The Prophets Why the need for Prophets? Wasn’t God’s Word enough? 1.Persistent Rebellion 2.Religious Compromise 3.Moral Collapse, from top down 4.Changing Social Order 5.Changing International Scene

The Prophets Basic Premise of Prophecy: There are 2 realms in the universe 1. Divine 2. Human How will communication take place between them?

The Prophets Man’s Way: Reach to God SignsSigns Divination / MagicDivination / Magic Necromancy: communing with deadNecromancy: communing with dead

The Prophets God’s Way: God reaching to man. (See Numbers 12:6) VisionVision Dream (Joseph, Daniel)Dream (Joseph, Daniel) VoiceVoice

The Prophets What was a prophet? 1. Prophet (nabi): One who speaks for God 2. Seer (roeh): One who sees as God sees

The Prophets General Functions of a Prophet Forth-telling 1. Forth-telling: Spokesmen for God Fore-telling 2. Fore-telling: Forecasters of future events

Role of Prophets vs. Priests Prophets: 1. Called for specific task 2. Represents God to the people 3. Minister to the people in the cities and countryside 4. Concerned with internal righteousness of heart 5. Teachers as “Reformers” Priests: 1. Appointed for life 2. Represents the people before God 3. Minister to the people in the Temple 4. Concerned with religious ritual of outward symbols 5. Teachers as “informers”

The Prophets Prophetic Beginnings 1. Abraham Genesis 20:7 2. Moses Deut 18;Exodus 20: Samuel 1 Sam 3:20

The Prophets Classes of Prophets 1.Oral (Speaking) Prophets Primarily: 10th-9th century B.C. Primarily: Prophets to the Kings Elijah1 Kings Elisha1 Kings 19

The Prophets 2. Classical (Writing) Prophets 2. Classical (Writing) Prophets Primarily: 8th & 7th century B.C. Primarily: Prophets to the people Major: Isaiah, Jeremiah Minor: Amos, Hosea, Micah

Themes of Prophets 1.Ethical Themes Repent / Return to God bWv (Joel 2:12ff) Personal Holiness: justice, mercy, humility (Micah 6:6-8; Is 1:10-17) 2. Eschatological Themes Coming of the “Day of the LORD” (Is 2, Joel 2) Coming of the Messiah / Messianic Age (Is. 9:1-7, 42:1-4, 52:13-53:12; Jer 31:31-34) Judgment on unbelievers /Salvation on God’s People

The United Monarchy Dates (BC)Prophets of United Israel Samuel Nathan The Divided Kingdoms Dates (BC)Israel (Northern)|Judah (Southern)Dates (BC) Elijah| xx Elisha|xx Amos|[Jonah][ ] Hosea|xx xx |Isaiah of Jerusalem | Micah |Zephaniah |Jeremiah |Nahum612 |Habakkuk605 |Ezekiel |Obadiahc. 586/5 |Isaiah |Haggai |Zechariah |Isaiah |Joel ? |Malachi |Jonah

The Major Prophets n Isaiah n Jeremiah (and Book of Lamentations) n Ezekiel n Daniel

Prophet: Isaiah Name Name : Isaiah means: The LORD is salvation Dating of Events: Isaiah 1:1 InternationallyInternationally, the setting was the rise of Assyria under Tiglath-Pileser, Sargon, Shalmanezer and destruction of Northern Israel in 722 B.C. NationallyNationally, Death of King Uzziah (740B.C.), Jotham, rise of King Ahaz ( B.C.), and Hezekiah ( ).

Prophet: Isaiah Book Outline Book Outline : Isaiah 1-39Book of Judgment Isaiah 40-66Book of Comfort Important Passages: Call of Isaiah 6 Sign of Immanuel7-9 Comfort40 Servant Songs40-53

Prophet: Jeremiah Name: Jeremiah means: The LORD appoints Dating of Events: Jeremiah 1:1-3 In the 13 th Year of Josiah B.C. [Jehoahaz; not mentioned]3 month reign In the Days of Jehoiakim B.C. [Jehoichin; not mentioned]3 month reign Until the 11 th year of Zedehiah B.C. Jeremiah served from B.C.

Prophet: Jeremiah Overview of Jeremiah Prophetic Utterances Prophetic Utterances (Poetry) Jeremiah the Preacher Chap 1-25 Chap Chap Chap Chap Chap 52 Autobiographical Autobiographical (Prose) Jeremiah the Person

Prophet: Jeremiah The Call Chap 1:4-10 The Warnings of Israel’s Sin Chap 2 The Temple Sermon Chap 7 Chap 26 Five Laments 11:18-12:6Plot against Jeremiah 15:10-21Prosperity of Wicked 17:14-18Jeremiah’s Loneliness 18:18-23Another Plot 20:7-18Jeremiah’s Call

Prophet: Jeremiah The False Prophets Chap The New CovenantChap 30-31

Prophet: Ezekiel Name Ezek: Be Strong El:God Either as a prayer; May the Lord Strengthen Or A statement; The Lord will strengthen

Prophet: Ezekiel Vocation Priest Dating and Place of Ministry It is interesting that the entire ministry of Ezekiel takes place outside of the boundary of Palestine in Babylon ( B.C.)... But there are times when he speaks (or has a vision) as if he was in Jerusalem.

Prophet: Ezekiel Visions of God’s Glory Chap 1-3Vision of God as He sits on the throne Chap 8-11Vision of God departing the Temple Chap 40-48Vision of God returning to New Temple

Prophet: Ezekiel Outline of Ezekiel Chap 1-3Call of Ezekiel Chap 4-24Oracles of Judgment against Judah/Jerusalem Chap 25-32Oracles against other Nations Chap 33-48Prophecies of Hope to exiles

Prophet: Daniel Name Name : Daniel means: God is judge Dating of Events: Dan 1:1 606 B.C.Daniel’s deportationDan 1:1 606 B.C.Daniel’s deportation Dan 2:1603Daniel’s interpretationDan 2:1603Daniel’s interpretation Dan 5:31539Daniel’s handwritingDan 5:31539Daniel’s handwriting Dan 6:1538Daniel in Lion’s denDan 6:1538Daniel in Lion’s den See also 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1See also 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1

Daniel - Traditional 6:287:1Chap 1 12:13 Material: Historical Material: Prophetic ProloguePrologue 2:1

Daniel - Traditional 6:287:1Chap 1 12:13 Activity: Daniel Interprets Others’ Dreams Activity: Angel Interprets Daniel’s Dreams Causation ProloguePrologue 2:1

DanielDaniel 6:287:1Chap 112:13 History: Theology of History Visions: Theology of Eschaton ProloguePrologue God has acted graciously to the faithful and punished the proud We can wait faithfully, for God holds the future Big Picture Question Big Picture Question: Precisely, how does 2-6 relate to 7-12?