Joel is a book of prophecy.  He is considered one of the “minor” prophets. Calling Joel a minor prophet is not done to place this book as less significant than the other prophets.  The term “minor” simply indicates, there is less volume of written material.  Isaiah and Jeremiah have many chapters; Joel has three chapters.

To understand the perspective of Daniel and his three friends in the first chapter of Daniel (Daniel 1:8), one must have a prior knowledge of the commands for Jewish people found in Leviticus Eleven.  In the first book of Daniel there is a specific instance of open communicative rebellion to the decree that was given by the Babylonian king named Nebuchadnezzar. Essentially king Nebuchadnezzar had enslaved all the Jewish people, but had selected the strongest, and most educationally  advanced Hebrews to serve as his subjects and diplomats in his kingdom.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, “Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; 24 but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah” [American Standard Version].

Sometime around 755 B.C. the children of Israel had began to live in “rebellion” to God (Isaiah 1:2).  One of God’s spokesman was a man by the name of “Isaiah the son of Amoz” (Isaiah 1:1). Isaiah pleaded with God’s chosen people.  His plea was three-fold.  He told the people to reason about their sins, to recognize the color of their iniquity, and to realize God has the power to cleanse.

Esther is a book that is filled with examples of God’s providence.  While it is a book of the Old Testament, it offers Christians today glimpses of how God works in the kingdoms of men and how God works in each individual’s life.  For if a child of God strives to serve the Lord we can gain confidence in the truth of the verse that states, “all things work together for good...”.

A long time ago, in the ancient city of Susa, the highest world leader was a Persian king.  His territory was so large that its perimeters comprised more square milage than both the Babylonians and Assyrians that were world empires prior to his reign. One of the territories that was annexed by his political expansion phase was the territory of Israel.  Although Israel had been taken, there were still faithful Israelites in Jerusalem as a remnant (Nehemiah 1:3) and in various corners of the kingdom. (Nehemiah 1:1).