Prophets Celebration Flashcards
Describe the historical and spiritual circumstances that led to the rise of classical prophecy.
- The Kingdom had divided in Israel and Judah.
- Idolatry and other foreign religious practices challenged and eventually crept into the people’s faith.
- Increase of religious compromise.
- The creation of larger powers threatened smaller nations like Israel and Judah.
Why were the prophets an essential part of God’s plan for his people?
Prophets had special insight that God gave them directly. God personally chose them to proclaim His message to a people who desperately needed to hear it.
What are some characteristics that all prophets shared?
- Committed to God above all else
- Possessed a strong sense of calling
- Were messengers
What are parallels to biblical prophecy did other nations have? How is biblical prophecy unique?
- omen texts were used to interpret unnatural occurrences
- Mari ecstatics were people that gave messages received by dreams, visions ,and trances
- Akkadian prophecies, which seem to be prophecies written down
- Biblical prophecy is unique because it stresses morality
What are some common themes of biblical prophecy?
- covenant obligations
- The Day of the Lord- eschatological
judgement - Messiah
What 3 major empires formed the historical backdrop for the classical prophets? Describe the basic characteristics of each.
- The Assyrians- military power that began expanding in the early part of the first millennium bc
- The Babylonians- Joined Medes and others to defeat Assyria and became a major power.
- The Persians- Cyrus gained major power and took Babylon without a fight. Favored pluralism and issued a decree for Jews to return to Israel
Who were the classical prophets?
- Lived between 800 and 450 BC
- generally:
*address all the people,
*inform them of Gods wrath against sin
*warn of judgment
*call them to repentance
*proclaim God’s salvation for those that
turn to Him
What do we know about Isaiah the man from the details in his book?
- name means “The Lord has saved”, which is related to the names Joshua and Jesus
- son of Amoz
- had 2 sons
- served as a prophet in Judah’s royal court
- prophesied mainly to Judah, but also Israel and other nations
What themes are most important to Isaiah?
- remnant
- sovereignty of God
- the Servant
- Holy One of Israel
- Messiah
What can you learn about Messiah in chapter 1-12?
- wonderful counselor
- might God
- Everlasting Father
- Prince of Peace
- assumed David’s throne
- more than human
- describes 2 comings
What nations did Isaiah pronounce judgement in chapter 13 - 23?
- Babylon *Assyria
- Philistia *Moab
- Cush *Egypt
- Edom *Arabia
- Judah *Tyre
Identify the main details of chapters 36 - 39.
- Sennacherib’s threat and God’s deliverance (36-37)
- Hezekiah’s illness and recovery (38)
- Hezekiah’s visit with Meradachbaladan (39)
What are the key ideas of Chapter 40-66?
- future events
- God’s redemption and salvation
- The Servant
What are the characteristics the describe the Servant in chapters 40-66?
- raised, lifted, exalted
- appearance disfigured
- suffered for our sin; stricken by God
- silent before oppressors
- killed for the people’s sin
- assigned a grave with the wicked
What is a basic outline of Jeremiah?
- God calls Jeremiah
- Jeremiah describes Judah’s sad condition
- Jeremiah wrestles with people and with God
- Jeremiah challenges rulers and prophets
- Words of comfort
- Failure of leaders
- Fall of Jerusalem
- about Nations
- the Fall revisited
