Lesson 5a: Prophetic Books – Minor Prophets
Lesson 5a : Prophetic Books – Minor Prophets
Books : Hosea to Micah
Specific Objectives:
By the end of this session, the student will be able to:
- Know the fourth division of the bible (Prophetic Books – Minor Prophets)
- Tell how many books the Minor Prophets consists of
- Name the first six (6) books of Minor Prophets
- To equip the student with the proper understanding of the messages of the Minor Prophets
- Recite the memory verse
Bible Reference
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”
Joshua 1:8 “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Words to Remember:
Prophecy – a message inspired by God, a divine revelation; it involves a process in which one or more messages are communicated to a prophet by God then communicated to other people
Prophet – a person who speaks God’s truth to others. It comes from the Greek word prophetes, which can mean “one who speaks forth” or “advocate.”
Minor Prophets – also known as Twelve Prophets or Book of the Twelve; it is a collection of writings in the Old Testament from 12 different men inspired by God.
The term “Minor” relates to the length of each book (ranging from a single chapter to fourteen)
Pre-Session Activity
Greet the children as they arrive. Make certain that you know their names. As they arrive, have each child joins in a circle or around a table. Play a game, sing a song or give them activity to introduce the new lesson.
Beginners :
Primary : Making Words: See how many words student can make from the phrase
“The Prophet Amos” (e.g. sheep, rose, ropes, poor, etc.)
Intermediate: Making Words: See how many words student can make from the phrase
“The Prophet Hosea” (e.g. sheep, rose, ropes, poor, etc.)
Lesson Proper
- PREPARATION and MOTIVATION
Teacher, review what we have learned so far about the Bible.
(Make sure that all students will be able to answer all the questions correctly)
- What are the two primary divisions of the Bible? (Old & New Testament)
-
- How many books the Bible consists of? (66 books)
- How many books the Old Testament consists of? (39 books)
- How many books the New Testament consists of? (27 books)
- What is the first division of the Old Testament? (Books of Law)
- What is the collective name for the first five books of the Bible? (Pentateuch)
- What are the first five books of the bible? (G-E-Le-N-D)
- What is the second division of the Old Testament? (Books of History)
- Name the twelve books of history. (J-J-R-SS-KK-CC-E-N-E)
- What is the third division of the Old Testament? (Books of Poetry)
- Name the five books of Poetry. (J-P-P-E-S)
- What is the fourth division of the Old Testament? (Prophetic Books)
- What is the first part of the Prophetic Books? (Major Prophets)
- Name the five books of the Major Prophets. (Is-Jer-Lam-Ez-Da)
Teacher: Last week we learned about the five books of the Major Prophets. Today we will learn about the second part of the Prophetic Books called the Minor Prophets. This division consists of 12 books in it and each book reveals that God called the prophets to deliver His messages to His people. But for this week, we will be talking only the first six (6) books.
- INTRODUCTION
For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21)
When we speak of The Minor Prophets we refer to twelve (12) books namely Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Though their messages were shorter, they were no less powerful nor less needed. They should not be shunned simply because they are labelled minor and not major.
The Bible’s Minor Prophets were simple ordinary people like you and I. However, each one was called by God to deliver His messages. Their individual works were meaningful not only to specific peoples of the Northern or Southern Kingdoms of Israel at that time, but are also significant throughout the centuries including today. These servants are called Minor Prophets not because of the importance of their prophecies, but due to of the length of their messages compared to the Major Prophets. These books provide messages containing promises, assurances, and warnings for disobedience to God.
And for today’s lesson we will be discussing only the first six books from Hosea to Micah.
- LESSON
- HOSEA (Salvation)
Interestingly, the names Hosea, Joshua, and Jesus are all derived from the same Hebrew word, hoshea, which means “salvation.” However, both Joshua and Jesus include the additional truth, “Yahweh is salvation.” As God’s messenger, Hosea offers salvation to the nation if they will turn from their idolatry and return to the Lord.
The main message of Hosea’s prophecy is God’s unconditional love for undeserving sinners. Time after time, God had demonstrated His love. Love was always the motivating force behind His actions on behalf of Israel.
The most important lesson you can learn from Hosea’s story is that God forgives us over and over again.
Key Story: The marriage of Gomer and Hosea
Key verse/s:
Hosea describes how Israel has been unfaithful to God. God wants Israel to repent and turn from their wickedness. He wants to restore Israel however, they continue to disobey and follow their own ways, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (4:6).
- JOEL (Jehovah is God)
The very essence of Joel’s message can be summed up in one word: repentance. God is absolute sovereign over all peoples. He judges them for their wickedness. His righteous cause will always prevail. Joel was sent to warn Judah that unless they gave up their sinful practices, they were sure to face the wrath of God.
The book is divided into two parts:
- The prophet’s call to repentance (1:1 – 2:17).
- God’s direct message (2:18 – 3:21).
God cared for all nations of the earth, and He was willing to save even the heathen nation of Assyria if they would repent. God wanted all men to recognize Him as the One True God.
Key Stories: The Locust Plague, The day of the Lord-turn back to God
Key verse/s: Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty (Joel 1:15)
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand (Joel 2:1)
- AMOS (Burden-Bearer)
Amos, the Country Prophet or Farmer Prophet was a man of God compelled from his simple life in Judah to a frightening task of preaching to the fat rich and their ungodly self-satisfaction in the northern kingdom of Israel. His call as prophet was indeed a burden, and fit well with his name, which meant burden bearer. His message of God’s righteous justice against sin prevails all throughout his prophecy.
Main Lessons from the Prophecy
- National sin displeases God
- God expects us to treat our fellow man right with social justice
- Worship offered by those who do not desire to conform to God’s will only insults Him
- Prepare to meet your God
Key verse/s: “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12)
- OBADIAH (Servant of God)
The book of Obadiah contains only one chapter and is the shortest book of the whole Old Testament. Obadiah’s name means “servant of God”, and he delivered a message regarding the Edomites who had helped the Babylonians in their conquest of Jerusalem during the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah.
The prophecy of Obadiah reveals the sins of Edom and God’s denunciation of their actions against Jerusalem. And, the last verse reveals that Judah will be saved and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.
Main Lessons from the Prophecy
- Pride is self-deceptive and self-destructive
- Check your attitude for pride and hatred
- Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap
- Neutrality is the same as opposing God
- Those who trust in God will ultimately be victorious
Key verse/s: The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, “Who can bring me down to the ground? (Obadiah 1:3)
- JONAH (Dove)
No other Old Testament prophecy is better known than the story of Jonah. The prophet, whose name means “dove” is better known for his adventure with a big fish than he is for his prophetic work. This book reveals about God, His love for all men, and what our attitude ought to be towards the duty God places on us.
The Main Message & Lessons from the Prophecy
- God desires to save all men, even the heathen, if they repent
- Jehovah is the one true God, the God of all the universe
- We cannot run and hide from God and the obligations He places on
- We must not long for the conversion of sinners provided they fit our prejudiced thinking
- Opportunities for God’s people to serve are obligations providentially given by God
- God is able to use life’s incidents, even bad ones, to His glory and for the good of His people
The important lesson that you can learn from Jonah is that God loves all nations and forgives all who repent.
Key story: Jonah and the big fish
Jonah, being alive in the belly of the great sea monster considered himself in the “belly of Sheol” and finally agreed to obey God. After he was released from the great fish he came to Nineveh and preached God’s judgment crying, ” yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4) and when the people of Nineveh heard this they repented and God spared the city. Jonah became very angry at God because a Gentile nation, and such an evil one, would receive mercy from the Lord. God taught Jonah an important lesson about his love and mercy for all mankind.
- MICAH (Who is Like the Lord?)
The message of Micah’s prophecy is about the holiness and righteousness of God. Good favour with God will not be obtained by simply following religious rituals or rules. Only a humbled heart before Him and brotherly love towards others is the only recipe for success in serving God.
In this book, Micah tells Israel’s people that God is angry with them. God is angry because they have refused to obey him. So, he will cause enemies to attack them. But Micah also speaks about what God has promised. God has promised to save his people in the end.
Micah’s message was to both Israel and Judah, addressed primarily to their two respective capitals, Samaria and Jerusalem. Its three main ideas were: their Sins; their Destruction; and their Restoration.
Key verse/s:“He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”. (Micah 6:8)
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. (Micah 7:18)
Memory Verse: 2 Tim 3:16
Beginners : “All Scripture is breathed out by God,”
Primary : “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”
Intermediate : “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”
Questions to Ponder
-
- What is the second part of the Prophetic Books? (Minor Prophets)
- What does the book of Hosea, Joel, Amos Obadiah, Jonah and Micah means?
- Why were God’s people being punished? (They were disobeying Him)
- What is the consequence of sin? (Punishment-death, separation from God)
- What is the main message of Prophet Joel? (Repentance)
- Name the first twenty seven books of the Old Testament.
Life Application
The Minor Prophets show us a lot about having peace in our uncertain modern times. The nations question what the world is coming to. We daily see the threats, wars, famines, disasters, and financial collapse with extreme unemployment and rising debt. Yet when we come to the Lord, our Saviour, He reassures us that He is in control, sovereign, and will keep His promises of eternal peace if we draw close to Him and remain faithful.
Activity
- Beginners : (Craft) – to create the first six books of Minor Prophets
Materials –printed cut-out letters, pictures, coloring - Primary : (Craft) – to create the first six books of Minor Prophets
Materials –printed cut-out letters, pictures, coloring - Intermediate : (Craft) – to create a picture Bible “pop-up”
Close in Prayer
Father, again, we thank You for our Bibles. They are truly remarkable and special books. I pray that You would in still in our hearts a love for Your word and a desire to read and understand all that You have made sure was written down for us. You’ve given us Your word so that we might have all that we need for life and godliness. And for that we are truly grateful. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.
