Prophets. What makes a prophet? “Mouthpiece” Irresistible call from God – Story of Jonah –...
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Transcript of Prophets. What makes a prophet? “Mouthpiece” Irresistible call from God – Story of Jonah –...
Prophets
What makes a prophet?
• “Mouthpiece”
• Irresistible call from God– Story of Jonah– “Thus says the Lord”
• 2 criteria for prophet’s veracity– Prophecy was fulfilled– Teaching accorded with divine doctrine
Message of the Prophets
• Carrot & Stick at the same time– Repent and be saved vs. don’t repent and face
doom!
• 3 main themes– There is only ONE GOD! (1st Commandment,
people!)– The ONE God is holy, demands repentance of sin– The coming Messiah (Jesus)
First Prophets
• Moses – the first one– Giver of the Law– Most important
• Elijah – the second– Considered the chief of the “normal” prophets– Taken up to heaven in whirlwind (Ascension)– Still held close by Judaism– Jesus thought to be Elijah
Later Prophets
• Division:– Northern & Southern Prophets
• Major & Minor Prophets– Major: Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel– Minor: 12 of them– Length of the book, not the importance of the
teaching
Prophets of the North
• Northern Kingdom of Israel
• Cycle of sin & redemption continues– As people stray from God, Israel suffers
• Kings of Israel turned away from God and abused their people
• Prophets of Social Justice: Hosea & Amos
Hostility to prophets
• Elijah fled to escape the headsman
• Amos banished
• Hosea abandoned by his wife– Became a prostitute at the temple
Destruction of Israel
• Amos & Hosea preached that Israel would be destroyed for its sins
• Time of Hosea– Assyria rose up and destroyed Kingdom of Israel in
722 BC– Ten Tribes of Israel become the Ten Lost Tribes– Lost identity as God’s people
Biblical Readings
• 1 Kings 18• 2 Kings 4:32-37, 42-44• Amos 3• Amos 6• Amos 9• Hosea 5