OT MAJOR PROPHETS MIDTERM

classifications of the prophets

• speaking — did not directly write down their oracles from God

• writing — spoke and wrote down their words from the LORD

• court — influence within royal houses of Israel and Judah

false prophets

• skilled proof-texters

• messages motivated by own desire: comfort, security, prosperity

• messages words of empowerment for others to have the same

• reflected pop-theology of the day

• blended revelation with religion—(syncretism)

• selective proclamation

• guardians of the status quo

• man-centered ethics

• enjoyed popularity and power

true prophets

• Foundation: revelation

• Holistic proclamation 

• Independence from power structures — their source of power was God alone

• Members of a divine and social institution — they preached to people that were there: they preached to their day and the people that were before them in their time

• Vision of the reality of God’s kingdom — for the prophet, YHWH is KING

• Theocentric ethics — ethics and morality was based on God’s character 

• Suffering for the sake of God

• message relates and dovetails with others of the past

• Bears witness to God, His holy character and humanity’s need for salvation 

• Calls people toward God as He is revealed in His Word

• Pronounces both judgement and salvation. Sin is confronted but the hope of salvation is offered. 

• Even when validating signs are present, if the message calls people away from God, then the prophet is false. 

terms for prophets

• Man of God. — A person who knows God and is sent by God on a specific mission. 

• Seer. — Experienced extraordinary insight into situations and people. 

• Visionary. — Men who saw visions. 

• Prophet. 

• Soothsayer or diviner. — This term was never used of YHWH’s prophets.

basis of prophetic ministry

• The seed of prophetic ministry was actually with Adam

• God has always intended that what we know of Him and from Him is by His disclosure alone

• The ministry of the prophet is predicated on the essential element of revelation

• Gods people are formed by His revealed Word and by His revealing Holy Spirit

• difference between religion and revelation

relationship to non-Israelite nations

role among the nations to:

• Spread the renown of YHWH among the peoples. 

• Reveal YHWH as the Creator of all things and all people. 

• Set the stage for world evangelization. 

• Reveal God’s just nature as He works among the nations. 
  God used nations to punish other nations 

• Establish and strengthen His covenant people first known as Israel and now the Church.

prophetic motifs

• the Day of the Lord

• the Kingdom of God

• the Messiah

• the Spirit of Restoration

• the New People of God

• Israel and the Nations

syncretism

the merging of different if not opposing belief systems and religions

religion

system of beliefs and morality that gives human beings a sense of meaning but as a system it is developed by human beings: human effort to reach God

revelation

begins with God: He initiates the knowledge of His character, will, and ways

“fulfilled”

• “fulfills or satisfies the conditions.” (Mt 3:15) 

• “fulfills a pattern.” (Mt 2:17-18) 

• “fulfills an expectation.” (Mt 2:23) 

Jesus the Servant of God fulfills to conditions for all people 

Sabbath Day

• Moses was faithful regarding what was to come after him

  • The land was to become like a sabbath rest for the people of God

  • A day when their enjoyment of God’s presence would come to fulfillment 

genres and communication techniques prophets used

• literary

• language

• illustrated sermon

• cross-cultural imagery

literary genres

• Narrative  (Isaiah 6:36-38) 

• Poetry  (Lamentations) 

• Proverb  (Ezekiel 12:22-23, 18:2-3)

• Apocalyptic  (Daniel 7-12) 

• Dirge  (Jer. 9:20-22) 

• Words to the nations. 

• Prophecy  – of course!

language

• Simile and metaphor: Simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduced by “like” or “as”. Metaphor is making a comparison without “like” or “as”. 

• Anthropomorphism: In theology, the conception or representation of God with human qualities and affections, or in a human shape. (Jer 9:12 – mouth of the Lord) 

• Personification: A figure of speech in which inanimate objects or abstractions are endowed with human qualities or are represented as possessing human form.  (Isaiah 55:12) 
  
  

• Hyperbole: A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect. (Ezekiel 38:9, 16) 
  
  

• Euphemism: An innocuous word or expression used in place of one that is deemed offensive or suggests something unpleasant. (Jer 51:39, 57) 
  
  

• Metonymy: A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated most unusually in cause and effect. (Jer 14:17) 
  
  

• Synecdoche or Representation: Substituting a representative part of an entity instead of the entity itself, i.e. (Lam 1:8) 
  
  

• Irony: The exact opposite of what is said is meant. (Isaiah 41:22-23) 
  
  

• Apostrophe: Addressing as if present an entity or person not actually present. (Lam 1:12) — used to express heightened emotion; often paired with 

illustrated sermon

• Isaiah walking around unclothed to make his point

• Jeremiah used the image of a Potter

• Ezekiel used a brick, iron grille, laid on his side: he lived as an illustrated sermon at the public death of his wife because he was not allowed to mourn to show the people would not mourn their sins

cross-cultural imagery

• The day star falling (Isaiah 14) has appearances in West Semitic mythology. 

• Isaiah’s imagery of death being swallowed up was not only Hebraic but also found in the surrounding myths (25:8) 

• The leviathan, a sea creature in Isaiah 27, is a symbol from West Semitic mythology that had seven heads which threatened world order. 

Isaiah used these images to communicate God’s triumph over His enemies 

Israel’s kings of Isaiah’s timeframe

Menahem

Pekahiah

Pekah

Hoshea

Judah’s kings of Jeremiah’s timeframe

Josiah

Jehoahaz

Jehoiakim

Jehoiachin

Zedekiah

Battle of Carchemish

605 BC

Fall of Samaria

722 BC

Fall of Jerusalem

597 BC

Deportations happened through

• 1st deportation — 605 BC

• 2nd deportation — 597 BC

• 3rd deportation — 586 BC

Significant foreign nations for Isaiah and Jeremiah

Isaiah

• Assyria

• Egypt

• Babylon (mentioned in future prophecy)

Jeremiah

• Babylon

• Egypt

• Syria

Isaiah’s Servant Songs

• The First Servant Song (41:  

  • Unique relationship with YHWH 

• The Second Servant Song (49:1-6)

  • YHWH is His strength 

• The Third Servant Song (50:4-11)

  • Disgrace of the Servant 

• The Fourth Servant Song (52:13 – 53:12)

  • Vicarious and Vindication

First Servant Song

Isa 41) unique relationship with YHWH theme

• 42:18-44:23) YHWH’s plan unfolded

• 44:24-48:22) YHWH’s use of means: a Man

• 49-55) a greater deliverance

*un-, unique: uno = 1 = first

Second Servant Song

Isa 49:1-6) YHWH is His Strength theme

*strength is second

Third Servant Song

Isa 50:4-11) Disgrace of the Servant theme

*disgrace - john 3:16 - ch 3 = third

Fourth Servant Song

Isa 52:13-53:12) Vicarious and Vindication theme

Formation of God’s people

• His revealed Word and by His revealing Holy Spirit

Jeremiah’s Soliloquies/ Laments/ confessions

• 11:18-12:6) Why do the wicked prosper?

• 15:10-21) Why was I born?

• 17:14-18)Why the delay?

essay question

Mosaic influence/fountainhead of prophecy

Relationship to preaching today

Comparison/contrast of religion and revelation.