Be Amazed (Minor Prophets): Restoring an Attitude of Wonder and Worship

The "Be" Commentary

by Warren W. Wiersbe

Prepared to be awed by our God.

 

The books of Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Malachi are viewed by Biblical scholars as the Minor Prophets. Yet the insights and messages contained within these books are anything but minor. These prophets offer a unique, firsthand view of an all-powerful God who longs to intimately connect with His people. This study examines their personal stories to discover how He interacts with our world in truly amazing ways.

 

Part of Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe’s best-selling “BE” commentary series, BE Amazed has now been updated with study questions and a new introduction by Ken Baugh. A respected pastor and Bible teacher, Dr. Wiersbe explores the Minor Prophets to uncover remarkable truths about our awesome God. What you’ll find will provoke wonder, inspire worship, and cause you to be amazed at what God is doing in our world.

Genres: Christian, Reference, Nonfiction, Biblical Studies, Christian Non Fiction, Theology, Ebooks

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1996

About the author

Warren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as 'the pastor's pastor.' He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Reviews

[Jesse Ramshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another terrific entry in the "BE" Series, featuring the following books: Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Malachi.

I was especially captivated by Wiersbe's expositions on Jonah, Habakkuk, and Malachi.

Read 'em!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be forewarned that this book does not cover all of the Minor Prophets, only 6 of them.

I greatly enjoyed these reflections on the Minor Prophets. My favorite chapters, though, were about the book of Jonah. Wiersbe had some very profound insights. For example we read about Jonah's wrong attitudes about the will of God, the Word of God, toward circumstances and the gentiles is very relevant for today. Then Wiersbe talked about the four things Jonah lost when he ran from the Lord. He lost his intimacy, his spiritual vitality, the power of prayer and his testimony. There were more insights that make this little book a gem.

I didn't agree with his interpretation of Malichi, that the "coming of the Lord" is all about the end times. I think it is all referring to Jesus' coming the first time.

[Rhoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought and read to get me into books that I rarely study or hear sermons from--Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Malachi.
I read a chapter after doing my BSF lesson over the course of several months even though only 13 chapters. I would have learned more if I'd been more diligent. Wiersbe is easy reading with good truths and explanations that are good for the everyday

[Anne Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful study. Can't wait to start the next one. For anyone new to the Bible it is a great explanation. And for those who grew up in the church it is a great review of books that do not normally receive a lot of attention.

[Frans Kempe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good devotional read together with the Bible. Covers the books of Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Malachi. I especially liked the one about Habakkuk.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good commentary. Good companion to the bible study I was doing.

[Lucas Nel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

Wiersbe unpacks and presents topics in his typical style, leading to much greater and deeper understanding for the reader. Highly recommended !

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: Prophets sometimes do strange things.

Warren Wiersbe has three commentaries covering the Minor Prophets. Be Amazed covers--I believe--the greatest number of minor prophets. (Though math is not my strongest subject.) It covers Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Malachi. Each chapter covers multiple chapters of the Bible. I don't know that I would describe the commentary as being verse by verse commentary so much as covering passages from all chapters.

I wanted to read Be Amazed because I'm reading Jonah through thirty times in a row. And Wiersbe's insights on Jonah were definitely worth it. I underlined SO much in these chapters on Jonah.

I do think if you're looking for insights on all of these minor prophets it would be worth your time.

Quotes:

One of the greatest judgments God can inflict on any people is to let them have their own way. God is holy and will not permit His people to enjoy sin for long or to live on substitutes. Eight times in the Bible we read, “Be holy, for I am holy”; God means what He says.

What is the book of Jonah about? Well, it’s not simply about a great fish (mentioned only four times), or a great city (named nine times), or even a disobedient prophet (mentioned eighteen times). It’s about God! God is mentioned thirty-eight times in these four short chapters, and if you eliminated Him from the book, the story wouldn’t make sense.

The book of Jonah is about the will of God and how we respond to it. It’s also about the love of God and how we share it with others.

To Jesus, the will of God was food that satisfied Him; to Jonah, the will of God was medicine that choked him.

Jonah also had a wrong attitude toward the Word of God. When the Word of the Lord came to him, Jonah thought he could “take it or leave it.” However, when God’s Word commands us, we must listen and obey. Disobedience isn’t an option. “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46 NKJV).

At one time or another during their ministries, Moses, Elijah, and Jeremiah felt like giving up, but God wouldn’t let them. Jonah needed Nineveh as much as Nineveh needed Jonah. It’s in doing the will of God that we grow in grace and become more like Christ.

There is no substitute for good theology, whether in our sermons or in our songs. The shallowness of some contemporary sermons, books, and songs may be the major contributing factor to the weakness of the church and the increase in “religious entertainment” in meetings where we ought to be praising God. The thing that lifted Habakkuk to the mountaintop was his understanding of the greatness of God. We need a return to the kind of worship that focuses on the glory of God and seeks to honor Him alone.

The great British expositor G. Campbell Morgan said, “Our joy is in proportion to our trust. Our trust is in proportion to our knowledge of God.”

[Ruthe Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book of 3 that Warren Wiersbe wrote pertaining to the books in the bible called "the minor prophets." The minor prophets are called that, because they are just a few chapters long, compared to the major prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel that are many chapters long. The major and the minor prophets were written during the time before and after the captivity of the country Israel and the country of Judah. To me, the minor prophets are very interesting. The message in all of them is still a message we need to hear today - to turn away from the evil of this world, and turn back to the God of the bible, whose name is Yahweh. Warren Wiersbe is the best commentator to guide people toward a better understanding of Bible. This book is one of 50 in Wiersbe's "Be" series, and they are all excellent.

[Barbara Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be Amazed (Minor Prophets): Restoring an Attitude of Wonder and Worship is Warren W. Wiersbe’s commentary on Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Malachi. He covers the rest of the twelve minor prophets in two other books. These books are considered “minor” only because they are much shorter than the “major” prophets.

Wiersbe gives a little background of each of these prophets, the times they lived, the kings who were in power at the time, and the prophets’ major messages and concerns, a suggested outline of the books, and his commentary.

There are commentaries much longer and more detailed than Wiersbe’s “Be” series, but these are a nice size, easy to use with one’s Bible study.

[Christopher Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Be Amazed” is a commentary authored by Warren Wiersbe in the popular “ Be” series. This is a commentary on a few of the minor profits, including Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Malachi. Although this book is written at a very basic, popular level, the author does an excellent job at highlighting the themes of each of these minor profits, and attempts to place them in their social, spiritual, and ultimate context in the word of God. Both serious students of Scripture and those new to the Bible can profit from this commentary, and the other books in the series. It is an easy read, and can be used for personal Bible study or group Bible study, because the author includes questions to ponder with each chapter. It is a useful little book. Happy reading!

[DT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read most of the books in this series and this one was one of the best. My main criticism of this series is that Wiersbe often glossed over the stories (especially the historical books) and provided summaries rather than commentaries. He didn’t do that here. There were lots of useful and practical insights provided and good exposition. It wasn’t very detailed, but that’s not the point of this series. I found it helpful not just for my own personal Bible study, but to prepare chapel messages and devotions for my students. I highly recommend this book and the other two on the minor prophets.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good guide through Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Malachi. Wiersbe 's focus is Christian, not much of the Hebrew or Jewish perspective noted. I like that he goes verse by verse through the books. I would have liked to hear more about the covenant with God, how it was broken and how God restored it through the Savior 's sacrifice. He skipped over some things while addressing others. Good guide but I need more.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and informative little book focussing on the Ministries of some of the so called "Minor" Prophets in the Bible. The book can be read for information only but also contains questions to allow in further use as a study guide for individual or group use. Either way, I have no doubt that I shall return to it from time to time for reference. Well worth having in your book collection.

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

3/50 from be series commentary. i read the series alphabetically.
rather disappointed with this book for this book explained 6 prophets (6 books) in just hundred pages. the book said although they are minor prophetd, but the message not that minor. surely there are a lot of to be talked here rather than making "summary".

[Clara Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books covers six of the minor prophets Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Malachi. These books show the Sovereignty of God, The Holiness of God, and The Love of God. The book gives an outline and the key verse for each of the six prophets. Each of the minor prophets are short and a quick read but Wiersbe commentary adds insight that the reader has not thought of.

[Mark Roossinck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wiersbe has a wonderful blend of theological insight, devotional appeal and heartwarming charm. The same is true whether it's the Minor Prophets, Gospels, New Testament epistles, or any other book of the Bible. I highly recommend his "Be" series books, no matter if you're a seasoned believer or just staring out in the faith.

[Hannah Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warren Wiersbe commentary is some of the most helpful. It also just goes to show how active and alive Scripture is - that the books of the minor prophets are still relevant and with an important word for us today. How much mankind has changed in advancements etc and yet how little mankind’s heart has changed. Great and helpful, challenging and encouraging read.

[Chris Hilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great study on 6 of the minor prophets, perfect if you are reading for the first time or have read them 100 times (the sign of a great teacher that WW is!). Highly recommended. Study is on Hosea, Jonah, Nahum, Habbakuk, Joel and Malachi.

[Jan Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minor Prophets come alive

Warren Wiersbe makes the minor prophets understandable and relevant for today. He has enough depth for those who want to dig deeper along withclear writing that makes it understandable to the average person.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I find these commentaries very helpful in most regards, the author side steps many of the questions I have by quoting other scriptures to fill in a picture he creates. It feels a bit like a slight of hand trick; look this way, as your question gets bypassed...

[Jonathan Gaertner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, easy to follow commentary

I enjoyed this commentary as it is practical, has good background information but does not get so scholarly that it would be hard for the normal person to read. Wiersbe brings great insight to the text.

[Brandi (Rambles of a SAHM) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This year I'm using the 'Be' commentaries by Warren Weirsbe for my morning Bible study. This particular volume covers the books of Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Malachi. Very fitting for the time we currently find ourselves in. Highly recommend.

[Ashley Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic As Always

I live these commentaries because they provide a rich way to dig deeper into your study of God's word. These studies are accessible to the average person but full of new things to discover and learn.

[Barbie N · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid commentary

I found this to be a good commentary with
devotional elements. It is not meant to be too heavy on the scholarship side, and I could have used a little more of that.

[Zak Schmoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have been using this in my Sunday school class for a long time now. It is a solid resource. The commentary is very approachable, and I like the inclusion of discussion questions. I would typically supplement my preparation with other resources, but this is a good piece.

[Dep Dad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book for Bible Study.

[Chad Sellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good walk through of minor prophets. Used for our small group, and it was a good guide providing context and interpretation.

[Angel Bunton-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love to "Be" informed

I use these books to study God's word and I share my study of these books in my live stream bible study and others are being blessed.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful to use along with the Bible. I used it along with The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible NASB.