Forthtellers and foretellers

Writing prophets (760—460 B.C.)

• Major and Minor prophets (see chart)
  

• A unique moment in Israel’s history

• Emerging empires
  
  
  
• Nation divided

• Political division

 

• Military division

 

• Spiritual division

• True cause of Israel/Judah destruction

 

 

 

• Prophets as "covenant enforcers"

• The Law as a basis for blessing and cursing the nation

• Blessing of faithfulness: Lev. 26:1—13, Deut. 4:32—40; 28:1—14

• Health
• Life
• Prosperity
• Safety

• Curses of unfaithfulness: Lev. 26:14—39; Deut. 4:15—28; 28:15—32:42

• Death
• Destruction
• Deportation
• Disgrace

"What Manner of Man is the Prophet?"—Abraham Heschel, The Prophets, v. 1

• Sensitivity to evil (Is. 32:11; Hos. 6:4)

Society accommodates sin and becomes callused

Prophets sensitize people to their true spiritual state

• Confrontative

Superficial religion (Hos. 6:6)

Materialism, power, and the wisdom of the world (Jer. 9:23,24)

• Burdened by calling

Elijah and Jezebel (1 Kings 18)

Martyred (Heb. 11:37)

Jer. 20:14—18

• Not selective

Royalty (2 Sam 12:1—14; Hos. 1:4…)

Priests (Hos. 4:4—11; Amos 7:17; Mal. 2:1—9)

Principle: While many are guilty, all are responsible

• Speaks for God

Prophets are called (Ezek. 3:1—15; Hos. 1:1—9)

Address the people as "thus says the Lord…"

• Lived in horror and hope

• Historical context is crucial

Name and family of the prophet

 

Time of ministry in terms of Judah/Israel monarchy

 

Prophets’ message against background of military opposition (see charts)

 

 

Oracles: the main structural unit of prophetic writing

• Oracles are messages from the Lord to the prophet

Word

Vision

Dream (see chart)

The often highly symbolic imagery in prophecy is the central difficulty in interpretation, but are often self-interpreting

 

• Recognizing oracles—some common textual clues

• Change in audience, time/situation, subject

Amos 1:3—2:8; 6:1 (Is. 7:10)

 

• Introduction formula

"Thus says the Lord… ", or "Then the Lord said to me…", or "The word of the Lord came to me…"; "Hear the word of the Lord…"

Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13 ….

 

A new vision or dream

Amos 7:1,2; 7:4; 7:7,8; 8:1ff; 9:1ff

Organization of oracles

• Chronological or thematic structure?

Usually thematic

Sometimes roughly chronological—Isaiah’s long ministry; Jonah…

• Pattern of organization (for prophetic books as a whole and sometimes of individual oracles): Amos

Call of the prophet

 

Denunciations

Set of offenses

 

Judgments

What God will do—based on violation of Torah, or the nations’ wickedness toward God’s covenant people

 

Note: Judgments are conditional, depending on response to denunciations

See Jer. 18:5—12; Jonah 4:2; (1 Kings 21:20—29)

 

Sometimes the prophet summons the audience to repent

Joel 2:12—17 (cf. Judgment oracle in 1:2—2:11)

Amos 5:5, 6

 

Blessing of restoration

God is faithful to his promises

Amos 9:11

 

 

Future blessing of God’s people after their time of judgment cast in terms of covenant blessing of Torah—abundance in the land

Amos 9:11—15

 

Promise

Extending God’s salvation plan—eschatology

Amos 9:12b—15

 

Often difficult to determine short term blessing (resettlement) from eschatological promise

Imagery of blessing is like imagery of eschatological promise

 

Prophet receives words from God or visions as though they are one event

 

Major promise themes and textual clues to identify promise:

Day of the Lord as cosmic blessing and judgment

Contrast Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11 with Joel 2:31

 

Universal rule of God and his Davidic King

Amos 9:11; Jeremiah 23…

 

New Covenant and gift of the Holy Spirit

Jer. 31:31ff

 

Post-Exilic prophecy—Zechariah

 

Note: cross references are extremely valuable

E.g.: Joel 2:28—3:3 (cf. Jer. 31:31ff)

 

Exercise: Zephaniah

Assignment: Read Micah

1. Summarize the historical context for Micah

2. Outline the structure of Micah by oracles

3. Summarize the denunciation and judgment oracles

4. Summarize for each relevant oracle, the elements of post-exilic blessing and eschatological promise—in what way is God’s plan furthered in the promise oracles?

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