Both Obadiah and Nahum focus on impending judgment for foreign nations. Although the idea of God's judgment can be unpalatable to us today, both books are presented as good news and comfort to those who have been mistreated and oppressed by those nations. The truth is, we need a just God and should rejoice in the fact that one day there will be no more injustice, Jesus has brought about his kingdom ..read more

The final chapters of Amos are full of visions. Some that God relented from, some that have come to pass, and some that will one day be fulfilled. At the center of them is the plan of God that culminates in Jesus Christ, the savior not just of the Jews but of the whole world ..read more

The people of Israel in Amos' day were not just prosperous but very religious. However, Amos comes to warn them that their religion won't save them. Although they worship at the places of their forefathers, they do not worship as their forefathers did; theirs was a worship without change, without humility, without truth and therefore without hope ..read more

Amos lays a trap for his audience by beginning with their closest neighbors (and biggest enemies!) before centering his sights on Israel. He calls them out for their injustice and the false religious veneer that keeps them from facing their impending fate. True, they are God's special people, but that doesn't make them untouchable, it makes them accountable ..read more

Joel's big topic is the Day of the Lord, which he connects with the recent judgment of locust, the impending judgment of Babylon and the final deliverance of God's people. As we travel through time with him our understanding of God's character is transformed and we learn, as John does in Revelation to say "Even so, come Lord Jesus ..read more

Hosea's final chapters reach the highest point in all his major themes: the highest indictment against Israel, the highest vision of punishment, and the highest portrayal of hope. We also get one final window into the loving character of God who calls us, like Israel, wherever we are, to return to him ..read more

Hosea begins his message proper, although still in the spirit of a scorned faithful husband. As Gomer, we see that Israel has been consistently unfaithful. We also find that their supposed freedom is just slavery, blindness and death. However God has a plan that extends past judgment, and will lead to restoration ..read more

Hosea becomes a living prophecy as he is called to marry (and re-marry) an unfaithful wife and name his kids after the impending judgment. Nevertheless we find that after the judgment comes a new honeymoon and God proves himself to be a love greater than our sin ..read more

As Ezekiel concludes his final vision we find not just a new temple but a new priesthood, new cultus and a new Israel. We discover that one day, God will fulfill his promise to Israel on earth, and after that will fulfill it in heaven ..read more

An angel takes Ezekiel on a guided tour through the coming Temple. This temple remains empty until God sees to it that it is filled. This passage ends with the law of the temple being the promise that God will bring His spirit and His people into it ..read more