Prophets

Document #: TX004709

What Is a Prophet? •  Individuals God called to speak to

the people on His behalf. •  They reinforced that God wanted a

close relationship with his people, which meant the people must be faithful to him alone and treat one another with justice.

•  They gave the people hope when they had strayed from God and were in trouble.

•  God calls us today to hear the words of the prophets, apply them to our lives, and be prophetic ourselves.

Public Domain

God creates or enters into a Covenant and it is good.

Humanity falls into idolatry, resulting in

disease, war, and grief.

God sends teachers, kings, prophets, or others

who lead the people to repentance.

The people return to following the Covenant.

Peace and God’s healing return to the people.

ProphetsandtheCycleofRedemp4on

Public Domain

The Prophets in the Bible

Writing Prophets •  Each of the writing prophets has a book of the Bible named

after them. •  Major Prophets have longer books. •  Minor Prophets have shorter books.

Major Prophets •  Isaiah •  Jeremiah •  Ezekiel

Minor Prophets •  Micah •  Hosea •  Amos •  Joel •  Obadiah •  Jonah

•  Nahum •  Habakkuk •  Zephaniah •  Haggai •  Zechariah •  Malachi

The Prophets Non-writing Prophets •  They do not have books of the Bible named after them. •  They are major characters in the stories in the two Books of

Samuel and the two Books of Kings.

•  Other people who lived prior to the monarchy are considered prophets because they also spoke for God. These include Moses, Miriam, and Joshua.

§  Samuel §  Nathan §  Elijah

§  Elisha §  Gad

What Do Prophets Have in Common? •  They obeyed God. •  They knew that God

wanted his people to treat all people with justice.

•  They understood that God wanted his people to come back to Him with their whole selves.

•  They lived good, moral lives themselves.

•  Were they perfect? NO, they were human.

© www.bridgebuilding.com Public Domain

Read Jonah 1 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%201&version=NRSVCE

David: The smallest or seemingly least can be great with God

Miriam: Courageously live and celebrate your faith in God!

Miriam knew what it was like to experience hope and despair, terror and deliverance, slavery

and freedom, unimportance and prominence. She was both

a good example and a bad example;

she was like us, human J

Read the following scripture to discover import facts about the Prophetess Miriam. a.  Exodus 2:1-10- who does Miriam save?

b.  Exodus 15:19-21- why does Miriam sing and to whom?

c.  How does Miriam (and Aaron) anger God? What is her punishment? How long does it last?

Samuel: Sometimes we need others to help us discern God is calling us! (Crossword)

The Crazy Prophets of the Old Testament STEPHEN BEALE (Article and Questions)

Ezekiel’s Visions Sketch Assignment

Ezekiel’s Visions Step 1: Listen to the reading of Ezekiel 1: 1-21. Play video for the students. (Sound only) Step 2: Read the passage individually and create drawing. This activity invites the student to sketch living creatures in order to gain a sense of creation’s awe-inspiring presence.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%201 Ezekiel 1(Scripture) https://youtu.be/TT0qNVbyevg (Video)

Ezekiel's Visions

The Prophets- Summary

God’s Story- Summary of Prophets

Summary: What Is a Prophet? (Student Notes)

•  a spokesperson for God. •  reports to the community what God speaks to him or her. •  community played a role in determining whether prophets claim were

true. •  messages warn the people when they are sinning and tell them how

God will punish them if they continue to sin. Facing Our Own Problems with the Prophets •  Seen as ranting and raving, as if they were a little “nuts.” •  we live in a society where people tend to put down those who claim to

be prophets. •  we bring our current attitudes with us. •  We read biblical texts from a twenty-first-century perspective which

makes it hard to take the prophets seriously. •  the Israelites were very accepting of prophets.

What do we know about the Israelite prophets?

Israel had hundreds of different prophets. •  the prophets who were around in ancient Israel were the not just

the ones named in the Bible. •  The Bible tells us there were hundreds of other prophets. •  Some worked for the king. •  Some worked in groups, at temples, were solitary or roaming the

country and living off donations. •  Some were prophets their whole lives and some only for a while •  Some had visions, while still others were “possessed” by a spirit

sent from God. •  Some spoke and others acted out oracles •  They were both male and female

Other cultures also had prophets.

•  All ancient near-eastern countries had prophets who acted in much the same way as Israelite prophets.

•  Prophets are a common part of many cultures even today. •  Some performed miracles •  The prophets spoke to their own community about issues facing

them in their own day. •  these prophets were some of the most important, learned, and

respected people of their day, their words were valued. •  Some of their oracles while they addressed events in their own day,

they also hinted at events in days far beyond their own.

Moses: God commissions us to do His work. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and told him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Reluctant at first, Moses followed God’s instructions. Read Exodus 4:1 In response to Moses’ fear that people would not believe that God had appeared to him, God gave Moses three miraculous signs: •  Changing a rod into a snake and then back into a rod. •  Making his hand leprous and then healthy once again. •  Turning water into blood.

One of the most significant prophecies that God gave through His servant Moses was that in the future, He would raise up a Prophet like Moses.

Read Deuteronomy 18:15 As Moses explained: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear”

The prophet Moses spoke of was Jesus!

Moses told the people to sacrifice a lamb so that the “angel of death” would pass-over their homes and save their children from death. Jesus IS the lamb who is sacrificed for us on the cross so we

can pass-over death and have eternal life!

Modern Day Prophets: St. Theresa of Calcutta

Mahatma Ghandi

False Prophets

“There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.” 2 Peter 2:1

How would we recognize a False Prophet?

•  What is the substance of the prophet's message?

•  What result does the message have in people's lives?

•  Where does the message ultimately lead you?

Who would you consider to be a modern example of a FALSE prophet? Explain.

A True Prophet Versus a False ProphetThe two lists below contrast the characteristics of a true prophet and a falseprophet. Examine the lists.

Handout 8–A: Permission to reproduce is granted. © 2009 by Saint Mary’s Press.

A True Prophet . . .

1. usually is reluctant to speak for God

2. listens to the authentic voice of God withinhim or her and then communicates God’smessage

3. tells people the truth, even if it hurts

4. is a realist

5. conveys a message that is consistent withthe faith of Israel, the Sinai Covenant

6. is unpopular, holds no official position, andsuffers for telling the truth

7. offers people hope and a means of survivingsuffering and devastation

8. lives the message preached

9. has a message that stands the test of time

A False Prophet . . .

1. eagerly takes on the job of speaking for God

2. listens to his or her own opinions and wish-es, communicating those as God’s thoughts

3. says what people want to hear

4. is an optimist

5. conveys a message that is consistent withmost people’s inclinations

6. is popular, often holds an official position,and leads a comfortable lifestyle

7. offers people no way to make sense of suf-fering and loss

8. talks a lot without taking action

9. has a message that does not hold up overtime—is not confirmed by historical devel-opments

Answer these questions on loose-leaf paper:

a. Using the characteristics listed above, name some modern-day peoplewho could be described as false prophets. Why are they false?

b. Name some modern-day people who could be described as true proph-ets. Why are they true?

c. In what situations is it easier for teenagers to tell people what they wantto hear rather than the truth?

Journal

A True Prophet Versus a False ProphetThe two lists below contrast the characteristics of a true prophet and a falseprophet. Examine the lists.

Handout 8–A: Permission to reproduce is granted. © 2009 by Saint Mary’s Press.

A True Prophet . . .

1. usually is reluctant to speak for God

2. listens to the authentic voice of God withinhim or her and then communicates God’smessage

3. tells people the truth, even if it hurts

4. is a realist

5. conveys a message that is consistent withthe faith of Israel, the Sinai Covenant

6. is unpopular, holds no official position, andsuffers for telling the truth

7. offers people hope and a means of survivingsuffering and devastation

8. lives the message preached

9. has a message that stands the test of time

A False Prophet . . .

1. eagerly takes on the job of speaking for God

2. listens to his or her own opinions and wish-es, communicating those as God’s thoughts

3. says what people want to hear

4. is an optimist

5. conveys a message that is consistent withmost people’s inclinations

6. is popular, often holds an official position,and leads a comfortable lifestyle

7. offers people no way to make sense of suf-fering and loss

8. talks a lot without taking action

9. has a message that does not hold up overtime—is not confirmed by historical devel-opments

Answer these questions on loose-leaf paper:

a. Using the characteristics listed above, name some modern-day peoplewho could be described as false prophets. Why are they false?

b. Name some modern-day people who could be described as true proph-ets. Why are they true?

c. In what situations is it easier for teenagers to tell people what they wantto hear rather than the truth?

RESEARCH PROJECT Using the internet or personal knowledge of someone you know well, find an example of: 1 modern-day True prophet and 1 modern-day False prophet. It may not be clear cut in all cases but you must give evidence/reasoning explaining how they don’t quite fit in one category or the other. Use the above lists to prove your examples.

Example:MotherTheresawasatrueprofitbecause:1.  Shewasveryhumbleandsaidshedidn’talwayshavestrongfaithbutshe

keptdoingwhatsheknewwasright.2.  JesustoldhertohelpthepoorinCalcuEaandshegatheredsisterstohelp

her3.  Shefindsjoyinthelowlyandmakesusfeelbadaboutour1stworld

problems4.  Sheknowsthereispovertyandshecan’tsavetheworldBUTshecan

comfortthesickanddying5.  Shefollowsthegoldenrule6.  Shedidn’tsufferfortellingthetruthbutshedidsufferwiththepeopleshe

servedandlivedinpovertyherself7.  SheoffersthesickanddyinghopethatGodlovesthemthroughherloving

kindness8.  Sheliveswiththepoorinpovertyherself9.  Shelivesthegreatestcommandment-Loveoneanother-it’swhatweall

searchforinlife

JournalQues4on

1PageMLAFormatInwhatsituaUonsisiteasierforyouasateenagertotellpeoplewhattheywanttohearratherthanthetruth?HowdoesthatmakeusFalseprophets?HowistheTrueprofityoudiscussedasignofhopeforyouandforourworld?