Transcript Old Testament Survey: Introduction of the Books of Prophecy

Old Testament Survey:
Introduction to the
Books of Prophecy
“For whatever things were
written before were written for
our learning, that we through
the patience and comfort of the
Scriptures might have hope.”
(Romans 15:4)
The Prophetic Books
• Period of prophets covers about 400 years (800400 BC)
• Central event—destruction of Jerusalem (about
middle of the period)
• There are 17 books—Isaiah thru Malachi
• Only 16 prophets wrote (Jeremiah wrote two)
• Five Major Prophets; Twelve Minor Prophets
Relationship to
Other Books
• 17 books of prophecy complement the 17 historic books.
• The emphasis in the prophetic books not so much on
history as on proclaiming and interpreting God’s word to a
backsliding nation!
• Belong to the nation’s decline and fall, leading to captivity
• Five poetical books (Job to Song of Solomon) pertain
chiefly to the golden age of the monarchy—the united
kingdom
Main Theme
• God’s justice, sovereignty, and mercy
– God’s justice and sovereignty
– His matchless mercy and love for Israel
– Overruling providence in the nation’s affairs
– Weave in contemporary and future events
– Dark background of righteous judgment
– Bright cord of divine love, even in punishment
– Promise and realization of restoration of a remnant of
Israel
– Shining hope of the coming Redeemer!
Main Theme
• Relevant Message
– Messages of the prophets were relevant to
the moral and religious conditions of their day
– Time to root out and build up
(Jeremiah 1:9,10)
– God was sending hope and solutions for their
problems.
– This message of hope is still relevant in our
own day (Romans 15:4)
Main Theme
• Main Message
– Most important message of the prophets was
their good news of the coming Christ, His
redemptive work, and the establishment of
His kingdom—the church!
– This told the audience (then and now) that
God had a plan, and He would bring that plan
to fruition—in His time!
The Office of a Prophet
• Primary work of prophets
– God’s spokesman, called by Him to warn the people in
times of great national crisis and distress.
– Rebuked Israel for her past sins, warned of present
dangers, and foretold future events.
– Called on an individual basis, for special service. God
used different terms: seers, watchmen, shepherds.
– Called to announce and interpret His word to the people.
The Office of a Prophet
• Primarily preachers
– God’s messengers; primarily preachers of
righteousness and teachers of the Law.
– Called and sent by God during critical times of
widespread moral and spiritual decay.
– Often stood alone (Jeremiah 5:30,31)
– Champions of righteousness—combination of
teacher, statesman, and seer.
The Office of a Prophet
• Inspired by God
– 2 Peter 1:20,21
– The prophets were aware of the gift of inspiration.
– Most common expression—”Thus saith the Lord.”
– Earliest work was oral—Elijah and Elisha.
– Later, they worked to preserve records of their
preaching and the nation’s history.
– God’s mouthpiece (Exodus 4:10-16)
The Office of a Prophet
• Prophets were reformers
– Normally, priests and Levites were the teachers in Israel.
– God called the prophets when the people and their
leaders neglected the Law (Ezekiel 22:26).
– They warned the people of the certainty of God’s
judgment and wrath if they did not change their ways.
– As scribes, recorded the events.
– They wrote and compiled large portions of the Old
Testament.
– Many prophecies concerning the Messiah.
The Office of a Prophet
• Proof of their word
– Reveal the future without error or exception
– Deuteronomy 18:20-22
– Similar test in the new—1 Corinthians 14:37
– God expects us to search out and know the
differences between His prophets and the
false prophets!
– Luke 24:44; Hebrews 2:3,4; 1 John 4:1
God’s Purpose for
Calling the Prophets
Spokesmen for
God to instruct
and exhort the
people about
the Law.
“Then the LORD put forth His
hand and touched my mouth,
and the LORD said to me:
‘Behold, I have put My words in
your mouth. See, I have this day
set you over the nations and
over the kingdoms, to root out
and to pull down, to destroy and
to throw down, to build and to
plant.’” (Jeremiah 1:9,10)
God’s Purpose for
Calling the Prophets
To reveal His
will during the
Old Testament
period.
“God, who at various
times and in various
ways spoke in time past
to the fathers by the
prophets.” (Hebrews
1:1)
God’s Purpose for
Calling the Prophets
Prophets had
messages that
were, first of all,
relevant to the
moral and
religious
condition of the
day.
“Because My people
have forgotten Me, they
have burned incense to
worthless idols. And
they have caused
themselves to stumble
in their ways, from the
ancient paths, to walk in
pathways and not on a
highway.”
(Jeremiah 18:15)
God’s Purpose for
Calling the Prophets
They
forewarned and
admonished
rulers, often
face to face.
“Then Zedekiah the king
commanded that they
should commit Jeremiah
to the court of the prison,
and that they should give
him daily a piece of bread
from the bakers' street,
until all the bread in the
city was gone. Thus,
Jeremiah remained in the
court of the prison.”
(Jeremiah 37:21)
God’s Purpose for
Calling the Prophets
They preserved,
in written form,
the messages
they received
directly from
God.
“Take a scroll of a book
and write on it all the
words that I have
spoken to you against
Israel, against Judah,
and against all the
nations, from the day I
spoke to you, from the
days of Josiah even to
this day.”
(Jeremiah 36:2)
God’s Purpose for
Calling the Prophets
They recorded
the history of
their times.
“That very hour the
word was fulfilled
concerning
Nebuchadnezzar; he
was driven from men
and ate grass like oxen;
his body was wet with
the dew of heaven till
his hair had grown like
eagles' feathers and his
nails like birds' claws.”
(Daniel 4:33)
God’s Purpose for
Calling the Prophets
The prophets
counteracted
the people’s
idolatrous
tendencies.
“I will stretch out My
hand against Judah,
and against all the
inhabitants of
Jerusalem. I will cut off
every trace of Baal
from this place, the
names of the idolatrous
priests with the pagan
priests.”
(Zephaniah 1:4)
God’s Purpose for
Calling the Prophets
Examples of
great faith and
courage. Most
suffered
persecution and
death because of
their work.
“For then the king of
Babylon's army
besieged Jerusalem,
and Jeremiah the
prophet was shut up in
the court of the prison,
which was in the king
of Judah's house.”
(Jeremiah 32:2)
To Whom Did the Prophets’
Address Their Writings
• As follows:
– To Israel—Amos and Hosea
– To Nineveh—Jonah and Nahum
– To Babylon—Daniel
– To captives in Babylon—Ezekiel
– To Edom—Obadiah
– To Judah— Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah
and Malachi
Brief Theme of Each Book
• Isaiah
– The Evangelical, or Messianic, Prophet wrote of God’s
glory, judgment against evil, and mankind’s salvation
through Christ.
• Jeremiah
– The Weeping Prophet foretold and witnessed the fall of
Jerusalem; warned of God’s judgment on backsliding
people, as well as His eternal love that provided
salvation from sin through the gift of His Son.
Brief Theme of Each Book
• Lamentations
– Sequel to Jeremiah, speaks of the sorrow, misery, and
judgment that sin brings; assures that God shows
compassion on those who repent.
• Ezekiel
– Uses symbols--like Revelation. He described God’s
goodness and severity as seen in His dealing with sin.
Sin must be punished, but God shows great mercy in
His forgiveness of those who do His will.
Brief Theme of Each Book
• Daniel
– God’s sovereignty, in all ages, over the affairs
of men and nations. Foretold of four great
world empires and God’s everlasting kingdom.
• Hosea
– Pictured Israel as an adulterous bride and
denounced her terrible idolatry. Contrasted
God’s persistent love for His people with their
unfaithfulness to Him!
Brief Theme of Each Book
• Joel
– Spoke of the “day of the Lord” and foretold the
out pouring of the Holy Spirit (2:28-32).
Fulfilled on Day of Pentecost (2:1-21). God’s
chastening love for His people.
• Amos
– A great, fervent preacher (4:12); pronounced
“woe to them that are at ease in Zion”
(6:1). God’s righteous and holy love for His
people.
Brief Theme of Each Book
• Obadiah
– Foretold of the overthrow of Edom, Esau’s
descendants, because of their violence to
Israel. God’s delivery of vengeful love for His
people.
• Jonah
– The story of God sparing Nineveh, Assyria’s
capital. God’s universal, forgiving love; for
Gentiles, as well as Jews. Cannot run away
from God!
Brief Theme of Each Book
• Micah
– God’s controversy with His people. Shows His hatred for
evil and delight in pardoning the penitent. Foretold of
Christ’s birthplace (5:2). God’s desire for them (6:8). His
pleading, punishing, and pardoning love for His people.
• Nahum
– 130 years after Jonah, Nahum tells of God’s vengeance
and goodness as he predicts, in detail, the destruction of
Nineveh, “that bloody city.” God’s avenging love.
Brief Theme of Each Book
• Habakkuk
– Promised that God would punish the Chaldeans for their
wickedness in overthrowing Judah. God’s providential,
delivering love for His people.
• Zephaniah
– Divine judgment will fall on Judah, as well as the enemy
nations. Israel is warned, but unconcerned. A remnant
will be saved. God’s jealous love for His people.
Brief Theme of Each Book
• Haggai
– This and the following two books belong to the postexile period. Haggai returned with Zerubbabel and
appealed to the people to “consider your ways,” and
complete the rebuilding of the temple.
• Zechariah
– Finding the people still complacent, he joined Haggai in
charging them to complete the temple. Spoke of the
“Lord of hosts,” prince of peace, and foretold of the
coming priest/king--the Christ.
Brief Theme of Each Book
• Malachi
– The last of the Old Testament’s inspired prophets,
Malachi lived 100 years after Haggai and Zechariah. He
was connected with the reform movement of Ezra and
Nehemiah. He reproved his brethren for heathen
marriages, divorce, polluted sacrifices, corruption of the
Sabbath, withholding tithes, and other sins. The only
prophet who discussed the forerunner of Christ—John
the Baptist. God’s continued love despite their lack of
steadfastness.