TEACHERS MANUAL FOR THE MINOR PROPHETS
HOW TO STUDY THE COURSE
The student will enter into the prophecy and world of the prophecy of the Minor Prophets and seek to give a Biblical accurate and Christ centered interpretation of the prophecy.
OBJECTIVES
1. To study all of the Minor Prophets
2. To develop personal Bible study techniques while studying the Minor Prophets
3. To familiarize oneself with the observations of others who have studied the Minor Prophets
4. To write materials that will be useful in communicating the message of these books
5. To orally present the message of these books, whether that be in preaching, teaching, journalism, counseling or other forms of communication.
REQUIREMENTS
1. Participate in 15 hours of communal dialogue about the contents of the Minor Prophets
2. Complete the Bible study exercises as contained in the 12 lessons
3. Locate good Bible commentaries on the Minor Prophets and read them.
4. Write a sermon or study lesson plan on a theme from the Minor Prophets. 1.5 font, 12 – 15 pages at MA level.
5. Preach, teach or write on the theme that was developed.
EVALUATION
1. One point for every hour of class or communal interaction (15%)
2. Four points for each class in which the students came prepared with corresponding questions answered. One point for completion of all (25%)
3. For readings (600 for MA) read commentaries on the Minor Prophets and incorporate findings into the essay (25%)
4. Write an academic essay on a theme of the Minor Prophets (25%)
5. Final exam. Ten questions taken from the questions at the end of each lesson (10%)
APPLICATION
1. The student will be able to dialogue about the Minor Prophets with others.
2. The student will develop study skills to study prophecy.
3. The student will have access to the commentaries of other students of the Bible
4. The student will be able to write about a major theme in the Minor Prophets
5. The student will be able to orally communicate a major theme of the Minor Prophets to others.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
1. The MINTS Study Manual on the Minor Prophet; access to two study Bibles and access to at least 5 Commentaries on the Minor Prophets
2. Access the digital copy of Calvin’s Commentaries on the Minor Prophet (mintsespanol.com/ English)
3. Access the digital copy of the Teacher’s Manual for the Minor Prophets (mintsespanol.com/English)
For the English speaking students, they are to consult Niel Steward’s, The Prophets of the Old Testament as well as Don Ritsman’s work, The Prophets and Richard Pratt. He Gave Us Prophets, which has a syllabus prepared by Richard Ramsay. Mintsespanol.com
CLASS RECORD
Name of Student- / Attendance(15%) / Home-
Work
(25%) / Readings and reflections
(25%) / Written
Work
(25%) / Final Exam
(10%) / Final
Mark
(100%)
HOSEA
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR LESSON ONE FOR HOSEA
1. What name is used for God in this introduction? What does it mean?
LORD. The Hebrew is Yahweh. He is the eternal God (Ex. 3: 14).
2. How is this God to be distinguished from Baal?
Baal also means lord or master. But Baal is a man-made fertility idol.
3. How is the true prophet distinguished from the false one?
The true prophet receives the Word of God while the false prophet speaks according to his own imagination.
4. What does the name of Hosea mean?
Salvation or God saves.
5. Which king of Israel is mentioned in the introduction?
Jereboam II
6. Which kings of Judah are mentioned?
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah
7. Why is the mention of the kings important?
The prophecy has to do with the spiritual adultery of the land, the nation.
8. What religious office did Hosea have when he was called to prophesy?
None that we know of. He became a prophet when he received the Word of God.
9. What is adultery?
The book makes reference to marital unfaithfulness as well as spiritual unfaithfulness.
10. Formulate your own question for Lesson One.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR LESSON TWO
1. How do we know if Gomer was a historical person?
She is identified as the daughter of Diblaim.
2. Why can we consider Hosea to be the father of all three children?
The text does not indicate otherwise.
3. What does the name Jezreel mean?
God scatters, sows or plants.
4. What does the naming of Jezreel imply?
God will exact vengeance for the crimes of idolatry and unwarranted killing that took place in the valley of Jezreel.
5. How do we know that the nation of Israel will be exiled?
God said He would put an end to the kingdom of Israel.
6. What does the name Lo-Ruhamah mean?
It refers to being not loved or not shown mercy.
7. What does the naming of Lo-Ruhaman imply?
God’s covenant love would not be given to Israel, but only to Judah.
8. What does the name Lo-Ammi mean?
Not my people.
9. What does the naming of Lo-Ammi imply?
Israel will not be considered as the people of God.
10. What is your interpretation as to the restoration of Israel?
Own answer
QUESTION AND ANSWERS FOR LESSON THREE
1. Why was the marriage between Hosea and Gomer broken?
Due to adultery. Adultery breaks the covenant between husband and wife.
2. How does the broken marriage reflect God’s relationship with Israel?
God has a covenant with the people of Israel that has national implications. If Israel is going to commit idolatry, then that breaks the covenant.
3. How will Israel be left unprotected?
She will be exiled and will not have fortified cities and armies.
4. Why did Gomer commit adultery?
She committed adultery with the people who she thought were providing for her.
5. Why would the LORD hold back the provision of natural resources?
Because they were using natural resources to worship Baal and commit idolatry.
6. The author sees two stages of restoration. What are they?
The return to the wilderness after Messiah is born and the new heavens and new earth.
7. When do Christians expect to celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb?
In the new heavens and new earth (Mt. 26: 29)
8. How will the name Jezreel be restored?
Jezreel, means to sow, and now God will do the sowing.
9. How will the name Lo-Ammi be restored?
Lo-Ammi, means not My people will now become My people.
10. Formulate your own question for this lesson.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR LESSON FOUR
1. Why does the author not think that Hosea’s prophecy about remarrying Gomer is a vision?
Gomer’s family line is identified (1:3). The prophecy as given through speaking and not through visions. (1: 2; 3: 1).
2. What is so scandalous about Hosea remarrying Gomer?
She is adulterous. She has been unfaithful to Hosea. She is a slave.
3. How does the remarriage of Hosea reflect the LORD’s relationship with Israel?
Just as Gomer had been adulterous, unfaithful and enslaved to sin, so was Israel’s response to God.
4. Why did Gomer have to be redeemed?
She had sold herself into slavery.
5. What is the price of our redemption?
Blood, the symbol of life and death
6. How was the price of our redemption established?
In the eternal covenant (Heb. 13:20) a covenant was made in blood.
7. What were the conditions for Gomer to return to Hosea?
No more lovers, Hosea as the only husband. She was not to leave.
8. What would be the conditions for the time of captivity?
God as the only husband, no kings, no sacrifices, no idols.
9. Would Israel ever return? How?
Yes, verse 5 speaks about ‘latter’ as well as the last days.
10. Formulate your own questions for Lesson Four.
QUESTIONS FOR LESSON FIVE
1. What three charges were made in 4: 1?
No truth, no mercy and no knowledge of God.
2. How did the priests participate in the sins of the people?
They accepted and participated in the sacrifices of unrepentant people.
3. How did idolatry lead to adultery among the Israelites?
Spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to God led to physical adultery with the fertility rites off Baal worship.
4. Why wouldn’t the women who committed harlotry be singled out?
Because the men were also participating in harlotry.
5. What does Hosea warn Judah not to do? Did they listen?
Hosea warns Judah not to follow the sins of Israel. They did not listen.
6. What was special about Ephraim?
This was the largest of the Ten Tribes and the kings came from them.
7. What does the “return to My place” refer to in 5: 15?
God would wait to act in a special way until the coming of the Messiah.
8. Why is it good news that “For He has torn, but He will heal us.”
Healing comes from reconciling with the God who is punishing.
9. In what way is the resurrection forshadowed by Hosea?
6: 2 makes reference to the three days of Christ’s resurrection and the hope that we will rise with Him.
10. Formulate your own question
QUESTIONS FOR LESSON SIX
1. How does God express His frustration over his covenant people?
The LORD says, “What can I do with you?”
2. Can God abolish the covenant?
Yes, the covenant with Adam was broken by Adam and had to be renewed. So, God’s covenant with the children of Abraham can be abolished if the conditions are not met.
3. Why would God remove the priests altogether?
They had become murders rather than instruments of reconciliation.
4. Why would God remove the kings of Israel?
They sold their allegiance to foreign powers and they multiplied sin.
5. Why would God remove the system of sacrifices?
They were hypocritical
6. Why would God allow treasures to be taken to other lands?
The treasures had been used for idolatry.
7. Why would God allow the children to be killed?
To take away the future generation.
8. Why would God allow mothers to be killed?
This is the extreme, with no mothers, there are no children and no future. The curse of Benjamites is revisited on them,
9. What purpose would permanent captivity bring to the Ten Tribes?
So that they would only depend on the righteousness of the coming Messiah.
10. Where is the only place where Israel will find righteousness?
Only with the Messiah because all other sources of righteousness has been ruined beyond repair.
QUESTIONS FOR LESSON SEVEN
1. What are some of the terms that are used to describe Israel that shows God’s paternal relationship with them?
Child, son, teach to walk, feed, heal.
2. Why was it wrong for Israel to go to Egypt and Assyria for help?
Israel was supposed to depend on God alone.
3. What stops God from completely destroying Israel?
God appeals to Himself.
4. To what does the east wind refe?
The coming of the Assyrians from the east.
5. How does the prophecy show that Israel has a history of conflicts?
Jacob struggled in the womb, with his father in law, with God. Israel has to be rescued from Egypt
6. How did Israel show they practiced the cult of death?
They practiced human sacrifices and practiced idolatry with images.
7. Were the Israelites able to depend on their own leaders?
Their leaders were corrupted and could not rescued them from the invaders.
8. How will God fight death with death?
It would take the death of the Messiah and his coming back to life in order to overcome sin and death.
9. How is it shown that Israel will not produce any more covenant children?
The enemies would kill the mothers as well as the children. The Israelites would mix with the pagans.
10. Formulate your own question for Lesson Seven.
QUESTIONS FOR LESSON EIGHT
1. What emotion does 14:1 show about God?
God’s paternal love and longsuffering with Israel.
2. Why is it important to take God’s word with you when you return to God?
God promises to forgive and be gracious. The sinner has forfeited his rights before God.
3. What can we ask of God when we return to him?
To be gracious and forgive a repentant sinner.
4. Is the returning to God an act of God or the act of man?
The offer of forgiveness is given and granted by God. Man has to trust God’s promises.
5. What three sins were mentioned for Israel to confess?
Reliance on foreign powers, depending on own strength and having idols.
6. On what basis can the Father turn his anger away from repentant sinners?
On the basis of his own grace and plan of redemption.
7. What does the imagery of verses 5-7 remind you of?
Israel in her glory years. The imagery is both agriculture bases and national.
8. Why is it so important that Ephraim gives up its idols?