1. PROPHECIES ABOUT A SAVIOUR Deuteronomy 4 verse 25-31 Biggest category of books in the Bible Major/Larger (4) and Minor/Shorter Prophets (12) Active between about 760 BC and 460 BC < 2% of OT prophecy is about the coming Messiah. < 5% describes the new covenant/messianic age. < 1% concerns events that are yet to come in our time. After King Solomon’s death in 923 BC Israel divided into northern kingdom (Israel) - Jeroboam and southern kingdom (Judah) - Rehoboam

2. Prophets were spokespersons for God; more forth-tellers than fore-tellers. In narratives, we hear more of what they did than said; In prophetic books, we know more of what they said. The Role of the Prophet in Israel 1.They were Covenant Enforcers/Conscience of blessings and curses announced in advance in Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 4 and 28-32.

3. Six categories of blessing: life, health, prosperity, agricultural abundance, respect and safety. Ten categories of curse/punishment: death, disease, drought, dearth, danger, destruction, defeat, deportation, destitution, disgrace.

4. Faithfulness RepentanceBlessing Punishment Comfort/Apathy Disobedience

5. 2.They spoke as Gods direct representatives Prior to 722 BC (Israel) & 586 (Judah) warnings After 586 BC (Judah) comfort, mercy, hope to exiles To read the prophets requires understanding of the Big picture the specific situation the forms/structure of the oracles Five main forms of Oracles The Lawsuit (Is 3 v 13-26) The Woe (Habakkuk 2 v6-8) The Promise/Salvation oracle (Amos 9 v11-15) The Enactment (Is 20 v1-6) The Messenger Speech (Is 38 v1-8)

6. To rightly interpret Bible passages for our day, we must seek to understand the context, intent, style & wording. Beware of eisigesis (reading meaning into text) not exegesis (taking meaning out of text)

7. What are the lasting lessons of the prophets? The prophets reveal: Gods character and covenant Gods mind and mission Gods person and purposes/priorities The prophets reveal warnings against the three “I”s: Idolatry, Immorality, Injustice and the messages of hope, forgiveness, reconciliation, new beginnings.

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