Hosea/Joel/Amos/Obadiah/Jonah/Micah/Nahum/Habakkuk

Hosea

-       Where and when? Northern Kingdom, before the fall to Assyria in 722 BC.

-       To Whom? Hosea’s prophecies are mostly in the form of poems directed toward the people of the Northern Kingdom. 

-       What’s the big deal? Idolatry. The people were worshipping the Canaanite god, Baal. The relationship of Hosea and Gomer serves as a visual lesson from the content of the prophetic sermons. 

-       Text to Consider: Hosea 14:1–9

Joel

-       Where and when? Judah, Unknown – look at Joel 2:20

-       To Whom? Inhabitants of the land of Judah

-       What’s the big deal? Destruction through a vicious army was coming, but Joel called on the people to repent.

-       Text to Consider: Joel 2:12–19, 2:28–3:3, 3:11–16

Amos

-       Where and when? From Tekoa (Judah), but prophesied to Israel Northern Kingdom before the fall to Assyria

-       To Whom? Northern Kingdom (Israel)

-       What’s the Big Deal? Oppression of the poor and needy, Day of the LORD 

-       Text to Consider: Amos 5:18–24

Obadiah

-       Where and when? Most likely Judah following exile to Babylon in 587 BC. 

-       To Whom? Judah, about Edom

-       What’s the Big Deal? Edom, ancient kinsman of Israel, had taken advantage of Judah during the exile to Babylon (Ezekiel 35, Ps 137:7). Day of the LORD (Obad 15)

Jonah

-       Where and when? Northern Kingdom of Israel during 700’s BC in reign of Jeroboam II (2 Kgs 14:25)

-       To Whom? The people of God

-       What’s the Big Deal? Chance for repentance for all nations

Micah

-       Where and when? Judah, c. 742–687 BC.

-       To Whom? Israel and Judah (both Northern and Southern Kingdoms)

-       What’s the Big Deal? Idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness

-       Text to Consider: Micah 5:1–5a

Nahum

-       Where and when? Unknown, but Assyria fell to Babylon in 612 BC.   

-       To Whom? For the benefit of the people of God about the fall of Assyria (Nineveh) 

-       What’s the Big Deal? Assyria’s cruelty returned upon itself because of God’s wrath

Habakkuk

-       Where and when? Before the exile of Judah to Babylon 

-       To Whom? The people of God concerning that exile

-       What’s the Big Deal? God was doing a redeeming and purifying work through the Babylonians