Faith & Reason Nexus

We have seven remaining prophets, which can be categorized into two groups: four addressed the southern kingdom of Judah, while three are known as the post-exilic prophets. Let’s focus on the first group of four today: Joel, Micah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. Four minor prophets spoke to the southern kingdom of Judah, warning them about the coming exile if they did not repent. God, being just, doesn’t punish without giving people chances to change.

Joel is one of these prophets. He warns that exile is coming but assures that God will bring them back and bless them greatly. Joel chapter 2 is significant because Peter quotes it in his first sermon in Acts, saying that God’s spirit would be poured out on people in the last days, which was fulfilled on Pentecost.

Joel’s book is notable for its message about the church era and how God would restore the Jews, leading to the arrival of Jesus from the tribe of Judah. The early Christians, including Jesus’ disciples and the 3,000 baptized on Pentecost, were all Jews, marking the start of the church in Jerusalem.

Micah, who prophesied around the same time as Isaiah, also spoke to Judah about the coming exile and return. His prophecy is famous for predicting that the deliverer, Jesus, would come from Bethlehem, a small town. Micah’s prophecy, like Joel’s, has deep significance, connecting the Old Testament predictions with the New Testament events.

Micah also prophesied about the coming of Jesus and the restoration of the Jews. Even though these books are small, they are powerful and predictive, discussing the church and Jesus. Reading Micah reveals how impactful these prophecies are.

Next is Habakkuk. His book, just three chapters long, is both intriguing and entertaining. Habakkuk starts off in a state of despair, lamenting that God seems to be ignoring the injustices around him. He questions how long he must cry out without seeing any action.

In chapter 2, Habakkuk decides to stop complaining and listen to what God has to say. This decision leads to a profound response from God, who speaks to him and delivers five “woes” against the Babylonians. God reveals that while Babylon will be used to punish Judah, Babylon itself will also be judged.

In chapter 3, after hearing God’s response, Habakkuk is filled with fear but also awe at God’s plan and justice. The fear Habakkuk experiences is the “fear of the Lord,” which is the beginning of wisdom. With this newfound wisdom, Habakkuk sings a beautiful song in verses 17 through 19. He expresses his faith by acknowledging that even if everything fails—fig trees don’t bud, olive trees don’t produce, vineyards don’t yield grapes, fields don’t grow grain, and cattle and sheep are gone—he will still find joy in God, his salvation.

These six things—figs, olives, grapes, grains, cattle, and sheep—were crucial to Judah’s prosperity under King Uzziah. Despite their absence, Habakkuk chooses to remain joyful in his faith. He uses the imagery of a hind (a type of deer or goat) to illustrate how God will give him stability and strength, enabling him to overcome challenges and reach new heights.

The core message of Habakkuk is that God changes us internally rather than changing our external circumstances. The book is both profound and engaging, highlighting the transformation of one’s inner life amidst difficulties. Habakkuk prophesied around 626 BC.

Zephaniah, the final prophet addressing Judah, delivers a bleak message. He explains that God feels hidden from them because their sins, such as idolatry and evil ways, have caused God to withdraw His protection and glory. The name Zephaniah means “The Lord has hidden,” reflecting this divine withdrawal before the Babylonian invasion.

Despite the harsh message, all four books—Joel, Micah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah—contain a promise of restoration. God pledges to bring His people back, not because of their righteousness, but due to His promises to David and the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 about enmity between the serpent and the woman’s seed. God’s plan to preserve the tribe of Judah for the coming of Jesus ensures that restoration will happen.
So, these four prophets warned Judah about the coming exile but also spoke of future restoration.

Now, the remaining three minor prophets, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, are known as the post-exilic prophets, as they prophesied after the exile. Haggai and Zechariah, who prophesied around the same time, had similar missions but different focuses. After Zerubbabel and a group of people, including Yeshua the high priest, returned from Babylon to rebuild the temple, they initially started the work. However, the project stalled after the foundation was laid because the people began focusing on their personal lives and businesses, leaving the temple incomplete for about 20 years.

During this period, the people prospered in their own ventures but felt that their earnings were in vain, as their wealth seemed to disappear.

Haggai’s message was a wake-up call: he chastised the people for neglecting the temple while pursuing their own interests, likening their wasted earnings to money put into pockets with holes. He urged them to prioritize completing God’s house. Haggai’s message was timely because, after 20 years of stagnation, the people were finally ready to listen. His prophecy encouraged them to resume and complete the temple construction.

Zechariah, another post-exilic prophet, also played a crucial role. He addressed Zerubbabel and Yeshua, who were struggling with a lack of resources and motivation. Zechariah 4:6 famously states that “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” indicating that the rebuilding of the temple would succeed not through human effort alone but by God’s Spirit empowering them.

Haggai and Zechariah had related messages but with different emphases. Haggai reassured the people that the glory of the second temple would surpass that of the first, even if it seemed modest by comparison. Zechariah echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the temple would be built “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” as stated in Zechariah 4:6.

Zechariah went further by foreseeing future events, including the coming of Jesus and significant events like the Messiah’s arrival on the Mount of Olives, as described in Zechariah 14. He offered visions filled with metaphors and symbols, which can be complex but are meant to encourage and inspire.

Despite any confusion from these symbolic visions, it’s important to appreciate that God’s messages are meant for our understanding and growth. Even if we don’t fully grasp every detail, we can still find value in the messages and rejoice in the fact that God is speaking to us.

Finally, the book of Malachi stands apart from the other Old Testament books, offering a unique perspective and message.

Malachi addresses several issues such as criticism of the ministry, improper marriages, and failures in tithing and offerings. These concerns are detailed in the first three chapters. The fourth chapter, consisting of six verses, offers a profound promise regarding both the first and second comings of Jesus, focusing on “the day of the Lord.” This chapter is highly prophetic and deeply relevant, discussing figures like John the Baptist, the arrival of Jesus, and the end times.