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