Old Testament Prophecy and
Prophets
In the OT we have prophets about whom we know mainly
what they did (Elijah, Elisha, etc.) and we have those about whom we know
mainly what they said and wrote (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, etc.) We also conveniently
divide those whose written works have been preserved into “Major Prophets” and
“Minor Prophets.”
Moses was considered the prophet par excellence or
the ideal prophet (Dt. 18:15-20). He gave the people the law; the rest of the
prophets judged the people on the basis of this law. The voice of a true
prophet was always the voice of God’s law given once for all time by Moses.
I. Function of a Prophet
A. To Speak for God (Ex. 4:15-16; 7:1; Dt. 18:18;
Jer. 23:22). A prophet was not first a foremost a predictor of the future, but
rather he was an interpreter of the will of God. Everything a prophet did
followed one goal, to facilitate God’s word to the prophet’s contemporaries. He
spoke with complete authority in the name of God.
B. The prophet was the facilitator or mediator in the
application of God’s covenant. The prophets announced blessings and curses on
the basis of categories provided in Lev. 26 and Dt. 4 and 28-32.
1. Blessings for faithfulness: life,
health, security, agricultural abundance, respect, and safety.
2. Punishments for unfaithfulness:
death, sickness, famine, lack, danger, destruction, defeat, poverty, and exile.
II. Characteristics of
prophecy
A. Prophecy is usually poetic. It contains symbols,
pictures, metaphors, and expressions which we should not take literally.
B. It had to do first and foremost with the
contemporary situation—It applied to the present by
pointing out God’s intentions.
C. It consisted of the proclamation of God’s will for
that time: Usually the prophet rebuked the people or the nation because of
idolatry or injustice toward others. He explained to the people what God had
done in the past and its relevance for their time.
D. Often prophecy predicted the immediate future, but
only rarely did it deal with the distant future.
E. It warned people of the future judgment in order
that they could take moral responsibility for the present. Predictions of
future judgment, therefore, had nothing to do with human curiosity about future
events.
F. In order to find the fulfillment of most OT
prophecy, we need to look back to the time, which for the original audience may
have been in the future, but for us is already the past. It is estimated that
messianic prophecy in the OT makes up only about 2% of OT prophecy. 5% deals
with the age of the New Covenant and perhaps only 1% deals with things that are
yet to be fulfilled (Fee and Stuart)
G. It was understood that predictions were not meant
to be absolute—they were conditional (Jer. 18:5-10; 26:12-13; Jonah, etc.)
III. Tests to determine
whether a prophet was from God
A. Dt. 13:1-6 (theological test)
B. Dt. 18:20-22; Jer. 9:6-10 (practical test—only
negative, could eliminate, but not confirm)
C. Jer. 23:9ff (moral test)
Major Prophets
Isaiah—Prophet
most often quoted in the NT. Was active in the southern kingdom in the 8th
century B.C. Composed of 3 parts: 1-39 (God’s judgment and hope, contains story
of Hezekiah); 40-55 (comfort and hope for those in exile—“the Old Testament
Gospel” “suffering servant”); 56-66 (various prophecies). Key texts: Is. 6-7;
53.
Jeremiah—The suffering/weeping prophet. Active in
the southern kingdom in the 6th century B.C. Predicted the fall of
Jerusalem and the return from exile. His call for repentance was not
heeded. Chapters 30-33 are known as the “little or small book of comfort.”
Lamentations are traditionally regarded as his grief over
Lamentations—Ascribed
to Jeremiah as a lament for the fall of
Ezekiel—“Watchman
over the nation of
Daniel—Active
in
Minor Prophets
Hosea—Active
in the northern kingdom in the 8th century B.C. Faithful husband and
unfaithful wife symbol of God’s relationship to Israel. Key texts 4:6; 6:6
Joel—We
don’t know when Joel lived. 2 parts: 1-2:27 (Plague of Locusts) 2:27-3:21 (The
day of the Lord).
Key text: 2:28-32
Amos—Southern
Prophet (sheepherder) in the northern kingdom about the year 760 B.C. (8th
cent.) 2 parts:
1-6 (Oracles against the
nations); 7-9 (visions and promise of restoration). Key texts: 5:4,6,14,24
Obadiah—“Servant
of Yahweh,” shortest book in OT. Probably active around the fall of
Jonah—Is he
a true or a false prophet? From the north but active in
Micah—active
in the south in the 8th century B.C. Prophesies the place of the
birth of the Messiah (5:2). Key text: 6:8
Nahum—“comforter”
Active in the south before 612 B.C. (fall of
Habakkuk—“The
righteous will live by his faith” (2:4). Active in the south in the 7th
century B.C. Dialogue between the prophet and God (“how long?”) and a prayer.
Zephaniah—Active
in the south in the 7th century B.C. Oracles of judgment on the
nations.
Haggai—“Consider
your ways” (1:5,7). Active in 520 B.C. after the return from exile. Call to
restoration and rebuilding of the temple
Zechariah—Active
at the same time as Haggai. 2 parts: 1-8 (8 visions); 9-14 (coming of the
Messiah and his kingdom). Key text: 7:9-10; 8:16-17.
Malachi—“My
messenger” Active after the return from exile, probably after the rebuilding of
the temple. Accusations against