OT Final Flashcards
Hebrew Title of Ezekiel
God Strengthens
When was Ezekiel deported?
It was likely that he was one of those deported during the second deportation (597 B.C.) He would begin his prophetic ministry five years later while in Exile (Ezk 1:2; 8:1)
What did Ezekiel predict in Babylon (where he was ministering)?
The third and final attack and destruction of Jerusalem
The fall of the city prompted…
A change in Ezekiel’s prophetic message. Before Jerusalem fell, Ezekiel’s message focused on Judah’s soon destruction because of her sin. After Jerusalem’s fall, Ezekiel’s message centered on Judah’s future restoration
Ezekiel is
Chronological (Unlike Jeremiah)
Purpose of Ezekiel
- To speak for God locally to the exiles who continued to listen to false prophets and practice idolatry. The book shows that little has changed in the attitudes and actions of the Jewish exiles in Babylon
- To outline blessings that will follow their judgment
- To emphasize God’s sovereignty which will bring about judgment and restoration
- To warn Israel of imminent judgment
- To stress the need for individual responsibility and national accountability before God
More than any other prophet, Ezekiel was called to
Act out his prophecies in highly symbolic dramatic form
Theology of Ezekiel
- God is sovereign over all nations
- God’s sovereignty is based on His holiness
- This holy and sovereign God resolved that He would be known and acknowledged
Once the news of the destruction of Jerusalem arrived to the exiles
The message of Ezekiel changed to the Lord’s consoling words of hope for His people. They would experience spiritual revival, restoration to the holy land, and a glorious future.
Temple Vision
Biblical scholars acknowledge that the temple vision, which occupies the last 9 chapters of Ezekiel, presents special challenges in its interpretation. Some have even described it as the most difficult passage in the OT
Which kings did Daniel hold high positions under?
Kings Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus
Daniel
Is the only spotless character in the Bible outside of Christ. There is not a flaw to be found in his character
Daniel was like who?
Joseph, God’s candle, shining in the heathen darkness
When was Daniel taken to Babylon?
He was carried to Babylon during the first deportation of the captives
Unlike the other prophets
Daniel deals more fully with the Gentile nations than with his own Jewish nation
Hebrew meaning of Daniel
God is my Judge
Much of Daniel’s writing
Does not bear the character or prophecy, but rather of history
How does Ezekiel, a contemporary of Daniel, view Daniel?
He has a high opinion of him and twice mentions him by name as deserving to be ranked with Noah and Job or as having great wisdom
Our Lord Himself
Endorsed both the genuineness of his message and the validity of Daniel as prophet
Authority of Daniel comes from
The fact that Revelation quotes from Daniel more than any other OT Book
The Early Date
Daniel’s Lifetime, 6th century B.C.
External Evidence
- Jesus identifies Daniel as the prophet who spoke of “the abomination of desolation” in the Olivet Discourse of Matthew
- Chapter 9 includes prophecy up to the crucifixion of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem
Chapter 4 of Daniel
Was written by King Nebuchadnezzar
Author of Daniel
- Jewish and Christian tradition has named Daniel as the author
- It is also likely that some now-unknown person was inspired by the Holy Spirit to collect, edit, and organize this book
Themes of Daniel
- Sovereignty and Superiority of God
- Protection of God
- God’s prevenient grace
- Hope
- Prayer
Two ways Daniel can be outlined
1) 1-6: Narration (Stories)
7-12: Revelation (Visions)
2) 1-2:4a: Hebrew (Prophecy concerning Jews)
2:4b-7: Aramaic (Prophecy concerning Gentiles)
8-12: Hebrew (Prophecy concerning Jews)
How is Joseph similar to Daniel?
As he proved faithful and pure in his conduct God rewarded him with wisdom from Heaven (Genesis 40:8)
4th Person in Fiery Furnace
Many believe that the 4th person was a visible appearance of Christ in human form. If true, this would then be another OT Theophany (a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ)
Chapter 4
Was an official “state documents” from ancient times. It was a proclamation of King Nebuchadnezzar to the whole world. The ONLY chapter in the Bible written by a ‘pagan’ king
Daniel 9
The theology behind this precision in Daniel 9 is the idea that God is Sovereign. Human history does not take God by surprise
Chapter 11
Is unique in Scripture. It’s prophecy that is so literal in nature that many scholars, on the basis of this chapter alone, discount the entire book
Josephus Alexander’s Visit
According to this visit, it was finished by a viewing of the book of Daniel which foretold the rise and conquests of Alexander. He was so pleased with this that he spared the city
The Minor Prophets
These books are not minor because they are of any lesser value, but because they are shorter than the major prophets. A minor prophet is equal in importance to the major prophets.
Obadiah
Addressed to Edom although Judah was intended as the primary readers of the book
Joel
Calls for repentance. He does not mention specific sins to repent from, but calls for the “rending of hearts” as a contrast to external show of torn garments
Jonah
Message of the book is that God is concerned for all the heathen nations, even the worst, and that Jehovah is the universal God over all the earth
Jonah is the only OT Prophet
That Jesus directly compared Himself to (Matt 12:38-41)
Amos
Message of the book is that justice is far more important to God than our worship
Amos 8:11-12
This passage is a prophecy of the 400 years of prophetic silence between the final prophetic voice (Malachi) until John the Baptist
Hosea
Israel had been unfaithful to her covenant. As God commands Hosea to marry a prostitute who will give him children not his own, so God sees that Israel is an adulterous wife desecrating her marriage vow
Micah
His prophecies sympathized entirely with the poorer classes and regarded God as the spiritual Vindicator of Judah’s voiceless sufferers
Zepheniah
Directed his blows against religious syncretism - a mixture of pagan worship and the worship of God - and exhorted his people to seek meekness and righteousness promising that, if they did, all would be well
Nahum
Nahum single-mindedly proclaims the destruction and doom of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital. About 100 years before, at Jonah’s preaching, the Ninevites repented, and were spared, yet, soon after, they became worse than ever
Habakkuk
Informed by God that the Babylonians would be His chastening rod on the nation
Haggai
From this book we can learn of the contagious nature of the sin of procrastination
Zechariah
Is an apocalyptic look to the final consummation of God’s eternal purpose in the glory of the Messiah’s rule
Malachi
We can learn of the work of John the Baptist
