Prophetic Ministryin the Old Testament

Prophetic ministry in the OT

• Instituted by the LORD

Prophetic ministry in the OT

• Instituted by the LORD

• Inspired by the LORD

Prophetic ministry in the OT

• Instituted by the LORD

• Inspired by the LORD

• Authoritative

Prophetic ministry in the OT

• Instituted by the LORD

• Inspired by the LORD

• Authoritative

• Sin & grace, law & gospel

Prophetic ministry in the OT

“Thus says the LORD” (or equivalent)=over 350 times

Prophetic ministry in the OT

• For-telling

• Forth-telling

• Foretelling

Prophetic ministry in the OT

• For-telling: serve as spokesman (Ex 7:1)

• Forth-telling

• Foretelling

Prophetic ministry in the OT

• For-telling: serve as spokesman (Ex 7:1)

• Forth-telling: announce publicly

• Foretelling

Prophetic ministry in the OT

• For-telling: serve as spokesman (Ex 7:1)

• Forth-telling: announce publicly

• Foretelling: predict the future (20%)

Classes

• Former prophets (history): Joshua-2 Kings

• Latter prophets: Isaiah-Malachi

Classes

• Former prophets (history): Joshua-2 Kings

• Latter prophets: Isaiah-Malachi

Classes (people)

• Pre-monarchic (Moses to Samuel)

Classes (people)

• Pre-monarchic (Moses to Samuel)

• Pre-classical (Samuel to Jonah, Isaiah)

Classes (people)

• Pre-monarchic (Moses to Samuel)• Pre-classical (Samuel to Jonah, Isaiah)• Classical (Isaiah to Malachi— “writing

prophets”)

Names for prophets

�ב�י אנ most frequent

ה ”“seerח�ז

Names for prophets

האר� “seer,” alternate term

ך�אמ�ל (when a human messenger)

בדע � -- “servant”

-- anointed types of Christמ�ש��יח�

םל�ה�יא�יש�־א -man of God�חא �יש�־ה�רו -man of the Spirit

Prophecy in OT vs ANE

• Old Babylonian omen texts (2000-1600 BC)

Prophecy in OT vs ANE

• Old Babylonian omen texts (2000-1600 BC)

• Mari prophecies (ca. 2000 – 1800 BC)

Prophecy in OT vs ANE

• Old Babylonian omen texts (2000-1600 BC)

• Mari prophecies (ca. 2000 – 1800 BC)

• Akkadian oracles (also of the “nabu”)

Prophecy in OT vs ANE

1. OT prophets--whole nation, not just rulers.

Prophecy in OT vs ANE

1. OT--whole nation, not just rulers.

2. OT--people’s attitudes, not just rituals.

Prophecy in OT vs ANE

1. OT--whole nation, not just rulers. 2. OT--people’s attitudes, not just rituals.3. OT—morality, ethics, relation to a

personal God.

Prophecy in OT vs ANE

1. OT--whole nation, not just rulers.

2. OT--people’s attitudes, not just rituals.

3. OT—morality, ethics, relation to a personal God.

4. OT—far-reaching, not just immediate

Prophecy in OT vs ANE

1. OT--whole nation, not just rulers.

2. OT--people’s attitudes, not just rituals.

3. OT—morality, ethics, relation to a personal God.

4. OT—far-reaching, not just immediate

5. OT—consistent plan, the Messiah

Prophetic Style• Vivid illustrations, comparisons

Prophetic Style• Vivid illustrations, comparisons

• Present-past-future (back & forth!)

Prophetic Style• Vivid illustrations, comparisons

• Present-past-future (back & forth!)

• Poetry or prose

Prophetic Style• Vivid illustrations, comparisons

• Present-past-future (back & forth!)

• Poetry or prose

• Surrounding nations

Prophetic Themes• Remember the Torah

Prophetic Themes• Remember the Torah

• Sincere repentance

Prophetic Themes• Remember the Torah

• Sincere repentance

• Day of the LORD

Prophetic Themes• Remember the Torah

• Sincere repentance

• Day of the LORD

• Messiah

Prophetic Themes• Remember the Torah

• Sincere repentance

• Day of the LORD

• Messiah

• “When this happens, you will know...”

Prophetic PeriodsAssyrian 853 722 701 686…

• Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah

Prophetic PeriodsAssyrian 853 722 701 686…

• Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah

Babylonian 701 605 586 539• Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Jeremiah,

Obadiah, Lamentations; Ezekiel, Daniel

Prophetic PeriodsAssyrian 853 722 701 686…

• Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah

Babylonian 701 605 586 539• Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Jeremiah,

Obadiah, Lamentations; Ezekiel, Daniel

Persian Period 539 480 450 415…• Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Key Turning Points• 931• 853• 722

• Division of Kingdom• Assyrian Threat Begins• End of the Northern Kingdom

Key Turning Points• 931• 853• 722• 701• 605• 586

• Division of Kingdom• Assyrian Threat Begins• End of the Northern Kingdom• Threat to Jerusalem• Arrival of Babylonians• End of Jerusalem

Key Turning Points• 931• 853• 722• 701• 605• 586• 539• 450s, 440s

• Division of Kingdom• Assyrian Threat Begins• End of the Northern Kingdom• Threat to Jerusalem• Arrival of Babylonians• End of Jerusalem• End of Captivity• Ezra and Nehemiah

Religious ConditionsIn the North• Golden Calves— the

sins of Jeroboam

• Baal worship• Jehu’s reform

Religious ConditionsIn the North• Golden Calves— the

sins of Jeroboam

• Baal worship• Jehu’s reform

In the South• Formalism• Syncretism

Relations of North and South

• Initial hostility

• Détente with house of Omri

• Renewed hostility

International conditions

• A period of prosperity in a vacuum of great powers 1000-700.

• Egypt and Mesopotamia both in decline.

Rise and Fall of the Arameans

• Rise of the Arameans as a local threat in the 800s.

• Balanced against the on-and-off threat of Assyria.

• Assyrian devastation of the Arameans in the 740s & 730s

The Assyrian Threat

• Turned back in 853.

The Assyrian Threat

• Turned back in 853.

• Devastation begins in the 730s.

The Assyrian Threat

• Turned back in 853.

• Devastation begins in the 730s.

• End of the North in 722.

The Assyrian Threat• Turned back in 853.

• Devastation begins in the 730s.

• End of the North in 722.

• Narrow escape of the South in 701.

The Assyrian Threat

• Turned back in 853.

• Devastation begins in the 730s.

• End of the North in 722.

• Narrow escape of the South in 701.

• Declining threat through 600s.

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