Theolohy May 5th

The Prophets

• They were?

  • Representatives of God’s message

  • Israelites

  • People who had a radical encounter with God

• NOT?

  • Fortune Tellers

• Their main concern was?

  • to remind Israel of their role in the covenants.

• As "covenant-lawyers”, what do the prophets accuse Israel of?

  • Idolatry

  • Injustice to neighbors

• What does it mean to repent?

  • To confess

  • To change your ways

  • To “turn around”

• The Day of the Lord refers to?

  • When God intervenes to bring justice

• What is the purpose of the cosmic imagery in the prophetic books?

  • talk about God's plan for the present and the future

• The New Jerusalem is also described as

  • the New Garden of Eden

• What was the Prophets’ social status in society?

  • They were not really known and were seen as commoners shouting random stuff at people.

• How many prophets have their own book in the Bible?

  • 4 major and 12 minor 

• What is the "twin message" of the prophets?

  • a message of both warning and hope

Hosea

• What Gospel word encapsulates Hosea's action of paying off his wife's debts (buying her back)?

  • Redemption

• Who was the prophet who established a covenant with God on behalf of the Israelites at Mt. Sinai?

  • Moses

• Which empire eventually defeated and exiled the Northern Kingdom?

  • The Assyrian

• Why did the Israelites make sacrifices to God, even though He said before that it was bad?

  • Because the Israelites did not know God very well

• God is going to repair what?

  • The human heart

Amos

• Who was the king of Northern Israel during the time of the prophet Amos?

  • Jeroboam II

• What were the two misdeeds that the king performed during his reign?

  • Committed injustices against the poor

  • Allowed idolatry

• What was Amos’ place of origin?

  • Southern Kingdom of Judah

• The book of Amos was a collection of what three things?

  • Visions

  • Poems

  • Sermons

• What specific injustices in the Northern Kingdom does Amos speak out against?

  • The poor are sold into debt slavery

  • The poor are denied legal representation

  • The wealthy ignore the poor

• Amos tells the wealthy and leaders of the Northern Kingdom that God does not approve of what?

  • Their sacrifices and worship

• What is the Hebrew word for "justice?"

  • Mishpat

• Which empire conquered and destroyed the Northern Kingdom?

  • Assyrians

• The destruction of the temple at Bethel is an image of what?

  • God’s justice on the leaders and gods of Israel

• The Book of Amos explores the relationship between what two characteristics of God?

  • Justice and Mercy

Types of Prophets

• Who are considered “Major Prophets?”

  • Isaiah 

  • Jeremiah

  • Ezekiel

• Who are the “Minor Prophets?”

  • Hosea

  • Joel

  • Amos

  • Obadiah

  • Jonah

  • Micah

  • Nahum

  • Habakkuk

  • Zephaniah

  • Haggai

  • Zechariah

  • Malachi

• Who are the “Non-Writing Prophets?”

  • Abraham

  • Moses

  • Aaron

  • Deborah

  • Samuel

  • Elijah

  • Elisha

  • Nathan

Chapter 7 - Section 1

• A prophet is what?

  • A special kind of messenger from God

• They were present in what part of the Bible?

  • The Old Testament

• What is the Hebrew word for “prophet?”

  • Nabi

• The Hebrew word “Nabi” was used to describe which foundational figure in the Bible?

  • Abraham

• How are the writing prophets categorized?

  • The three major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel)

  • The twelve minor prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi)

• Major and minor are terms that refer to what of the book rather than the importance of the prophet or his message?

  • They refer to the length of the book

• The Old Testament prophets were people who received what?

  • A call from God

• What were the different ways in which the prophets received their call from God to share God’s message?

  • They heard voices

  • Had dreams

  • Received inspiration 

• The prophets often spoke messages that were what?

  • They spoke messages that were unpopular with the ruling establishment.

• What are the call narratives of Isaiah and Jeremiah that each follow a similar pattern?

  • The setting is one of mystery or holiness

  • God initiates the call

  • The person resists

  • God reassures the person

  • God sends the person on a mission

• The prophets always spoke in which narrative perspective?

  • First person, as if God was speaking

• The prophets often began their speeches with which famous words?

  • “Thus says the Lord,”

• The short introduction to speeches that the prophets used is referred to as what?

  • The messenger formula

• The Old Testament prophets showed passionate concern for which group of people after they suffered what?

  • They showed concern for the poor after they suffered oppression by the rich.

• Many of the prophets announced that God would judge which group of people by what?

  • God would judge the Israelites by a single measure of their righteousness

• God would judge the Israelites on how they treated the weakest members of their society, who were…?

  • The alien

  • The orphan

  • The widow

• A brief, poetic declaration often preceded by the messenger formula is known as what?

  • An oracle

• What does an oracle establish?

  • The reliability of the message coming from God

• The religious concern of the prophets— to serve YHWH and no other god—was always accompanied by their what?

  • Social and political concerns

Chapter 7 - Section 2

• Even though there are many stories of Elijah, Elijah doesn’t have what in the Old Testament?

  • There is no “Book of Elijah”

• Who is considered the father of the prophets?

  • Elijah

• What does the name “Elijah” mean?

  • YHWH is my God

• Elijah lived under the rule of who?

  • King Ahab

• Who did King Ahab marry?

  • The Canaanite princess Jezebel

• What were the main concerns of Elijah and Elisha

  • Social justice

  • Religious devotion to YHWH

• Why is social justice always connected to religious devotion to YHWH?

  • Devotion to YHWH requires commitment to social justice

• What is the description of Amos?

  • A shepherd and tree farmer near Bethlehem in the Southern Kingdom.

• Where did Amos’ prophetic ministry take place?

  • In the Northern Kingdom during the rule of Jeroboam

• Amos is the first prophet for whom there is what?

  • A separate, recorded collection of sayings

• (True/False) The book of the Prophet Amos was written by Amos himself.

  • False

• (True/False) If alive today, the Prophet Amos would be a vocal opponent of minimum wage.

  • False

• Amos was angry at the wealthy for what?

  • Pouring excess money into the Temple sacrifice

• How did the wealthy justify their oppressive lifestyles?

  • By purchasing many animals for Temple sacrifice and making great public shows of their “piety”

• Amos’s message was often one of what?

  • Judgement

• What did Amos believe about the destruction of the people?

  • It was meant to be instructive, not destructive.

• (True/False) Both the prophet Amos and the prophet Hosea anticipated the fall of the Northern Kingdom coming at the hands of the Babylonians.

  • False

  • They anticipated that the Neo-Assyrian Empire would take over

• In the opening verses, it is explained that God called Hosea to marry a known prostitute who was whom?

  • Gomer

• Homer’s marriage to Gomer is symbolic of what?

  • God’s everlasting love for his people, Israel

Chapter 8 - Section 1

• The end of the independent Hebrew states–first Israel, then Judah, presented what?

  • The most significant change in the life of the Chosen People since the time of their formation during the Exodus

• (True/False) Judah was a much smaller kingdom than Israel in both land and population

  • True

• Which king  provoked the wrath of Israel and the division of the kingdom?

  • Rehoboam

• (True/False) The book of Isaiah was entirely written by the prophet Isaiah

  • False

• The book of the prophet Isaiah is usually seen as being divided into how many sections?

  • Three

    • Chapters 1-39

    • Chapters 40-55

    • Chapters 56-66

• Isaiah is considered to be one of the which prophets?

  • Major prophets

• For Isaiah, the outstanding quality of God is God’s…?

  • Glory

• According  to  Isaiah,  God  does  not  want  sacrifices that  are  insincere,  but  rather  wants  people  to "learn to do…?”

  • Good

• Isaiah received his call to be a prophet  in 742 B.C.E. Which king died in this year?

  • King Uzziah

• Where did Isaiah receive his call?

  • While he was in the Temple

• How is Isaiah purified for his job as a prophet of the Lord?

  • His lips were touched with a hot coal.

• Isaiah was counsel of which two kings?

  • King Ahaz and King Hezekiah

• In a time of great political trouble,  King Ahaz intended to ask the country of Assyria for help.  Isaiah warned Ahaz not to seek Assyria’s help but rather to trust the Lord. Isaiah tells him that the sign of God’s protection will that a young woman will bear a child and he will be named…?

  • Immanuel

• As Isaiah had warned, the nation of Assyria waged war against Judah. In 701 B.C.E.,  the city of Jerusalem was besieged by the Assyrian king named…?

  • Sennacherib

• Whereas  before Isaiah’s words were ones of warning, now the words of Isaiah become words of …?

  • Comfort

• In four places (Is 42:1-4,  49:1-6, 50:4-11, and 52:13–53:12), Deutero-Isaiah refers to a…?

  • Servant of the Lord

• What is the description of the Servant of the Lord?

  • Having no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others.

• In 538 B.C.E.,  the Persians conquered Babylon, the captors of the Jews in the Exile. The Persian king let the Jews return  to Jerusalem. The name of this king was…?

  • Cyrus

• The primary message in the third section of Isaiah is to remind the Jews that now that they are back in their homeland, they must what?

  • “Maintain justice, and do what is right.”

Isaiah 1-39

• Isaiah spoke for God to Israel a message of what?

  • Judgement and hope

• Who does Isaiah say will ultimately destroy Jerusalem and take Israel into captivity?

  • Babylon

• What does Isaiah say that God's judgment will do for his people?

  • Purify them and create a new Jerusalem with faithful followers.

• What happens to Isaiah in God’s temple

  • He is afraid that God's holiness will destroy him.

  • He is sent by God to tell Israel of it's great sin.

  • He is purified of his sins.

• According to Isaiah, what is true of the new coming king (Emmanuel)?

  • He will be empowered by God's Spirit

  • He will bring peace

  • All nations will come to him

• What characterizes the nations (and cities) that Isaiah says God will judge?

  • Pride and injustice

• What was the difference between Hezekiah's victories and Israel's future defeats?

  • Humility vs. pride

• How is Isaiah shown to be a true prophet of God?

  • His prophecies all later came true

Isaiah 40-66

• What were the two largest themes of Isaiah, chapters 1-39?

  • Judgement and hope

• Who was the country that had Israel in captivity at this time?

  • Babylon

• According to Isaiah, it was God's hope that his people would become what after he rescued them?

  • His servant

• Instead of responding in gratitude and service to God, his people respond how?

  • Complaining and accusing

• Which of these was NOT a response from God to his people's complaints?

  • He had left them completely on their own

• What was strange or shocking about the way the new Servant of God would carry out his mission?

  • He would suffer, be rejected and killed.

• What kind of prayers surround the announcing of God's kingdom?

  • Repentance

• What are the themes of the book of Isaiah?

  • Hope for a renewed creation

  • A covenant family of all nations

  • A suffering servant king

Micah

• Which major prophet was alive at the same time as Micah?

  • Isaiah

• Which two empires would bring destruction to Israel?

  • Assyria and Babylon

• Which TWO groups of people does Micah blame for Israel's corruption?

  • Leaders

  • Prophets

• What pastoral imagery does Micah use to offer hope to Israel?

  • Shepherd

• Where will the new Messianic king from the line of David be born?

  • Bethlehem

• He has told you, O human, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: to do ___, to love ___, and to walk ___ with your God. Micah 6:8

  • justice, mercy, humbly

• What are the two reasons for future hope?

  • God's character and promise

• "God delights in ___ love, so he will again show compassion. He will trample our evil; He will toss our sins into the depths of the sea."

  • Covenant

Jeremiah

• Besides being a prophet, what was Jeremiah's professional role?

  • Israelite priest

• To which kingdom was Jeremiah a prophet to?

  • Southern Kingdom of Judah

• What empire did Jeremiah predict would conquer Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom as a result of their disobedience to God's covenant?

  • Babylonians

• True or False: Jeremiah did not witness the siege and the destruction of Jerusalem and the consequential exile of the Israelite people from the land

  • False

• True or False: Jeremiah had a scribe named Baruch.

  • True

• Jeremiah's message to Israel and the nations consists of what?

  • Judgement

  • Hope

• True or False: Jeremiah only condemns the Southern Kingdom for committing the sin of idolatry

  • False

• True or False: God is not going to allow His Temple in Jerusalem to be destroyed.

  • False

• Jeremiah was persecuted, kidnapped and taken to which country?

  • Egypt

• True or False: God promises to never allow His people to return to the Promise Land

  • False

• What is an "archetype"?

  • a typical example of a certain person or thing

Ezekiel Part 1

• What was Ezekiel's job during the first Babylonian attack on the city?

  • A priest

• What did Ezekiel's vision show?

  • The appearance of the glory of the Lord

• What does God tell Ezekiel to prophecy to Israel about?

  • Breaking their covenant with God

• What is the definition for the "sign acts" mentioned in Ezekiel 4-5?

  • A form of street theater Ezekiel used to get the people's attention

• What was the bad news that God gave to Ezekiel?

  • Israel wasn't going to listen to him because of their hard hearts

• While Israel's idolatry has driven God away, what hasn't God done?

  • Abandoned his people

• What does Ezekiel 12-24 focus on?

  • God's judgment on Israel

• What does God's goodness demand that He bring?

  • Justice

• What is Ezekiel 33 about?

  • the destruction of Jerusalem

Ezekiel Part 2

• True or False: The Temple of Jerusalem is still standing during the Ezekiel's time as prophet.

  • False

• What is going to soften the Israelites' harden hearts?

  • God's Spirit

• Ezekiel's vision of a field filled with human bones is a metaphorical vision of what?

  • Israel's broken covenant relationship with God

• What does the person Gog represent in the Book of Ezekiel?

  • Represents human rebellion against God.

  • Represents all of the worse people in the Bible

  • Represents any and all violent Kingdoms

• What literary devices does Ezekiel use to show God's final defeat of evil?

  • Symbols

  • Imagery

• True or False: The meaning of Ezekiel's vision of the new, rebuilt temple can only be understood literally

  • False

• True or False: The new, rebuilt temple that Ezekiel saw in his vision was said to have been built in Jerusalem.

  • False

• True or False: The name of this garden is "The Lord is nowhere to be found."

  • False

  • It means “The Lord is there”

Daniel

• The Book of Daniel is written in…?

  • Hebrew and Aramaic

• Daniel is useful to the king because he is able to interpret dreams, just like ___________ whom we studied earlier this year.

  • Joseph

• Read Daniel Chapter 3. What causes the King to believe in Yahweh?

  • The fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their tunics[h] were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them.

  • He saw 4 men in the furnace.

  • He was impressed with their courage when they would not bow down to his god but were willing to be thrown into the furnace

• Which king, although first becoming somewhat mad, repents before God and is restored to power after Daniel tells him to be humble?

  • Nebuchadnezzar

• Read chapter Daniel 6. True/False: King Darius was extremely disappointed that David survived the Lion's Den.

  • False

• In apocalyptic literature like Daniel and Revelations, evil kings are often depicted as beasts with _______

  • multiple horns

• Christians believe that the imagery Daniel used when he refers to the "Son of Man" is a reference to

  • Jesus

• The Book of Daniel should be a lesson to people of power to use it for doing God's will and for all people to remain _________ 

  • Faithful

Jonah

• The Book of Jonah is intended to be

  • a humorous parable about sin and redemption

• What is Jonah's response to God's call?

  • he runs away from where he is called

• At this point in the story, Jonah is mostly…

  • Selfish 

• Jonah's sermon seems…

  • lazy and careless

• Jonah's biggest problem is that he does not want God to be…

  • Merciful

• Why is the Book of Jonah in the Bible?

  • it is a message for its readers to value mercy