Prophets to Northern Kingdom
As the Bible is arranged by genre, to
enhance understanding of context
we’re covering it by time sequence.
We begin with the 5 books of Laws
to appreciate the Redemptive Plan
of God for mankind and Job (which
occurs in the time of Genesis) to
understand the sovereignty of God.
In Phase 2, we meditated on Joshua
to 2Samuel & 1 Chronicles up to King
David: the high point of Israel history
and poetry book of Psalms where
we learn to pray and praise God.
Then continuing in United Kingdom,
we go to reign of King Solomon in
1 Kings & cover wisdom poetry of
Proverbs, Song of Songs and Eccl.
In P3 2Kings, the next century sees
the decline of two nations indifferent
to God’s laws. In Israel, 19 wicked
kings in succession led the people
even further from God & Israel finally
went into captivity by Assyrians.
To the south, Judah survives 150
years longer; but corrupt leadership
brings 70 years of exile in Babylonia.
Continuing Phase 3, we focus next
on the prophets to northern kingdom
with dual themes of repentance and
judgment: “Shape Up or Ship Out.”
But each prophet spoke to unique
contemporary situation. So for
Hosea, the message is God’s love
for adulterous Israel; and for Amos,
God’s people ripe for punishment.
And for Jonah, the message is God
Loves the Gentiles; and in Nahum,
it’s doom of Nineveh for its brutality.
Hosea prophesies to a corrupt and
idolatrous Israel from his experience.
Instructed by God to marry harlot
Homer, Hosea finds mirrored in his
domestic life an accurate portrayal
of unfaithfulness of God’s people.
Drawing a striking parallel from his
marriage and his wife’s defection,
Hosea carries God’s message:
The wickedness of Israel will bring
swift tragedy and certain calamity.
However, though God’s love must
discipline, it will surely restore. His
love desires the best for His beloved.
Amos: Externally, the northern
kingdom was marked by flourishing
business; but internally the nation’s
condition was grim. Idolatry, greed,
injustice, hypocrisy, oppression
and arrogance indicated a growing
malignancy of deep-seated sin.
Amos, a farmer by trade, dons the
mantle of a prophet to make God’s
message crystal clear to those who
had grown lax in luxurious living:
Repent or Perish. For judgment are
soon to break over God’s people.
Jonah called by God to warn
the Assyrian city of Nineveh of
impending destruction. However,
the brutal Assyrians are Israel’s
bitter enemies, and Jonah both
fears and despises them. Instead
of heading to Nineveh, Jonah sets
sail in the opposite direction. A storm
ensues, Jonah is tossed overboard
and is swallowed by a great fish.
After three days the fish deposits
Jonah on dry land. Jonah then goes
to Nineveh & preaches as God had
instructed. When the people repent,
Jonah’s resentment grows until God
teaches him a lesson in compassion.
By the time Nahum comes on the
scene Nineveh is even more wicked
than it had been during the time
of Jonah about 100 years earlier.
The repentant spirit of the people
and the revival that stemmed from
Jonah’s visit is gone. Now a terror
to the entire world, the fortress city
of Nineveh seems impenetrable.
But God will no longer overlook the
city’s horrible sins, and He sends
Nahum to deliver the message of
impending destruction. The entire
Assyrian empire will be destroyed
and the mighty city of Nineveh
will be gutted by a raging fire.
