Old Testament Prophets
Introduction to Biblical Studies (PHIL 223)
Study Guide Old Testament Prophets
Carol Swain Lewis, Ph.D., Instructor
God’s Messengers
From the beginning, prophets were known as spokesmen for God. In other words, the purpose for a prophet was to speak God’s words to the Israelites. Sometimes God’s message for his people was a call to repent and return to God’s ways, and sometimes a prophet foretold future events. Regardless, when a prophet, the evangelist of his day, appeared, the message was almost always one that would be difficult. Thus, the prophetical books belong to times of great trouble and distress for God’s chosen people. In II Kings 17:13, we find what God says of the prophets: “The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: ‘Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.’” From the tenth to the fifth centuries B.C., the prophets spoke fearlessly of their sins and failures to kings and to the people alike. However, after the fifth century, the voices of prophets were not heard again until John the Baptist.
The Theme of the Prophets
The overarching theme of the books of the prophets is that God is the sovereign of history. All of these books were written during a 500-year period from about the tenth century to about the fifth century B.C. Around Israel, nations were rising and falling, and idolatry and injustice were endemic in Israel; God’s nation (Israel) split into two kingdoms (Israel in the north and Judah in the south), and the people failed to keep faith with God. Tremendous destruction and sorrow for God’s chosen people was foretold, and the same would be the lot of all who would not humble themselves before God. The prophets teach that God has a specific plan for history through the coming Messiah. Eventually, God will subdue all of his
Study Guide Old Testament Prophets
Carol Swain Lewis, Ph.D., Instructor
God’s Messengers
From the beginning, prophets were known as spokesmen for God. In other words, the purpose for a prophet was to speak God’s words to the Israelites. Sometimes God’s message for his people was a call to repent and return to God’s ways, and sometimes a prophet foretold future events. Regardless, when a prophet, the evangelist of his day, appeared, the message was almost always one that would be difficult. Thus, the prophetical books belong to times of great trouble and distress for God’s chosen people. In II Kings 17:13, we find what God says of the prophets: “The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: ‘Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.’” From the tenth to the fifth centuries B.C., the prophets spoke fearlessly of their sins and failures to kings and to the people alike. However, after the fifth century, the voices of prophets were not heard again until John the Baptist.
The Theme of the Prophets
The overarching theme of the books of the prophets is that God is the sovereign of history. All of these books were written during a 500-year period from about the tenth century to about the fifth century B.C. Around Israel, nations were rising and falling, and idolatry and injustice were endemic in Israel; God’s nation (Israel) split into two kingdoms (Israel in the north and Judah in the south), and the people failed to keep faith with God. Tremendous destruction and sorrow for God’s chosen people was foretold, and the same would be the lot of all who would not humble themselves before God. The prophets teach that God has a specific plan for history through the coming Messiah. Eventually, God will subdue all of his