The Prophets Prophecy:

Experience of Gods Deliverance

Our world is faced with numerous social and moral problems that severely affect and even degrade the dignity and sanctity of life. Yet, only a few people give time and effort to address these problems.

Who is a Prophet?
At a time strikingly similar to that of today, prophets played a significant role in the lives of Gods chosen people. Prophets viewed history as THEOPHANY, revelation of God.

PROPHET, Gk. prophetes, one who speaks in place of another.

Heb. nabi, one who is called to communicate the divine will.

Titles Attributed to a Prophet in the Scriptures

-Messenger of God (Isaiah 44:26/Haggai 1:13)

-Servant of God (Isaiah 20:3/Amos 3:7/Jeremiah 7:25)

-Shepherd (Zechariah 11:4-5) -Watchman (Isaiah 62:6/Jeremiah 6:17/Ezekiel 3:17)

The prophets communicated Gods message by means of:

PROPHETIC WORD (DABAR) -It is the word of a man who is personally involved in the word, who lives for it, and is prepared to die for it.

PROPHETIC ACTION -Prophets act out Gods message through:

a. The whole life of the prophet b. Particular symbolic actions

The full meaning and impact of the actions become clear only after some years have passed, or after the people had seen and experienced the significance of the prophetic actions in their lives.

Function of the Prophets

1. Covenant Enforcement Mediators

They functioned to call Israel back to God, which meant a call back to faithfulness to their Covenant relationship with God; i.e., back to the Law of Moses.

2. Moses as a Model Through them, God reminds people in the generations after Moses that if the covenant is kept, blessing will result, but if not, judgment will come.

3. Blessing and Cursing

Through them, God announced His intention to enforce the covenant and always in accordance with the categories of blessing and curse already contained in the Law.

As you read the prophets, look for these simple patterns: either

(1) an identification of Israels sin followed by a prediction of cursing, or

(2) an announcement of Gods

faithfulness and love for her followed by a prediction of blessing, depending on the circumstance.

Historical Context

(1) unprecedented political, military, economic, and social upheaval;

(2) an enormous level of religious unfaithfulness and disregard for the original Mosaic covenant; and

3) dramatic shifts

in populations and national boundaries.

- In these circumstances, Gods Word was needed anew. - God raised up prophets and announced His Word accordingly.

Classification of Prophets

Former and Latter Prophets -Used to designate the books of the Bible according to Jewish classification. Former Prophets Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings

Latter Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi.

Major and Minor Prophets -Used to distinguish between the long prophetical books, and short prophetical books Major Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah (Lamentation and Baruch), Ezekiel, and Daniel

Minor Prophets Hosea, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, and Amos.

ISAIAH
Isaiah son of Amoz is often thought of as the greatest of the writing prophets. His name means The Lord saves. He was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea and Micah, beginning his ministry in 740 b.c., the year King Uzziah died (see note on 6:1).

Isaiah is a book that unveils the full dimensions of Gods judgment and salvation. Yet God will have compassion on his people (14:12) and will rescue them from both political and spiritual oppression.

Peace and safety mark this new Messianic age (11:69). The Lords kingdom on earth, with its righteous Ruler and his righteous subjects, is the goal toward which the book of Isaiah steadily moves.

Zondervan. From the Zondervan NIV Study Bible. Used with Permission.

ISAIAH (see Isaiah 6:1-8) -It speaks well of the prophecy of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:1-25) -Isaiah called for repentance, and strongly opposed corruption and injustice during his prophetic time.

JEREMIAH (see Jeremiah 1:1-19) -Speaks about the denouncement of terrible religious practices and unjust ways of the people -Called for the conversion of the people, and return to YHWH as the source of living water

JEREMIAH

Judgment is one of the all-pervasive themes in Jeremiahs writings, though he was careful to point out that repentance, if sincere, would postpone the otherwise inevitable.

For Jeremiah, God was ultimate. At the same time, God is very much concerned about individual people and their accountability to him.

Gods judgment of his people (and the nations), though terrible, was not to be the last word, the final work of God in history. Mercy and covenant faithfulness would triumph over wrath. Beyond the judgment would come restoration and renewal.

HOSEA (see Hosea 1:1-8) -The Prophet of Love -Depicts the relationship of God and the Israelites -YHWH who loves like a father, and who is a God of compassion and reconciliation.

Hosea

The Book of Hosea portrays the dangers of the observance of religious ceremony without genuine devotion and commitment to the Lord. If this becomes characteristic of society at large, dishonesty and corruption become endemic. When these characterize an entire nation, that nation is in imminent danger of Gods judgment.

It contained a note of hope: with sincere repentance and asking Gods forgiveness, accompanied by renewed commitment to the Lord, Gods people may find forgiveness and restoration to Gods favor and blessings.

Roles of the Prophet

1. Interpreter of the Past YHWH is actively involved in history

2. Judge of the Present To communicate Gods message for now, and to summon the people to respond today

3. Announcer of the Future Sensitive to the future consequences of peoples present actions

Relevance of the Prophets and their Prophecies

1. Reminding people and all nations of YHWHs sovereignty as one God and Lord of History. 2. Showing Gods plan of salvation for all. Perceiving catastrophies as Gods manifestations of power and righteousness, people come out of these difficult times believing more in God.

3. Leading people to obedience, and to cling to Gods steadfast love. The promised salvation gives the people a reason not to give up, and a direction to take up so as to survive.

Modern Day Prophets

1. Mahatma Gandhi 2. Oscar Romero 3. Heidi Mendoza 4. Marlene Esperat

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, India. He became one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders of the 1900's. GandhiJi helped free the Indian people from British rule through nonviolent resistance, and is honored by Indians as the father of the Indian Nation. On January 13, 1948, at the age of 78, he began a fast with the purpose of stopping the bloodshed. After 5 days the opposing leaders pledged to stop the fighting and Gandhi broke his fast. Twelve days later a Hindu fanatic, Nathuram Godse who opposed his program of tolerance for all creeds and religion assassinated him.

Oscar Romero (August 15, 1917 - March 24, 1980) He was a prominent Roman Catholic priest and Archbishop in El Salvador during the 1960s and 1970s. After witnessing numerous violations of human rights, he began to speak out on behalf of the poor and the victims of El Salvador's long and bloody civil war. This led to numerous conflicts, both with the government in El Salvador and with the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. After speaking out against U.S. military support for the government of El Salvador, and calling for soldiers to disobey orders that harmed human rights, Archbishop Romero was shot to death while celebrating Mass at a small chapel near his cathedral. It is believed that his assassins were members of Salvadoran death squads, including two graduates of the School of the Americas.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Who are these people? 2. What did they stand for?

3.What price did they pay for the cause they fought for?

A Call to Action

We are called to become prophets of our times by:

a. responding to the call of these days b. continuing the work for justice

In the end, what will triumph are not the consequences of the peoples wickedness, but of Gods compassion and will to redeem us.