Section Five: From Kings to Jesus Christ

The primary role of the prophets in ancient Israel

speak on behalf of God

call people back to the covenant

The difference between prophets and a priest

• prophets were reluctant to serve

• prophets were called directly by God, not hereditary role

• messengers of the Lord; not their own message

What happened to the United Kingdom when King Solomon was in charge

caused a split between the Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom by instilling forced labor of the northern tribes which caused a rebellion
700 wives

Prophet who used marriage as a metaphor for God’s relationship with Israel

Hosea

What was the prophet Amos best known as

doomsday prophet

What did Amos’ preach about

preached against idolatry and social injustice toward poor
predicted overthrow of sanctuary, fall of royal house

The date which the Northern Kingdom was destroyed

721 BC (conquered by Assyria)

Main concerns of the pre-exilic prophets

• being faithful to covenant has implications for all aspects of life whether religious or secular (nonreligious)

• God always remains faithful to covenant

The prophet who spoke about the “Suffering Servant”

Isaiah

How was the suffering servant seen (Isaiah’s prophecy)

viewed as scapegoat/intercession for sinners that only in Jesus is prophecy fulfilled

The key message of post-exilic prophets

to hope in the Lord after the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed/Babylonian exile was over

Jeremiah’s main prophecy message

• Law written on heart (Natural Law) not only on tablets

• impending judgement on Judah (Kingdom of the South)

What does Jeremiah say about the Kingdom of Judah

God will be judging Judah because of their idolatry and unfaithfulness to the covenant (and will be destroyed by Babylonians)

The king who allowed the Jews to return from exile

Cyrus - King of Persia

What did King Cyrus do

conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to go home

Describe Ezekiel’s prophecy

attests to a future “shepherd from House of David” (Ez 34)

“New Spirit”
-God will lead them out of exile and back to their land, and give them a new spirit and the will turn to God once more

Describe how Jesus related to the prophetic traditions

Jesus is the prophet who speaks on behalf of the Father.
He is the intermediary between the Father and the people

How does Jesus’ escape from Herod relate to Moses

It parallels Moses’ escape from Pharaoh

• Jesus is born under the Roman rule of King Herod - Moses is born under Pharaoh

• Herod and Pharaoh are both informed a king is born, and innocent babies are killed

The word “Messiah” means

the anointed one

the one who comes to establish God’s kingdom - Jesus

How is Jesus connected to Isaiah’s prophecies

-Jesus is the suffering servant

• servant is the scapegoat who suffers for sins

• servant makes intercession for sinners

What happened after Alexander the Great’s death

Land is divided between his generals Seleucid (North) and Ptolemy (South)

What was God’s original plan for creation as the prophets talked about

for humanity to be completely united and in communion with Him and to be completely in love

How does Jesus fulfill Jeremiah’s prophecy of the New Covenant

Jesus IS the Law of Love inscribed into His believers’ hearts