Old Testament Survey (Pt. 5)! Poetry & Prophets
Old Testament Survey (Pt. 5)! Poetry & Prophets Tom Pennington | March 12, 2017
SECTION 1 Bibliology & Old Testament Survey
The Nine Major Movements ! of OT History • Universal Dealings
Gen. 1-11
4000-2166
• Patriarchal Period
Gen. 12-50
2166-1804
• Slavery in Egypt
Ex. 1
1804-1446
• The Exodus under Moses
Ex. 2—Deut.
• Conquest & Division of Canaan
Joshua
1406-1350
• Period of the Judges
Judges, Ruth,
1350-1051
1 Sam. 1-8
1446-1406
The Nine Major Movements ! of OT History • The Monarchy • United • Divided
1 Sam. 9—2 Sam; 1-2 Kings; 1-2 Ch. - 1 Sam. 9—1 Kings 11 - 1 Kings 12—2 Kings
1051-605 - 1051-931 - 931-586
I. Wisdom Literature
Poetry & Wisdom Literature The Book
The Theme
Job
Suffering & Sovereignty
Psalms
Pattern of Personal Worship
Proverbs
Wisdom for the Details of Life
Ecclesiastes
The Vanity of Life in a Fallen World
Song of Solomon
The Joy of Married Love
Job: Sovereignty & Suffering
The Setting • During the patriarchal period (ca. 2000 B.C.) • Job lived 140 years (42:16). • Job's wealth is measured in his possessions (1:3). • Job's family follows a clan system (1:4, 5, 18). • The geography is non-Israelite (1:1; 4:1). • The name used for God is El Shaddai (47x in O.T.; 31x in Job).
Job • Date of writing • Scholars disagree • Primary Options… 1. 7th century B.C. (Jeremiah's time) 2. 5th or 6th century B.C. (exilic or post-exilic) 3. 10th century B.C. (during Solomon's reign)** • Author – Solomon or unknown • Purpose – Why do the righteous suffer?
Why Do the Righteous Suffer? • 1) The Narrator (1:9-10; 2:4-5) • Suffering is a direct result of conflict in the spiritual realm over which we have no control.
Why Do the Righteous Suffer? • 2) Job's Friends (4:7-8; 8:3, 20; cf., 22:9-11) • Suffering must be the result of sin. • Eliphaz - "If you sin, you suffer" (4:8; 22:23) – based on the assumptions of his experience (4:7-9). • Bildad - "You must be sinning" (8:6,8; 18:21; 25:4) – based on the assumptions of his traditions (8:8-10). • Zophar - "You are sinning" (11:4-6; 20:5) – based on the assumptions of his religious convictions (11:5,6,13-15).
Why Do the Righteous Suffer? • 3) Job Himself • The suffering of the righteous just doesn't seem to match theology. • 3:11, 20; 6:30; 10:7; 12:2; 16:2ff; 13:3, 15, 16; 23:3-4
• 4) Elihu (33:16ff; 36:10ff; cf., 5:17) • Counsel was wiser than those older than he (32:1-5). • Confronted Job's self-righteousness (33:8-12, 29-30). • Don't focus on the cause of suffering but the result: "God purifies and teaches the righteous."
• 5) God (38-39) • “Everything, including suffering, is meaningful, even if that meaning is hidden from man, so trust Me.”
Psalms: ! A Pattern of Personal Worship
The Psalms • Date of Writing • Range: 1410 BC (Moses in Ps. 90) to after 500 BC (cf. Ps. 126). • Most: ca. 1000 BC – during the reigns of David & Solomon
• Organization: Five books or divisions • • • • •
Book 1: 1-41 – creation, sin, & redemption (Genesis) Book 2: 42-72 – Israel’s ruin & redemption (Exodus) Book 3: 73-89 – the holiness of Israel’s sanctuary (Leviticus) Book 4: 90-106 – God’s sovereign rule of the nations (Numbers) Book 5: 107-150 – the praise of God and the sufficiency of His Word (Deuteronomy)
The Psalm Titles • 1. They are part of the canonical text of the Hebrew Bible. • 2. The NT treats them as Scripture. • Mark 12:35-37; Acts 2:29ff; 2:34ff; 13:35-37
• 3. They are from antiquity. • 3rd person—so they were written after the event. • But the LXX translators (2nd or 3rd century B.C.) didn't know the technical terms.
Psalms: The Authors • 1. David: 75 Psalms • 2. Solomon: Psalms 72, 127 • 3. Sons of Korah: 12 Psalms (42-49, 84-5, 87-88) • A Levitical family; descendants of the rebel (Num. 26:10f).
• 4. Asaph: 12 psalms (50, 73-83) • A choir leader from the tribe of Levi.
• 5. Heman the Ezrahite: Psalm 88 • Founded the choir of the Sons of Korah.
• 6. Ethan the Ezrahite (Jeduthun): Psalm 89 • Founded one of the three choirs
• 7. Moses: Psalm 90 • 8. Anonymous: 48 Psalms
The Purpose of the Psalms • A divinely intended record and pattern of man expressing himself to God. • A pattern of personal & corporate worship.
Unity in the Psalms: Worship A. The Object of Worship: the Lord 1. Recognition of God's Person a. b. c.
His names--Who He is His attributes--What He is His acts--What He has done
2. Emphasis on Christ (Luke 24:44-45)
B. The Responsibility of the Worshiper 1. Moral Purity (24:4) 2. Longing after God (63:1) 3. Heart Practice (27:4)
Proverbs: Wisdom for the Details of Life
The Proverbs of Solomon • Hebrew root: “to be like” • Wide range of meaning: • Folk saying • Allegory • Lament
• A comparison • An object lesson • A truism
The Proverbs of Solomon • Written and compiled by King Solomon (10:1) • Written by Solomon; compiled by Hezekiah (25:1) • Collected & compiled by Solomon (cf. Eccles. 12:9; 22:17; 24:23) • Written by Agur (30) & King Lemuel (31:1) • Anonymous (31:10)
!
The Purpose of Proverbs! • 1:2 – A summary • The moral purpose (2a) • The mental purpose (2b)
• 1:3-6 – The purpose explained • The moral purpose (3-5) • The mental purpose (6)
The Mental Purpose • 1:2 – “to discern” • Sayings of understanding”
• 1:6 – “to understand” • • • •
Proverb Figure Words of the wise Riddles
The Moral Purpose “Wisdom” • Content – what Proverbs delivers • 153x in OT • Cf. Ex. 35:35 • Cf. Ps. 107:23-27 • Skill • Proverbs – skill to live in the details of life in a way that pleases God
“Instruction” • Method – how Proverbs delivers • 50x in OT • Cf. 2 Tim. 3:16 – “training” • Usually oral instruction (1:8) • Occasionally physical discipline (13:24)
Ecclesiastes!
! The Vanity of Life in a Fallen World
Ecclesiastes • Title: Ecclesiastes = LXX title
Qoheleth = Heb.
• Author: Solomon (1:1, 12, 16; 2:9) • Date: Probably late in life; near 931 BC
Ecclesiastes: Common Interpretations 1.
Man’s reasoning apart from revelation • Purpose: expose the best wisdom an unregenerate man reflecting on life • Flaw: no warning in the context
2. Vanity of life apart from God • Purpose: evangelism • Flaw: Qoheleth = “one who speaks to the assembly” 3. Vanity of life even with God • Purpose: provide a divinely inspired philosophy of life
Ecclesiastes: Key Phrase
• “Under the Sun” • Defines the limit of his investigation
Major Propositions • Life is a gift from God to be enjoyed. • Life has serious limitations
Life’s Limitations: The Expressions • 1) Vanity (1:2; 12:8) • Hebrew, “breath or vapor.” • 1) Transitory or fleeting, 2) meaningless or futile, 3) incomprehensible.
• 2) Chasing after wind • Exhausting but utterly futile • The theological presupposition: the fall! • 1:14-15 – life in the world is “crooked” and “lacking.” • 7:29 – “God made men upright, but they have sought our many devices.”
Life’s Key Limitations 1. Life is not ultimately satisfying. 2. Man cannot know the mysteries of life. 3. Man cannot know the future.
Life’s Key Limitations 1 . Life is not ultimately satisfying. God is good; He has given us life as a gift. 2 . Man cannot know the mysteries of life. God is wise and sovereign; He has a plan. 3 . Man cannot know the future. God is just and faithful; He will do what’s right.
The Song ! of Solomon: The Joy of Married Love
The Song of Solomon: The Title • Hebrew, LXX, & Vulgate: “Song of Songs” • A Superlative… • “The Greatest of Songs” • Of the 1,005 songs Solomon wrote (1 Kings 4:32)
The Song of Solomon: The Author • Solomon • Referred to by name 7x (1:1, 5; 3:7, 9, 11; 8:11, 12) • Specifically identified as the groom (3:11) • Referred to as having unprecedented wealth & luxury (3:6-11)
The Song of Solomon: The Circumstances • Takes place in the city of Jerusalem & in the hill country of lower Galilee (where she lived) • Covers between 1-2 years • 1st Spring (2:11-13) • 2nd Spring (7:12)
• Describes the betrothal, wedding, and early marriage • Could be any time during Solomon’s reign (971—931 BC) • Probably Solomon’s first wife (cf. Eccl. 9:9); later added 699 wives & 300 concubines
The Song of Solomon: The Characters • Solomon • A Shulamite maiden • Probably a resident of Shunem, 3 miles north of Jezreel • Family was apparently employed in the vineyards of Solomon (8:11).
• The “daughters of Jerusalem” • Probably royal servants appointed as the bride’s attendants (cf. 3:10) • A chorus providing color commentary (1:5; 2:7; 3:5; 5:8, 16; 8:4)
• Brothers of the Bride (8:8-9) • Step-brothers? (1:6) • Her supervisors in the vineyard (1:6)
The Song of Solomon: ! The Common Interpretations • Allegorical • Jewish: God’s love for Israel • Christian: Christ’s love for the church • Cf. “Lily of the Valley” • Cf. “Rose of Sharon”
• Typological • Based on historical circumstances • But ultimately intended to picture Christ’s love for His bride
• Historical/Didactic • Based on the historical relationship of Solomon • Ode to, and instruction in the joys of married love • Cf. Gen. 2:24; Pr. 5:15-23; Heb. 13:4
Understanding Dead Metaphors • Metaphor • Topic • Image • Pt. of Similarity
• Live metaphor – the image still comes to mind • Dead metaphor – only the similarity comes to mind (e.g., traffic jam)
I.
The Courtship (1:2–3:5) A. B.
II.
The Wedding (3:6–5:1) A. B. C.
III.
The Lovers’ Remembrances (1:2–2:7) The Lovers’ Expression of Reciprocal Love (2:8–3:5)
The Kingly Bridegroom (3:6–11) The Wedding and First Night Together God’s Approval (5:1b)
(4:1–5:1a)
The Marriage (5:2–8:14) A. B. C.
The First Major Disagreement (5:2–6:3) The Restoration (6:4–8:4) Growing in Grace (8:5–14) MacArthur
The Writing ! Prophets! of Israel
The Prophets: Their Importance • The key figures in the structure of the nation: • 1) the king • 2) the priest • 3) the prophet
• Samuel • the first prophet • began the school of prophets (1 Sam. 10:5)
• The primary role of the prophet: God’s mouthpiece to keep the king and the priests accountable to the Word of YHWH.
The Nature of a Prophet • Prophecy • A transliteration from the Greek word for prophet: prophetes (profh,thj) • From two Greek words: • Pro = before • Phemi = to speak
• Lit. “to speak before” or “to speak for another”
The Nature of a Prophet • > 3800x : “the Word of the Lord came to …”; “the mouth of the Lord has spoken”; “the Lord says”; “the Lord spoke”; “hear the word of the Lord”; etc. • A true prophet spoke for God. • Jer. 1:4-10 – “I have put my words in your mouth” • Cf. Jer. 23:1ff (cite 16-21, 28-36)
• Prophecy is revelation from God. • Two distinct forms: • 1) Predictive revelation • 2) Moral or ethical revelation
The Timing of the Prophets • 16 Writing Prophets: Isaiah thru Malachi • 11 ministered before the exile, clustered before the fall of the north in 722 BC and of the south in 586 BC. • Why? • An apologetic for YHWH’s power • The prevailing view of Israel’s neighbors was that if one country defeated another and took it captive, it’s gods were stronger. • So YHWH announces the captivity of His people before it happens, explains why, and explains that He was the real force behind it.
Before the Exile !
(pre-exilic; before 605 BC) • To Edom: • 1) Obadiah
• To Assyria: • 3) Jonah • 8) Nahum
• To Israel (north):
• To Judah (south): • • • • • •
2) Joel 6) Isaiah 7) Micah 9) Jeremiah 10) Zephaniah 11) Habakkuk
• 4) Amos • 5) Hosea
*Numbers represent approximate chronological order written.
During the Exile ! (exilic; from 605-536 BC) • To the Jews in Babylonian Exile: • 12) Daniel • 13) Ezekiel
After the Exile !
(post-exilic; from 536—404 BC) • To the Jewish remnant who returned from Babylon to the land of Israel: • 14) Haggai • 15) Zechariah • 16) Malachi
Four Major Prophets
The Five Messages ! of the Four Major Prophets Isaiah
Salvation
Jeremiah
God’s final warning
Lamentations
Jeremiah’s Lament over Jerusalem
Ezekiel
Condemnation, consolation, & restoration
Daniel
God’s sovereignty over human history
The Minor Prophets
The Message of the Twelve Minor Prophets 1. Hosea – God’s Loyal Love (Heb., chesed) 2. Joel – The Day of the Lord 3. Amos – Social Injustice in Israel 4. Obadiah – Edom’s Judgment 5. Jonah – God’s Mercy on Repentant Gentiles 6. Micah – The Justice of God vs. the Injustice of Judah 7. Nahum – Nineveh’s Destruction 8. Habakkuk – Faith & Doubt in the Face of Judah’s Exile 9. Zephaniah – Future Global Judgment 10. Haggai – Call to Build the Temple 11. Zechariah – Israel’s Comfort & Glory; preparation for the Messiah 12. Malachi – Call for Repentance & Waiting for the Messiah (between Neh. 12 & 13)
SECTION 1 Bibliology & Old Testament Survey
The Nine Major Movements ! of OT History • Universal Dealings
Gen. 1-11
4000-2166
• Patriarchal Period
Gen. 12-50
2166-1804
• Slavery in Egypt
Ex. 1
1804-1446
• The Exodus under Moses
Ex. 2—Deut.
• Conquest & Division of Canaan
Joshua
1406-1350
• Period of the Judges
Judges, Ruth,
1350-1051
1 Sam. 1-8
1446-1406
The Nine Major Movements ! of OT History • The Monarchy • United • Divided
1 Sam. 9—2 Sam; 1-2 Kings; 1-2 Ch. - 1 Sam. 9—1 Kings 11 - 1 Kings 12—2 Kings
1051-605 - 1051-931 - 931-586
I. Wisdom Literature
Poetry & Wisdom Literature The Book
The Theme
Job
Suffering & Sovereignty
Psalms
Pattern of Personal Worship
Proverbs
Wisdom for the Details of Life
Ecclesiastes
The Vanity of Life in a Fallen World
Song of Solomon
The Joy of Married Love
Job: Sovereignty & Suffering
The Setting • During the patriarchal period (ca. 2000 B.C.) • Job lived 140 years (42:16). • Job's wealth is measured in his possessions (1:3). • Job's family follows a clan system (1:4, 5, 18). • The geography is non-Israelite (1:1; 4:1). • The name used for God is El Shaddai (47x in O.T.; 31x in Job).
Job • Date of writing • Scholars disagree • Primary Options… 1. 7th century B.C. (Jeremiah's time) 2. 5th or 6th century B.C. (exilic or post-exilic) 3. 10th century B.C. (during Solomon's reign)** • Author – Solomon or unknown • Purpose – Why do the righteous suffer?
Why Do the Righteous Suffer? • 1) The Narrator (1:9-10; 2:4-5) • Suffering is a direct result of conflict in the spiritual realm over which we have no control.
Why Do the Righteous Suffer? • 2) Job's Friends (4:7-8; 8:3, 20; cf., 22:9-11) • Suffering must be the result of sin. • Eliphaz - "If you sin, you suffer" (4:8; 22:23) – based on the assumptions of his experience (4:7-9). • Bildad - "You must be sinning" (8:6,8; 18:21; 25:4) – based on the assumptions of his traditions (8:8-10). • Zophar - "You are sinning" (11:4-6; 20:5) – based on the assumptions of his religious convictions (11:5,6,13-15).
Why Do the Righteous Suffer? • 3) Job Himself • The suffering of the righteous just doesn't seem to match theology. • 3:11, 20; 6:30; 10:7; 12:2; 16:2ff; 13:3, 15, 16; 23:3-4
• 4) Elihu (33:16ff; 36:10ff; cf., 5:17) • Counsel was wiser than those older than he (32:1-5). • Confronted Job's self-righteousness (33:8-12, 29-30). • Don't focus on the cause of suffering but the result: "God purifies and teaches the righteous."
• 5) God (38-39) • “Everything, including suffering, is meaningful, even if that meaning is hidden from man, so trust Me.”
Psalms: ! A Pattern of Personal Worship
The Psalms • Date of Writing • Range: 1410 BC (Moses in Ps. 90) to after 500 BC (cf. Ps. 126). • Most: ca. 1000 BC – during the reigns of David & Solomon
• Organization: Five books or divisions • • • • •
Book 1: 1-41 – creation, sin, & redemption (Genesis) Book 2: 42-72 – Israel’s ruin & redemption (Exodus) Book 3: 73-89 – the holiness of Israel’s sanctuary (Leviticus) Book 4: 90-106 – God’s sovereign rule of the nations (Numbers) Book 5: 107-150 – the praise of God and the sufficiency of His Word (Deuteronomy)
The Psalm Titles • 1. They are part of the canonical text of the Hebrew Bible. • 2. The NT treats them as Scripture. • Mark 12:35-37; Acts 2:29ff; 2:34ff; 13:35-37
• 3. They are from antiquity. • 3rd person—so they were written after the event. • But the LXX translators (2nd or 3rd century B.C.) didn't know the technical terms.
Psalms: The Authors • 1. David: 75 Psalms • 2. Solomon: Psalms 72, 127 • 3. Sons of Korah: 12 Psalms (42-49, 84-5, 87-88) • A Levitical family; descendants of the rebel (Num. 26:10f).
• 4. Asaph: 12 psalms (50, 73-83) • A choir leader from the tribe of Levi.
• 5. Heman the Ezrahite: Psalm 88 • Founded the choir of the Sons of Korah.
• 6. Ethan the Ezrahite (Jeduthun): Psalm 89 • Founded one of the three choirs
• 7. Moses: Psalm 90 • 8. Anonymous: 48 Psalms
The Purpose of the Psalms • A divinely intended record and pattern of man expressing himself to God. • A pattern of personal & corporate worship.
Unity in the Psalms: Worship A. The Object of Worship: the Lord 1. Recognition of God's Person a. b. c.
His names--Who He is His attributes--What He is His acts--What He has done
2. Emphasis on Christ (Luke 24:44-45)
B. The Responsibility of the Worshiper 1. Moral Purity (24:4) 2. Longing after God (63:1) 3. Heart Practice (27:4)
Proverbs: Wisdom for the Details of Life
The Proverbs of Solomon • Hebrew root: “to be like” • Wide range of meaning: • Folk saying • Allegory • Lament
• A comparison • An object lesson • A truism
The Proverbs of Solomon • Written and compiled by King Solomon (10:1) • Written by Solomon; compiled by Hezekiah (25:1) • Collected & compiled by Solomon (cf. Eccles. 12:9; 22:17; 24:23) • Written by Agur (30) & King Lemuel (31:1) • Anonymous (31:10)
!
The Purpose of Proverbs! • 1:2 – A summary • The moral purpose (2a) • The mental purpose (2b)
• 1:3-6 – The purpose explained • The moral purpose (3-5) • The mental purpose (6)
The Mental Purpose • 1:2 – “to discern” • Sayings of understanding”
• 1:6 – “to understand” • • • •
Proverb Figure Words of the wise Riddles
The Moral Purpose “Wisdom” • Content – what Proverbs delivers • 153x in OT • Cf. Ex. 35:35 • Cf. Ps. 107:23-27 • Skill • Proverbs – skill to live in the details of life in a way that pleases God
“Instruction” • Method – how Proverbs delivers • 50x in OT • Cf. 2 Tim. 3:16 – “training” • Usually oral instruction (1:8) • Occasionally physical discipline (13:24)
Ecclesiastes!
! The Vanity of Life in a Fallen World
Ecclesiastes • Title: Ecclesiastes = LXX title
Qoheleth = Heb.
• Author: Solomon (1:1, 12, 16; 2:9) • Date: Probably late in life; near 931 BC
Ecclesiastes: Common Interpretations 1.
Man’s reasoning apart from revelation • Purpose: expose the best wisdom an unregenerate man reflecting on life • Flaw: no warning in the context
2. Vanity of life apart from God • Purpose: evangelism • Flaw: Qoheleth = “one who speaks to the assembly” 3. Vanity of life even with God • Purpose: provide a divinely inspired philosophy of life
Ecclesiastes: Key Phrase
• “Under the Sun” • Defines the limit of his investigation
Major Propositions • Life is a gift from God to be enjoyed. • Life has serious limitations
Life’s Limitations: The Expressions • 1) Vanity (1:2; 12:8) • Hebrew, “breath or vapor.” • 1) Transitory or fleeting, 2) meaningless or futile, 3) incomprehensible.
• 2) Chasing after wind • Exhausting but utterly futile • The theological presupposition: the fall! • 1:14-15 – life in the world is “crooked” and “lacking.” • 7:29 – “God made men upright, but they have sought our many devices.”
Life’s Key Limitations 1. Life is not ultimately satisfying. 2. Man cannot know the mysteries of life. 3. Man cannot know the future.
Life’s Key Limitations 1 . Life is not ultimately satisfying. God is good; He has given us life as a gift. 2 . Man cannot know the mysteries of life. God is wise and sovereign; He has a plan. 3 . Man cannot know the future. God is just and faithful; He will do what’s right.
The Song ! of Solomon: The Joy of Married Love
The Song of Solomon: The Title • Hebrew, LXX, & Vulgate: “Song of Songs” • A Superlative… • “The Greatest of Songs” • Of the 1,005 songs Solomon wrote (1 Kings 4:32)
The Song of Solomon: The Author • Solomon • Referred to by name 7x (1:1, 5; 3:7, 9, 11; 8:11, 12) • Specifically identified as the groom (3:11) • Referred to as having unprecedented wealth & luxury (3:6-11)
The Song of Solomon: The Circumstances • Takes place in the city of Jerusalem & in the hill country of lower Galilee (where she lived) • Covers between 1-2 years • 1st Spring (2:11-13) • 2nd Spring (7:12)
• Describes the betrothal, wedding, and early marriage • Could be any time during Solomon’s reign (971—931 BC) • Probably Solomon’s first wife (cf. Eccl. 9:9); later added 699 wives & 300 concubines
The Song of Solomon: The Characters • Solomon • A Shulamite maiden • Probably a resident of Shunem, 3 miles north of Jezreel • Family was apparently employed in the vineyards of Solomon (8:11).
• The “daughters of Jerusalem” • Probably royal servants appointed as the bride’s attendants (cf. 3:10) • A chorus providing color commentary (1:5; 2:7; 3:5; 5:8, 16; 8:4)
• Brothers of the Bride (8:8-9) • Step-brothers? (1:6) • Her supervisors in the vineyard (1:6)
The Song of Solomon: ! The Common Interpretations • Allegorical • Jewish: God’s love for Israel • Christian: Christ’s love for the church • Cf. “Lily of the Valley” • Cf. “Rose of Sharon”
• Typological • Based on historical circumstances • But ultimately intended to picture Christ’s love for His bride
• Historical/Didactic • Based on the historical relationship of Solomon • Ode to, and instruction in the joys of married love • Cf. Gen. 2:24; Pr. 5:15-23; Heb. 13:4
Understanding Dead Metaphors • Metaphor • Topic • Image • Pt. of Similarity
• Live metaphor – the image still comes to mind • Dead metaphor – only the similarity comes to mind (e.g., traffic jam)
I.
The Courtship (1:2–3:5) A. B.
II.
The Wedding (3:6–5:1) A. B. C.
III.
The Lovers’ Remembrances (1:2–2:7) The Lovers’ Expression of Reciprocal Love (2:8–3:5)
The Kingly Bridegroom (3:6–11) The Wedding and First Night Together God’s Approval (5:1b)
(4:1–5:1a)
The Marriage (5:2–8:14) A. B. C.
The First Major Disagreement (5:2–6:3) The Restoration (6:4–8:4) Growing in Grace (8:5–14) MacArthur
The Writing ! Prophets! of Israel
The Prophets: Their Importance • The key figures in the structure of the nation: • 1) the king • 2) the priest • 3) the prophet
• Samuel • the first prophet • began the school of prophets (1 Sam. 10:5)
• The primary role of the prophet: God’s mouthpiece to keep the king and the priests accountable to the Word of YHWH.
The Nature of a Prophet • Prophecy • A transliteration from the Greek word for prophet: prophetes (profh,thj) • From two Greek words: • Pro = before • Phemi = to speak
• Lit. “to speak before” or “to speak for another”
The Nature of a Prophet • > 3800x : “the Word of the Lord came to …”; “the mouth of the Lord has spoken”; “the Lord says”; “the Lord spoke”; “hear the word of the Lord”; etc. • A true prophet spoke for God. • Jer. 1:4-10 – “I have put my words in your mouth” • Cf. Jer. 23:1ff (cite 16-21, 28-36)
• Prophecy is revelation from God. • Two distinct forms: • 1) Predictive revelation • 2) Moral or ethical revelation
The Timing of the Prophets • 16 Writing Prophets: Isaiah thru Malachi • 11 ministered before the exile, clustered before the fall of the north in 722 BC and of the south in 586 BC. • Why? • An apologetic for YHWH’s power • The prevailing view of Israel’s neighbors was that if one country defeated another and took it captive, it’s gods were stronger. • So YHWH announces the captivity of His people before it happens, explains why, and explains that He was the real force behind it.
Before the Exile !
(pre-exilic; before 605 BC) • To Edom: • 1) Obadiah
• To Assyria: • 3) Jonah • 8) Nahum
• To Israel (north):
• To Judah (south): • • • • • •
2) Joel 6) Isaiah 7) Micah 9) Jeremiah 10) Zephaniah 11) Habakkuk
• 4) Amos • 5) Hosea
*Numbers represent approximate chronological order written.
During the Exile ! (exilic; from 605-536 BC) • To the Jews in Babylonian Exile: • 12) Daniel • 13) Ezekiel
After the Exile !
(post-exilic; from 536—404 BC) • To the Jewish remnant who returned from Babylon to the land of Israel: • 14) Haggai • 15) Zechariah • 16) Malachi
Four Major Prophets
The Five Messages ! of the Four Major Prophets Isaiah
Salvation
Jeremiah
God’s final warning
Lamentations
Jeremiah’s Lament over Jerusalem
Ezekiel
Condemnation, consolation, & restoration
Daniel
God’s sovereignty over human history
The Minor Prophets
The Message of the Twelve Minor Prophets 1. Hosea – God’s Loyal Love (Heb., chesed) 2. Joel – The Day of the Lord 3. Amos – Social Injustice in Israel 4. Obadiah – Edom’s Judgment 5. Jonah – God’s Mercy on Repentant Gentiles 6. Micah – The Justice of God vs. the Injustice of Judah 7. Nahum – Nineveh’s Destruction 8. Habakkuk – Faith & Doubt in the Face of Judah’s Exile 9. Zephaniah – Future Global Judgment 10. Haggai – Call to Build the Temple 11. Zechariah – Israel’s Comfort & Glory; preparation for the Messiah 12. Malachi – Call for Repentance & Waiting for the Messiah (between Neh. 12 & 13)
