BC1. Introduction to the Prophets

The
Prophets
Monday, 19 July 2010

Historical

Wisdom

Prophetic

Canonical
prophets

Old Testament
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Pentateuch Numbers, Deuteronomy
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1–2 Samuel
History books 1–2 Kings, 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra,
Nehemiah, Esther
Job, Psalms, Proverbs,
Wisdom Lit. Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

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


New Testament
Revelation Matthew Mark, Luke, John

History Acts

Timeless present Romans – Jude

Anticipation Revelations


Christian Jewish

Old Testament Tanak

New Testament


Old Testament Tanak
Pentateuch
Law Instruction
Torah

History Prophets
Nevi’im

Wisdom Writings
Ketuvim

Prophets


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

Former Prophets Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings
Nevi’im

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel,
Latter Prophets
Book of the Twelve
Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Song
of Solomon, Ecclesiastes,
Writings
Ketuvim Lamentations, Esther, Daniel,
Ezra–Nehemiah, Chronicles


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
Martin Luther getting at.


GOD

them us

to g
s in
r d
ie n
r a
r t
a s
b r
n de
u
12


Language Geography

Religion

Culture History


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


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


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


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

CANAAN
MOAB


ali
ARAM

ht
Nap
Asher
Zebullun Issachar

Manasseh Manasseh
(half) (half)
Ephraim
Dan Gad AMMON
ES

Benjamin
N

Reuben
TI

Judah
IS
IL

MOAB
PH

Simeon
EDOM
AMALEK MIDIAN

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?

?

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


life
abundance prosperity

covenant blessings
health respect
security


disease drought

defeat
death deportation
covenant curses
destruction disgrace
danger

dearth 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

Peace Oppression

Rescuer Crying
(Judge) to God
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. Mickelson
Interpreting 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
Covenant
enforcement
back to the
mediators
covenant
(Fee and Stuart)


Warning of
judgment


Promising
restoration


Restoration


Basic pattern


Identiﬁcation of Declaration of
Israel’s sin God’s love for Israel

Announcement of Announcement of
judgment blessing


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BC1. Introduction to the Prophets

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