1. After Solomon’s rule as king, Israel divided into two kingdoms: Israel is the northern kingdom JUdah is the southern kingdom Jerusalem was in Israel. The northern kingdom will later become known as Samaria

2.   The Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. The Jews and the Assyrians blended together and the land became known as Samaria.   Second, the Babylonians conquered the southern kingdom Judah. They destroyed the Temple and took the inhabitants of Jerusalem to Babylon

3. A prophet is a spokesperson chosen by God to deliver God’s message. The call of God was irresistible and the prophets had to preach. The prophets promised people forgiveness if they repented their sins and returned to God. They promised punishment if sins were not repented. They told the Israelites they would prosper by following God but would be defeated if they did not listen to God’s warning.

4. When person was “called,” to be a prophet they had a transforming experience of God that enabled him/her to carry out the mission of proclaiming God’s word. The message of the prophets was not always popular because the prophets preached against the actions of the king and the people of the nation.

5.  The message of the prophets addressed the following themes: 1.There is only one God---They warn people against idolatry 2.The one God is holy and God demands that we renounce sin----They warn people to act justly and to treat the poor fairly 3.God will send a Messiah---They attempt to deepen the understanding of God’s love and mercy and promise hope for the future

6.  Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel  They are called major prophets because their books are the longest in length.  The prophets with shorter books are called minor prophets.  There are also prophets who are not in the prophet section of the bible, such as Moses, Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, and Elisha

7. A Quick Look at a few of the Prophets A Quick Look at a few of the Prophets ElijahIsaiahMicahJeremiahEzekiel

9. He is a prophet of the Northern Kingdom King Ahab had allowed pagan worship in the Northern Kingdom because of his wife Jezebel King Ahab had allowed pagan worship in the Northern Kingdom because of his wife Jezebel  At Mt. Carmel Elijah showed the people how showed the people how powerless the prophets of Baal were.

10. Elijah: The Second Greatest Prophet of the Old Testament  He tells Israel that God will never truly leave Israel and that a small remnant will remain.  Elijah is taken to Heaven in a chariot; He passes on his cloak of responsibility to the prophet Elisha  Elijah is seen as the person who will precede the Messiah. It is believed by the Jews that Elijah will return to earth before the Messiah arrives.

11. NEW TESTAMENT CONNECTION: Elijah at the Transfiguration  Many people felt that John the Baptist was Elijah come to welcome the Messiah  When Jesus reveals to some of His apostles that He is His apostles that He is the Son of God they see the Son of God they see Moses and Elijah appear Moses and Elijah appear next to Jesus. This is called next to Jesus. This is called the Transfiguration. the Transfiguration.

12. Isaiah 5Then I said, “ Woe is me, I am doomed! * For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, d and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts! ”6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar. * d 7 He touched my mouth with it. “ See, ” he said, “ now that this has touched your lips, * your wickedness is removed, your sin purged. ” e * e 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “ Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? ” “ Here I am, ” I said; “ send me! ” Isaiah 6:5-8

13. Isaiah : In the Book of Isaiah there are actually writings from 3 different people. Each called himself Isaiah. They wrote during different times in Judah’s history. The book covers the time from: 1. Before the Babylonian Exile 2.During the Babylonian Exile 3. After the Babylonian Exile The different writers are known as: First Isaiah, Second Isaiah and Third Isaiah

14. Isaiah's Teachings: 1. We must show a preference for the poor 2.When Israel feels it has lost any chance of having a successor to King David, Isaiah says “ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; * the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel.” E mmanuel: “God With Us” Is 7:14 * 3. He tells that those who have hope in the Lord will “soar on eagle’s wings”. 4.He speaks of the “Suffering Servant” alluding to the Messiah: A future King/savior 5. He says that one day the people will return to Jerusalem and that all people will know YHWH is the One True God.

15. Micah

16. Micah  His name means “Who is like the Lord”  He lived and preached at the same time as Isaiah and Hosea (another prophet)  Micah lived in a town outside of Jerusalem  Micah is known as a prophet of Justice  He foretold of the fall of Jerusalem  He preached of a coming universal reign of peace.  He foretold the coming of a Messiah who would lead Israel to peace and justice.

17. Sayings of Micah  He says that God prefers actions that show Justice instead of sacrifice Micah 6:8  He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God.  He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the L ORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God.  He tells that “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. One nation shall not raise the sword against another nor shall they train for war. Mi 4:3 see also Isaiah 2:4 Mi 4:3 see also Isaiah 2:4

18. 1. Come! live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord! We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the city of God! Refrain: We are called to act with justice. We are called to love tenderly. We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God. 2. Come! Open your heart! Show your mercy to all those in fear! We are called to be hope for the hopeless, so all hatred and blindness will be no more! 3. Sing! Sing a new song! Sing of that great day when all will be one! God will reign and we'll walk with each other as sisters and brothers united in love! We Are Called by David Haas

19. Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet

20. Jeremiah and Jesus similarities: 1.Both received their vocation and mission in their mother’s wombs. 2.They were rejected by their fellow citizens and family members 3.They both wept over the fate of Jerusalem 4.Both spoke of a new covenant 5.Neither Jesus or Jeremiah ever married.

21. Jeremiah 19 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to bring such evil upon this place that the ears of all who hear of it will ring. 4 All because they have forsaken me and profaned this place by burning incense to other gods which neither they nor their ancestors knew; and because the kings of Judah have filled this place with innocent blood, 5 building high places for Baal to burn their children in fire as offerings to Baal — something I never considered or said or commanded.

22. Baal: A Baal or Ba’al is a god that rules over a certain area. Baals had different names. Moloch was a Phoenician baal who was worshipped through the sacrifice of children.

23. See, days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. They broke my covenant, though I was their master—oracle of the LORD.s But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days—oracle of the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.t They will no longer teach their friends and relatives, “Know the LORD!” Everyone, from least to greatest, shall know me— oracle of the LORD—for I will forgive their iniquity and no longer remember their sin. Jer 31:31-34 A New Covenant

24. Ezekiel

25. Prophet of the Northern Kigdom: Israel  Ezekiel is a major prophet  He had a vision of God. The vision struck him dumb. God instructed him to eat a scroll of God’s Word. The scroll tasted sweet but stubborn people could not hear the words of the scrolls message that Ezekiel preached.  Ezekiel 1-3

26. Four Winged Creatures of Ezekiel’s Vision In Ezekiel’s vision the Throne of God is supported by: Creature Attribute Evangelist A Winged Ox------Strength-------------- Luke A Winged Lion----Courage------------- Mark A Winged Man----Intelligence--------- Matthew An Eagle ----------Swiftness------------ John

28. Ezekiel 37:1-14The Message (MSG) Breath of Life 37 1-2 G OD grabbed me. G OD ’s Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun. 3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Master G OD, only you know that.” 4 He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones: ‘Dry bones, listen to the Message of G OD !’” 5-6 G OD, the Master, told the dry bones, “Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come to life. I’ll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You’ll come alive and you’ll realize that I am G OD !” 7-8 I prophesied just as I’d been commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But they had no breath in them. 9 He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, ‘G OD, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!’” 10 So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army. 11 Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.’ 12-14 “Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, ‘G OD, the Master, says: I’ll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I’ll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you’ll realize that I am G OD. I’ll breathe my life into you and you’ll live. Then I’ll lead you straight back to your land and you’ll realize that I am G OD. I’ve said it and I’ll do it. G OD ’s Decree.’” The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson The MessageEugene H. Peterson

29. Vision of the Dry Bones: Ezekiel saw Israel as bones scattered on a valley floor. It teaches us that when we are tired and feeling lifeless God can breathe new life into our soul. The breathe of God, “Ruah”, is the spirit that gives us life. All life comes from God