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The Bible
The Prophetical Books The prophets
assert that God
has spoken through them. They clearly considered themselves God’s
messengers
and heralds, for they repeatedly preface their messages with the
phrase, “Thus
says Yahweh.” The prophets affirm that God chose Israel for covenant
relationship, the prophets most often report that the majority of
Israel has
sinned against their God and his standards for their relationship, the
prophets
warn that judgment will eradicate sin, the prophets promise that
renewal lies
beyond the day of punishment and beyond the coming day that will bring
history
as we know it to a close.
The Four Major Prophets
Isaiah This book, as
is true of all
the prophetical books, derives its name from the prophet whose messages
it
records. The message of the book is twofold: judgment upon Judah for
her sins
(1-39), and comfort and hope for an exiled people (40-66). In these
messages of
encouragement are found some of the most graphic portrayals of the
Messiah in
the Old Testament.
Jeremiah was
God’s spokesman
during the decline and fall of the southern kingdom, Judah. Among the
Prophets
not one had a more difficult task than that of standing alone for God
in the
midst of the renunciation of his own people. Although Jeremiah
announced the coming
destruction of Judah, he looked beyond this judgement. A new kind of
religion
(individual and spiritual) would result from God’s new covenant with
His
people. The book is
composed of five
poems, lamenting the siege and destruction of Jerusalem (586 B.C.). The
poet
also makes sincere confession of sin on behalf of the people and
leaders,
acknowledges complete submission to the will of God, and finally prays
that God
will once again smile upon His people and restore them to their
homeland.
Ezekiel was
carried into
exile in Babylon, where he received his call and exercised his
prophetic
ministry. The book contains 48 chapters, divided at the halfway point
by the
fall of Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s prophecies before this event are chiefly
messages
of condemnation upon Judah for her sin; following the city’s fall, the
prophet
speaks to helpless people of the hope and certainty of restoration to
their
homeland and of worship again in the Temple.
Scholars
classify the book as
an apocalypse. In a series of events and visions, the author presents a
view of
history in which God rules and prevails over men and nations to achieve
ultimate victory for the saints of God. The Twelve Minor Prophets The "Prophet
of Divine
Love," Hosea was called to be God’s spokesman during that kingdom’s
darkest hour. Hosea bore a heavy cross in his own life - his wife had
proved
unfaithful. The rejection of his own
people was enough to break Hosea’s heart. In
this bitter experience Hosea came to understand God’s
love for his
children that have strayed and pleads with his people to repent and
make use of
God’s divine compassion and love.
The "Prophet
of
Pentecost," his prophecy of the
outpouring of the Spirit (2:28) is quoted by Peter (Acts 2:16) as being
fulfilled at Pentecost. His message was a devastating locust plague,
which he
interpreted as foretelling the Day of the Lord when God would act
directly to
punish His people for their sins. Joel calls upon the people of Judah
to
repent, promising that repentance will bring God’s blessings.
Amos
denounced sin with
countrified boldness, a shepherd called by God to prophesy to the
northern
kingdom of Israel. Sparing no one, Amos
fearlessly announced the impending judgment of God. Although the
dominant
distinction of the book is judgment, the final words promise the
restoration of
a righteous remnant.
This shortest
of the
prophetic books, containing only 21 verses, it is a denunciation of the
Edomites,
descendants of Esau, who from the beginning had been hostile to Israel.
Its
message is primarily one of destruction and doom for Edom. The latter
part of
the prophecy is concerned with the Day of the Lord when God’s judgment
will be
upon other nations as well as Edom and concludes with the promise that
the
kingdom shall be the Lord’s.
This book
declares the
universality of God’s love embracing even pagan nations. The author
relates how
Jonah refused God’s call to preach to the people of Nineveh, his
punishment for
this disobedience, his response to a second summons, and his bitter
complaint
at God’s sparing the city following her repentance.
Micah’s
messages are
strikingly similar to those of Amos: many of the same sins are
denounced and the
same rugged, direct, indignant, and convincing language is used. While
announcing God’s certain judgment upon sin, he also spoke of a sure
deliverance
to come through the Messiah whose place of birth he predicts.
This book is
a prediction of
the approaching downfall of Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, one
of the
most warlike of the ancient heathen nations. His purpose was to comfort
his
people, long harassed by Assyria, with the promise that this cruel and
oppressing people would soon meet destruction at God’s hand.
This book
contains the
prophet’s complaints (questions) and God’s reply to them. In God’s
answers
Habakkuk discovers the doorway leading from questioning to affirmation,
through
which he enters into a faith that enables him to affirm, "I will
rejoice
in the Lord… God, the Lord, is my strength." Zephaniah This book
embraces the two
great themes of prophetic teaching: judgment and salvation - extending
to all
nations. In some great catastrophe of his day, Zephaniah sees God’s
terrible
judgment upon the nations, including Judah. He exhorts the people to
repent and
assures them that God will dwell in the midst of a righteous remnant
following
repentance.
This book
consists of four
prophecies delivered some 15 years after the return of the first exiles
to
Jerusalem. Work on the second Temple has begun shortly after the
exiles’
arrival, but had been delayed for almost two decades. Haggai comes
forward with
a series of timely and vigorous messages challenging the people to
respond
wholeheartedly to a noble task - rebuilding the House of God. Sometimes
called the
"Apocalypse of the Old Testament”. The
first eight chapters are primarily concerned with the
rebuilding of
the Temple. The language used is highly symbolical. Chapters 9 to 14
deal with
"last things", the "end time". Many Messianic references
are found.
Two themes
are dominant: the
sin and renunciation of Israel (1-2); and the coming judgment upon the
faithless, with blessings promised for those who repent (3-4). The
growing
Messianic expectation in the Old Testament is apparent in Malachi by
whose
coming Israel will be purified and judged; and of the return of the
Prophet
Elijah who will proclaim the Day of the Lord. |