his morning, as I again returned to the desire to have memorized the themes of the Minor Prophets, I thought I might share this as a post to help others, as well as be a tool to help me accomplish this goal. Wouldn't it be nice if we could have a general idea of what each book of the Bible was about?
How does God speak to you and me through the themes of the Minor Prophets? First I will list the theme or themes I have for the book, and then I will write how I apply it personally to me, and you can see if it applies to you in the same way.
HOSEA God's faithfulness; God's love for Israel; Return unto the LORD
(God is faithful to me. God loves me. I need to either return to
the Lord, or strive to draw nearer to the Lord.)
JOEL The Day of the LORD; Judgment of nations
(One day I will be called to give an account of myself before God,
Ro 14:12, and I should live each day living for God in
preparation to give a good account.)
AMOS Divine punishment follows persistent sin;
All nations are responsible to God
(Do not persistently continue in any sin, for God will eventually
have to discipline me. I am responsible to God to walk with
Him in righteousness, in obedience.)
OBADIAH Doom upon Edom
(Continue in my support of Israel, for all that won't will suffer
God's displeasure, though never doom for the Christian.)
JONAH God's mercy; Nineveh Repent!; God's concern for Gentiles
(God is merciful to me. I need to repent of any sin. God has
concern for me personally.)
MICAH Judgment upon Israel & Judah; Bethlehem's King and Kingdom;
Message to leaders not to exploit the poor.
(God will judge any unconfessed sin of mine. Jesus is my King,
and I am part of His Kingdom, a kingdom I should support and
work to expand. I should keep in mind God's concern for the
poor.)
NAHUM Doom of Nineveh and Assyria
(Keep on in my own support of Israel, and encourage this
support to others, and my children, and the younger, next
generation.)
HABAKKUK Why Chaldeans judge Judah;
God's kingdom and people will triumph
(The ungodly may appear at times to be more prosperous
than I, but I am far more blessed having an eternal
prosperity.)
ZEPHANIAH Fall of Jerusalem; Remnant rescued for blessing;
Judging nations, Day of the Lord
(Be on guard against turning from God in old age.
God will one day deliver me from this world through
death or rapture. I will give an account of my life.)
HAGGAI Restoration of temple and kingdom foretold
(I will some day have a new body (temple) and be living where
God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven
(upon the new Earth.)
ZECHARIAH Messiah, the Branch and King-Priest
(Jesus has been chosen by the Father to "branch out"
from Heaven to where I am on earth, to provide for me
as King, and to intercede for me as Priest.)
MALACHI Final judgment and warning to Israel; Formalism Rebuked;
Stop withholding from God
(There is coming a time where God will give me my final
opportunities to relate to Him in this present life. Be on
guard not to operate in the flesh, just going through religious
motions. Expand my service to God.)
May this study help you understand the Minor Prophets a little better, and see how that you can personally apply them to your own relationship with God.
How does God speak to you and me through the themes of the Minor Prophets? First I will list the theme or themes I have for the book, and then I will write how I apply it personally to me, and you can see if it applies to you in the same way.
HOSEA God's faithfulness; God's love for Israel; Return unto the LORD
(God is faithful to me. God loves me. I need to either return to
the Lord, or strive to draw nearer to the Lord.)
JOEL The Day of the LORD; Judgment of nations
(One day I will be called to give an account of myself before God,
Ro 14:12, and I should live each day living for God in
preparation to give a good account.)
AMOS Divine punishment follows persistent sin;
All nations are responsible to God
(Do not persistently continue in any sin, for God will eventually
have to discipline me. I am responsible to God to walk with
Him in righteousness, in obedience.)
OBADIAH Doom upon Edom
(Continue in my support of Israel, for all that won't will suffer
God's displeasure, though never doom for the Christian.)
JONAH God's mercy; Nineveh Repent!; God's concern for Gentiles
(God is merciful to me. I need to repent of any sin. God has
concern for me personally.)
MICAH Judgment upon Israel & Judah; Bethlehem's King and Kingdom;
Message to leaders not to exploit the poor.
(God will judge any unconfessed sin of mine. Jesus is my King,
and I am part of His Kingdom, a kingdom I should support and
work to expand. I should keep in mind God's concern for the
poor.)
NAHUM Doom of Nineveh and Assyria
(Keep on in my own support of Israel, and encourage this
support to others, and my children, and the younger, next
generation.)
HABAKKUK Why Chaldeans judge Judah;
God's kingdom and people will triumph
(The ungodly may appear at times to be more prosperous
than I, but I am far more blessed having an eternal
prosperity.)
ZEPHANIAH Fall of Jerusalem; Remnant rescued for blessing;
Judging nations, Day of the Lord
(Be on guard against turning from God in old age.
God will one day deliver me from this world through
death or rapture. I will give an account of my life.)
HAGGAI Restoration of temple and kingdom foretold
(I will some day have a new body (temple) and be living where
God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven
(upon the new Earth.)
ZECHARIAH Messiah, the Branch and King-Priest
(Jesus has been chosen by the Father to "branch out"
from Heaven to where I am on earth, to provide for me
as King, and to intercede for me as Priest.)
MALACHI Final judgment and warning to Israel; Formalism Rebuked;
Stop withholding from God
(There is coming a time where God will give me my final
opportunities to relate to Him in this present life. Be on
guard not to operate in the flesh, just going through religious
motions. Expand my service to God.)
May this study help you understand the Minor Prophets a little better, and see how that you can personally apply them to your own relationship with God.
