BC1. Introduction to the Prophets

The Prophets

Monday, 19 July 2010

Historical

Wisdom

Prophetic

Historical


Canonical prophets


Old Testament

Pentateuch

History books

Wisdom Lit.

Prophets

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,Numbers, Deuteronomy

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1–2 Samuel1–2 Kings, 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra,Nehemiah, Esther

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Minor Prophets


New Testament

Revelation

History

Timeless present

Anticipation

Matthew Mark, Luke, John

Acts

Romans – Jude

Revelations


Old Testament

New Testament

Christian Jewish

Tanak


ProphetsHistory

LawPentateuch

History

InstructionTorah

History

ProphetsProphets

Wisdom

Old Testament Tanak

Wisdom

Prophets

Prophets

WritingsKetuvim

Nevi’im


Nev

i’im

Tanak

Ketuvim

Law/Instruction Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,Numbers, Deuteronomy

Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings

Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra–Nehemiah, Chronicles

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Book of the TwelveLatter Prophets

Writings

Former Prophets


?How do you feel about the prophets in the Old Testament?

What do you find difficult about them?

Why is it important to study them?


They have a queer way of talking, like people who, instead of proceeding in an orderly manner, ramble off from one thing to the next so that you cannot make heads or tails of them or see what they are getting at.Martin Luther


GOD

usthem


12

barriers to

understanding


Language Geography

HistoryCulture

Religion


so why study the prophets?


?What is the ultimate meaning of life for any human being? What is the highest value of human life?


to know God


Why do we have the Bible?

So that we can know God


‘I will be your God and you will be my people’


But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Galatians 4:9


covenant


contract


A covenant formally binds two parties together in a relationship, on the basis of mutual personal commitment, with consequences for keeping or breaking the covenant.

ESV Study Bible


Adam


But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me.

Hosea 6:7


?Read Genesis 1:28–30; 2:16–17

Who is the covenant between?

What commitments are made?

What are the requirements?


Adam⇒ humanity / all creation


Noah


?Read Genesis 9:1–17




What is the sign of the covenant?


Noah⇒ humanity / all creation


Abraham


I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.

Genesis 12:1–3, NLT


?Read Genesis 17:1–27






Abraham⇒ Israel

⇒ blessing to all nations


CANAAN


Moses


Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on the earth; for the earth belongs to me. . . .

Exodus 19:1


Moses⇒ Israel


Jericho

CANAANMOAB


Zebullun

Judah

Gad

Nap

htal

i

Issachar

BenjaminDan

Ephraim

Manasseh(half)

Manasseh(half)

MOAB

AMMON

EDOMMIDIANAMALEK

ARAMAsher

Reuben

PHIL

IST

INES

Simeon


David


Don’t you realise that the Lord, the God of Israel, made a lasting covenant with David, giving him and his descendants the throne of Israel forever?

2 Chronicles 13:5


?Read 2 Samuel 7:4–17






David⇒ Israel


historical context


origins of prophetism


?Who is the earliest prophet in the OT?

Who is the greatest prophet in the OT?


Moses


greatest prophet


There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.

Deuteronomy 34:10


What other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

Deuteronomy 4:8


covenant blessings

life

prosperity

health respect

abundance

security


covenant curses

disease

defeat

drought

dearth

dangerdisgrace

death

destruction

deportation

destitution


enemy within


?Read Deuteronomy 18:9–22

What are the people of God to avoid?

Why? What is the purpose of these pagan practices?

What is the only valid option for God’s people? Why?


When the Lord your God eliminates the nations from the place where you are headed and you dispossess them, you will settle down in their land. After they have been destroyed from your presence, be careful not to be ensnared like they are; do not pursue their gods and say, ‘How do these nations serve their gods? I will do the same.’ . . .


You must not worship the Lord your God the way they do! For everything that is abhorrent to him, everything he hates, they have done when worshipping their gods. They even burn up their sons and daughters before their gods!

Deuteronomy 12:29–31 (NET)


•Failure to deal with pagan nations

•Failure to live by God’s standards

•Failure to have God at the centre of life and worship


Turning from God

Oppression

Cryingto God

Rescuer(Judge)

Peace

58


In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25


prophets = nabi

called (by God) to call out (for God)


Prophets are called by God

. . . to speak from God

. . . about God


authority


uniformity


Whether he is discussing the past, present or future, the prophet is seeking to make God the most genuine reality that men can know and experience.

A.B. MickelsonInterpreting the Bible, p. 287


not foretelling


forthtelling


Prophecy is essentially a ministry of disclosure, a stripping bare. Israel’s great prophets do not merely lift the veil of the future in order to destroy false expectations; at the same time, they expose the conduct of their contemporaries. . . . Prophets tear the masks away and show the true face of the people behind them.

Hans Walter Wolff, Confrontations


God’s glory


God’s ultimate concern


The Word of the LORD


Calling people back to the covenant

Covenant enforcement mediators(Fee and Stuart)


Warning of judgment


Promising restoration


Restoration


Basic pattern


Identification of Israel’s sin

Announcement of judgment

Declaration of God’s love for Israel

Announcement of blessing


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Spiritual

BC1. Introduction to the Prophets