Tucked away at the back of the Old Testament, the minor prophets present challenges for both the lay Bible reader and the preacher. How do such comparably brief books fit into the larger scriptural story? Why were they written? How are they relevant to the church today?
The fact is, despite being treated in some ways as the stepchildren of the Old Testament canon, the minor prophets provide a wealth of spiritual insights for the modern Christian. I believe it is the responsibility of twenty-first-century preachers to understand them and then to regularly and systematically share them with their congregations. Thankfully it is not nearly as difficult as some might think.
What are the minor prophets?
The Hebrew Bible, which Christians now term the Old Testament, was divided into three sections: the Torah, the Nevi’im, and the Ketuvim. The Nevi’im, though considered as the writings of the prophets, also included what we would today consider historical books (such as Judges) as well as books that may seem to us more obviously prophetic (like Isaiah). The final book of the Nevi’im is “The Book of the Twelve,” a collection of twelve prophetic works eventually compiled into one scroll.
Saint Augustine of Hippo first referred to the twelve books as the Minor Prophets because of their shorter length in comparison with the other prophetic writings. The term has unfortunately given these special books a second-class status in many Christian minds.
I find it helpful to think of all the prophetic books of the Old Testament as being equal. Obviously, they are not equal in length or influence, but they are equal in inspiration. God spoke not only through Isaiah and Jeremiah but also through Amos, Nahum, and even Obadiah, whose book is a mere 21 verses long. All such books are equal in weight in that through each one God speaks to believers, generation after generation. In this way the minor prophets are, in fact, the equal prophets.
Preaching from these prophets
The question for preachers is, How do we effectively relay what those prophetic voices have to say to our modern congregations? For most pastors, even a seminary education does not fully prepare us for preaching from the minor prophets. While it does not take specialized learning or even an understanding of Hebrew to present such rich works, it does take time and careful study.
When preparing to preach from the minor prophets, the obvious first step is to read the text. Many clergy members tend to skim over the harder parts of the Bible, and the minor prophets contain some difficult and sometimes harsh words. But just as they have much to say about judgment and punishment, they also contain many references to God’s love, protection, and forgiveness of Israel.
Read the text closely, looking for God’s words of promise and hope. Think of the context in which their authors wrote: times of war and danger, sin and apostasy, and political strife and social collapse. Then consider the many ways in which the prophets’ ancient words might fit into our modern times.
While closely reading the text, also study its background. I highly recommend seeking out commentaries dealing with these books.1 If you do not have access to a commentary for a particular book, make use of a study Bible. A study Bible will at least provide the needed historical background to understand the setting of the text and usually provide guidance for interpreting particular verses.
Through prayer the preacher will receive direction from the Holy Spirit in finding meaningful and timely ways to share the sacred books. One week I felt moved to preach from Zephaniah, probably for the first time in my career. But I did not understand why I felt the need to present from that book, nor did I even know what I was going to say. “On that day,” my passage key began,
they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.”
The morning before my sermon, I woke up to find out exactly why God had given me that particular passage to preach on—that day was October 7, 2023, and war had come again to Zion.
What are some ways that we, as preachers, can systematically introduce our parishioners to the minor prophets? I would like to offer three examples for you to consider from my own experience in the pulpit.
Case study # 1: Jonah
The book of Jonah is a fantastic way to introduce your congregation to the study of the minor prophets. Many Christians are already familiar with the story of “Jonah and the whale,” one often introduced to children. I recommend crafting a four-part sermon series on Jonah, exploring each of its four chapters one at a time.
In such a scenario, use at least a portion of your opening words to note that Jonah is one of the Book of the Twelve and explain the history, role, and importance of its fellow minor prophet works.
After such an introduction, sermon one explores Jonah’s refusal to obey the Lord and his attempt to flee God, ending with his being swallowed by the great fish. Sermon two then moves into Jonah’s prayer. Here the preacher can relate Jonah’s cries from the belly of the fish to our own despair in the depths of life and our need to call upon God for rescue and forgiveness.
Sermon three transports us to Nineveh, and here we can point out how no one is beyond God’s love and forgiveness. This portion of Jonah’s story acts as a fitting backdrop for discussing repentance.
Finally, your fourth sermon can explore Jonah’s pride and his unrelenting anger that even his time in the sea has not fully tempered. Yet God loves Jonah and gently rebukes him. The book’s conclusion reminds us of the importance of trusting God’s wisdom and plan above our own finite understanding.
Case study # 2: Joel
Joel is perhaps most familiar to Christians due to the wonderfully eschatological verse Joel 2:28:
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions” (NIV).
However, the book provides some of the Bible’s most descriptive language as its first two chapters narrate the horrors of an invasion of locusts upon the land. A sermon, or better yet, a series of two or three sermons, on Joel is bound to keep the attention of all ages as the preacher unleashes such a dramatic opening text upon the congregation’s imagination, asking all the while what the ravaging locusts are in our own world. Indeed, modern society is rife with swarms of tiny enemies that devour us, not literally but spiritually.
However, Joel also provides words of comfort because God promises that He will give back in abundance what has been lost and that His people will forever be blessed. Joel is a wonderful text for exploring how blessing can emerge from tragedy and for highlighting God’s constancy and mercy.
Case study # 3: Zechariah
The book of Zechariah allows for a deeper and Christologically rich exploration of these prophetic writings. I chose to present a five-week sermon series on Zechariah, but the book contains material for far more. Zechariah is replete with vivid visions, such as a flying scroll and a man measuring Jerusalem. Such visions often open the door to interpretations that link the text to New Testament concepts. For instance, in chapter three the prophet sees Joshua dressed in filthy garments. Yet an angel provides new, bright, clean clothes for Joshua to wear. The vision easily lends itself to a discussion of God’s gift of salvation through belief in Jesus Christ.
In another passage, Zechariah is called upon to “pasture the flock marked for slaughter” (Zech. 11:4, author’s translation), which he does. The details of the vision in chapter 11 provide plentiful material for a sermon, and here, especially, a commentary comes in handy to help the preacher understand such vivid yet potentially confusing verses.
Other passages are quite obviously Christ-directed prophecies. Perhaps most recognizable is the verse heard in churches every Easter:
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zech. 9:9, NIV).
It is but one of several passages that foretell the Christ story. From chapter 12: “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son” (v. 10, NIV) And from chapter thirteen: “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones” (v. 7, NIV). The imaginative preacher can utilize such rich texts to make the Old Testament come alive for twenty-first-century listeners.
Take on the challenge
Our congregations deserve to hear sermons from every aspect of the biblical heritage. To ignore the minor prophets does a disservice to parishioners, especially those who may struggle with such texts as they read the Bible. Yet beyond helping people comprehend and appreciate the setting and role of those twelve books, it will open the door to insights into God’s plan for salvation. Therefore take on the challenge of presenting the minor prophets. As a preacher and as a believer, you will find the effort well worth it.
- I happen to use the New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2010–2023), which has some great volumes covering the minor prophets, but any respected commentary will serve you well.
