We are finishing up with our three-week series in Zephaniah this Sunday, July 14. Hopefully, you have been encouraged and challenged by this prophetic book. I encourage you to take some time to read other prophetic books. There is so much to be learned and so much help in these books, from Isaiah to Malachi. You will grow in your fear of the Lord as you behold God’s promise of judgment and salvation. These books in many ways point us to the coming of Jesus Christ, the ultimate Judge of the earth and Savior of the world.
These prophetic books are all rooted in the teaching of the Law, the five books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy). What God promised in those books, especially Deuteronomy, was coming to pass. The prophets warned of the fulfillment of the curses that God promised His people if they rejected Him. This warning came true for Israel, the ten northern tribes, in 721 BC with the invasion by Assyria, and for Judah, the two southern tribes, in 586 BC with the invasion by Babylon.
However, you will also find many warnings of judgment directed towards the other nations and indeed the whole world. Read Deuteronomy 27-28 and consider how the prophetic books warn the people that God is going to do what He said He would do.
It is not just judgment and wrath, though, that we hear foretold in Deuteronomy and described in the prophetic books. It is the subsequent restoration and salvation of the remnant of Israel and Judah and the nations! We see dramatic and powerful descriptions not only of judgment but of salvation! In these sections, we see many things that point to Christ and how He will save His people from all the nations.
We see dramatic and powerful descriptions not only of judgment but of salvation!
Here is a brief summary of the context and audience of each of the prophetic books. If you read them in this order, they will make a lot more sense. (I used the ESV Study Bible, the section on Prophetic Books, to write this. Check your study Bible for introductions for each book that will help you understand the context.)
Amos, Jonah and Hosea are all prophets to Israel (the northern ten tribes) around 760 BC. Amos and Hosea address the ways that Israel was neglecting love of their neighbor and love of God and how they (and the nations) would soon face God’s judgment (the day of the Lord). Jonah addresses Assyria and shows us God’s heart for the nations and the salvation they would experience if they repented.
Micah and Isaiah wrote around 740-700 BC. Micah addressed both Judah and Israel, while Isaiah addressed mainly Judah, while also addressing many other nations. Both of them confront the sins of God’s people and the nations, while promising spectacular hope and salvation. Isaiah has some of the most specific promises about the Savior who would come, the Lord Jesus.
Nahum wrote between 660 and 630 BC and addressed Assyria, promising that the wrath of God was coming against Assyria. Zephaniah and Habakkuk address the people of Judah during the time of Josiah (640-609 BC). Habakkuk wrestles with the justice and goodness of a God who would use wicked people to judge His people, and God answers and defends His justice and goodness.
Jeremiah begins his ministry to Judah in 627 BC and continues up until the time of the exile of Judah in 586 BC. Jeremiah called them to repentance while promising future salvation and restoration that would come after discipline.
Daniel and Ezekiel wrote during the time of the exile, promising future hope and restoration. The judgment of God’s people had come already and now they needed to be reassured of God’s plan for the future, to be reassured that God was indeed still the Sovereign Savior of His people!
Haggai and Zechariah both were among the people who returned to Jerusalem after the exile and helped with the rebuilding of the temple. They both looked forward to what the promised son of David, the Messiah, would do through His kingdom.
Finally, Malachi came along decades after Zechariah, ministering around the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. He urged the returnees to worship God faithfully as they waited for the coming Messiah.
We do not know the timing of Joel’s ministry. He promises a coming day of the wrath of the Lord and calls God’s people to repent.
I encourage you to read the prophetic books! Read also from 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah to see better the prophets’ historical context. As you read these books, your fear of God and love of God will grow as you behold His incredible holiness, justice, wrath, mercy, grace and love. May we all trust in Jesus Christ who fulfills all these promises both in His first coming and His second coming!
Nathan Thiry is the Growth Groups & Outreach Pastor at Faith Bible Church. He enjoys biking and outdoor activities, and has a passion to see the gospel spread throughout our community and the whole world!
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