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You are here: Home / 101Study Help / Introductions / Prophets Introduction

Prophets Introduction

September 10, 2020 by Krisan Marotta

Introduction to the Prophets | WednesdayintheWord.com

Introduction to understanding the prophets and their role.


What is a prophet?

  1. Prophets were successors to Moses (Deuteronomy 18:9-22). They mediate the Lord’s will to the people and they function as his spokesmen.
  2. Prophets were guardians of the theocracy. They were sent by God to remind the kings of their covenant obligations (Deuteronomy 17:14-20).
  3. Prophets were covenant prosecutors. They brought the covenant to bear on the people (e.g. Hosea 4:1).
  4. Prophets were witnesses to God’s sovereign rule over history. They give a word of warning. They say when this comes to pass, you will know that God is sovereign over history. For example, Ezekiel says “Then you will know that I am the Lord” over 65 times.
  5. Prophets were intercessors. They pray to God for their people (e.g. Genesis 20:7; 1 Samuel 12:23).
  6. Prophets were “forth-tellers.” They were preachers to their contemporaries. Prophet were not primarily “fore-tellers” (predicting the future).

Function of Prophets

  • “Covenant enforcement mediators” between God and the people
  • Primary function: speak for God to their contemporaries about covenant status. They explain and clarify the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience (See Lev 26; Dt 4; Dt. 28-32). Blessings: life, health, prosperity, agricultural abundance, respect and safety. Curses: death, disease, drought, dearth, danger, destruction, defeat, deportation, destitution, disgrace
  • Convey God’s message (“Thus says the Lord”)
  • Speak an unoriginal message; They are not inspired to announce any new doctrines. They uphold everything Moses taught and apply it to the people in their culture.

Speaking vs Writing Prophets

  • Speaking prophets (e.g. Elijah and Elisha); Most prophets were only speaking.
  • 16 Writing prophets (4 major; 12 minor)
  • Nature of ministry is the same for writing and speaking prophets.
  • Samuel became a leader of a group of prophets. He established the role and office of prophet.

Modes of prophetic inspiration

  • Direct, personal awareness (e.g. “The Word of the Lord came to me…”)
  • Dreams and visions
  • Both of these are through the Spirit of God
  • Mode of Communication: Oracles

Genre: Interpreting Prophecy

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Who are the prophets?

Many people in Scripture prophesy occasionally but not all who do so hold the office of prophet. Therefore, scholars count the prophets differently.

  • Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
  • Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
  • Jews count 48 male and 7 female prophets but the list is debated.

The classification between “major” and “minor” refers to the size of the book, NOT the significance of the message.

ProphetApproximate
Date
Kings of JudahKings of IsraelForeign Kings
Obadiah845 BC?JehoramJoram
Joel835 BC?JoashJehu
Jonah782 BCJeroboam IIShalmaneser (Assyria)
Hosea760-720 BCUzziah; Jotham;
Ahaz;
Hezekiah
Jerobam II;
Zechariah;
Shallum;
Menahem;
Pekahiah;
Pekah;
Hoshea
Amos760 BCUzziahJeroboam II
Isaiah739-685 BCUzziah; Jotham;
Ahaz;
Hezekiah;
Manasseh
Fall of Israel 722 BC
Micah739-685 BCJotham;
Ahaz;
Hezekiah;
Pekah;
Hoshea
Nahum650 BCManassehAshurbanipal
(Assyria)
Zephaniah640 BCJosiah
Jeremiah627-580 BCJosiah;
Jehoahaz;
Jehoiakim;
Jehoiachin;
Zedekiah;
(Gedaliah)
Babylon:
Nabopolassar;
Nebuchadnezzar
Habakkuk609 BCJehoiakimNabopolassar
(Babylon)
Daniel606-530 BCJehoiakim;
Jehoiachin;
Zedekiah;
Babylon:
Nebuchadnezzar;
Neriglissar;
Labashi-Marduk;
Evil-Merodach;
Nabonidus.
Cyrus (Medo-Persia)
Ezekiel593-570 BCZedekiah;Babylon:
Nebuchadnezzar
Haggai520 BCGovernor: ZerubbabelMedo-Persia:
Dairus I
Zechariah520 BCGovernor: NehemiahMedo-Persia:
Dairus I
Malachi433 BCGovernor: NehemiahMedo-Persia:
Dairus IL

Note: The dates of Obadiah and Joel are unknown.

Chart: Israels King’s & Prophets

BibleGateway: Chart of Kings & Prophets

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The Minor Prophets and their Message

  1. Hosea  – The Lord loves Israel despite her sin.
  2. Joel – Judgment precedes Israel’s future spiritual revival. 
  3. Amos – God is just and must judge sin.
  4. Obadiah – Sure retribution must overtake merciless pride.
  5. Jonah – Divine grace is universal in its sweep.
  6. Micah – Bethlehem-born Messiah will be mankind’s Deliverer.
  7. Nahum – Doom is to descend on wicked Nineveh.
  8. Habakkuk – Justification by faith is God’s way of salvation.
  9. Zephaniah – The Day of the Lord must precede kingdom blessing.
  10. Haggai – The Lord’s Temple and interests deserve top priority.
  11. Zechariah – The Lord will remember His people Israel.
  12. Malachi – Let the wicked be warned by the certainty of judgment.

-adapted from The New Unger’s Bible Handbook

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Series: Bible Study 101

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Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

(This article has been read 1,002 times plus 13 today.)

Related posts:

  1. 01 Introduction to the Prophets
  2. Prophets Chronological List
  3. Minor Prophets quoted in the New Testament
  4. 05 Holy Spirit in the Old Testament: Prophets
  5. Southern Kingdom Introduction

Filed Under: Introductions Tagged With: introduction, prophets

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