The Fiery Warnings of the Minor Prophets (Part III)

In this third and final part of the study of the Minor Prophets, the writings of the Prophets Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi are examined. With Zephaniah, one can examine the prophecies against and the warnings to Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Ethiopia, Assyria, and Judah. With Haggai, one can read about the people who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon being caught up in their own interests and priorities rather than in the things of the Lord. For one thing, they had built themselves nice homes. But they had not rebuilt the temple that had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. So Haggai was dispatched to the scene to pump up the people and get them started on the temple. With the Prophet Zechariah, one can see the eight visions that the Lord had given him. Then one can also see some other prophecies that he had made that were relevant to the times, to the First Coming of Jesus, to the Second Coming of Jesus, and to the Millennial kingdom.

With Malachi, one can read the words of the final Minor Prophet to the children of Israel. They had returned from Babylon and had not paid their tithes. That had forced the priests into the fields so that they could earn their living. The problem with that is that the work of the temple was being ignored. Malachi and Nehemiah had lived at the same time. So Nehemiah was also involved with the tithes not being paid and with the work of the temple being ignored. So some of that will be discussed in this text with the examination of the book of Malachi. Not only was Malachi shown as the last Minor Prophet, but he was also actually the last prophet in Israel to write scriptures for the Old Testament. After he was gone, the Lord remained silent to His people until the coming of Jesus about four hundred years later.

In every part of the Bible, one can learn some important truths. The book of Psalms, for example, is a collection of experiential writings by its different authors. If one is having a bad day, then he or she can find the writings of many psalmists who were having bad days. If one is depressed or troubled, then similar writings can be found in the book of Psalms. The book of Proverbs is the book of wisdom. Follow its teachings and bypass many of the troubled paths of this life. In the book of Genesis, one can find how everything in this world got started. In the book of Revelation, one can see how it will all end. In the history books of the scriptures, one can see how the Lord has worked through the children of Israel for the two thousand years before the Incarnation of Jesus. In the books of the prophets, one can see how the Lord had sent His messengers to the world to warn its people when they were headed in the wrong direction. He is still sending such people to the world today. So every part of the Bible has truth and value for those who are looking for such things.