1. 1 Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Writings 15 April 2008

2. 2 Prophecy in the Bible The Bible includes about 10,000 prophecies About 1/3 of the Bible is directly or indirectly related to prophecy 51 of the Bible's 66 books were written by people called prophets or who made prophetic statements or had visions or dreams inspired by God 57 of the books mention prophets 49 contain prophecies 47 show fulfilled prophecies All 66 books are somehow related to prophets or prophecy

3. 3 Old Testament Prophets Oral prophets – left no records that survived Nathan, Iddo, Jehu, Elijah, Elisha, … Writing prophets – left writing that survived Major – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel Minor – had shorter writings – Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

4. 4 O.T. Prophets Ministry Foretelling – telling what God was going to do Forth-telling Exposed sinful practices Urged people to obey the Law & trust God Warned the people of coming judgment Anticipated the coming Messiah Offered a future hope

5. 5 O.T. Prophets Qualifications Called by God Could not just be a good guesser Had to be 100% accurate If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. – Dt. 18:22 NIV

6. 6 The Law and the Prophets Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Mt. 5:17 NKJV)

7. 7 Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) The LawTorah The ProphetsNeviim The WritingsKetuvim

8. 8 The LawGenesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy The Former Prophets Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings The Latter Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Twelve Prophets The Writings Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)

9. 9 Prophetic Writings Before the Exile AuthorBackgroundDatesAudience World Power ThemeCh. ObadiahUnknown848-841EdomAssyria Doom of Edom 1 JoelUnknown835JudahAssyria Coming judgment 3 JonahUnknown782-753Assyria Salvation to Gentiles 4

10. 10 Prophetic Writings Before the Exile AuthorBackgroundDatesAudience World Power ThemeCh. AmosFarmer760-753IsraelAssyria Judgment on Israel 9 Hosea Citizen of Israel 755-715IsraelAssyria Loyal love of God 14 Isaiah Noble, scholar 740-680JudahAssyria Salvation is of the Lord 66 MicahUnknown735-700JudahAssyria Injustice and justice 7

11. 11 Prophetic Writings Before the Exile AuthorBackgroundDatesAudience World Power ThemeCh. NahumUnknown664-654Assyria Destruction of Nineveh 3 JeremiahPriest627-580Judah Assyria & Babylonia Coming judgment 57 ZephaniahUnknown632-628JudahBabylonia The Day of the Lord 3 HabakkukUnknown609-605JudahBabylonia The just shall live by faith 3

12. 12 Prophetic Writings During the Exile AuthorBackgroundDatesAudienceWorld PowerThemeCh. DanielCivil servant605-535 Jews in Babylonia Babylon & Medo-Persia Sovereignty of God 12 EzekielUnknown593-571 Jews in Babylonia Babylon Glory of the Lord 48

13. 13 Prophetic Writings After the Exile AuthorBackgroundDatesAudience World Power ThemeCh. HaggaiUnknown520 Jews in Jerusalem Medo- Persia Rebuilding the temple 2 ZechariahUnknown520-480 Jews in Jerusalem Medo- Persia Future blessing for Israel 14 MalachiUnknown432-424 Jews in Jerusalem Medo- Persia Appeal to backsliders 4