Notes on the Minor Prophets

It was with no definite purpose of writing a series of Notes on the Minor Prophets as a whole, that I first began to take up various books of the twelve, in monthly installments in HELP AND Foop FOR THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH. But after penning some notes on Habakkuk, Jonah, and Obadiah, I found my own soul helped, and an interest developed in the further study of these much-neglected portions of Scriptures, and so took up Hosea and the books following. I have sought to press their practical application as giving important teaching for a remnant people in a day of decline, while not neglecting their dispensational bearing. This, I am persuaded, is what is greatly needed at the present moment. If God be pleased to use the Notes for the stirring of His people’s consciences and the comfort of their hearts, the desired end will be realized.

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Chap. III.

INDEX

NOTES ON HOSEA
Chap. I. The Blood of Jezreel

II. The Valley of Achor

III. Israel’s Present and Future
IV. Joined to Idols <2...
V. “I Will Hide Myself”

VI. “What Shall I do unto Thee?”
VII. A Cake Not Turned

VIII. “A Vessel Wherein is no Pleasure”

IX. The Days of Visitation
X. An Empty Vine:
XI. Bands of Love...
XII. The Balances of Deceit
XIII. “In Me is thy Help”
XIV. Restoration and Blessing
Introduction.
Chap. I. The Locust Plague

II. Outpouring of the Spirit Promised.
III. The Valley of Decision:

NOTES ON AMOS Introduction. F Chaps. I & II. The Indictment of the Nations..

The Chastisement of the Chosen Nation

IV. “Yet Have Ye Not Returned!”.
V. A Lamentation for Israel.

Vie Ate ase ineZion! a.).

VII. Teaching by Symbols

VIII. A Famine of the Word

IX. Not a Grain Lost
‘the- Doom orEdom.s... s
Introduction:
Chap. I. The Unwelcome Message:

II. Out of the Depths.
III. Death and Resurrection;
IV. The Repentance of Nineveh.

vi INDEX

NOTES ON MICAH
Chap. I. The Summons to Hearken
II.

“Is the Spirit of the Lord Straitened?”.

III. Princes and Priests Epes

IV. The First Dominion.

V. The Smitten Judge..

VI. The Lord’s Controversy s
VII. Future Repentance and Blessing
Chap. I. Faith’s Refuge.
II. The Destruction of Nineveh.
III. Beyond Healing;

NOTES ON HABAKKUK
Introduction..
Chap. I The Prophet’s Perplexity
If, On the Watch-Tower:
III. The Prayer of Habakkuk.
NOTES ON ZEPHANIAH
Chap.I. The Day of the Lord.:
Il. The Judgments of the Nations.

Ill. The Remnant and the Lord in the Midst

NOTES ON HAGGAI
Introduction.
Chap. I. Consider Your Ways
Ik, -Be*Strong’ ) -.

NOTES ON ZECHARIAH
Introduction) St.se. ern. es en eee
Chap. I. Israel and the Divine ees

. Jerusalem’s Restoration.
III. A Brand Plucked out of the Fire.
IV. The Two Anointed Ones..
V. The Flying Roll and the Ephah

VI. The Four Chariots and the Crowning Day

VII. The Need of Reality

VIII. The Light of the F aoa the Present

IX. The Coming King ...
X. The Regathering..:
XI. “Thirty Pieces of Silver”

XII. The True Day of Atonement ‘for Judah. r XIII. we Jen Opened and the Shepherd

XIV. The True t Feast ‘of ‘Tabernacles..

NOTES ON MALACHI
Chap. I. The Failed Remnant ......
II, — The’Sin:of the Priests =. “eeu

III. Preparation for the ere é
IV. The seats aioe
Postscript: sais

— — — .

called Minor Prophets, was a contemporary of Isaiah throughout almost his entire ministry, as also of Amos in his earlier years. A comparison of the first verses of each of their books with the one before us makes this evident. During the long reign of Jeroboam II, king of Israel, and those of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, there was much to rebuke in the two nations. Hosea seems to have confined most of his direct messages to Judah, speaking rather of the ten tribes than to them; but the scope of his prophecy embraces both, and that very fully. In fact, no other messenger gives

Haast whose book is the first of the so-

*It is essential the reader should first read with care, in Scripture, the chapter under consideration in these “Netes.” To derive profit and blessing, the subject must be familiar. — [Ed. so complete an outline of the ways of God with His earthly people as does Hosea, even Daniel not excepted. Read in connection with the visions of the latter, the one throws much light on the other. Of Hosea’s personal history it has not pleased God to give us any particulars, save in relation to his marriage, and the issue therefrom. His father’s name is given as Beeri, but neither the prophet’s tribe nor the place of his nativity is mentioned. Hosea means help, or salvation. With a single vowel-point added it becomes Hoshea, salvation of Jah. Been is said to mean The well of Jehovah. The two names together remind us of the Lord’s words to the woman of Samaria. He offered her living water from Jehovah’s well, which would result in her assured salvation. “The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea” was a command for the prophet himself, bidding him do what would be obnoxious to mere nature, and which must have tested the heart of Jehovah’s servant in a very marked way. As in the case of Isaiah, he and his were to be for signs in Israel; so he is told to unite himself in marriage to a woman devoid of character — a harlot; thus signifying the wretched condition of unfaithful Israel, who nevertheless remained the object of Jehovah’s love, despite their iniquity, and the filthiness that was in them. What more wonderful picture could we have of grace, not only to the undeserving, but to those who had deserved the very opposite? It is important to remember that grace is not merely wnmerited favor, but it is favor spite of merited judgment.

Such is the marvelous loving-kindness of our God that He finds the objects of His love, not among the righteous and the holy, but among sinners lost and ruined, deserving naught but judgment, stained with guilt and polluted by sin, having all gone out of the way and become unprofitable; nevertheless He sets His love upon wretches so vile and unworthy, and redeems them to Himself. Jehovah’s dealings with Israel of old picture His ways of grace with believers now. “All these things happened unto them for types, - and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have arrived.”

In obedience to the voice of the Lord, Hosea “went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim” as his wife; thus giving to her who before had no standing the place and honor of a wife in Israel. Of her he had several children. Having died to her old wretched life, of which she might well be ashamed, she brings forth fruit unto him who has set his love upon her and given her his name and protection. It is easy to see in all this a lovely illustration of the words of the Holy Spirit in Rom. 6: 21, 22: “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.’’ As also in verse 4 of the following chapter: “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

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