In our tour of the Bible looking to get an overview of these last 6,000 years, we come to the prophets. Since the days of Moses there have been prophets, but it is when we get to around 700 BC that we have several books written by prophets.
Previously the words of the prophets were included in the content of the historical books.
The prophets were very ordinary men, but they were given a CHARGE, an ORACLE or a WORD, which they spoke, preached, proclaimed or shared.
The prophet not only spoke for God, but first had to listen to God. We have to receive before we can give.
The prophets basically challenged God’s people, and occasionally confronted kings, or priests, or false prophets.
They also comforted the people, and that too is part of the New Testament prophecy.
Jeremiah has become a nickname for doom and gloom: Jeremiah prophesied serious and sad words, all of which came true.
If someone calls you Jeremiah, and that is true, then it is a great compliment, it means that you are proclaiming the Word of God.
People thought Jesus was Jeremiah! Matthew chapter 16.
In the prophets we learn about GOD.
We learn that God is mighty – that HE is a GOD of miracles – that HE intervenes in history – that HE raises up men – that HE judges men and nations, including His own chosen people – that HE is a GOD who forgives and has mercy.
The prophets indicate how personal God is, and how GOD reaches out to His people, and that He speaks to people.
Isaiah – we look at his testimony – and we know precisely when he lived. This is a long, very long book, and we have a scroll of this book, I have seen it in Jerusalem. It is dated around 100 BC.
Let’s take a famous verse – Isaiah Chapter 2 verse 4 – “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears.” That’s outside the United Nations building in New York. But – look at the whole verse – “He shall judge between the nations.” This was sung at Donald Dewar’s funeral, and I remember thinking, these people have no idea what these words mean.
The first part of the verse is essential before the second part of the verse can happen!
When Jesus stepped onto the world stage, Jesus preached from Isaiah 61, and he saw the fulfillment of that prophecy in his coming into the world, Luke chapter 4.
Isaiah – Jonah – Joel – Amos – Hosea – Micah – Nahum – Habakkuk – Jeremiah and Obadiah – all were before the Exile.
They heard from God, they heard what God was saying at the time, and they had the courage and ability to proclaim and preach what people needed to hear, and often at great cost.
“Lord Almighty God, open us to the prophetic Word, open our hearts and minds to what you revealed to common men, many years ago. We thank you for their boldness and courage, and for the truth and truths they delivered. We thank you for these details about the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. In this Easter season, as we remember what lies at the core of our Christian faith – O loving Father, we give thanks for the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ – and all that What that means, may we never lose sight of what lies in the heart and core, we pray in Jesus Name. Amen.”
