! But our songs and our bodies as living sacrifices!!
Jonah is a prophet to the Northern kingdom of Israel. He is the son of Amittai and is a prophet when Assyria is gaining more and more power. The basic purpose of Jonah is to call Nineveh to repentance and turn to God. This takes longer than God wanted because Jonah decides to make a break for it. There was never a more reluctant prophet! I think that Jonah is more about God changing Jonah's heart than Nineveh changing their hearts. But in the end Nineveh is saved by God and Jonah is successful in his mission, despite his heart.
God's grace is the main star of this book though. (3:10) Assyria had done incredibly wicked things up until this point and yet God "changed His mind" at their repentance. Jonah did not want to see that and his pride got in the way. He knew God was going to forgive them if they repented. God's sympathy is also seen in His last words to Jonah. (4:11)
God's redemptive plan through Jesus isn't seen clearly, but 2:6 alluded to what Jesus will do for all of mankind, "But you, O Lord, my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!" When Jesus died on the cross He saved us from death and permanent separation from God!
Application:
Jonah's response to God always depended on the circumstances. I pray that when God places something in my life that I would not respond like him but that I would trust in His plan for my life and not miss what He's trying to teach me.
Point of Passion:
What I shared in my preaching assignment applies directly to my point of passion; the sacrifice of praise. (2:8,9) God is worthy of continual praise never conditional praise. He is sovereign over our lives and completely trustworthy. When there are hardships in our lives, the worship is so beautiful because it is a sacrifice and it comes out of brokenness and draws us into the arms of Jesus.
{ Nahum }
Nahum the prophet was from Elkosh and he prophesied about Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. He came about 100 years after Jonah. Nineveh was back at it and sinning greatly. This time God would not let their sins go unpunished, so he called Nahum to tell them of the coming destruction. Nahum is a doom and gloom kind of book. The purpose of this prophet is to give hope to Judah and show them that evil will not be tolerated; using Nineveh as an example. (1:12)
In Nahum 1:3, I see God's awesome power! The imagery is so strong. "He displays His power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet." God says twice that He is Nineveh's enemy. (2:13,3:5) How scary! God is to be taken seriously and to be feared, for His power is great!
Like Joel, there is no blatant prophecy concerning Jesus, but the promise of redemption is there. In 1:12 &13 God says, "…but I will not punish you again…I will break off the yoke of bondage…and tear off the chains of Assyrian oppression." The "promise of deliverance" is there! (S.V.Insights)
{ Isaiah }
Isaiah was a prophet that saw God! (6:1) He was the son of Amoz and he "prophesied in Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah." (Nelson's pg.200) In 7:3 and 8:3, it mentions Isaiah's two sons and Nelson's says that his wife was a prophetess. Isaiah covers an extensive period of time, from 740 to the 2nd coming of Jesus! Hezekiah's story is featured in the middle of the book, repeated from the book of Kings, and Isaiah prophesies the Babylonian takeover that would happen. Isaiah's name means "Salvation is of the Lord." "The word salvation appears twenty-six times in Isaiah, but only seven times in all the other prophets combined." (Nelson's201) This tells me that Salvation is central to his message. A repeated theme is definitely to trust God and not in alliances with enemy nations or idols. (10:24)
This book is packed with God's character and nature. In 30:19, I see His grace and eagerness to save His people. I love 44:6-8 but especially where it says, "You are my witnesses - is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock - not one!" That shows God's strength and that putting Him as your foundation is the best thing you can do. In 43:1-7, I see God's saving power and His sheltering arms. He is the only safe haven. In 43:13 God shows His sovereignty saying, "From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done."
Isaiah has the most Messianic prophecies of all the prophets. The most quoted is 9:6+7 where it says, "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Other references are 7:13-16,11:1) I love all of the Jesus prophecies! I wish Isaiah would have been able to have seen those prophecies fulfilled! Jesus, the hope of the world, not just the Israelites.
Application:
God is in the business of saving His people. What a great God I serve! He is so big, so powerful, so mighty, yet He chooses as part of His character to be merciful, loving and faithful to us! I pray that every day I will stop and stand in awe of who He is and that it would change how I view life and the decisions I make and how I love. There's no doubt it will.
Point of Passion:
Isaiah 19 talks about the Egyptians building an altar to God in the "heart of Egypt" symbolizing that God is worshiped there. (v.19,20) These were non-Israelites worshiping God and because they turned to Him, He heard them and sent them a saviour. Our worship means something. God loves to hear us praise Him and to see external signs of our internal devotion to Him; the fruit. God is moved by our praise and the atmosphere shifts! In 26:8 it says, "…our heart's desire is to glorify your name." I pray that that is our hearts desire and that when we lift His name that we are genuine in our praise.
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