Session 8 Study Questions Flashcards
Compare and contrast the two main Hebrew words for “prophet.”
Nabi (used over 300 times) refers to one called or appointed to proclaim the message of God Himself.
Roeh or “seer” refers to one who perceives things that are not in the realm of natural sight of hearing.
What are four major themes of the prophets?
- exposed sinful practices
- called people back to God
- warned people of coming judgement
- anticipated the coming of the Messiah
What are four chronological points emphasized by the prophets?
- their own day
- the captivity and return
- the first coming of Christ
- the messianic kingdom (second coming)
Why is the book of Isaiah sometimes mentioned as the “Bible in miniature?”
- 66 chapters (like 66 books)
- 39 chapters (like OT) stress righteousness, holiness, and justice.
- 27 chapters (like NT) portray God’s glory, compassion, and underserved favor.
Isaiah’s prophetic ministry spanned at least 40 years, and involved the reigns of what 4 Judean kings?
- Uzziah
- Jotham
- Ahaz
- Hezekiah
(perhaps also slain in the reign of Manasseh, who is not named)
How does the mention of Babylon suggest the unity of the book of Isaiah?
Babylon is mentioned more than twice as often in 1-39 as in 40-66.
The Christological Prophecies in Isaiah are from both “halves” of Isaiah, and involved both the first and second coming of Christ.
First Coming (Advent) Isaiah 7, 9, 11, 28, 53, 55, 61
Second Coming (Advent) Isaiah 4, 11, 32, 49, 60, 61
What are 4 main hardships that Jeremiah received from his countrymen?
- opposition
- beatings
- isolation
- imprisionment
What evidence do we have of the early writing and recognition of the book of Jeremiah?
Inspiration: The first edition of Jeremiah was cut in pieces and burned by king Jehoiakim, but God told Jeremiah to replace the words and add many more.
Canon: Daniel read and believed Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning 70 years duration for the captivity.
Under what 6 rulers did Jeremiah prophecy?
- Josiah
- Jehoahaz
- Jehoiakim
- Jehoiachin
- Zedekiah
- Gedaliah
Give 3 of the 6 changes that took place between the beginning and the ending of Jeremiah’s life.
Beginning
- Reformation
- Assyria in power
- Jews in land
End
- Retrogression
- Babylon in power
- Jews deported to Babylon
What is Jeremiah’s basic message?
Surrender to God’s will is the only way to escape calamity.
Of the nine nations mentioned by Jeremiah [Egypt, Philistine, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Syria, Arabia, Elam, and Babylon], only 4 are promised a restoration. What are those 4 nations?
- Egypt
- Moab
- Ammon
- Elam
In the depths of Jeremiah’s Lamentations, what is the focus of his deep faith in God?
God’s goodness and God’s mercy
What 3 themes run through the five laments of Jeremiah?
- mourning over Jerusalem’s destruction
- confession of sin to a holy God
- hope in God’s future restoration
How do the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations compare in their relation to the defeat and desolation of Jerusalem?
Jeremiah looks ahead, warning of it.
Lamentations looks back, mourning for it.
What are 4 distinctive expressions in the Book of Ezekiel?
- they shall know that I am the LORD
- Son of man
- The word of the LORD came to me
- The glory of the LORD
When was Ezekiel taken to Babylon, and for about how long did he prophesy there?
Taken in 605 BC with Jehoiachin and others.
Prophesied beginning at age 30 (592-570) and he died about 560. About 40 years.
In what way is Ezekiel a prophet of “the glory of God”?
- Ezekiel’s first visitors were of God’s glory
- Ezekiel saw the departing glory from the Temple in Jerusalem
- Ezekiel saw God’s future earthly glory returning
What are three expressions by which Ezekiel pictures Christ in his book?
- tender TWIG that becomes a stately cedar
- KING who has a right to rule
- SHEPHERD who will deliver and feed his flock
Is Satan pictured in Ezekiel?
Satan may be described as the “king of Tyre” who is the real power behind the nation (not the human prince of Tyre)…
Ezekiel 28:11-17
- Thou seals up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty, thou hast been in Eden the garden of God
- Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth
- Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee
- I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Chart on page 227-228 presents the date, context, and theme of the writing prophets in Canonical Order.
Isaiah - salvation is of the Lord Jeremiah - warning of the coming judgement Ezekiel - glory of the Lord Daniel - sovereignty of God over men and nations Hosea - loyal love of God Joel - Day of the Lord Amos - judgement on Israel Obadiah - doom on Edom Jonah - salvation to the Gentiles Micah - injustice of Judah and justice of God Nahum - the destruction of Nineveh Habakkuk - the just shall live by faith Zephaniah - judgement and blessing in the Day of the Lord Haggai - rebuilding the temple Zechariah - future blessing for Israel Malachi - appeal to backsliders
The book of Hosea uses the one-sided love of the prophet for his unfaithful wife as an illustration of God’s love and sorrow in His relationship with His faithless people.
MC
True/False: Joel is probably the earliest prophet to stress the Day of the LORD as a time of judgement before blessing
True
Amos was a country-farmer-turned-prophet who had tended a special breed of small sheep, and a grower of sycamore figs which were punctured before they ripened.
TF or MC
Give 5 of the 20 comparison/contrasts between Hosea and Amos.
Hosea
- Preaches against idolatry
- A poet
- A mystic
- Sympathetic
- Lovingkindness
Amos
- Preaches against injustice
- A philosopher
- A moralist
- Stern
- Wrath
Obadiah is the earliest writing prophet [Braithwaite’s view], and he pronounces judgment on the Edomites who lacked brotherly compassion to Israel during the calamities associated with king Jehoram of Judah.
TF or MC
True/False: Obadiah is the shortest book in the OT.
True
True/False: Jonah is the prophet who refused to go to Nineveh, but who produced the greatest response in revival of any prophet.
True
God used a plant, a worm, and a wind to bring Jonah to despondency, so he could become aware of God’s compassionate love.
(no answer mentioned)
The book of Micah exposes the injustice of Judah and the righteousness of Jehovah. What are the 3 parts of the book?
- indicts Israel and Judah for specific sins
- judgement will come as a result of sins
- hope and consolation will come with the Divine Deliverer comes
True/False: Micah was a prophet whose ministry took place about the same time as Isaiah in Judah, and as Hosea and Amos to Judah.
True
True/False: Micah gives vivid descriptions of the righteous reign of Christ over the whole world.
True
True/False: Nahum predicted the unavoidable destruction of Nineveh.
True
True/False: Nahum prophesied after the fall of Thebes in Egypt and before the fall of Nineveh.
True
List 4 of 8 contrasts between the books of Jonah and the book of Nahum.
Jonah
- mercy of God
- ca 760 BC
- obedient nation
- disobedient prophet
Nahum
- judgment from God
- ca 660 BC
- disobedient nation
- obedient prophet
True/False: Habakkuk was a prophet who wrote of his questions and God’s answers about the sinfulness of Judah and of the judgement the nation deserved.
True
Give 3 of the 6 contrasts between Jonah and Habakkuk
Jonah
- God called on Jonah
- Jonah ran from God
- Ends in foolishness
Habakkuk
- Habakkuk called on God
- Habakkuk ran to God
- Ends in faith
The book of Habakkuk concludes with a psalm of unqualified praise
Habakkuk 3:17-19 - Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no heard in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hind’s feet and he will make me walk upon mine high places.
True/False: Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of king Josiah.
True
What two prophets deal almost exclusively with the Day of the LORD?
Joel (early in divided kingdom)
Zephaniah (late surviving kingdom)
Give three of the six suggested “progressions of thought” regarding the fall of Jerusalem, through Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and Lamentations.
Zeph
- Decades before fall (630)
- God will judge
- Declaration
Hab
- Just before fall (607)
- God, when will you judge?
- Dialogue
Lam
- After the fall (586)
- God has judged
- Dirge
Haggai was probably an old man who may have seen the glorious temple built by Solomon during his childhood.
TF or MC
According to the Talmud, what was missing from the rebuilt restoration temple?
- ark of the covenant
- the Shekinah glory
- the Urim and Thummin
True/False: Zechariah affirmed that the temple must be rebuilt, for one day Messiah’s glory will inhabit it. By building the Temple, the people are building the future. Messiah is coming.
True
Zechariah was the younger contemporary of what prophet?
Haggai
Give 4 of the 11 Messianic anticipations as presented in the book of Zechariah.
- The Angel of the Lord
- The righteous branch
- The Stone with 7 eyes
- The King-Priest
True/False: Zechariah is second only to Isaiah among the prophets in messianic passages.
True
Give three of six contrasts between the book of Haggai and Zechariah.
Haggai
- Exhortation
- Concise
- Take part!
Zechariah
- Encouragement
- Expanded
- Take heart!
What is the last book written in the OT, before the “400 silent years”?
Malachi
True/False: Malachi appeals to backsliders, both priests and common people, to prepare for Messiah’s coming.
True
Joab was a nephew of David, the son of his sister Zeruiah
TF or MC
Amasa was a cousin of David, who had served as general under Absalom.
True
Abiathar was a priest who had escaped from the massacre at Nob (priests being killed by Doeg at the command of Saul), and who was with David in his outlaw days.
True, and he joined forces with Adonijah.
Zadok was a priest who officiated at Gibeon (where the Mosaic Tabernacle and Brazen Altar were located, but without the Ark).
True, and was co-priest with Abiathar, but preceded Abiathar when mentioned later.
Adonijah sought to lay claim to kingship by taking David’s concubine Abishag as his own.
True
Joab fled for his life, but was slain by Benaiah for the deaths of Abner and Amasa
True
When Solomon completed the Temple and placed the Ark of the LORD in it, how did people know that this was approved of God?
Three things happened:
- The temple was filled with the cloud of God’s presence
- Solomon prayed a profound dedicatory prayer
- Fire came down from heaven and consumed the burn offering and the sacrifices
Why did the LORD become angry with Solomon?
- Because his heart turned away from the LORD.
- Because he tolerated idolatrous worship.
- Because he had many wives who turned away his heart.
The Virgin Birth prophecy
Isaiah 7:14
Birth of a male child
Isaiah 8:3
Human child; divine son
Isaiah 9:6
Kingdom not at 1st return
Isaiah 11:11
Israel’s kingdom song
Isaiah 12:2
Isaiah 25:1
