The final group of books in the Old Testament contain the writings of the prophets.

The people of Israel became a nation, were redeemed from slavery in Egypt, and God brought them into their own land. They were given a law to live by, but they were constantly failing in their commitment to God.

With idol worship, civil war, immorality, and unconcern, Israel needed to be recalled again and again to the purpose of their existence. The prophets were men raised up by God to call the people back to God. Several of these books were written during a time period when the nation of Israel was divided into two separate kingdoms: Israel and Judah.

The books of the prophets include the following:

Isaiah : Warns of coming judgment against Judah because of their sins against God.

Jeremiah : Written during the later decline and fall of Judah. Tells of the coming judgment and urges surrender to Nebuchadnezzar.

Lamentations : Jeremiah's lament over Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel : Warns first of Jerusalem's impending fall and then foretells its future restoration.

Daniel : The prophet Daniel was captured during the early siege of Judah and taken to Babylon. This book provides both historic and prophetic teaching important in understanding Bible prophecy.

Hosea : Theme of this book is Israel's unfaithfulness, punishment, and restoration.

Joel : Tells of the plagues which foreshadowed future judgment.

Amos : During a period of material prosperity but moral decay, Amos warns Israel and surrounding nations of God's future judgment on their sin.

Obadiah : God's judgment against Edom, an evil nation located south of the Dead Sea.

Jonah : The story of the prophet Jonah who preached repentance in Ninevah, capitol of the Assyrian empire. The book reveals God's love and plan of repentance for the Gentiles.

Micah : Another prophecy against Israel's sin. Foretells the birthplace of Jesus 700 years before the event happened.

Nahum : Tells of the impending destruction of Ninevah which was spared some 150 years earlier through Jonah's preaching.

Habakkuk : Reveals God's plan to punish a sinful nation by an even more sinful one. Teaches that "the just shall live by faith."

Zephaniah : Judgment and restoration of Judah.

Haggai : Urges the Jews to rebuild the temple after a 15 year delay due to enemy resistance.

Zechariah : Further urging to complete the temple and continue spiritual development. Foretells Christ's first and second comings.

Malachi : Warns against spiritual shallowness and foretells the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus.