CLE Reviewer: Prophets What happened after Solomon died: The period following Solomons rule was marked

ked by the appearance of Gods prophets. Gods sending of the prophets exemplifies our need for correction. Prophets Are: o Messengers of salvation o Leaders of Israel after the division o Called and inspired by God to deliver his message They use symbolism and imagery. o NOT fortune tellers but were guided by God Prophets o Called people to personal conversion and national reform but were ignored o Suffered beating, pains etc. to proclaim Gods message Israel became a divided Kingdom o It divided because Jeroboam revolted against Rehoboam, Solomons successor, because of his refusal to lighten the burden of the Northeners. Northern Kingdom Called Israel or Ephraim More unfaithful (praised Baal more) Southern Kingdom Called Judah and its capital is Jerusalem Was also prone to idolatry o There was still peace between the 2 kingdoms because of their belief to God o God sent prophets to be his messengers to both kingdoms since the kings dont represent God anymore. Elijah :Call to Faith in True God o Who is Elijah? Elijah means Yahweh is my God He was called to prophesy at the north against idolatry (People were confused between God and Baal) He was called Troubler of Israel Prophesied a long drought and promised rain. o What he did Fought against 450 prophets of Baal at the contest of Mt. Carmel Restored the faith of Israelite after the contest Encountered God in silence Pronounced judgment against King Ahab and Jezebels sin against Naboth. o Message to us today No to modern idolatry ( TV, Computer, money etc.)

Faith in True God Gods presence can be felt in the small and insignificant affairs of life o Quotes Be still and confess that I am God. Ps 46:11 Amos: Teaching us to Act Justly o Who is Amos? Shepherd from Tekoah in Judah Preached at the South at the raign of Jeroboam ll During this time people are more concerned at wealth then doing whats right Corruption was common A fiery prophet who pointed out the sins of Israelites in the roaring voice of God o What he did Scolded dishonest businessmen and traders who were using wrong weights. Called the rich women Cows of Bashan because they fatten themselves at the expense of the weak and poor Accused the Jews of doing false worship Reminded everyone that being just is part of having an authentic faith in God Spoke of Gods concern for His people, especially the poor and oppressed Predicted their nation will be destroyed by Assyrians because of lack of unity under God His book ended with a message of hope to the faithful. o Message Dont turn deaf ears to evil around us Making money is not wrong but our fellowmen should be valued more than money Social Injustice is a sin and we should show concern for the poor Our habits and attitudes can contribute to social injustice Value of Simple lifestyle and to be sensitive about displaying our possessions God desires true change in our hearts and not empty offerings o Quotes His quotes are about Gods anger and hope for the Israelites This is what the Lord God showed me: a basket of ripe fruit Then the Lord said to me: The time is ripe to have done with my people Israel; I will forgive them no longer. -Am 8: 1-2 But I will not destroy the house of Jacob completely On that day I will raise up the fallen hut of David; I will wall up its breaches, raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of the old I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel; they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink the wine, set out the gardens

and eat the fruits. Never again shall they be plucked from the land I have given them Am 2:8 Hoseas call to Faithful Love o Who is Hosea? Prophesied like Amos and criticized Israels sinful ways but has a softer tone and his message is full of love and sympathy His strange and painful marriage taught him much about Gods love God called Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer Gomer repeatedly betrayed Hosea Hosea tried everything to change her but she didnt change Had 2 children o Lo-Ammi which means Not Loved o Lo- Rouhama which means Not my People o Represented Hoseas frustration with Gomer and Gods disappointment to Israel o What Hosea did Hosea became a living image of Gods love for the people who didnt love Him back Gomer = Israel, Hosea = God Hosea paints a picture of God as a loving husband and a loving father of a rebellious child Challenges us to look at our ungratefulness o Message God will always love us no matter how stubborn and sinful we are The decision to change is never forced on us but with Gods grace, we can gradually come to know true repentance and conversion Faith is an everyday decision to love the people around us Being faithful is a process and challenge that can help us discover the purpose of our lives st 1 3 prophets general message o Doctrine - Remind us today of our covenant with God o Morals - Challenges us to act justly and care for others o Worship - True worship is loving God and one another The Prophet Jeremiah o Who is he? A prophet during the rule of King Josiah to King Zedekiah King Josiah is the only good king after Solomon and Zedekiah is the last king before the exile A shy and timid prophet o What he did

He predicted that God would allow the Ark of the Covenant, the Temple, and the city of Jerusalem be destroyed because these became false sources of security for the Israelites. Preached that they should cling on the person of God and not physical symbols Taught that faith was a matter of personally accepting God and His will rather than of performing grand rituals. Had a vision of the fall of Jerusalem and said that it will be conquered by the Babylonians but no one listened. Prophesied the New Covenant. He said that instead of simply giving the laws, God will write His law in the very hearts of His people This message sustained the Israelites hopes during the Babylonian exile. Was always treated poorly because they took his message as an insult Found strength and confidence from Gods guidance and encouragement His own agony brought him closer to the Israelites His own life became a symbol of hope for the Israelites. Depicted God as a Divine Potter God = potter who molds people like clay according to his Will Israel = The clay used/ the pot Israels destruction = God destroying & remaking the pot Message: We should not hang into the physical symbols of faith, but in our faith in God With Gods help and guidance, we can find strength and confidence to do His will. Quotes: Gods call to Jeremiah Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. Ah, Lord God! I said, I know not how to speak; I am too young. But the Lord answered me, Say not, I am too young. To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Jer 1:5-7 Gods promise that whomever remain faithful will be part of the New Covenant The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts No longer will they have to teach their friends and kinsmen how to know the Lord For I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more. Jer 31:31-34 Jeremiahs agony brought him closer to Israel My grief is incurable, my heart within me is faint. Listen! The cry of the daughter of my people, far and wide in the land!... I am broken by the

ruin of the daughter of my people. I am disconsolate; horror has seized me Oh, that my head were a spring of water, my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night over the slain of the daughter of my people! Jer 8:18-19, 21, 23 The Prophet Ezekiel: Receive a New Heart and Spirit o Who is he: Prophet of Lamentation and Woe First Israelite Leader after the last king First prophet to receive his call outside of Canaan. (Babylonian exile) His book is the most difficult to understand because it speaks of visions and mystical experiences that may be beyond the understanding of ordinary people o What he did: Ezekiel was called by God through a vision where he ate the scroll and found it sweet The sweetness signifies his acceptance of and obedience to Gods call Prophesied in a way difficult to imagine but didnt explain the meaning to the people His mission was to strengthen the people from losing hope Ezekiel reaffirmed Jeremiahs message that God was within the peoples very hearts and that He had not abandoned them in this difficult time. Ezekiel stressed to the people that they should take responsibility for their sins and not blame it on their ancestors. Reminded the people that God wanted them to stop being sinful Described the Israelites situation as a field of dry bones into which God would breathe His Spirit of life. Saw and prophesied visions of a new temple and new David. (Messianic prophecies) o Message Always have hope God is always with us in every situation we face We should take responsibility for our sins The Holy Spirit renews our spirits and inspires us to do good things o Quotes Gods call to Ezekiel It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me, in which was a written scroll which he unrolled before me. It was covered with writing front and back, and written on it was: Lamentation and wailing and woe! He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. Ez 2:9-3:1 God wanting the Israelites to take responsibility to their sins

Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his ways Turn and be converted from all your crimes, that they may be no cause of guilt for you. Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit Ez 18:30-31 God will renew Israel Then he said to me: Prophesy over these bones, and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: See! I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life. I will put sinews upon you, make flesh grow over you, cover you with skin, and put spirit in you so that you may come to life and know that I am the Lord. Ez 37:4-6 For I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the foreign lands, and bring you back to your own land I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. Ez 36:24, 26 The Prophet Jonah: Salvation is for all o Who is he? Prophet who preached After the Babylonian exile The people started to become unfaithful again They forgot their mission to be light of the nations o What he did He was called to preach to Nineveh (Assyrians) who were cruel pagan enemies of the Jews. He tried to run away but God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah and spit him to the shores of Nineveh The people of Nineveh listened to him and repented o Message We must obey Gods commands God is the God of all and he wants everyone to be saved Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Jonah general message o Doctrine Jeremiah + Ezekiel proclaimed God heals, renews, and gives hope to Israel. Jonah affirms that God is the Savior. o Morals - God constantly calls us to change our evil ways; We are urged to repent and reminded that we will be judged according to what we have done in our life o Worship During times of crisis, we can reaffirm our faith by receiving the sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. We can receive forgiveness and strength we need to renew our lives from these. The Prophet Isaiah: Challenges us to be Holy in Word and Deed o Who is he The prophet with the most amount of messianic prophecies

Received his call when King Uzziah died at the Temple of Jerusalem A great statesman who was well respected by many Preached at the South His book has 3 parts The book of Isaiah was made by many authors What he did Referred to Jesus as the Suffering Messiah Wrote in a very endearing way and poetic Had a vision wherein he was overwhelmed by Gods holiness and glory. An angel took a glowing coal, placed it on his lips and said See, now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin is purged. His confidence to accept Gods mission came from the knowledge that God has forgiven him and purified him 1st book of Isaiah Describes God as the Holy One of Israel Preached about Gods holiness Proclaimed that having faith in God was the only way for the Israelites to survive. o Holiness is our constant effort to be faithful to God and, consequently, to be true to ourselves to that we can offer loving service to our fellowmen Also prophesied the messages of Amos and Hosea nd 2 book of Isaiah Reminded the people of how God rescued their ancestors from slavery and promised to restore them to their rightful land God assured the Israelites that He would be their Savior Referred their liberation from Babylon as the 2nd exodus 3rd book of Isaiah Mostly the messianic prophecies Presents 4 servant songs ( songs referring to the Messiah) o They speak of a Messiah who would suffer and die for His people Messianic Prophecies The earliest Messianic prophecy is at the Book of Genesis o I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel (Gen 3:15) o This is the first protoevangelium or the first gospel which foretells the coming of Christ God fulfilled his promise to Abraham and David with Jesus Christ

Some passages of the Psalms also tells of the coming of Christ Prophetic Books o Jeremiah spoke of a new covenant o Ezekiel prophesied a new David to guide the Israelites to peace o Zechariah said the Messiah would enter Jerusalem in a donkey and that He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver o Through Jonah, God promised He would be the Savior of all people God made it clear to them that being the Chosen People meant they should be Light to Other Nations

Message We should have faith in God We are called to be holy by being faithful to God and loving our fellowmen The 3rd exodus is referred to as when God liberated humanity from sin and death through Jesus Christ Quotes + Servant Songs & Their Message Isaiah describes Gods love as a mothers love Hindi Kita Malilimutan Isaiahs obedience and confidence to accept Gods mission When God asked, Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? Isaiah replied, Here I am, Lord. Send me (-Is 6:8) God assured the Israelites He will save them But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; in the rivers you shall not drown. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; the flames shall consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, The Holy One of Israel, your savior Is 43:1-3 Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Messiah (Read on Christmas Eve Mass) For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace, from Davids throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains. Is 9:5-6 1st Servant song about how Jesus will open the peoples eyes to their sins through kindness and compassion Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon who I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth the justice to the nations. Open the eyes of the blind. Bring out prisoners from confinement. Is 42: 1,7 nd 2 Servant song about the power of God shown through His Servant.

You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant. I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. Thus says the Lord, the redeemer and the Holy one of Israel, to the one despised, whom shall the nations abhor, the slave of rulers: When kings see you, they shall stand up, and princes shall prostrate themselves. Is; 49: 3 , 6-7 rd 3 Servant song is about how the Servant must endure to carry out His task and He will remain faithful to God I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who upholds my right See, the Lord God is my help; who will prove me wrong? -Is 50: 6-9 th The 4 Servant song is the most beautiful of the servant songs. Its about the Servants willingness to endure suffering for the sins of others and His faithfulness to the difficult mission give by God He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. Is 53: 3-5 Isaiahs general message o Doctrine - God is not just the Holy One of Israel; He is also the Creator and Savior who will restore our nation and bring salvation to all o Moral - God wants us to be holy as He is holy and to be light to other nations o Worship - The book of Isaiah provides many excellent passages that may be used as personal prayers

Note: We need to be familiarized with the quotes so I added it here. Source: CLE book.