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GOD’S PROPHETIC MESSENGERS

GOD’S PROPHETIC MESSENGERS. GOD’S PROPHETIC MESSENGERS. The word PROPHET comes from the word meaning “to announce.” A PROPHET was God’s mouthpiece or the human instrument through which God declared His message to men.

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GOD’S PROPHETIC MESSENGERS

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  1. GOD’S PROPHETIC MESSENGERS

  2. GOD’S PROPHETIC MESSENGERS The word PROPHET comes from the word meaning “to announce.” A PROPHET was God’s mouthpiece or the human instrument through which God declared His message to men. The primary term for the prophet in the Old Testament is “nabhi.” The prophet (nabhi) spoke a message on behalf of his superior, God. The prophet was not the originator of the message, but simply proclaimed it.

  3. The basic message of prophecy is Messianic, centering in JESUS CHRIST. Christ is the central subject of the prophetic Word. However, since Israel was the channel through which the Messiah was to come, much of the prophets’ message is directed generally to life of the Messianic nation rather than specifically to the Messianic individual, who would come to deliver them. Christ is the Messianic individual, and Israel is the Messianic instrument. Statements about the individual were predictive, related to Christ and the future. Statements about the instrument were exhortative, moral in nature, and spoke about Israel and her present.

  4. The Books of the Prophets address the "classical" period of prophecy—during the later years of the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel, throughout the time of exile, and into the years of Israel's return from exile. The 17 books that comprise the last section of the Old Testament is commonly known as the Books of Prophets who lived before 850 B.C… However… There have been prophets throughout every era of God's relationship with mankind.

  5. The Prophets Did Not Begin With Elijah or Even With Samuel… • The first prophecy was about the coming of the Messiah, as was given by GOD to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15). • Enoch, the descendant of Adam, also prophesied about Christ’s coming (Jude 14). • Noah made predictions about his three sons (Gen. 9:25-27), and Jacob (Gen. 37:6, 7). • Joseph uttered prophesies (Gen. 49:10). • The divine origin of the prophetic office is affirmed by Jeremiah who reveals that it began with Moses (Jer. 7:25); Moses was considered a prophet (Deut. 18:15), and he declared that God would raise up the prophetic institution and that someday a great Prophet would rise (Deut. 18:9-22). • There were other prophets between Moses and Samuel (Judges 6:8). • Samuel, a prophet, started a school of prophets (1 Sam. 19:20). • Perhaps the most famous pair of prophets in the Old Testament is Elijah (1 Kings) and his disciple Elisha (2 Kings).

  6. The New Testament Continues the Line of Prophets… • From John the Baptist (Matthew 11:9), • Through Jesus (Deut. 18:15), • And the “apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 2:20 who were the foundation of the early church to the last of the prophets, John the Apostle (Rev. 22:6, 9), who completed the canon of Scripture (John 14:26 and 16:13). Following is a chart of the seventeen prophetical books with important features and in chronological order.

  7. Women Prophets in the Bible

  8. PRE-EXILIC EXILIC POST-EXILIC N=Northern Kingdom S=Southern Kingdom

  9. The broad meaning of the word PROPHECY is to forth-tell; the narrow meaning is to fore-tell. In forth-telling God’s message to his day, God’s prophet would often fore-tell what God was going to do in the future. Forth-telling involved INSIGHT into the will of God; fore-telling entailed FORESIGHT into the plan of God. Forth-telling was EXHORTIVE, challenging evil men to higher moral conduct; fore-telling was PREDICTIVE, encouraging the righteous.

  10. Descriptions of a Prophet in the Bible Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.

  11. The Source of the Prophetic Message Hebrews tells us that “in many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets” (Hebrews 1:1). Although the earliest and most common means of delivering God’s message was ORAL (the prophets literally spoke for God), sometimes the prophets would give a VISUAL or WRITTEN message, at God’s command.

  12. There are TRUE prophets and FALSE ones. Ways to Test For False ProphetsIf the answer is “yes,” they are false prophets BEWARE! Matthew 24:4, 23, 24; 1 John 4:1; 1 Tim. 4:1; Galatians 1:8 If the answer is “no,” they are false prophets A prophet of God is one who speaks the Word of God and whose message is confirmed by the work of God by a miracle.

  13. Significance of the Prophetic Message The overall significance of the prophetic message was to show God at work, in human history, to reveal that history is HIS-story. The prophets wanted to show that history is going somewhere, that it is heading for an Omega point, unlike the cyclical view of history promoted by eastern and Greek thought. Moral history does repeat itself; falling away from God repeatedly leads to disaster and destruction. History in the view of the present was a moral process leading to the messianic age in which the moral principles laid down by God in the past and neglected by His people in the present would be brought to full social fulfillment in the future. This same truth is vividly set forth in the teaching of Jesus about the Kingdom of God.

  14. The Books of Law laid the FOUNDATION for Christ by the ELECTION, in GENESIS… By REDEMPTION, in EXODUS… By SANCTIFICATION, in LEVITICUS… By DIRECTION, in NUMBERS… And, by INSTRUCTION of the nation through which the Messiah was to come, in DEUTERONOMY…

  15. In the Books of History, the PREPARATION was made for Christ by giving Israel the Holy Land for their POSSESSION in JOSHUA… Despite the OPPRESSION of foreign powers in JUDGES… Due to Israel’s sin, there remained DEVOTION within the nation in RUTH… God gave STABILIZATION to the nation under king Saul in 1 SAMUEL…

  16. God gave EXPANSION under king David in 2 SAMUEL… And GLORIFICATION of the nation during Solomon’s reign in 1 KINGS 1-10… With Solomon’s death came the DIVISION of the nation, Israel to the north and Judah to the south, in 1 KINGS 11-22… Both suffered DETERIORATION and final DEPORTATION by foreign powers in 2 KINGS…

  17. Likewise, the Temple suffered DEPRIVATION in 1 CHRONICLES… And finally DESTRUCTION at the hands of the Babylonians in 2 CHRONICLES… But, God was faithful in the RECONSTRUCTION of the Temple, in EZRA… The RESTORATION of the nation in NEHEMIAH… And, the PROTECTION of His people in ESTHER… The holy nation returned to the Holy Land and preparation was made for Christ.

  18. Meanwhile, there was ASPIRATION for Christ in the POETICAL (WISDOM) BOOKS… Whereas the BOOKS OF LAW laid down the MORAL basis for the people of God and the BOOKS OF HISTORY provided the NATIONAL framework, the BOOKS OF POETRY revealed their SPIRITUAL aspirations.

  19. The implicit longing for what Christ alone would provide was fivefold: In JOB the aspiration is for MEDIATION by God… And in PSALMS for COMMUNION with Him… Solomon’s aspiration for WISDOM in PROVERBS… For UNION in love in the SONG OF SONGS… And for SATISFACTION in ECCLECIASTES… Completes the spiritual longings of Israel for what was to be provided through Jesus Christ.

  20. The Books of Prophecy look forward to Christ in EXPECTATION. The earlier prophets HOSEA, JOEL, and AMOS expect a NATIONAL RESTORATION by the Messiah… ISAIAH and MICAH predict INTERNATIONAL SALVATION through the coming of Christ… But, OBADIAH, JONAH, NAHUM, HABAKKUK and ZEPHANIAH warn of God’s RETRIBUTION ON THE NATIONS.

  21. LAMENTATIONS grieves over God’s RETRIBUTION ON HIS PEOPLE… But, JEREMIAH looks for a CONVENANTAL REAFFIRMATION in Christ… EZEKIEL expects the nation’s RELIGIOUS RESTORATION… And DANIEL predicts it’s POLITICAL RESTORATION… After the Babylonian captivity, HAGGAI and ZECHARIAH exhort the people in their RELIGIOUS RECONSTRUCTION...

  22. And MALACHI in their SOCIAL AND MORAL RECONSTRUCTION... As they await the coming of the “sun of righteousness [that] shall rise, with healing in its wings (Malachi 4:2).

  23. Historical Background of Obadiah • Southwest of the Dead Sea lived a group of people called the EDOMITES. They lived in Mount Seir, a mountainous region. • They were the descendants of Esau who lived around 2000 B.C. and who was the brother of Jacob (also called Israel) and son of Isaac and Rebecca (Gen. 25:19-34). Esau’s hatred for his brother seemed to continue through his descendants. EDOM means “red.” It is the name given to Jacob’s brother Esau because he sold his birthright for red pottage (Gen. 25:30). Seir means “hairy, rugged” and Esau was a hairy man (Gen. 27:11). • When Jacob's descendants (the nation of Israel) were migrating from Egypt to the land of Canaan around 1400 B.C., the Edomitesrefused to allow Moses and the Israelites passage through their land. This caused great discomfort for Israel (Num. 20:14-21). • For some 400 years nothing is mentioned about the Edomites. But they appear during the monarchy period as an adversary of Israel (1 Sam. 14:47; 2 Sam. 8:13-14; 1 Kings 11:15-16; 2 Chron. 20:22; 21:8; 25:11-12; 28:17).

  24. Historical Background of Obadiah • About 400 years later, King David conquered them (2 Sam. 8:14). Around 850 B.C. they revolted under King Jehoram (2 Kings 8:16-21). They were again conquered by the Maccabees around 150 B.C. • The area occupied by the Edomites is also known as Idumea and was the home of Antipater, the father of Herod the Great, who was ruling in Jerusalem when Jesus was born around 8 B.C. to 4 B.C. • The date the book of Obadiah was written is somewhat uncertain. Some scholars believe it may have been written around 850-845 B.C. (roughly 80 years after King Solomon's death). • As part of their rebellion against Judah, they may have been supporting some of the Gentile nations who were harassing and attacking Judah.

  25. The Author and the Audience • The Bible does not reveal anything regarding the prophet Obadiah. • The name Obadiah means “servant of the Lord.” • The author gives no other information about himself, his background, or the time in which he lived. • His book was written to the Edomites. • As the shortest book in the Old Testament (21 verses in a single chapter), its purpose is to condemn them in supporting the Gentiles against Judah. • Because the Edomites treated the descendants of their brother Jacob so terrible, other prophets to denounce them were Isaiah (34:5-8), Jeremiah (49:17), and Amos (1:11-12). Also, see Daniel 11:41 for an amazing prophecy concerning Edom.

  26. Basic Outline of Obadiah • The Overthrow of Edom/The Coming Judgment on Edom (verses 1-9) • The Offenses of Edom/Edom Mistreated Her Brother (verses 10-14) • The Outlook for Edom/Israel’s Final Triumph (verses 15-21)

  27. 1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom(We have heard a report from the Lord,And a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying,“Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle”): 2 “Behold, I will make you small among the nations;You shall be greatly despised.3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,You who dwell in the clefts of the rock,Whose habitation is high;You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’4 Though you ascend as high as the eagle,And though you set your nest among the stars,From there I will bring you down,” says the Lord. 5 “If thieves had come to you,If robbers by night—Oh, how you will be cut off!—Would they not have stolen till they had enough?If grape-gatherers had come to you,Would they not have left some gleanings? 6 “Oh, how Esau shall be searched out!How his hidden treasures shall be sought after!7 All the men in your confederacyShall force you to the border;The men at peace with youShall deceive you and prevail against you.Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you.No one is aware of it. 8 “Will I not in that day,” says the Lord,“Even destroy the wise men from Edom,And understanding from the mountains of Esau?9 Then your mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed,To the end that everyone from the mountains of EsauMay be cut off by slaughter. Obadiah Verses 1-9 (NKJ) “The Overthrow of Edom / The Coming Judgment on Edom”

  28. 10 “For violence against your brother Jacob,Shame shall cover you,And you shall be cut off forever.11 In the day that you stood on the other side—In the day that strangers carried captive his forces,When foreigners entered his gatesAnd cast lots for Jerusalem—Even you were as one of them.12 “But you should not have gazed on the day of your brotherIn the day of his captivity;Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of JudahIn the day of their destruction;Nor should you have spoken proudlyIn the day of distress.13 You should not have entered the gate of My peopleIn the day of their calamity.Indeed, you should not have gazed on their afflictionIn the day of their calamity,Nor laid hands on their substanceIn the day of their calamity.14 You should not have stood at the crossroadsTo cut off those among them who escaped;Nor should you have delivered up those among them who remainedIn the day of distress. Obadiah Verses 10-14 (NKJ) “The Offenses of Edom / Edom Mistreated Her Brother”

  29. 15 “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near;As you have done, it shall be done to you;Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.16 For as you drank on My holy mountain,So shall all the nations drink continually;Yes, they shall drink, and swallow,And they shall be as though they had never been. 17 “But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,And there shall be holiness;The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire,And the house of Joseph a flame;But the house of Esau shall be stubble;They shall kindle them and devour them,And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,”For the Lord has spoken. 19 The South shall possess the mountains of Esau,And the Lowland shall possess Philistia.They shall possess the fields of EphraimAnd the fields of Samaria.Benjamin shall possess Gilead.20 And the captives of this host of the children of IsraelShall possess the land of the CanaanitesAs far as Zarephath.The captives of Jerusalem who are in SepharadShall possess the cities of the South.21 Then saviors shall come to Mount ZionTo judge the mountains of Esau,And the kingdom shall be the Lord’s. Obadiah Verses 15-21 (NKJ) “The Outlook of Edom/ Israel’s Final Triumph” (vs. 17-21)

  30. Obadiah saw injustice about as bad as it gets. He saw what happened after invaders swarmed on Judah. Jewish refugees ran for their lives to the neighboring country of Edom, racial cousins who, like Judah, had descended from Abraham and Isaac. But did Edom embrace their cousins? NO. Edom ambushed them. Then Edom arrested them, turned them over to the invaders, and scavenged Judah for anything left behind. The Jews would not live to see Edom get what they deserved. But the Jews had this promise from God: “Edom, you will pay in full for what you have done (verse 15). If Obadiah and the other prophets said only one thing about God, they said this: God settles His accounts. And he does it justly. Sooner or later, sometimes later, sin is punished. The story of Edom is just one of many examples in the Bible. Justice may sometimes be outside our reach. But it’s always within God’s reach. And in due time, justice will win. The bad guys won’t.

  31. MAJOR THEMES IN OBADIAH Two primary themes are in the book of Obadiah: Chapter 1:1-14 - Condemnation for turning away from a neighbor in need (Judah), gloating over their misfortune, and helping their enemies Chapter 1:15-21 - Promise of punishment, both by their Gentile "allies" and later by Judah Overall major theme: Pride deceives a person and a nation (verse 3) and “As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee” (verse 15)

  32. MESSAGES FOR CHRISTIANS TODAY • The book of Obadiah illustrates a couple of valuable lessons for Christians: • Both the Old Testament and the New Testament warn about rejoicing over the misfortune of another (Prov. 17:5; Job 31:29-30; Matt. 5:43-48). • Although often oppressed, God's people will ultimately triumph (Mark 10:28-30; 2 Tim. 3:10-17).

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