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The Prophets

Minor Prophets of the Old Testament: Hosea - Malachi

Fall ’13 - Spring ’14

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Prepared with Crossings of Knoxville

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sept 8: A Guide to the Prophets (Week 1) page 5

Sept 15, 22, 29: Hosea (Weeks 2-4) page 10

Oct 6: Joel (Week 5) page 23

Oct 12 & 20: Amos (Weeks 6-7) page 28

Oct 27: Obadiah (Week 8) page 36

Nov 10: Jonah (Week 9) page 39

Nov 17 &24: Micah (Weeks 10-11) page 44

Jan 12: Nahum (Week 12) page 50

Jan 19: Habakkuk (Week 13) page 54

Feb 2: Zephaniah (Week 14) page 58

Feb 9: Haggai (Week 15) page 61

Feb 16 & 23, March 2: Zechariah (Weeks 16-18) page 64

March 9: Malachi (Week 19) page 74

March 16: Wrap Up (Week 20) page 79

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WEEK 1: A GUIDE TO THE PROPHETS To understand the prophets we have to do a lot of unlearning. A prophet is not necessarily a predictor of the future. Prophets in the Old Testament did not do as much fore-telling as they did forth-telling. While the prophets did have things to say about the future, their primary concern was with the present. What is the message of God at this time, in this place, to this people? Right here. Right now. The prophets were the ones who reminded Israel of her wedding vows to God. They proclaimed through poetry>

>the heartbreak of God. >the unfaithfulness of people. >the injustice of economic structures. >the immanence of history.

Their message was simple and loud: be covenant keepers! But the nation of Israel had become content. They were unfathomably rich, they had a powerful military, a lineage of powerful rulers and perhaps above all, they had God on their side. Their belief was that because God had given them His Word that they would be His people and He would be their God they could pretty much behave as they liked because they were God’s blessed people. But according to Deuteronomy 4.1-2 there was a stipulation to this promise of being God’s people:

“Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”

Israel was only a part of the divine marriage between themselves and Yahweh God if they kept the marriage vows of the covenant.

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They were to model to for other nations what it looked like when God was king and when righteousness and justice filled the land rather than corruption and greed.

But Israel, like all nations at their apex, forgot that crucial bit of their wedding vows. They started believing their own press, that they, Israel were the greatest nation in the world. Their leaders started consolidating power and neglecting the poor. The priests and preachers stopped teaching the truth. Only a few would step out to share the unhappy news that trouble was on its way. These were the prophets. The prophets were burdened by the very weight of God and they could not help but warn their people that if they did not soon change their ways, their nation would be swallowed up by new superpowers on the horizon; that God would remove His protection; and that their privilege as God’s people, their place in His Promised Land and God’s presence itself would be taken away from them. They must change course. They must repent. For the next six months, we will delve into the messages of these twelve prophets of Israel. We will encounter the full spectrum of our emotions:

rage. sorrow. confusion. hope. despair. frustration. wonder. awe.

Remember that these messages have a place in the Story of God. They communicate his desire to be with us and see shalom in our lives - the way it was intended. Shalom means peace as well as completeness, wholeness, safety, and welfare. They also hold a warning that we have choices to make regarding the hard work of seeking that shalom. These are those stories...

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SOME THINGS TO KNOW

• The prophets were poets. The text is poetry. While the text does have literal meaning, don’t get too hung up everything needing to be perfect. Read the text through the artistic lens of a poet.

• Israel/Ephraim refers to the Northern Kingdom after the nation of Israel was divided.

• Judah/Jerusalem refers to the Southern Kingdom after the nation of Israel was divided.

o Read 1 Kings 12 to know more about this.

• In 722 B.C. the Northern Kingdom of Israel was defeated and exiled by the Assyrians.

• In 586 B.C. the Southern Kingdom of Israel (Judah) was sent into exile by the Babylonian armies under Nebuchadnezzar.

• Most of the prophets spoke anywhere from the 8th century (700 BC) to 5th century (400 BC).

• Pre-exilic Prophets (Before the Exile) Hosea Joel Amos Jonah Micah

• Exilic Prophets (During the Exile) Nahum Zephaniah Habakkuk Obadiah

• Post-exilic Prophets (After the Exile) Haggai Zechariah Malachi

• Chapter and verse divisions can segment the story. They aren’t a part of the original text but were only added for reference marks. In versions like the ESV, you can see where the translators have placed paragraph divisions to show units of thought a little more precisely. Just because a verse or chapter is over does not mean that a certain idea or prophecy is over.

• Notice that pretty much all the prophets have a similar story arch: judgment repentance restoration/hope

• “The Day of the Lord” is a term that will keep showing up. It has multiple meanings:

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It can mean the day of destruction It can also mean the day of hope Many Christians have read passages about “the day” in reference to Jesus Others see an ultimate “day of the Lord” referring to the “End of the World”

• While the above does have a wide range of meaning, try not to read in the Apocalypse as often as you can. The prophets of Israel were mainly talking about the downfall and destruction of Israel itself as a result of covenant unfaithfulness. While we may see modern-day parallels, these are secondary to what was going on in Israel’s story. Of course, the Spirit of the prophets may speak to our contemporary situation through these books, but it is highly unlikely that they were “meant” to predict the future.

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SERMON NOTES:

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WEEK 2: HOSEA 1-3

Read Hosea 1-3. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian during World War 2 in Germany. Long before anyone else, he saw what Hitler was capable of and where the country was headed - destruction and ruin. His American and British friends urged him to flee the country and continue to write and teach outside of Hitler’s evil regime. Bonhoeffer tried this for a while, but ultimately felt that if he were going to be a part of rebuilding Germany and the church there after the war, then he was going to have to suffer with the church during the war under the Nazis. He hopped one of the last ships back to Germany and eventually was arrested and killed because of his role in a failed conspiracy to overthrow Hitler. God called him to be faithful in a painful situation. Hosea had a similar story. God was unhappy with Israel. They had cheapened his grace towards His people and were even worshiping other gods along with Yahweh. If they did not return to their covenant vows, God would annul the marriage relationship with Israel. When God called Hosea to announce His displeasure with Israel, He didn’t have Hosea do it as an outsider. God asked Hosea to experience his pain in a similar marriage that would end in betrayal and heartbreak. In chapters 1-3, Hosea’s story is told in sync with God’s story - a story that ends on a hopeful note. 1. What do you make of God’s call on Hosea to marry someone who would not be faithful to him? Have you ever felt called by God to do something hard and counterintuitive in order to demonstrate truth or bring justice? Did you do it?

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2. One of the main parallels between Gomer and Hosea with Israel and God is that Gomer believed that living outside her marriage with Hosea would bring her more happiness; much like Israel believed worshipping other gods and living outside the covenant would bring them greater happiness. Has there ever been a time for you when you believed that something different (a new job, church, relationship, etc.) would bring you identity or joy? What happened?

3. The story ends well, but God makes it clear that things will be different. Israel will live for a while without kings and a temple and all the other things they had come to associate with God’s grace. Reading ourselves into the story, what has a period of wandering away from God cost you? What would it look like for your story to be redeemed and restored like Gomer/Israel’s story? Do you believe that is possible?

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WEEK 3: HOSEA 4-10 Read Hosea 4-10. This can be a hard section to read because it has a few “courtroom oracles.” These can sound harsh and they usually are. Israel is being called into court by God and her crimes are evident: injustice, faithlessness, idol worship and greed, to name but a few. As you read, take note of how each section of the text is structured. What is God looking for? What has Israel done wrong? What can change their course? What are the consequences? Asking these questions can help us develop a healthy view of what God is saying in the prophets. Yes, sometimes it seems harsh and judgmental; but God has clearly laid out what he desires and what is best for His people. The punishment for going astray is not vindictive but loving, because God wants the best for Israel and knows the covenant is the best way to achieve that end. 1. In chapter 4, what does God say Israel is destroyed for? What did they lack that is leading to their future punishment? What is assumed and what is explicitly stated about God’s character, activity, and purposes in this passage? What does it tell us about the character of the people of God?

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2. One of the main fertility gods of this time was called “Baal.” Part of worshiping this god was to engage in prostitution of all kinds. You can see that imagery play throughout these chapters. Why do you think we are prone to worship other things as the source of satisfaction, hope, pleasure or happiness instead of God? What things are you yourself prone to put in God’s place or treat as if they are God? Write out a short prayer of repentance like the one in Hosea 6.1 using the imagery of whatever it is you “worship” in God’s place. What does it look like to dethrone the idol and put God back where God belongs?

3. In Hosea 6.4 God describe Israel’s love as being like morning mist that disappears. The two things God wants from His people in verse 6 are mercy and acknowledgment of him as God. How is mercy different from sacrifice? What practices can we put in front of us to keep our attention fixed on what God wants from us?

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4. Read Hosea 8.1-10.15. In 1 Kings 12.25, the king of Israel made two golden calves for the northern kingdom of Israel to worship. No king in Israel ever got rid of these. Hosea mentions this calf in chapter 8. Like the Exodus story (Exodus 32), they turn away from God, who has rescued them, and start worshiping something they can see and touch. At the end of chapter 8, God says he is returning them to “Egypt.” Israel desired slavery once again and so God will make them slaves in exile once more. How does this play out in your life? What form or patterns that enslave do you keep returning to? What better reality does God have for you?

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5. Chapters 9-10 are especially harsh. We feel the angst of the prophet. He names their misdeeds and even goes as far to say that he hopes they cannot have anymore children because he doesn’t want the unfaithfulness to keep spreading (Hos. 9.14). Remember that the prophets are poetry. The harsh language they use isn’t necessarily supposed to be literal, but an expression of the pain they feel when they look at the unfaithfulness of their people. Remembering the things we’ve seen in our own lives that are less than perfect, how have you felt the “holy discontent” or righteous anger in your life before? What made you feel that way? What did that passion make you want to do to change the problem? Did you?

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6. Name the things God has placed on your heart - the wrongs that need to be set right. These can be for you personally and also on a larger scale in the world. How do those things fit into the life of a faith community?

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WEEK 4: HOSEA 11-14 Read Hosea 11-14. There have probably been times in your life when you have felt like giving up on someone> a friend. a family member. maybe even a spouse. or a faith community. Some endings are necessary - perhaps a college relationship or a friendship that is toxic. In all likelihood, most of us have experienced that moment when we were just about to give up on someone and then all of the sudden we have a change of heart and recommit ourselves to making it work out for good. Apparently, God does that too. 1. In Hosea 11.1-11, the first seven verses make it seem like God has given up on Israel. But then, in verse 8, it seems God has a change of heart. God in his transcendence and “otherness” is not like a human who, when spurned, seeks vengeance and destruction. Is it easy to comprehend that God is “not like a human?” In what ways is he different? Why is it important for us to understand that God is quite different from us?

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2. After promising not to fully destroy Israel, God then turns to include Judah (the southern kingdom) in the indictments. What character does Hosea highlight in chapter 13 verses 2-6? What is the important command in verse 6?

3. Even though God is going to rescue Israel, they will still bear the consequences of her actions. She made treaties and alliances with Egypt and other nations rather than relying on God and because of this reliance on military power, Assyria will conquer Israel. In looking at your own life, do you find yourself wanting to be saved from the consequences of brokenness/sin, or wanting to be saved from brokenness/sin itself? What is the difference between those two things?

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4. Read Hosea 14. Hosea ends his book of prophecies with a plea to return to God. What stands out to you in chapter 14? How does it speak to your story? Think about verse 9. What has the book of Hosea taught you?

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WEEK 5: JOEL Read the book of Joel. Imagery is key for poetry. If you want to pack a ton of meaning into a few words, you convey an image that the reader is forced to reflect on. The imagery of a birth is packed with meaning of dependency, newness, hope, and life. The image of the crucifix has with it the meaning of sacrifice, pain, selflessness, and power. In the book of Joel, the prophet uses an image that was powerful for people in his context where food and water were scarce - the image of a locust army devouring everything in its path. This image was familiar to the people. Perhaps Joel was even calling up a current event to use as a picture of what was to come. Joel uses this locust invasion to bring up his topic: “the day of the Lord.” Many Jews believed that the day of the Lord would mean that Israel would conquer in battle and subdue their enemies. But the message of Joel and other prophets is just the opposite. The day of the Lord would be God coming to punish Israel for not being a people of mission devoted to God. The day of the Lord would be their undoing, much like being devoured by locusts. But not all would be lost. Like Hosea, God would offer rescue for his people if they would turn from their crash-course with disaster. 1. As you read Joel 1.1-2.27, track the progression from disaster to repentance to hope in this passage.

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2. Key in on Joel 2.12-14. We don’t like to talk a lot about humbling ourselves and weeping and mourning. It’s a downer. But there are times when that is necessary. Sometimes the way we live is just depressing. We spend more than we give, we live luxuriously rather than simply, we waste time, we seclude ourselves and often we do not think about the plight of the poor or what it would mean to be “the aroma of Christ” (see 2 Corinthians 2:15). Fasting is something that allows us to clear the distractions from our lives and gives us an opportunity to depend on God, reorienting our life to Him. Pick one thing - your social media, food, work, TV, etc. - that steals time and attention away from the things that matter. Give it up for the rest of the week. Write about what you experience through that time and especially use the time you would have been spending on what you’ve given up towards spending time with God or doing some service to your community.

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3. Joel 2.28-31 is the passage Peter quotes at Pentecost in Acts 2. How was this hopeful for Israel? What did it mean for them to “call on the name of the Lord?” How is the message of this passage set within the whole biblical story of God’s engagement with his people?

4. Read Joel 3. Interestingly enough, we see that God will, at some point in time, judge ALL the nations, including Israel. Although God allowed Israel to be judged and taken over by enemies, he will also judge those enemies for the atrocities that they committed (Joel 3.2-3). Joel then starts the battle cry for Israel to go to war and “beat their plowshares into swords” which is exactly the reverse of Isaiah 2.4 and Micah 4.3 (“beat your swords into plowshares...”). This isn’t necessarily “politically correct.” How does this verse strike you? Why do you think it is there?

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5. It would appear that the main focus of Joel chapter 3 is about vindication for Israel against her enemies. Those who have mistreated the nation will pay for their actions. How do you reconcile this chapter with other chapters in the Bible where God desires all people to know Him and wants to draw other nations to Himself rather than punish them?

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WEEK 6: AMOS 1-4 Read Amos 1-4 The prophets came from many different backgrounds. Sometimes we might get the impression that God called only really special people to speak His words to the people. Amos negates that impression. He was a shepherd. When Amos got the call to spread his message, the nation of Israel was extremely prosperous. Walter Brueggemann suggests that the reason for the nation’s wealth was due to the rich oppressing the poor through economic policy. Amos believed that this was unsustainable and that eventually it would lead to the nation’s demise. Amos lived in the southern kingdom (Judah) but came north to prophesy in Israel. Amos saw that by taking care of the poor in the nation, the people would be obeying the covenant with God and would escape the disaster that was sure to come if they did not.

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1. This looks really bad. On first glance, it appears that God is going to blow everything up. If we take a closer look, we see that Amos is declaring the downfall of all the nations around Israel in Amos 1.3-2.3. While Amos is saying all of this, the people would be getting excited thinking, “Yeah! You tell ‘em! God’s going to get all those other guys!” But in chapter 2 verse 4, Amos turns on Judah and Israel. By doing this, he is showing the people that they are no different than the other nations around them. Like Damascus in Assyria, Gaza of the Philistines, and all the other nations around them, they too do not obey God and oppress the poor. They are no better. Has there been a time in your life where you thought you were better than someone else? How did you respond? Currently, who do you still believe and treat as if they are beneath you?

2. Amos seems to believe that Israel will be judged accordingly with all the other nations. They are all under God’s authority. How does this change our attitude towards others who may not think, believe, or behave like us?

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In God’s eyes, is anyone exempt from living under the covenant? Why is that? 3. Here we find God again telling the people of the disaster to come because they did not obey their marriage vows with God. God blessed the people with much and yet they turned from him and started believing that they did all of it. In chapter 4 especially, God says that he will do to Israel what he has done to Egypt as well as Sodom and Gomorrah because of their unwillingness to order themselves according to God’s way. The people of Israel were unwilling to see the error of their ways because their lives were comfortable and they believed they were blessed by God. They couldn’t hear the cries of the poor because their houses were so far away from them. They were rich because they taxed and abused the needy. They were unwilling to stop because they were comfortable. In what ways do you sense in your own life that you’ve become too comfortable to hear God’s call? To hear the cry of the poor and powerless? What do you think God is asking you to do about it?

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SERMON NOTES:

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WEEK 7: AMOS 5-9 Read Amos 5-9. 1. In these four chapters, what word do you see over and over again that God desires? How

can you make these things the trademarks of your life? 2. Read 5:20-24. What is the connection between worship and justice?

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3. Amos’ message was not well received. Amaziah, a clergy member in Israel, did not like the message of doom that Amos was giving. It is sometimes hard to hear that the way we might be living is in opposition to what God wants for us. But when we mistreat the earth, abuse people, manipulate others and are consumed by greed, there are consequences. Usually, these are natural: you neglect to take care of the poor and you will have an economic and justice system that is not sustainable; if you are harsh with your words and manipulate people you will have few friends; if you only care about making more money or having more stuff then you will probably only view people as either better or worse than you than based on income, possessions or prestige. How have you experienced this? What natural consequences have you seen in your story due to choices you made that did not reflect shalom the way it was intended?

4. Interestingly enough, chapter 9.7-8 tells the story of how God apparently performed similar

“Exoduses” for other nations like the Philistines and the Syrians/Arameans. God is the God of all history and all people - not just the people that look like, talk like and think like us. Think of some examples where God has blessed people who may not acknowledge Him as their God. Does that change your perception of God?

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5. Amos goes a long time before arriving to the hopeful conclusion in 9.11-15. Sometimes things look grim longer than we would like them to. How does the end of Amos give you hope? If Amos were writing this to you, how would that story go?

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WEEK 8: OBADIAH For the next week, read the book of Obadiah every day and continue to return to these questions. As confusing as it may be, Obadiah probably proclaimed his message in the 5th century after Israel had come out of exile. All the books we’ve looked at up to this point have been pre-exilic books, so when you read Obadiah, realize that you are reading a story about a people who are coming home weak, tired and barely surviving. In the fifth century, Judah was a weak colony of the Persian Empire. The country of Edom in the south-east had long been at odds with the nation of Israel and was excited to see their weak enemy come home so that they could plunder them. God, through Obadiah, is telling Edom that because of their mistreatment of Israel, they too will be mistreated and overtaken by a stronger enemy - essentially: what goes around comes around. As you read, try not to read Obadiah as an anti-Edomite prophecy, but instead as a reminder that whether you are an Israelite returning home from the painful lesson of exile or an Edomite who was spared from such punishment, the kingdom belongs to God and people should treat each other accordingly. 1. Are there any places where you take advantage of those weaker than you (e.g. those who

do not have the same financial resources, relationships, religious knowledge, or skills as you)?

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2. It almost sounds like karma when Obadiah says, “As you have done, it will be done to you.” But note that Jesus said something similar (see Luke 6:27-36) and it isn’t so much a “fate” as it is practical. In fact, Jesus taught that whenever someone wrongs you, you should turn and bless them. Eventually, every bully gets bullied by a bigger bully. Our deeds do often come back to haunt us. What can you do today to bless others rather than keep the vindictive cycle of violence and hurt alive? Be specific.

3. The temptation could be to celebrate when someone we do not like fails or falls. Are there

any areas where you might be tempted to be prideful?

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WEEK 9: JONAH Read the book of Jonah. The story of Jonah is one of creativity and artistic imagination. It is the story, as we have seen already, of God desiring all people to adhere to the covenant life of shalom - even the enemies of Israel, the people of Nineveh. Most of the time when the story is told, we stop after Jonah gets spit out of the fish and saves the city of Nineveh, but the story is much more than Jonah’s great escape. It is a parable of grace. Read the story of Jonah with fresh eyes in that frame. 1. As we’ve already seen, the Israelites found it hard to believe that God wanted shalom and peace for their enemies. Jonah did not want to share the message with the people of Nineveh not because he was afraid, but because he did not want them to know the shalom of God. Have you ever run from God’s call to be a blessing to someone you did not particularly want to bless? What did you do? What can you do now to be blessing to others of whom you are not fond?

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2. The questions the sailors ask Jonah are good enough to spend the rest of a life thinking about. “Why are you sleeping? Why is this bad thing happening? Where are you from? What is your occupation? Who are your people?” Essentially, the sailors are asking: “Who is your God?” “Is your God strong enough to rescue us?” “What must we do?” The questions “Where are you from?” and “Who are your people?” determined which gods people worshiped. For Jonah, to say he was an Israelite prophet who worshiped Yahweh was exactly what the sailors wanted to hear. People ask us some of the same questions every day. They watch us to see how we react and handle situations. They ask us to make sense of the crazy world we live in by how we conduct ourselves, our habits and our words. In one manner or another, who is asking these questions in your life? Who looks to you to find what God looks like? Are you intentionally teaching them about shalom by the way you live?

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3. Jonah realizes it is his fault and has the crew throw him overboard. In the end the crew ends up worshiping God! Jonah’s sacrifice and God’s grace towards the crew is a foreshadowing of what would happen in Nineveh when eventually Jonah would get there. But first, notice the prayer of Jonah in chapter 2. It appears Jonah has changed his mind and will go fulfill what God asked him to do. How does his prayer speak to you when you may have failed to be the shalom-bringer that God has asked you to be?

4. Notice Jonah’s demeanor in chapters 3 and 4. What is his reaction to God’s grace toward others? There is an important lesson here: Jonah knows all the right things to say and even engages in singing a worship song - but only when he is in trouble and sees no way out. When he is no longer facing death, he reveals that his heart really hadn’t changed at all. Has your story ever reflected something similar? How can we try to prevent this “bail out” theology?

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5. The story of Jonah ends with a question mark. Jonah cared more for his own shelter and protection than the protection and shelter of an entire city. He would rather die than see his enemy enjoy God’s grace. What “cities” or kinds of people, do you watch and wait for God to destroy? What would it take to change your heart to God’s perspective of compassion?

6. How should we react when God blesses those we may not like? It is very easy to become callous. May we never be like Jonah and stop caring for the welfare of our city, our nation and our world.

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WEEK 10: MICAH 1-3 Read Micah 1-3 The name Micah is itself a vigorous affirmation of YHWH in the form of a question, “Who (mi) is as (c) Yahweh (ah),” to which the vigorous implied answer is ‘no one!’1 Micah is an essential prophetic book for understanding God’s desire for a relationship with his people. The whole book is a meditation on God’s character in the midst of our lives. Micah is an earthy prophet with a disdain for anything that isn’t for the working class. His message is simple and doesn’t mince words. 1. The people of Israel thought that they were safe from judgment because they were God’s

chosen people and yet God refused to give them special treatment. Instead, he demanded more of them because they were chosen. Why is this? How do you understand this calling and gift of being blessed so that you may bless others?

1 Walter Brueggemann, An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian

Imagination, (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), 233.

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2. Again, it is important to note as we have throughout the minor prophets that God’s words of judgment are for those who do not keep the covenant vows. People who choose to not love God and not love their neighbors and not live in a way that brings shalom to the world are going to end up bringing destruction on themselves. We always need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves the most difficult question: Am I living my life– at work, in my family, with my friends, in the community – in a way that brings about shalom: the way it was intended to be. Am I treating others well? Financing my money well? Using my words well? Keeping my attitude from being bogged down by pride?

Go through this passage again with those questions in your own life. Write down some ideas to change in those areas:

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3. How do you deal with verses like “Then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them”? How does that fit with passages that say whoever calls on the Lord will be saved (see Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13)? How do you reconcile the difference?

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WEEK 11: MICAH 4-7 Read Micah 4-7 1. Micah 6.6-8 is a very popular passage of scripture right now. God really isn’t impressed with huge showings of sacrifice. He does not require that you make millions of dollars and give it all away or make some grand gesture. His only desire is that you take the life he has given you and walk humbly, seek justice for all and be kind to all. Go through that short list of three things in 6.8. Name one thing for each command that you can do today and the rest of the week.

2. Notice Micah 7.18. “Who is a God like you?” Only Yahweh, in complete contrast to the other “gods” of the time, would show compassion on a people that rejected Him. How has God done this for you? How have the last three verses of the book been true in your life?

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WEEK 12: NAHUM Read the book of Nahum. Nahum is the first book in the minor prophets that we see in the period of the exile. At the time he ministered, Judah had not yet fallen and the superpower of Assyria was on the way down to destruction. Nothing is really known of the prophet himself. The name means “Comfort” and apparently the comfort he has to offer Israel is that Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, is destroyed - a cause for celebration for Israel. However, this seems to fly in the face of Jonah and Obadiah. Remember that the Bible, and, indeed the minor prophets, is one story, from beginning to end, about God putting His family back together. Sometimes that is a painful process. Sometimes we forget. Nahum is a story about Israel being released from her captors and the reaction that that good news caused - for good or for ill. 1. How does this book affect you? Does it bother you that such gore is accounted for against

a city with such apparent glee? What do you make of that?

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2. One of the obvious themes of the book is God’s sovereignty. A nation or a people should not be arrogant just because they happen to be on top of the heap at the moment. How does this apply to us currently? As a faith community? As a nation? For you personally?

3. Walter Bruggemann writes this about the book of Nahum: “Surely it is to be recognized>that the poetry is>self-serving Israelite glee and perhaps even self-congratulations as beneficiary of YHWH’s action. We may perhaps read Nahum with critical alertness if we attend to Israel’s capacity to equate my enemies with YHWH’s enemies.”2 Do you ever assume that your enemies are the same as God’s enemies? What does it look like to assume that God is on our side and no one else’s? Give examples.

2 Brueggemann, An Introduction to the Old Testament, 239

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4. How can we avoid this dangerous conclusion? It is a conclusion that has gotten God’s people in trouble time and again.

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SERMON NOTES:

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WEEK 13: HABAKKUK Read the book of Habakkuk. The northern kingdom of Israel did not survive the Assyrian onslaught; the southern kingdom did, but barely (2 Kings 18-19). Yet with the fall of Assyria described in Nahum came the rise of a new superpower: the Chaldeans, or the Babylonians. This time the southern kingdom of Judah would not survive. Jerusalem would be sacked and their people would be carted off to Babylon. Habakkuk was a prophet who tried to cope with this. In his book, we see how his cries are answered by God in ways that seemed counterintuitive. The short book wrestles with God over the fate of the people and ends with a song of trust in God. 1. The book begins with the prophet complaining to God about the injustice he sees around

him and how he wants God to fix it. God’s response wasn’t quite what he had in mind. Has there ever been a time where something that looked like destruction and death to you ended up bringing surprises you didn’t expect? Habakkuk wanted justice but not the way it was coming. How can you relate to this?

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2. Habakkuk has a hard time reconciling God’s actions with God’s character in the destruction of Judah. He freely questions God and waits - almost defiantly - for an answer. What are your questions for God? How can you stand at the watch post and wait for God’s answer/response?

3. God’s response is that everything and every person must be just and faithful in their actions. Failure to do these results in the natural consequences of living in a way that is not as it was intended to be. Is this comforting to you or does it concern you? Why?

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4. Habakkuk ends with a song. In the midst of all the questions and confusion, Habakkuk has a hymn to keep him hanging on. It starts out praising God and asking him for mercy. It tells the story of Israel. It fearfully describes his power. It ends simply with the declaration that even if everything is going wrong and he has no idea what is going on, he’s going to trust that somehow YHWH is in control. If you were to construct a song about the way your life is looking and relate it to the one in Habakkuk, how would that look? What jumps out from Habakkuk that resonates with your life?

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SERMON NOTES:

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WEEK 14: ZEPHANIAH Read the book of Zephaniah. In this short book, the prophet Zephaniah covers the things that all the prophets talk about: a list of Israel’s wrongs, judgments on the nations, and a vision of a time beyond punishment. It is a book that the nation likely read while they were in captivity in Babylon. Remember that in Israel’s popular imagination, “the day of the Lord” was something that Israel was supposed to look forward to - the Gentile nations around them would be destroyed and Israel would be established forever. But what ended up happening was the opposite. Israel was judged and left desolate. God was looking to Israel to be people of shalom - of the restoration of the way things were intended to be - and they instead decided to be people interested in making themselves prosperous. As the book ends, we see something of hope on the horizon - again, looking quite differently than expected. 1. One interesting phrase comes in Zephaniah 1.12. One of the biggest misinterpretations of

who God is would be to label him as apathetic about our lives. Complacency can shipwreck a covenant relationship with God because it causes us to be stagnant and stop being aware of God’s presence. Specifically, how does Zephaniah define “complacency” in the verse above?

2. How does that view of God affect the way a person might choose to live their life?

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3. Is there anywhere in your life that you feel you’ve grown complacent? What can you do to turn that around?

4. Chapter 2.1-3.2 make up a long list of judgments against other nations. One of the

indictments against them is that they have become their own god and do not trust in Yahweh (3.2). What does it look like to “trust God” or to let Him be the King of our being? We are quick to seek God for salvation, but slow to enthrone Him as Lord of our actions and thoughts. How can you allow God the proper place in your life? What does that look like?

5. What is the ultimate fate of the nations according to Zeph. 3.9? How does those last

seven verses of Zephaniah bring hope to you? How do you see them playing out in the future of Israel and the New Testament?

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WEEK 15: HAGGAI Read the book of Haggai. The book of Haggai marks a new notch on the timeline of Israel. Both Habakkuk and Zephaniah spoke about the Babylonian exile and the hope of return. Haggai is the beginning of the post-exilic prophets. As with the demise of the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonians were replaced by new superpower called the Persian Empire. Under this new ruling power, some of the Israelites were allowed to return home - but they returned to a land that was not the “home” they remembered. Jerusalem was in rubble. The Temple was destroyed and the walls were in shambles. It’s not hard to imagine the Israelites asking: “Is God still with us?” This is the question of Haggai. 1. What is the issue in chapter 1? What phrase is being repeated in v. 5 and 7? What was

Israel’s problem? Does that resonate with any area in your own life?

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2. The Temple, to the Israelites, represented God’s presence among them. The people were so consumed with getting their lives back in order that they had neglected to repair the place that represented God’s dwelling among them in a special way. We can easily fall into the same snare. We can become so enamored with our own lives that we fail to make sacred space and time to acknowledge God’s presence. In your own life, what concerns get in the way of realizing God’s presence? How can you “construct” a time or place to make that more memorable?

3. What theme/words do you see repeated at the beginning of chapter 2? Why did the

people of Israel need this kind of pep talk? If you were to get a pep-talk from God, what would you want him to say?

4. Take some time to reflect on the fact that God is present in your life. Every area and

moment is full of His presence. What implications does that have for you? How does that change you?

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WEEK 16: ZECHARIAH 1-6 Read Zechariah 1-6 Zechariah, like Haggai, is located during the Persian period. Zechariah is one of the longer minor prophets and consists of several strange visions with explanations. This book was very important to the early church. As you read, you will be able to pick up on themes that were used to describe Jesus and his ministry (just so you know, Jesus is the Greek equivalent of ‘Joshua’). The book breaks down into two main parts: i) Ch. 1-8 and ii) Ch. 9-14. Look for the hopeful attitude of what the nation will become now that they have returned. How will Jerusalem reorder itself? Will they make the same mistakes? These questions lead Zechariah to imagine what a world full of shalom might look like as he concludes the book. Take it slow through this prophet and don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions and do a little investigation and research! 1. The first six verses are a plea to return to the Lord and learn from their past. In your own

experiences with faith communities and in life, what lessons have you learned the hard way? How have your negative experiences helped shape for you a hopeful future?

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2. Go through the eight strange visions from Zechariah 1.7 - 6.8. Write just a little about each vision. What do you learn? What don’t you understand? It may help you to consult a reliable resource like Walter Brueggemann or Elizabeth Achtemeier.

a. The Horseman (1.7-17): b. The Horns and the Craftsmen (1.18-21): c. The Man with the Measuring Line (2.1-13): d. Joshua the High Priest (3.1-10): e. The Golden Lampstand (4.1-13): f. The Flying Scroll (5.1-4): g. The Woman in the Basket (5.5-11): h. The Four Chariots (6.1-8):

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3. Look at the end of chapter 6. What is the vision of the Temple that Zechariah has? Who do you think the early church saw when they read this passage? What makes you think that?

4. Zechariah 6.15 says, “...this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” When we talk about grace, we usually think about God doing something despite our own failures. Here, God says that Israel will see restoration only if they obey God. In your own experience, how have you seen obedience to God, i.e. covenant living, bring about “the way things were intended to be”? How have you seen the effects of non-covenant living impact the outcomes of your life?

5. Go back to Bonhoeffer’s “cheap grace” that was covered at the beginning of the Hosea study. How can we embrace the “costly grace” of God? In what ways has God’s grace cost you something?

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WEEK 17: ZECHARIAH 7-8 Read Zechariah 7-8 1. What ritual is condemned by God as being done for selfish reasons rather than pure

ones? What does God ask the people to do in verse 9-10 of chapter 7? 2. What stands out to you in Zechariah’s vision of peace and prosperity in chapter 8? What

specific images or phrases strike you? 3. Zechariah 8.22-23 contains a great vision of shalom in the kingdom of God. What does

that description of a bearer of good news look like for you? In your mind, who do you imagine sticking close to you, wanting to see God at work? Describe the vision you have for your life in similar terms.

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WEEK 18: ZECHARIAH 9-14

Read Zechariah 9-14 1. Chapter 9.9-13 is rich with imagery that the early church and followers of Jesus picked up

on. What Gospel story refers to this text? If it doesn’t come to you instantly, just do a little searching on the internet. What does this image convey?

2. N.T Wright writes that Zechariah is “[a] book which, as we have already seen, was

arguably of great influence to Jesus . . . the writer promises the long-awaited arrival of the true king (9.9-10), the renewed covenant and the real return from exile (9.11-12), the violent defeat of Israel’s enemies and the rescue of the true people of YHWH (9.13.-17). At the moment, however, Israel are like sheep without a shepherd (10.2); they have shepherds, but they are not doing their job, and will be punished (10.3) as a part of the divine plan for the return from exile (10.6-12).”3 How did the leaders of Israel mislead the people? How would you define a good leader in a faith community or a city/town?

3 N.T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God, (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1996), 586.

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3. If you asked a Jew what the Messiah would look like, they would probably give you several characteristics: he would be a part of David’s family tree, he would rule all the nations, he would restore the nation to faithfulness to God, etc. Hardly anyone would say, “He will suffer.” Zechariah 12.10-13.9 is full of suffering. How did Jesus see this passage applying to the Messiah? How did Zechariah see the suffering playing out at the end of chapter 13? How can suffering produce life?

4. What is Zechariah’s vision of shalom in chapter 14? What stands out to you in his

description of a time with no more suffering?

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5. What festival is described in chapter 14 that the nations will keep? What does this symbolize?

6. The end of the book pictures a scene of a Jerusalem where everything is holy. Define the word holy. What does it mean for there to be no more traders in the Temple? If everything is holy, is there a need for them? How does that vision influence what we should be working towards as a faith community?

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WEEK 19: MALACHI Read the book of Malachi. Malachi is the final book of the minor prophets; it is also the final book of the Christian Old Testament (Chronicles is the last book for the Jewish Bible). Again, he is one of the prophets that ministered after the return from exile. Malachi is concerned with how Israel will reconstruct itself after this homecoming. Apparently, as he speaks, the nation has gotten lazy with their worship and service to God. Malachi urgently - and sarcastically - pleads with the nation to be faithful with their worship and how they relate to God. He also dreams of a time when someone will come and usher in the Kingdom of God. After Malachi, there is a 400 year silence in the Scriptures. As you read, think about how these are the last words God speaks to his people for a very long time. 1. Chapter 1 describes the laziness of the Israelites in their worship. They had good things

but they gave God the leftovers. Does this ever play out in your own life? How can you restructure your life to give God the best part of your energy, time, finances, and attention?

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2. The first 9 verses of chapter 2 talk about how the priests were not doing their job. They were to point to the law and lead the people into the knowledge of God, but they corrupted the teachings of God by the way they lived. What examples have you seen of “the people of God” misleading people, not due to their message, but through their actions? How can we be “priests” of the kingdom that point to shalom and embody the message at all costs?

3. The second half of chapter 2 talks about covenant faithfulness with the analogy of a marriage. The people of Judah had “married the daughters of foreign gods” and “divorced” the wife of their youth, YHWH. What phrase is repeated twice in verses 15-16? How can we “guard” ourselves to be faithful?

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4. Malachi 2.17-3.5 talks about the coming of a messenger to “prepare the way.” Who did the New Testament authors see this as? How can we prepare the way for God to be seen in our own lives?

5. “Why do good things happen to bad people?” This question is asked again and again in Scripture and in history. Some people see no connection between the way you live and the things that happen to you, and conclude that being “good” or “bad” doesn’t matter. Based on Malachi chapter 3 and 4, why do you think it is important to live a life that seeks shalom??

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6. How do the last three verses of Malachi end the book? What does God urge the people to do in verse 4 of chapter 4?

7. The hope of Malachi, and the whole Old Testament, is that someone - the Messiah of God - can sort out this whole mess we seem to be in. As you have journeyed through these minor prophets, how have you grown to see Jesus in a new and more appreciative light? What hope do you see in him?

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WEEK 20: WRAP-UP NOTES: