The Book of the Twelve / Joel 2; Amos 9; Malachi 4

Twelve shorter prophetic works in the Bible come from the time of Assyrian power when Israel was defeated and the Jews were taken in to exile in Babylon, through the decline and defeat of that Assyrian Empire, in to the time of the return of the exiles to Jerusalem under the more benign Persian Empire.  Often collated on to a single scroll in Jesus’ time, they span about 400 years of history from c.800 to c.400 BC.

The returning exiles had a chance for a fresh start.  What would be the core values and behaviours of their new society?  What would it mean to be Jewish?  What would be their guide?  Twelve prophets stepped up to help them think.  They didn’t hand down any new laws but instead repitched the law given to Moses as their constitution.  They restated the old values of justice, mercy, obedience, worship, freedom, LOVE, faithfulness and hope.

In addition to addressing the present times faced by the returning exiles, the twelve prophets looked forwards and saw a coming king who would fulfil LOVE’s promises and personify what it meant to be LOVE’s people.  They looked beyond even that Messiah, to a new age when LOVE would not just be worshipped and recognised in law, but be resident in human hearts.  The Temple that the exiles were rebuilding, in to which LOVE would descend, would one day be rendered obsolete as LOVE made a temple out of his people, becoming incarnate within them.

Micah chapter 6 verse 8 is a good summary of LOVE’s social justice requirements explained throughout the Old Testament: “And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to LOVE mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  Or as The Message translation puts it, “It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbour, be compassionate and loyal in your LOVE,
and don’t take yourself too seriously - take God seriously.”  Let’s pray that we might live out Micah 6:8 in Bournemouth today.

“Rend your hearts and not your garments…after this I will pour out my spirit on all flesh.” (Joel 2:13,28).